Machine Quilting Unlimited

I just received my copy of the November/December issue of Machine Quilting Unlimited in the mail and it's very exciting to me to see what a beautiful job they did on an article I was asked to write several months ago.

In The Art of Combining Patterns in Cloth, I talk about my process and include several photographs of past work that illustrate my points.  I was very flattered to be asked to contribute to the magazine and they've done a fabulous job with the all the images printed - the colors are gorgeous!

If you're interested in reading the article and are not already a subscriber, you should be able to find the magazine at your local bookstore or you can order a copy through the link at the beginning of this post.

The wrong choice?

I think every good composition needs a bit of spark, an unusual accent or something out of the ordinary.  That zinger that gives it a bit of excitement. 

With that in mind, I chose the yellow floral that you see here, adding it sparingly across the middle of the piece, along the river.  I think it pairs nicely with the adjoining fabric of green leaves on a black background - both have patterns that are similar in size and scale.  But while the green and black leaves work well with my other fabric choices so far, the yellow floral seems too intense in color.  I would like your eye to be drawn to the birds first - not the odd yellow flowers in the middle!

I've searched my stash of fabrics and can't find anything that I like or that would work better.  And I'm not ready to give up on it yet.  A lot of the remaining fabrics I have in mind for this quilt are yellow-greens so perhaps they will help this yellow floral to fit in.  In the meantime, I'm keeping a careful eye on it and my fingers crossed!

 

Note Cards and Giclee Prints

Sometimes it's necessary to take a break from making art and spend time on the business side of art. 

I receive a lot of inquiries from people wanting to know if I sell giclee prints of my work or fine art note cards featuring my fiber art.  Thanks to Fine Art America I can now tell them "yes"!

If you're curious, I've added a link here and on my sidebar to the right.  Fine Art America has made it easy for me to offer a variety of images in a variety of styles.

Now back to making art - and I'll post images soon on the progress I've been making on my current quilt.

Looking for secondary patterns and lines

1

I've spent some time looking at my pattern, finding lines and shapes that I like and want to emphasize.  Lines that will take your eyes into the piece and keep your attention there (hopefully!).

2

I'm also looking at all of my fabrics again.  There are several stronger ones that I want to use sparingly, ones with very dark or very light values.  And one predominantly yellow fabric that I've placed along the middle.  That last one seems a bit out of place, a little too saturated in color.  I'll have to watch it and see how it gets along with everything else as the remaining fabrics are chosen.