DEW DROPS: Translating a Photo into a 12" Square Quilt

This piece was inspired by a photo of a branch with dew drops.  The Quilt Artists of Kentucky issued the photo as part of our year long Quiltography Challenge.

Here is the photo that I had to translate into a 12" square and in fabric.

I started with the audition of some of my hand dyed fabric.  

 
























I then decided to stencil the background fabric to give it more texture.  I used Stewart Gill Metallic  paint.

 

















Next I painted some lightweight interfacing. I was going with the idea that it would be translucent. It wasn't but it does make a nice lightweight piece of fabric. I laid it over some bubble wrap and then painted it with some Stewart Gill Metallic paints. I auditioned some plastic inserts from a make-up jar as bases for beaded dew drops. 

The bottom dew drop is painted interfacing that has been stuffed with green scraps.




Here I've quilted the flower and shadow. The branch has been enhanced using Derwent Watercolor pencils. I colored in the shading after doing the quilting. The large flower has also been enhanced with the pencils.  I used a metallic silver thread to quilt the flower.
 

I used one of the plastic inserts as a base for the beaded flowers and leaves. The insert had 3 holes in it so I could sew it into place. It gave me a 3 dimensional base on which to do the beading. I used size 11 glass beads.  There are also crystal beads edging the large "dew drop". 

Last of all, I used the watercolor pencils to add more shading and highlights to the background. I followed the quilting lines.
 Compare this photo to the one above that just shows the quilting and you can see the difference the pencils made.  I also added crystal beads to the top of the stem.




























I finished the edge with a binding made from the same fabric as the stem. It is enhanced with yarn and free motion zig zag stitching done with Madiera FS20 Metallic thread.

This was a challenge to interpret and I loved doing it. It's really fun using a variety of techniques that we don't normally associate with quilting.  Of course, that's what I love about art quilting.

Here is the next photo that I'll be working with: I'm already playing with the idea of using real rocks in the piece.

Look what happens when the photo is turned on it's side.

 

Interesting Isn't it? 

I'll be getting started on this one as soon as I return from a wonderful trip to Ponchatula, LA.

Creating Always,

Karen

 

WATERCOLOR PENCILS: Translating a photo in fabric

While taking a walk down our wooded lane, I spotted a bit of blue and realized that it was a broken Robin's egg perched on top of some dried leaves.  

I especially loved the light on the egg and leaves, so, I whipped out my phone and took a photo. 

It didn't take me long to get it printed, at 8" square,  onto a piece of 100% cotton fabric.  I printed it off at 50% of it's original density. I used my home printer, knowing that I was going to paint over the photo with watercolor pencils, so, I was not concerned about the ink in my printer being lightfast.

After applying a lightweight, iron on interfacing, I then proceeded to layer the printed cotton with a light weight batting. I used a piece of upholstery fabric, that was pretty stiff, for the backing.

I then quilted sections of the photo. After quilting parts of it, I started painting with the watercolor pencils.

Here's a photo that shows the log, leaf, egg and another leaf in progress. As I worked with each color, I smoothed and sealed with the fabric medium, Golden GAC 900.

 

Since the photo was so pale, I decided to draw in some lines that I could then follow while free motion quilting them.

  

I experimented with painting quilted areas and painting non-quilted areas that were then quilted. I like quilting the area first. There is less chance that the paint will flow out of the lines after being covered with the medium. It also gives a better idea of the area being worked.  

This photo shows the piece coming close to being finished. I ended up using some glitter mixed with medium and a bit of white paint to provide more highlights. You can see a bit of the glitter in this photo. 

I finished the edges with  several rounds of satin stitch using Madiera FS20 Bronze metallic thread.

I then mounted the piece on a 12" canvas that I had painted.

Here is the finished piece.

I made some changes to the shading after finishing the edges.  I also realized that the photo could have been printed a few shades darker and would have been easier to work with.   

This was a great study in light and dark and creating depth in a piece. The quilting gives it a beautiful dimension that could not be done with the painting alone. 

I am looking forward to using this process again with more photos and possibly, working with larger photos.

CREATING ALWAYS,

KAREN