Friday, June 23, 2006

Challenging myself


This week, I challenged myself to use the Kimono scraps I bought at the Quilt Festival in Chicago. Actually, it was an exercise in creativity to remove a block I've been succumbing to lately. Take a look and let me know what you think...I think I succeeded. The cloud has lifted!
For now, they are not titled. I'm so intrigued with other cultures and will think of something appropriate.

For the quilt above, I used three kimono scraps...well four if you count the binding. The quilting replicates the brush the deer is lying on in the center piece. It measures 16 1/2 X 13 1/4.



This one was fun to create...I have so much playing with beads, but always worry about overdoing it. Simple design is just fine for me.

Five scraps were used in this little quilt. For the quilting, I mimicked the lines in the mountains fabric. This one measures 11 3/4 X 9 1/2.

Now... back to the 'brain' series. Always thinking!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are right! The beads are just right. And work very well.
Pamela in kansas ....

Linda Teddlie Minton said...

Ann, both of these new pieces are little treasures. Your elegant quilting on the "deer" quilt is perfect, and in keeping with the Asian philosophy of less is more. The delicate fishing lines on the mountain quilt also prove the point. Are the lines some sort of cording, or are they tiny seed beads?

Congratulations on very successfully breaking your "block"! Let us know when you've decided on titles ... I love good titles!

Operation Kid Comfort said...

Thanks Linda,
The lines are the thread tails from the quilting. I left them long and then attached the wood and fish beads.

I did find a Japanese folk tale about the fisherman and the mountain man who are descended from the sun goddess...seems like I may have created a quilt to go with it.
Ann

Unknown said...

these are both lovely...I especially like the mountain piece...the thread and bead elements really set the design to perfection...Ginger

Anonymous said...

Ann, I am especially impressd with your kimono fabric piece. Right now I am exploring the East and have WIP on this theme. I would say you have become "unblocked"!
Keep it up.

Carole

Anonymous said...

Love the mountain quilt and the embellishments.

Susan J Barker said...

Thanks Ann for your encouragement on finding creativity -- my muse is not away, she is simply blocked in the sewing room and I can't find the time to get to her! I do really like the mountain quilt and the quilting lines do enhance the "peaks"... I will look for 1 hour to create and maybe something will come along...

CalicoDaydreams said...

This is beautiful!