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Rituals #3, Strength and Calm: done!

So finally it was time to square up the quilt.  Oh dear.  The standing woman was not standing up straight!!!!!!  And if I didn’t get her straight and centered, then she would look like she was listing sideways when I squared up the edges, where I REALLY needed there to be EXACTLY even background on either side of the woman with her leg up.  So I carefully pried apart the figure (from the waist up) and repositioned her and did some insertion of yellow to fill in the gaps.  Problem solved!  Next, time to fuse the entire top to the batting, baste all of that to the backing and quilt!

At the machine.... Rubeus Hagrid (aka Janome Horizon 7700!). Decided I needed to use up some of my print fabrics that I no longer use, and had enough of this beautifully colored Fossil Fern for the back.

Here is the entire quilt:

Finished!

A close-up of the two figures at the top in “mermaid” poses:

Notice the pale pink and pale peach women at the top, with arms reaching towards each other

A view of the bottom:

Two figures at the bottom..."warrior" on the left and "pretzel stretch" on the right

And a bit more of the middle:

center--close up. Interestingly I used some No. 100 (same as size 60-wt) silk for the background quilting. The part on the yellow is a variegated yellow, and sure enough Bob Purcell of Superior is right... the variegation doesn't show. I ran out of my 220-yard spool of variegated, and had only a section the size of my hand left to quilt, so used a medium-yellow 60-wt silk from Superior to finish...and even up close I can't find where I switched threads! So I guess I can skip the variegated silk (even tho it is so beautiful on the spool) for the way I use thread.

I hadn’t used silk for background quilting before, but I very much like the way it handles and looks, so when I want the thread to be fine and disappear into the quilt, I think I’ll use the silk.

When I was done, I had intended to put a facing on the quilt, as most of my art quilts are faced.  But I missed that darker edge.  See I quilt so much, I have to make things that are to finish at a specific size at least 2-3 inches larger because I don’t know how much “take-up” or shrinkage there will be from the dense quilting.  And I ended up needing to trim off some of the darker edges, and I missed them.  So I used a traditional bias double-fold binding in a deep purple batik.  Just right!

Now, here’s to hoping it makes it into the exhibit this year!

21 Responses to “Rituals #3, Strength and Calm: done!”

  1. JACQUIE Says:

    You HAVE been busy! Looks good.

  2. Gari Says:

    You know I love this quilt. When I saw it completed I immediatly pinned it to my Pinterest page but then I decided that it is your art that you are entering into a competition so I removed it even though I think everyone should see it. I have, however, copied the picture so that I can have it in my studio. I see it as art and something to remind me to relax and breathe. Thank you so much for sharing.

  3. Heidi Says:

    it’s wonderful, I can’t imagine it won’t make its way into the quilt show.

  4. Vicki W Says:

    It turned out great! I can’t imagine it not getting in.

  5. Donna Keller Says:

    Awesome quilt Sarah! You did a great job!
    D~~~~

  6. Debby Harwell Says:

    Incredible work! I’d be completely shocked if it doesn’t make it into the show! You’ve definitely developed a very strong voice as an artist. Thanks so much for sharing the process with us!

  7. LeAnn - Quilt Promoter Says:

    Thanks for sharing your story, Sarah. It’s a beautiful quilt and the dark border is a perfect touch.

  8. Robin Parton Says:

    This is developing nicely, thanks for sharing it with us. This definitely need the purple to finish the quilt off. Love your shadow poses!

  9. Kathy Pitts Says:

    Just wonderful, you captured the theme of ritual so well. Perhaps your best work yet. Good luck.

  10. Nan Boudreau Says:

    Sarah, once again you have made an amazing quilt. Conratulations.
    hugs
    Nan

  11. Deb in CA Says:

    YOUR TALENT IS ENDLESS – your quilt is a beauty.

  12. Gail Says:

    You did a great job sarah. The quilt itself is inspiring and thank you for mentioning how you came upon the idea to make to go along with the theme.

  13. Maia Says:

    The way colors radiate from the figures really suppers the theme. Gorgeous work.

  14. Sarah Vee Says:

    Another amazing piece, Sarah! I have no doubt about it making the show. It’s an impressive, beautiful statement with so much detail – like so many of your pieces I’ve admired. Best of luck!

  15. Betty Johnson Says:

    Sarah it’s beautiful from conception to completion with a perfect final touch of purple.
    and you even used my favorite go-to fabric,fossil fern, when nothing else will do. Another wonderful quilt!

  16. Linda Teddlie Minton Says:

    Whoa! It’s gorgeous, Sarah! Your vibrant color choices are so exciting. I know you’ll get in.

  17. Lyric Says:

    It turned out beautifully Sarah! I’m so glad you shared it with us. I think the smaller transparent figures are my favorite part – I didn’t notice them until the close-up shots. It’s one of the wonderful things about quilts as a medium – so many things to discover as you come close.

  18. Marie Says:

    AS always, a real winner ! Another perfect job done! Hooray for you SB

  19. Carole Blackburn Says:

    Beautiful!

  20. mathea Says:

    Wow! another awesome quilt! Wish I could see it in person… maybe i will get that chance!

  21. Art and Quilting in Camden » Blog Archive » Rituals at Dinner@8 and Why Quilts Matter Says:

    […] blogged before about my quilt, Strength and Calm, which has been juried in to the Rituals exhibit that will debut […]