Pages

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Beach Blue


After finishing Anni's Sunset, I was ready to start something new. Since it had been quite a while since I started something new, I was overwhelmed with ideas. So overwhelmed that I didn't know where to start. I decided to start with nothing, no particular idea that was crowding my head.

I had liked how the neutral stripes in my Random Passion piece turned out. I started making some more and then after sewing, this piece started to form (which happened to end up being related to some of my ideas). I call the above piece, Beach Blue #1. There is machine quilting in the striped areas but I thought it called for some hand quilting in the open area.

I could really use some feedback on whether it was successful or if the machine quilting in that area, as well, would have been better. It is hard to see but there is blue, yellow and off white thread used in those stitches.

7 comments:

Beverly said...

It is hard to see the different color thread on the top area- I don't know if that is from the picture, or because it is hand quilted. Why not try some machine quilting on a piece of fabric like the one you used on this, and see? If it is texture you are after, machine quilting certainly has a more definitive line.

I like the curvy piecing, by the way- it lends a nice sinuous line to an otherwise geometric piece.

JillW said...

I really like this piece, it's very calming. It would be nice to have hanging on the wall of my cubicle at work, for those times when an escape is needed!

As for the quilting, i LIKE the hand quilting -- the texture it produces is very different from machine quilting. I think it makes a nice contrast to the machine quilting I also like the contrast between the curves and the straight lines.

Jill

Wendy said...

I like this, it is very peaceful. I like the vertical stripes and the wavy blue, and the way you quilted the top echoing the blue curves. Did you hand quilt the stripes at the bottom?

Jeri C Pollock said...

I like the hand quilting. It adds a textural dimension to the top. I think without that texture, the piece would become boring rather than soothing. One thing you might consider is adding one or two stitches in a bright blue color that would be visible--in random locations. Just a very few.

sylvia said...

a very serene piece. I keep thinking if just a tiny bit of intense color in a very small place might be needed. Can you make a color-scan print of the piece and try out some different possibilities? Perhaps a few delica beads or a line of stem stitch on one seam. Too much and you will lose the serenity of the piece. Sorry I'm not good enough at photoshop to try out some ideas for you.

JYA Fiberarts said...

I like the curved piecing of the water. I think the piece needs something to focus on. It looks like it something in the sky area, to me. Keep working on it.

LynnDel said...

I agree with previous comments - peaceful colors and composition, and the handquilting is great, though perhaps a blue or darker tan thread would make it show more (if that's what you want). I feel like it is a great background for a focal point of some type.