Full Sails
Full Sails
Hand dyed cottons, fused, machine quilted 49x38"
I let go of all the mental obstacles and just dove in.
It took a while to get back into the rhythm of stitching and to add to the stress, I had a mean headache, and quit early Sunday afternoon.
But today I got back on the horse and finished quilting it. Sigh.
For the quilting I used a variety of different thread colors and so many areas are stop and start which it left me with zillions of ends to pull through. I chose a lightweight Asian muslin for the backing fabric, knowing I would have a snaggly mess of thread ends to deal with, so my plan is to add a lining to the piece. This is usually a total no-no for competition quilts, but since I am not competing, I think this will be the best finish.
*The obstacles? Here's what I was thinking: Having pretty much ceased making larger art quilts, because they tend to be too expensive to sell and not entering shows anymore, there would be no place for this piece to go other than the art closet. Pretty defeated attitude, no? But I loved this top and even more so now that it's quilted. I can hang it in my studio for a while and be happy to have it.
Absolutely breathtaking!
ReplyDeleteI would be happy to have it too! It is awesome!
ReplyDeleteMelody, this is amazing! And I love your signature in it. Wow!
ReplyDeleteWow! Truly stunning.
ReplyDeleteMelody, the colors in this piece are magnificent and I think the quilting is perfect! I know just what you mean about your head getting in the way - I have done it many times! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThe colors and the quilting blow my mind.
ReplyDeleteFabulous Melody and looks 3dimensional to me. Awesome - very Melody!
ReplyDeleteLucy
Yup, this is fantastic!What's neat about this one is I see bits of a bunch of your different themes, all swirling around in one glorious explosion of color!
ReplyDeleteI am not a quilter but this is fabulous, love the color, the design and yes the quilting.
ReplyDeleteAll adjectives used by previous comments, so this is repetition: absolutely fabulous! Marvellous colors and beautiful quilting :)
ReplyDeleteHeavenly! I hope the person who rejected it is kicking themselves. Their loss your gain. This really is a show piece lady.
ReplyDeleteOh, my. This is amazing. I just want to sit and drink it all in. The colors, the design, the quilting. Fabulous.
ReplyDeleteWow! It's STUNNING! You are soooooo talented, it's not even funny! The person who rejected the commission is a dunderdorf! Their loss...
ReplyDeleteWhat everyone else said! I wish I were more eloquent and could tell you how it makes me feel. Next time you get "stuck" you'll have to think of this one.
ReplyDeleteThe upper right "sky" just knocks my socks off and the way you included your signature is awesome!
Funny how you said that you "just dove in", because to me, this piece is all about moving forward, full steam ahead. It is very powerful, and had quite an emotional effect on me (tears). Congratulations - and thank you!
ReplyDeleteWonderful quilting! What kind of thread did you use?
ReplyDeleteI would design a room around it to hang that piece! Lovely effects!
ReplyDeleteWell when you get tired of it being on your wall I will be happy to have it hang on my wall for a while. This is one of my favorites. I love most of your works, but this one just has something special about it.
ReplyDeleteMel,
ReplyDeleteThe other comments pretty much say it all, but I just wanted to say I love this piece! I love the colors and the composition. The quilting is gorgeous, too. I like the combination of different stitch styles. It is a very striking piece. And, of course, I love the intensity and color variations in the hand dyed fabrics. Luscious!
Kristin F. in SC
Mel,
ReplyDeleteThe other comments pretty much say it all, but I just wanted to say I love this piece! I love the colors and the composition. The quilting is gorgeous, too. I like the combination of different stitch styles. It is a very striking piece. And, of course, I love the intensity and color variations in the hand dyed fabrics. Luscious!
Kristin F. in SC
Wow,
ReplyDeleteThis quilt above all your other quilts I love! It just captured my heart!
April
Gorgeous!! Can't imagine someone NOT wanting it...she must be nuts..haha. Hope she sees what she missed out on :) Wish I had the means to buy it :(
ReplyDeleteFirst I thought -- How did she piece that? Then I saw it was fused and I thought -- How come there are no raw edges or fraying? Then I thought -- WOW! That is a beautiful quilt and the name is perfect. The quilting is so perfect and I love how you stitched your name in the purple. Fantastic. Enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteWow - this one is my favorite since I've been following your blog. The way you handled the colors, shapes and threads are phenomenal. If I were you, I would hang this one front and center.
ReplyDeletelove, love, love it!
ReplyDeletethe depth of color, the power of the color combinations, that PURPLE! (love, love, love purple!)
it really does take my breath away.
It's absolutely fantastic! It deserves better than the closet.
ReplyDeleteThe colors are so warm and happy. Keep it out where you can see it.
It's amazing, and I rarely see a quilt that makes me go 'OMG'! (and I look at quilting blogs etc daily!). I'm not into traditional work and it does take a lot for me to really want to just keep looking at a piece - and yours does that. Why don't you want to try exhibiting or selling this one, after all if it doesn't sell or get in you get to keep it.... and I can think of far worse things :) But backing or not, it certainly looks brilliant enough to do so.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful quilt. The quilting is so interesting and adds even more movement to the quilt.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning! I believe this piece is in my top five list of Melody's quilts. I've loved it from the very beginning. You go girl!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine anyone rejecting this stunning quilt! The colors are commanding and the quilting is phenomenal! Congrats on finishing it.
ReplyDeleteGlorious Color!! The real Melody is back and I love it.
ReplyDeleteMarken
Melody - Your quilts have an inner luminescence that no one captures the way you do.The colors just glow. I am in awe.
ReplyDeletegorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteDitto what everyone else said about this piece. Totally amazing how much your wonderful quilting brings this piece to life with so much energy and movement! Congratulations for pushing on through!!
ReplyDeleteHey Marken,
ReplyDeleteIMO, the real Melody has never left.
I was just surfing around various quilt blogs and landed on yours.... I love the quilt .. I have learnt over time never to show an unfinished piece... the person who rejected this quilt must be blind ... and I hope really regrets that decision if they saw the finished piece... WELL DONE
ReplyDeleteYou should re-think entering shows again so Full Sails can have a proper outing. It is incredibly beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I caught up on your blog today or I would've missed this quilt. It looks like a boat on the water with a wonderful sunset behind it. I have no idea if that was your plan, but it reads loud and clear. It's just gorgeous! Also, it looks 3-D to me, and I can't figure out why that is so, but I love it. The quilting is beautiful, too. Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteStunning!! I LOVE it. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is really beautifull. Too bad the person that commisioned it rejected it, she/he doesn't know what she/he misses.
ReplyDelete