JOURNAL QUILTS 2010
The 2010 Journal Quilts are inspired by bioluminescent sea creatures
JANUARY JQ: BLUMEN 1
Inspired by shibori style Procion dyed fabrics completed a while ago and images of bioluminescent creatures.
Irregular embroidery meanders around the stitched resist design on silk-viscose velvet. Embroidery threads are of perle 8/soft cotton type thickness. Buttons and beads added.
Irregular embroidery meanders around the stitched resist design on silk-viscose velvet. Embroidery threads are of perle 8/soft cotton type thickness. Buttons and beads added.
FEBRUARY JQ: BLUMEN 2
As January’s quilt but this time on cotton velvet. The stitching is applied through the top layer and wadding first then backed with Vilene and Bondaweb before being bagged out and beaded. This is to create a fairly stiff quilt with discrete stitching on the reverse to allow for possible transformation into book covers or little bags.
MARCH JQ: BLUMEN 3
This quilt uses cotton backed viscose embroidered with Sashiko thread. Some smaller stitching with ordinary cotton added for texture and beads as before. Bagging out was much easier than with velvet. It’s not easy to know when there’s enough stitching or beads. Thank heavens for a deadline!
APRIL JQ: BLUMEN 4
Circle design is stitch resist on cotton. Ironing a label on the back to cover the turning slit overheated some of the plastic beads which lost their iridescence. This one could probably do with subtle quilting within the circles.
MAY JQ: BLUMEN 5
Rust dyed fabric using a recipe posted by Judy Fairless. It made me think of an oil spill.
Small off cuts from shibori fabric bonded and hand stitched down together with dyed ribbon and couched gimp. Knotted buttonhole, maidenhair stitch and bullion knots embroidered irregularly. Beads added after bagging out.
Small off cuts from shibori fabric bonded and hand stitched down together with dyed ribbon and couched gimp. Knotted buttonhole, maidenhair stitch and bullion knots embroidered irregularly. Beads added after bagging out.
JUNE JQ: BLUMEN 6
Background is shibori dyed silk stabilised with fusible interfacing. Embroidered with buttonhole, feather, stem and straight stitches using finer threads for the lighter weight silk fabric. Hand quilted. Applied circles of knitted fabric. Beads added.
JULY JQ: BLUMEN 7
AUGUST JQ: BLUMEN 8
Back to silk viscose fabric and the difficulties of fabric creep when bagging out! Thinking now that these journal quilts might become a larger work at some stage I am trying to stitch or bead on each one in a way that relates to an earlier piece. The velvet can take the buttons. Seed and bugle beads added along with embroidered marks.
SEPTEMBER JQ: BLUMEN 9
Continuing to use my shibori stash and a bioluminescent theme. Silk was resist-dyed by wrapping with crochet cotton. Hand quilting and embellishments include running, chain, feather and buttonhole stitches. Appliqué circles and beads added.
Rather than enhancing the fabric patterning I’ve overpowered it with the stitching so it’s a disappointing journal quilt and lacks cohesion.
Rather than enhancing the fabric patterning I’ve overpowered it with the stitching so it’s a disappointing journal quilt and lacks cohesion.
OCTOBER JQ: BLUMEN 10
Folded and pegged silk resist-dyed with Procion dyes. Embroidered with thicker threads for buttonhole and feather stitches and machine quilting thread for running stitch. Beads added after bagging out. I tried to make the grid design look more organic.
NOVEMBER JQ: BLUMEN 11
Stitch-resist-dyed cotton using Procion dyes. Hand stitching with Perle cotton and machine quilting thread. Buttons, seed and bugle beads added. I forgot to add interfacing to the wadded filling so this journal quilt is more floppy than the rest.
DECEMBER JQ: BLUMEN 12
More stitch-resist dyed fabric using 2 different stitch patterns. A paler fabric came from using poly-cotton in the Procion dye. Stem, scroll, buttonhole and bullion stitches embroidered with Perle & stranded cottons. Beads added.
I’ve enjoyed letting fabric patterns influence hand stitching. Although it takes more time, the ‘slow stitch’ was satisfying to do.
I’ve enjoyed letting fabric patterns influence hand stitching. Although it takes more time, the ‘slow stitch’ was satisfying to do.
