Friday, March 22, 2013

Emerging Foggy Spring

March, being the month of early Spring, was the month that I signed up to present a challenge for my favorite Etsy team.  This Spring challenge for the Blogging Business Artisans was called  Emerging Foggy Spring  (which is the title of my finished piece too!) and I wrote the challenge this way:

I am proposing that we try something this month that is a little softer.  I call it - Emerging Foggy Spring. Let's explore color in terms of tint. In color theory, a tint is the mixture of a color with white, which increases lightness. We often create with bright color and ignore tints of color. Create a project with muted tints leaving lots of white space, if you can. This project is to challenge your thought processes about color, using tints. Don't be intimidated by the absence of bright color. Get creative!

So here is what I came up with, and mind you, I didn't even have a clue what I was going to do, back when I signed up for presenting this challenge.  I have been thinking about it quite a bit, and today I got an idea.  



I started with a bunch of scrap fabric and made a crazy quilt block.  I decided to explore the WRONG side of the fabric.  Many fabrics have a whitish reverse side, where the color has only bled thru in the screen printing process. The pattern is not actually woven into the yardage. Thus it has a tinted look.  

At first, it was a bit daunting to my brain, sewing wrong sides together, since I am used to sewing with the right sides facing each other.  As you can see, I actually did the bottom two strips and the top right hand corner with the "right" side up to facilitate the design that I had in mind.  


Here is what is looks like on the "wrong" side --that I am not using--more colorful and not the stuff of this challenge:





Next, I made a quilt sandwich with it, adding the batting and backing and quilting a scene to it.  I used different colors of thread, from black to gray to white, to create the tree's depth in the fog, but it is hard to detect in this photo. (WOW, do I need a new camera--not just this phone camera--broke my good camera!- Maybe you can click on the photo and zoom in and see what I am talking about.)



Anyway, using the right side up in the bottom strips has created a more "real" look in the foreground.  The flower field then fades into the fog with the next strip being reversed to the tint side.  I also have the sun peaking thru the clouds at the top right using the "right" side of the fabric for the sun's brightness.


The actual quilting process shows the tree, flowers and swirling fog of the scene on top of the muted fabrics. 

Reverse of my quilt sandwich
I haven't decided yet how I will bind the little mini quilt, but I am quite proud of the way that it has turned out for a simple afternoon's work!  

P.S.  Linking today with Pink Saturday

13 comments:

Rose Clearfield said...

What a unique piece! I love the mix of colors and the way that you stitched the tree.

Natashalh said...

I love the design! Especially the tree - it is way cool.

Eyelah said...

That looks great! I really like the tree. I also liked that you used scrapped fabric because I always have scrap fabric and never know what to do with them.

Memories for Life said...

Your tree looks awesome! And I love how you turned the yellow flower into a sun! What a creative piece Linda!

Micupoftea said...

fun project :)

Schotzy said...

What beauty and what talent!!!!!

Judy Biggerstaff said...

How clever and creative. I have never made any pieces but sure enjoy looking.

Kathleen said...

Beautiful answer to the challenge! Very creative to use the "wrong" side!

Cottage and Broome said...

I love the tree you used for the quilting, a wonderful touch! Thanks for stopping by, Laura

Duni said...

That's amazing, Linda! I love the top stitching and the yellow flower makes the perfect sun :)

Cindy Adkins said...

This is so pretty! Great job...you're very talented, Linda!
Cindy

SarahBeth said...

Your little quilt is a beauty! Love the tree, and the muted pastels! How clever of you to have used the backside -- brilliant!

Splendid Little Stars said...

Wow! What a gorgeous project! the tree is wonderful!