Friday, January 25, 2008

Bon Bon 2

Bon Bon 2

Hand dyed and commercial cottons, fused, unquilted

30x42"

I consider this piece and the previous one to be a kind of a breakthrough for me. I have used strips a lot in my work, trying all the time to find a way to make them look right, original, mine. But for a long time, I was influenced, along with many other art quilters, by the strip pieced quilts of Nancy Crow and her many followers.

I wanted to make my own strip style and now I think I have found out how to do it. For me it has something to do with the colors. Fiesta colors, of course. Sweet, candy colors, yes. Sunny summery colors.

And the layout is important too. Irregular sizes of blocks but not too wiggly. A clear layout for the blocks and yet with some variety. Keeping it in the realm of the freer art quilt style, yet with a bit more of the control of the traditional.

Even a simple strip can have its own style.

Here we have #1 and #2 together for comparison. I'll be quilting #2 on Saturday.

10 comments:

  1. ooooo, the middle reminds me of those sweet tart candies in a little tube or candy necklaces. Very yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. These 2 pieces are surely the cure for the winter blues.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have to say that I can always count on my fix of eye candy whenever I visit your blog. Your quilts are so filled with color. They make me happy to look at them! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have to tell you I am in Geneva< IL right now visiting Chris. It is black and white and gray all over. These quilts are sure bringing some color back for me.
    You aren't missing anything weather wise here in Chicago.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous9:02 PM

    wow, both of these are gorgeous. I just love that shot of blue in the centre of the 2nd one.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It looks like a true Melody Johnson quilt. I think you did indeed transend the Nancy Crow look and found your own. I absolutly understand how hard this is to accomplish. Every time I try to do these decievingly simple designs mine end up looking like Lisa Call or Nancy Crow on acid...sigh...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Really beautiful, full of colors and well balanced!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Melody,
    It is so gray here in Southern Indiana that seeing your blog with the GREAT quilts makes me smile all day. All that bright color warms me up.
    Thanks, Bren

    ReplyDelete
  9. fabulous! as usual thank you for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Stunning... I just love the aqua blue in the center of Bon Bon 2! Deelish all around.

    ReplyDelete

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