Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Abstract ~ Impvov Wall Hanging

A finish is a good thing!  I have to admit that I was unsure about the colors in this quilt.  The improv I knew would work, the colors...not so much.  But as I worked through the process I came to love the color combination.  Just enough of this and that color, with a healthy dose of red and grey!

I've been eyeing this sculpture in the middle of 'officeland' for quite some time.  With my husband and quilt in tow, we took a detour yesterday to give it a shot!    

34" x 38"

When I started this quilt, the focus was red.  In order for the red to shine or standout without being over bearing, I balanced that issue with grey.  I think it worked perfectly well!  


I machine quilting vertical organic lines using two different colors of grey thread.  And then added randomly placed horizontal waves in several areas.   


You can see the full effect here.  The backing is Kona Graphite, and check out the binding!  


It seemed to me that a very scrappy binding would only be fitting.  It also carries the design right to the edge without having to do a knife edge binding.  Which I've done, but didn't want to do it with this quilt.




The lighting was so perfect this morning for pictures, I could barely contain myself let alone quit taking photos!  How often does that happen?!  For me not too often.  I love capturing the true colors and texture of quilts, when it happens it's nearly magical! 


It's hard to believe this quilt was started after my cracked rib accident!  Where the simple task of using my rotary cutter brought nothing but pain.  Determination fought through pain. While the episode is still fresh in my mind, I'm happy to say that finally...after two weeks I'm just about pain free!


It was pure joy, pure heaven to finally have jumped back in to some improv!  It surprises me how much I missed improv when I haven't done it in a while.  Do you ever feel like that?  Do you have a favorite design, process or technique you love? 


LINKING:
TGIFF

34 comments :

  1. Are those hands I see at the top of that quilt? How did you talk him into climbing up into that sculpture? It makes for a great back drop. And your balance of color is perfect. The red pops and catches your eye and is balanced out by the gray. I love that the turquoise bits kind of move my eyes around the quilt. How is your rib doing?

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    1. Yes, they are hands!! He had to stretch to reach through the sculpture, it was so thick! Like most of my improv, I've learned to keep going regardless because you never know where it will end up. The colors were my first hurdle, but I knew I needed to take it to the end. I couldn't be happier with the results!! My ribs are so much better, the pain is nearly gone! Thank you for asking!!

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  2. the binding is perfect because it extends the improv concept right to the edges. love it.

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    1. I really wanted the design to carry to the edges, the binding was the perfect choice for this one!

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  3. Turned out great. I agree with Tish about the balance and the bits of turquoise. I really like your quilting with most of it being vertical with a little horizontal added and love the binding.

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    1. I'm super happy with it! Especially with the binding! The bits of color were just the right amount letting the red and grey speak for itself!

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  4. The little accents of other colors definitely make it sparkle. Worth pushing through the pain!

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    1. It was worth pushing through the pain, but not something I want to do again (the rib part)!

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  5. It's beautiful Jayne. I know piecing your binding like that takes extra time, but oh so worth it IMHO-perfect! Great pic's.

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    1. Making a binding like that does take extra time, but for this quilt it was the only option!

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  6. oh I adore this! I like what you did with the quilting and the binding! Absolutely perfect!

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    1. I couldn't be happier and I really love the binding!

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  7. It does look wonderful. I love seeing the pops of color and that binding is perfect for it.

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  8. This quilt is FANTASTIC! I love the improv and the quilting is awesome too! Just great colors and I agree, perfect binding! Love it!

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    1. It was so much fun to get back in to improve (I say it every time!). The colors eventually grew on me, the quilting is my favorite go to design and the binding, well it totally worked!

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  9. Lovely finish! I really like the neutrals you picked for the background and the scrappy binding was a great choice!

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    1. Thankfully it all came together! I hope the new owner loves it half as much as I do!

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  10. you heal fast! still chuckling at "give it a shot" LeeAnna

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    1. As long as I don't over do it with physical labor, I'm doing pretty darn good! It's a good excuse to slack off with the yard work! I have a fear of trying to take a photo in a public place and having a security guard catch me with weapons drawn!!! LOL!

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  11. I really like how the pops of other colors in the quilt support the red and balance the lighter grey. I can see how starting with just the colors on your cutting table you might have been nervous, though! I think the officeland sculpture works great for the photoshoot - was it hard to climb, balance, and hold the quilt?

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    1. Very nervous! Then I remember that improv always takes me in the right direction…as long as I keep going with it. You never know how something will turn out until it's finished! I made my husband be 'one' with the sculpture! He had to stand on his toes and give a good stretch to reach through! He did good! Plus he didn't crush any flowers!

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  12. As a rule, abstract quilts aren't my thing, but this one really speaks to me! I love the colors and movement in it! Very pretty! :)

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  13. Aghh so good! I'm jumping on the improv bandwagon, finally! After spending so much time thinking "I'm a paper-piece girl, not an improv girl" it's nice to get that limiting thinking out of my brainspace. :) Loving the way things change as I go, and I totally get what you mean about having lots of doubt in the process. Absolutely gorgeous work as always!

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  14. Hi, found you on Sew Cute Tuesday and I'm impressed with the quilt. It is a great use of primary colors but the small bits and the use of the gray both make it subtle. It keeps me looking and looking. The quilting really enhances it.

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  15. This is really beautiful! I love the red with pops of blue, and the quilting is really cool as well. I've never tried any improv but this makes me want to...

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  16. That's a lovely combination of colours, I liked the little peeks of blues and yellows. The quilting is just perfect for it, too. Congrats on a great finish. :)

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  17. It's a wonderful and joyful quilt Jayne! You should link it with the Ad Hoc Improv quilters this month! Glad you are almost feeling pain free. I cant imagine how you accomplished this with cracked ribs!

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  18. Every time I see improv, I tell myself that I need to try it again. Every time I try improv, I remind myself of why I don't do impov. In any case, this is a great finish and I love... the improv. Glad to hear that you are feeling well again.

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  19. Lovely! I have noticed you are always very good on the little details, like the binding, and this is no exception. I love the horizontal waves you added in the quilting too. It would be great if you linked your improv stuff up with AHIQ.

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  20. This is awesome! I love the balance of color you achieved with this design. The gentle curves and the pieced binding are perfect!

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  21. It looks great! I'd never thought of ted and grey as a colour combo but it works really well

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  22. That's just an amazing quilt! I loved it from the first second. Everything about it, the color combination, the improv... the statue picture. I haven't tried improv yet, but this is a tempting example.

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  23. I love everything about your quilt ! Improv style, colour choice combined with grey, quilting design not to mention binding ;-) And the photoshoot with the sculpture is really great !

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  24. Well done! The color combo works really well and the pics are great too!

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