Sunday, May 17, 2009

Reviewing Archived Works

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Spring Sprouts

Hand dyed cottons, fused, machine embroidered and machine quilted. 56x49” 1995

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OK here’s the story of this quilt.

I had just had success with Hot Fun (in the Summertime) at the American Quilter’s Society Show. It won a purchase prize and it was suggested that I continue with the theme of the four seasons. Of course I wanted to please the prospective buyer and went ahead with Spring. He (no names here) was under impressed and told me so. It was a kick in the gut. I did enter it in a few shows and it won like a third and then a first, but it was too late. It had a black mark in my mind after that. It just shows how thin skinned  I was back then. Today I would have 1. not made it for him. 2. not cared if he liked it or not. 3. ignored the suggestion in the first place.

Now as I look at it, I am amazed at the amount of work I put into the piece. All that embroidery, and quilting. eek. Obviously I don’t do anything like that now. Phew!

Technically, the top was completely embroidered before making the sandwich, and I used a Janome 6500, with lots of tear away stabilizer under the hoop. Yes. I hooped the fabric as I stitched. The stitching on the word Spring is called the Long Stitch, which I used to teach. It requires a base fabric cut to the shape to be embroidered, fused into place and then free motion stitched, moving the hoop back and forth as each stitch is made. It requires developing a rhythm to do this smoothly.

15 comments:

  1. My word, he didn't like the spring quilt? What a nitwit. It is beautiful, and every stitch shows the work and design process that went into it! I am glad you no longer care what he said, you shouldn't. Everyone has an opinion, but some aren't worth the breath they use. Your work is truly lovely!

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  2. Is he nuts????? It's gorgeous!

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  3. OMG! How have I never seen this before? I LOVE IT! "He" does not have discerning taste! Love it!

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  4. This is so much fun. Un-earthing treasures. That guy was nuts

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  5. Anonymous11:04 AM

    The old poop! - Glad you still have it for us to enjoy. Thanks Nina

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  6. 4. make a contract with the customer, and making 3 colour sketches out of which he/she can choose; the finished product has to be payed.

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  7. I thought it was called the "famous long stitch". Which would set it apart from the not so famous "long stitch".

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  8. Such a great quilt and very interesting history. I can't believe I've never seen it before. That long stitch is a bit insane. Yowza, girl. All that satin stitching, too! Wow.

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  9. Obviously, he didn't have much taste!! It is beautiful! I'll take it!

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  10. He is a complete nincompoop! I adore it!

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  11. Spring Sprouts is absolutely cool! There's no accounting for taste, and his doesn't matter, does it?

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  12. We, your loyal fans, friends, and followers,are in for one very colorful ride in the days and weeks to come. 28 years of quilting! What a positive, cheerful, and colorful impact you have had on the quilting world! Thank you, Melody, for so generously sharing your art with us.

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  13. Well, what do men know, really?

    I'm glad he didn't get it - because we'd never have seen it. I'm willing to bet if you put it up for sale it would be gone in a week!!!

    I love every stitch you take. Whether it's famous or not!! :)

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  14. This is gorgeous! I love your colors!!!! In everything!

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  15. I adore them both! They are outstanding! Maybe the guy is pastel-phobic...

    Kim

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