gallery 3 - painting with fabric
STILL LIFE ON THE TILES 36" x 48" 2003
A still life picture was 'painted' by bonding fabric circles onto a foundation layer. Textural stitching, onto a cotton batting, helped to hold down the individual shapes and add visual interest.
Fused appliqué, machine piecing and quilting
*An interest in pointillist paintings made me want to try to paint a still life with fabric circles. Although a finished piece in itself, I decided (heaven knows why!) to cut it up and reset it in tile formation.
A still life picture was 'painted' by bonding fabric circles onto a foundation layer. Textural stitching, onto a cotton batting, helped to hold down the individual shapes and add visual interest.
Fused appliqué, machine piecing and quilting
*An interest in pointillist paintings made me want to try to paint a still life with fabric circles. Although a finished piece in itself, I decided (heaven knows why!) to cut it up and reset it in tile formation.
PANSIES 36" x 44" 2004
Another 'painterly' picture made with fabric circles and rectangles, fused onto a foundation layer. Textural machine quilting through a cotton batting adds decorative stitchery and definition.
Fused appliqué, machine piecing and machine quilting
My machine stitching has improved greatly over the years and my confidence continues to develop by working on smaller pieces like this. My thread usually matches the fabric to blend in but I tried a contrasting thread to extend the foliage into the border.
Another 'painterly' picture made with fabric circles and rectangles, fused onto a foundation layer. Textural machine quilting through a cotton batting adds decorative stitchery and definition.
Fused appliqué, machine piecing and machine quilting
My machine stitching has improved greatly over the years and my confidence continues to develop by working on smaller pieces like this. My thread usually matches the fabric to blend in but I tried a contrasting thread to extend the foliage into the border.
BLACKBERRIES 29" X 40" 2004
This is another experimental piece where I continue to 'paint' with fused fabric shapes, onto a foundation layer. Machine quilting through a cotton batting adds decorative texture and definition.
I start with a rough outline of where my features (like blackberries, flowers and leaves) are to be positioned on the foundation layer. I fuse 1/8 yard pieces of my selected background fabrics and then cut them into small rectangles ("1" to 2 1/2") of varying sizes with a rotary cutter and fluted blade. I paint from background to foreground, gently fusing them in place with a small iron when I am happy with the way they look.
Fused appliqué, machine piecing and machine quilting
You don't get good at something by NOT doing it. So I continue to practice and improve my machine technique on smaller wall hangings.
This is another experimental piece where I continue to 'paint' with fused fabric shapes, onto a foundation layer. Machine quilting through a cotton batting adds decorative texture and definition.
I start with a rough outline of where my features (like blackberries, flowers and leaves) are to be positioned on the foundation layer. I fuse 1/8 yard pieces of my selected background fabrics and then cut them into small rectangles ("1" to 2 1/2") of varying sizes with a rotary cutter and fluted blade. I paint from background to foreground, gently fusing them in place with a small iron when I am happy with the way they look.
Fused appliqué, machine piecing and machine quilting
You don't get good at something by NOT doing it. So I continue to practice and improve my machine technique on smaller wall hangings.
ARCHWAY TO HOLLYHOCKS 40" X 56" 2005
Fabric shapes, mainly rectangles for the background and circles for the foreground features, are fused onto a foundation layer like jigsaw pieces. Textural machine quilting through a cotton batting adds decorative stitchery and definition.
Fused appliqué, machine raw-edge appliqué and machine quilting
This more complex piece was worked on a large design wall, so that progress could be monitored continually as an artist would review a painting. I made a decision after completing the picture to add a wrought iron archway.
Fabric shapes, mainly rectangles for the background and circles for the foreground features, are fused onto a foundation layer like jigsaw pieces. Textural machine quilting through a cotton batting adds decorative stitchery and definition.
Fused appliqué, machine raw-edge appliqué and machine quilting
This more complex piece was worked on a large design wall, so that progress could be monitored continually as an artist would review a painting. I made a decision after completing the picture to add a wrought iron archway.
ARCHWAY TO HANGING BASKET 40" X 56" 2005
Fabric shapes, mainly rectangles for the background and circles for the foreground features, are fused onto a foundation layer like jigsaw pieces. Textural machine quilting through a cotton batting adds decorative stitchery and definition.
Fused appliqué, machine raw-edge appliqué and machine quilting
Loved the effect of the first Archway quilt so thought a second one wouldn't go amiss! A feeling of dimension is created by the paved foreground, inviting you to step into the picture.
Fabric shapes, mainly rectangles for the background and circles for the foreground features, are fused onto a foundation layer like jigsaw pieces. Textural machine quilting through a cotton batting adds decorative stitchery and definition.
Fused appliqué, machine raw-edge appliqué and machine quilting
Loved the effect of the first Archway quilt so thought a second one wouldn't go amiss! A feeling of dimension is created by the paved foreground, inviting you to step into the picture.
CAT WITH BALUSTERS 38" x 42" 2006
Fabric shapes are fused onto a foundation layer like jigsaw pieces. Textural machine quilting through a cotton batting adds decorative stitchery and definition. The fabric for the stair balusters was fused and appliquéd in place by machine.
Fused appliqué, machine raw-edge appliqué and machine quilting
This series of wall hangings is always worked from background to foreground and, as in previous quilts, I started to use small rectangles to build up the background. But some elements of the design, such as the curtains, looked better when made out of longer strips of fabric. This then gave me the idea to use shorter strips for the cat. I stuck with circles for the flowers and vase, and used wedge shapes for the leaves.
Fabric shapes are fused onto a foundation layer like jigsaw pieces. Textural machine quilting through a cotton batting adds decorative stitchery and definition. The fabric for the stair balusters was fused and appliquéd in place by machine.
Fused appliqué, machine raw-edge appliqué and machine quilting
This series of wall hangings is always worked from background to foreground and, as in previous quilts, I started to use small rectangles to build up the background. But some elements of the design, such as the curtains, looked better when made out of longer strips of fabric. This then gave me the idea to use shorter strips for the cat. I stuck with circles for the flowers and vase, and used wedge shapes for the leaves.
