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

Monday, February 27, 2012

Background challenge


The challenge quilt's deadline is March 1 and I still hadn't decided over the weekend what kind of background to use. Black would be an easy solution -- it really sets off the colors -- but I'm tired of black.


I thought this batik (above) would work because it has the same colors, but the quilt just disappeared against it. On the other hand, that could be an interesting effect.


Then I pulled out the veggie print that also matched the colors exactly, but it overwhelmed the quilt.


I like it against this piece of fabric that I painted last year, but the piece wasn't big enough and I don't feel like pulling out the painting supplies. In the photo below I tested a strip of pink to see how it might work bordering the edges of the pieced section.


Finally I went to the quilt shop (as if I don't have enough fabric in the stash) and settled on the whimsical pink raindrops on green batik. Rain for the garden. I also went with the pink border to set the quilt off from the background print. Now it's quilt, quilt, quilt. Should be done tomorrow!



Have a colorful day!

2 comments:

The Idaho Beauty said...

To my surprise, the disappearing act appealed to me after the initial reaction of no, not right. It made me see it as an aerial view, made sense of the random piecing and colors.

However, from what little I can see of what you decided on, that looks like an excellent choice too. Quilt on!

Ladybug said...

I really enjoy seeing all of the choices you consider for the background, the pluses & minuses of each one. Each of those is lovely, and I can picture the finished piece with each - perhaps just a matter of what pleases a person? I know you're heaving a giant sigh of relief at this point...