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!
Here is the entire quilt:
A close-up of the two figures at the top in “mermaid” poses:
A view of the bottom:
And a bit more of the middle:
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!
March 15th, 2012 at 6:33 am
You HAVE been busy! Looks good.
March 15th, 2012 at 8:44 am
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.
March 15th, 2012 at 8:49 am
it’s wonderful, I can’t imagine it won’t make its way into the quilt show.
March 15th, 2012 at 9:45 am
It turned out great! I can’t imagine it not getting in.
March 15th, 2012 at 10:58 am
Awesome quilt Sarah! You did a great job!
D~~~~
March 15th, 2012 at 8:50 pm
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!
March 16th, 2012 at 9:36 am
Thanks for sharing your story, Sarah. It’s a beautiful quilt and the dark border is a perfect touch.
March 16th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
This is developing nicely, thanks for sharing it with us. This definitely need the purple to finish the quilt off. Love your shadow poses!
March 16th, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Just wonderful, you captured the theme of ritual so well. Perhaps your best work yet. Good luck.
March 16th, 2012 at 11:54 pm
Sarah, once again you have made an amazing quilt. Conratulations.
hugs
Nan
March 17th, 2012 at 8:41 am
YOUR TALENT IS ENDLESS – your quilt is a beauty.
March 17th, 2012 at 10:01 am
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.
March 17th, 2012 at 11:55 am
The way colors radiate from the figures really suppers the theme. Gorgeous work.
March 18th, 2012 at 9:43 am
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!
March 18th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
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!
March 19th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Whoa! It’s gorgeous, Sarah! Your vibrant color choices are so exciting. I know you’ll get in.
March 19th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
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.
March 19th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
AS always, a real winner ! Another perfect job done! Hooray for you SB
March 19th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Beautiful!
March 20th, 2012 at 11:51 pm
Wow! another awesome quilt! Wish I could see it in person… maybe i will get that chance!
May 23rd, 2012 at 8:28 pm
[…] blogged before about my quilt, Strength and Calm, which has been juried in to the Rituals exhibit that will debut […]