Detail from "Rain Dance," an original quilt by Sherrie Spangler

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Getting centered with quilting


Time to focus on quilting again. I started this one last month, hoping to finish it in time for a May 1 deadline. I didn't, but that's OK because now I can take my time and let it evolve.

Here's a full view. It's about 18 by 45 inches. The batting around the edges won't show when it's done, and I'll probably do more quilting to emphasize the spiral movement.


I started by painting a big piece of cotton with Pebeo Setacolor transparent fabric paints, then I cut squares (free hand, not measuring) to use in the design. I wanted the edges to be free, so I only put little bits of fusible webbing in the center of the squares.





Instead of agonizing over how to quilt it, I decided to just go with free-form spirals (no marking) in gold thread. I love spirals.


The two spirals looked a little lost, so I scattered bigger squares around -- the message coming out was that while I want to feel centered, I always feel a little scattered. I tacked the bigger squares down with more gold thread in a little zigzag stitch and left the tails long because I like the way the gold tails reflect light.


Here's the little mess on the floor that I work from, pulling bits of this and that and pinning them on the quilt. I thought I might use a lot of transparent overlays, but ended up just putting one sheer gray circle in the center. ... Cloudy mind that needs centering?


I think I'll go with some meditative beading to emphasize the spirals and center the mind. Comments welcome!


Have a colorful day!

3 comments:

Linda Teddlie Minton said...

This is beautiful,Sherrie, I sure wish it had been finished in time for the Deep Spaces deadline. I can totally relate to the deadline issue, though ... I struggle with them myself. Please be sure to post pictures once it is finished!

ChrisC said...

The colors are gorgeous and I really like your idea of emphasizing the spiral movement. Thanks for posting your blog.

Judy Ferguson said...

My newest post on my blog called Ice Age is about this very subject. I do work better with deadlines, but at times, the inspiration just won't come.