Last day of 2018 I’m looking back at photos and recalling what I experimented with in the field of dyeing and painting fabric. One of my favorites is the plunge into ice dyeing. There are no “ugly” results and I love to pull out the …
My grandmother, a farmer’s wife, did needlework of some kind
every evening. She kept a basket of
embroidery by her rocking chair along with a hand-made bag of crochet or
tatting thread complete with mail order patterns ready to be worked into
doilies or edgings for pillow cases. She quilted regularly with a neighborhood
group of other farm wives from 1919 to her death in 1975. As my interest moved in the same direction I
came to realize just how good she was at what she did. Her tatting and crochet
often won awards at the county fair. I
marvel at her embroidered pillowcases where the wrong side looks very nearly as
neat as the right side. Her hand quilting
would win best of show at today’s national quilt competitions. I aspire to
become as skilled at least in quilting—I gave up on tatting and crochet. “A Tribute to Pearl “ seeks to honor her work
and the work of those women who continued to keep their hands busy into the
evening hours after daily chores and evening dishes were done.
So how does this project begin? None of the pieces used in
this project were made by my relatives so I did not hesitate to consider
cutting, dyeing or otherwise manipulating them. I acquired the linen towel with beautifully
sewn handwork on the hem and centered motif at auction. Since it was in pristine condition it served
as the centerpiece of inspiration. A doily with the popular pineapple motif had
a coffee or other stain that I could only lessen but not eliminate so didn’t
hesitate to add color and include it and even consider cutting it into pieces..
A current reproduction of the bark cloth drapes that I remember hanging at
farmhouse windows frame the centerpiece.
A photo of a young, spirited version of my grandmother posed against a classic
roadster of the times seemed most appropriate to include (I recall her saying
she dated in a horse drawn carriage so would love to have known the “rest of
this story”).
So, the pieces are gathered, arranged and ready to stitch
with addition of embellishments.
Using Linda Ambrosini’s pattern to have some fun with different fabrics and textures as well as quilting designs. Her pattern reminded me of a design I did for a college art class using blue apples. I may have to create or re-create that design in …
Art Nouveau Poppy I have long admired the poppy. The graceful stems that hold that bright red flower have led me to acquire fabrics that include a poppy motif, to hone in on photos of quilts as I search internet sources, and to admire those …
My first memories of poppies (the Oriental Poppy) relate to the border along our driveway on the farm and how my mother liked their bright color but also considered them very weed-like as they encroached on the other flowers. I loved their bright red orange flowers and the yellow green leaves that seemed “stickery” but weren’t and didn’t understand why I couldn’t pick them and make a bouquet—they didn’t last long once cut so enjoy in their natural environment. I also remember my grandparents being dedicated members of the American Legion and Poppy Days was an obligation they felt very strongly about since my grandfather served in WWI. I always associate the Flanders field quote with an image of my grandmother and great aunt selling the crepe paper poppies in Shannon City and also in Creston as they had a small paper handout that mentioned Flanders field even though I did not know what that meant for many years.
My idea for a round robin effort was to use the pattern from a book by Lisa Bongean, “Garden Gatherings”. I used batIks, homespun and prints with embellishment at the center of the poppies added as part of the round robin. I envisioned an asymmetrical setting that remains rectangular. I love the addition made by each of my friends to make a small wall hanging that I cherish for the many memories it represents.
I am thankful for the service and safety of my husband, my uncles, my grandfather, my father-in-law and brother-in-law. I remember with respect those who gave their life to preserve the freedoms we enjoy.
I didn’t have to wait for the weather to turn cold to try ice dyeing but that is what happened and now I wonder why on earth I kept putting off trying it!!! While the ice was melting I kept tabs on the process and …
Take one dyed vintage linen towel, post it on the design wall for deliberation while other projects are worked on, see a bench pillow at Hickory Stick, dig out some sunflower fabric from #$&+ years ago and, voila, another project is born.
I have been resisting the urge to get back to my fabric dyeing but today I could resist no longer. The creative urge won! I had my color choices in mind, again drawing from nature. The Calhoun peaches first came to mind but at a recent class my daughter and I enjoyed our lunch in the Des Moines Art Center’s Rose garden. While the roses were nearing the end of their beauty they were still worthy of commemorating. First step for me is to dye some wool in colors from Cabernet to persimmon to sunflower yellow. Next step will be to decide on design. Will it be a single rose in a bud vase or a whole bouquet? Hmmm, more creative thinking time needed.
It’s always fun for me to learn and to fine tune techniques and skills that can be used in art quilts. Today it was all about trying different manipulations of paint on the viscose surface of a carrageenan and water mixture and then transferring to …
My first memories of poppies (the Oriental Poppy) relate to the border along our driveway on the farm and how my mother liked their bright color but also considered them very weed-like as they encroached on the other flowers. I loved their bright red orange flowers and the yellow green leaves that seemed “stickery” but weren’t and didn’t understand why I couldn’t pick them and make a bouquet—they didn’t last long once cut so enjoy in their natural environment. I also remember my grandparents being dedicated members of the American Legion and Poppy Days was an obligation they felt very strongly about since my grandfather served in WWI. I always associate the Flanders field quote with an image of my grandmother and great aunt selling the crepe paper poppies in Shannon City and also in Creston as they had a small paper handout that mentioned Flanders field even though I did not know what that meant for many years.
