Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Our Neighbor's Ginko Tree

We are enjoying perfect Autumn weather here in Cary Illinois. So much so that I have been having a mini-vacation, getting dressed late, not working, and watching movies in the afternoon, in bed. I am trying to see what it would feel like to be retired. Three. Days. Without. Working.

OK!

So we got outta bed and went for a bike ride and fed the local ducks and saw a few leaves turning, and I recalled the one Ginko tree in the next block. I wanted to do another leaf collection quilt, especially after teaching this workshop in Janesville last week. The quilters made fabulous pieces (bad blogger, no pictures) and not to be leftout (Competitive, moi?) I had been thinking about doing another.

My Ginko quilt had been sold several years ago when I taught at Art Quilt Tahoe. I needed to make another one.

In my workshop, the participants pick one piece of Special Edition cotton or silk and make their leaves first by tracing around actual leaves. Then they position them on whatever fabric remains after they cut out the leaves. I thought that challenge was a good way to begin for me too.



Ginko Collection #2
18x21"
Cotton and Silk, fused, hand and machine quilted


I included one silk leaf, since it was in my scraps pile and seemed the perfect color to go with the backgrounds I cut.

I am using my hand dyed pearl cotton for the hand work, and marking the circles with a shot glass and juice glass.



This leaf is outlined by machine stitching.
I cut many more leaves than I used, and there is more fabric left from the original piece. I may make a second one...

Making this quilt was like butter. I let the fabric do all the hard work.

7 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:18 AM

    Melody, that ginko work is beautiful! It struck a cord, as ginko is my favorite leaf. Good job.

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  2. I love Ginko - especially when they become yellow!

    Did you really make that quilt out of 1 piece of fabric?

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  3. Dear Calico Cat,
    I started with one piece but my scraps were staring me in the face and I just scrounged a few pieces from it and used them too.

    I am no purist...even in my classes, a person could 'borrow' a color from their neighbor.

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  4. ooooo...you make me want to play, too. I'll have to go inland to find good leaves. Last June there were near 100 mile an hour winds that shredded all the leaves on the trees near Lake Michigan. Now what's left is just turning brown and fall off.

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  5. And if I wanted to take this off your hands? how much? Love it.

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  6. Melody, your blog is so inspiring. I love your use of color. Thanks for sharing your creations!
    Joanna

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  7. It's sooo beautiful! The colours are breathtaking! I like the way the leaves seem to float on the piece and the circles are like bubbles. I wish I had your eye.

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Hello,
So nice of you to drop by. I love your comments, and if you would really like a reply, please email me at fibermania at g mail dot com