Twiggy and Opal: art with fabric

I can't remember when I signed up for the Art With Fabric Blog Hop hosted by Alinda @Tweety Loves Quilting but it was something I was looking forward to exploring.

The basic idea of the Art In Fabric Blog Hop is to pick a piece of art and let it inspire you to create a quilted piece. There is a lot of inspiration in the world of art. I thought about exploring Mark Rothko, Joseph Albers, Harold Krisel, Frank Stella and Howard Kleiner, all amazing artists and full of inspiration. However, I decided to go a different route.

THE STUDY OF SHAPE AND COLOR
20 1/2" x 20 1/2"

When my daughter was in college she took a few art classes and would occasionally bring her pieces home. One piece she left with me has always intrigued me and I always said how cool it would be as a quilt. I kept it sitting on top of the bookcase for years with that thought in the back of my mind.

With the Art in Fabric challenge I decided it was now or never! I didn't really change anything from the original because to me, it was perfect as is. The colors are right, the shapes are interesting. Why mess with a good thing. Plus, it is a good lesson in color harmonies.

I started with designing two paper pieced patterns. That way I was sure I could get the shapes needed. What I totally forgot was that the block would be opposite the pattern!

Let's start with the first block.

Radial Symmetry - Complimentary Colors

This block explores Complimentary Colors on the color wheel. Complimentary colors are opposite from each other on the color wheel. The blue-green and red-orange represent this very well.

The design is Radial Symmetry, which means similar sections that start around the center.

I had to make the paper pieced pattern for this one in order to keep symmetry and plus, it's just a cool design.

Symmetrical - Split Complimentary

This Symmetrical block is the ever popular Log Cabin in the world of quilting! Symmetrical meaning sides or halves that are the same.

The colors are what is referred to as Split Complimentary. Using the complimentary colors and adding adjacent colors.

I didn't plan this one very well! I ended up adding additional stripes in order to increase the size of the block.

Asymmetrical - Triadic Color

I have to say, I love these colors! Vibrant and bold! Another paper pieced design in order to keep the asymmetry. Asymmetrical is two sides that are not the same, not symmetrical.

The Triadic Color scheme are colors that are evenly spaced on the color wheel.

In the case of this block, I used Kona Lipstick, Kona Pickle and Kona Regal. Slightly off from the wheel.

Asymmetrical - Analogous

Here's another Asymmetrical version. I considered using the six-minute circle for this one, but with the block being only 8" it would prove to be too crazy for me. Instead I pulled out the Steam-A-Seam and did some simple applique. Layering the pieces on top of each other.

The last color lesson is Analogous. Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.

I have never been one to pay much attention to the color wheel. I tend to grab what ever moves me at the moment. The only reason I am talking about the color wheel is because that was the lesson which resulted in the piece of Art I wanted to use.

Enough of all that, let's get to the fun part!! Quilting and finishing! I used Kona White for the sashing. It was sure to make each block stand out and frankly...that's how my inspiration art is! The center sashing is 1 1/4" and the border ended up being 1 3/4".

I was looking forward to quilting this one! I love the quilting...geometric straight lines and a block full of pebbles. I did coordinate thread colors with the fabric. I wanted the texture, but didn't want it to glare back at me! The back...oh my favorite!

But first this! Gotta love that crinkle!

Looking at the back, I'm going to pretend this is my first whole cloth quilt! That might be pushing it, but it sure was fun and it sure makes me happy looking at it.

What would a quilt of mine be without a little pieced binding? (at least on my recent finishes!) It didn't turn out exactly as planned, but I'm not going to complain either!

I'm so excited for Britt to see this in person. I think she will be blown away that I took her art and in my opinion...did it justice!

The Art in Fabric Blog Hop really lit a fire under me! And not because my time was running out and I was behind. I had to dig deep! Except for the Log Cabin block, the other three I had to start from scratch and make it work.