So what I’m calling the Turtle Quilt is exasperating me.
I’m tempted to make that vertical strip its own piece because of how problematic joining everything up has been. Here is the latest incarnation.
I could finish it by sewing three, maybe four, seams but I think I like the earlier version better (below). Difference? That that strip of warm-toned patches under the yellow silk turtle.
I will just walk away for a few days. Even the B&W version doesn’t make the solution click (the way it should).
All thoughts welcome.
The warm tone colors under the turtle gets my vote …
Good to know. I hate unpicking seams.
Well, turtles are not known for speed so it is not strange that this quilt is causing you to take some time with it… I agree with Tina re the warm tones for this quilt. While I am not experienced with quilts, having never made one, I do respond to those whose color and themes reach out to me. In my own cloth work, I know very little about design and simply go with my gut. Going on instinct is how I feel you go as well, even though I know you know about art, have studied, especially with your Mom as an art teacher. While knowledge is important I feel that instinct allows you to be original, to draw from deep wells within yourself… just look at how you have placed line and form and most of all, color, in this quilt. The eyes flow back and forth seamlessly in wonder and discovery.
If it helps you to walk away from it for a few days, good but I bet when you come back to it, you will go with your original idea!
Thanks for this feedback Marti! I find with larger pieces I tend to go through a phase of hating the quilt. This is not that but I know how my own view of something can shift. The days away help.
I’ve run into this problem in the past. There’s too much going on at it stands now to make a cohesive display piece. At this point, I’ve just aimed for adding to the main until it was a serviceable size – lap quilt or better – and give all that cloth and energy a purpose. A single layer of batting and a nice muslin (or whatever) back…think of all the hours of hand quilting coming up.
What do you consider the “main part”? The square I started with?
Dee~ I too agree with the warm colors under the turtle. For me, it is the ‘cat'(?) square being closer to the turtle that invites my eye to travel around more. More space between those two makes it feel less connected as a whole and my old brain hopscotches around instead of meandering.
I always have loved your pieces in a window…such a stained glass look!
I might turn them into three pieces.
Trying to catch up here 🙂
I think: more turtles.