Design Your Own Nature Quilt
Starting January 20th
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Would you like to learn how to compose a design? Create and control a focal point? These are just some of the things you'll learn in the Design Your Own Nature Quilt online class.
In fact, you'll gain enough knowlege and skill to make a unique design, using your own photo as an inspiration source. It doesn't get much more exciting than that!
This is my favorite class to teach, because the students find they're able to do things they would have never thought possible. This is exhilirating for all of us!
Button Zinnias, above, was made by Bev O'Connell, a former student in this class. Bev's photo featured spherical flowers. She interepreted them loosely, adding couched yarn for interest. This is a good example of the class motto: "Be insipred by your photo, not owned by it.". You'll find more on this subject in a short excerpt from the class material.
See other student results in the student gallery. Part One starts January 20th and class enrollment is very limited. Find full details here. |
New Work: When the Town was Young
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A Civil War era map was the inspiration for my latest quilt. I liked the graphic quality of the streets and buildings, and decided to mimic them very loosely.
One goal was to experiment with sheer fabrics, using them to create the background and to alter the appearance of some outlying buildings. My collection of sheers included cheesecloth, craft ribbon, paper, and decorator fabrics.
 The interior portion of this quilt is a completely finished quilt all on its own. But, since I wanted to add a border, I made an entirely new quilt to serve that function. The two quilts, interior and border, are fastened together with stitching.
I spent a lot of time planning the border, making sure it supported the primary image. Thus, the dark fabrics have frayed edges and are angled to the same degree as the streets. I'm very happy with this effect.
When completing a quilt, I always like to self-critique both my visual results and technical processes. These are my thoughts on this one:
- I like the angled graphic quality of the primary design.
- If I had it to do again, I'd use brighter colors. Probably an entirely different palette.
- The use of sheers to create the background design gives the effect I was after. And I like it. But, it was very time consuming, so I won't use it often.
- I like the look of the two quilts stitched together. But, again, this is not a very efficient way to achieve the desired look. I'll try to plan ahead better in the future.
- I think the border is very effective. I especially like the wide proportions and the angled fabrics.
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Instant Art Quilt
Class Results |
As always, it was great to see my students' Instant Art Quilts evolve in our recent online class.
Marilu Benton-Schwetz used a wonderful high contrast fabric to create Fertile Ground, above. Her use of white fabric as an accent added wonderful sparks.
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Art In Embassies
2012 Calendar |
As part of the State Department's "Art in Embassies" program, my quilt, Lakeside Citrus, is currently on loan to the U.S. ambassador's residence in Tallin, Estonia. As a gift for dignitaries, the state department has created a 2012 calendar featuring 52 pieces from those on display worldwide. I'm delighted to have my quilt, included!
The calendar is spiral bound, and printed on heavy paper. Although it's not for sale, I received three complimentary copies. (Don't tell my mom and sister, as they'll be getting copies for Christmas.)
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I've been stitching in some unusual situations lately, and have therefore been rather adventurous with several projects.
I've experimented with sheer fabrics, and I've been doing lots of hand stitching. And, I even took up knitting - with fabric no less!
Check out my blog to see my experiments. |
I hope you're enjoying your own unique quilt making adventure!
Ellen
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Full Teaching and Events Schedule |
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New on Website |
- When the Town was Young
- New addition to Student Instant Art Quilt Gallery |
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New on Blog |
- Dirty Dozen Exhibit photos
- Baby booties and smocking
- Hand stitching added to a colorful collage
- "Town" quilt in progress
- Wacky knitting project
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