A friend of mine asked me to choose a project for both of us to work on simultaneously. She lives about two and one half hours away; the traveling distance meant we would work on our projects independently. The deadline for the completion of the item was February, 2019. I was assigned the task of choosing the general guidelines. I selected red, teal and black for the must use colors. I also encouraged my partner to utilize the techniques outlined in Cindy Grisdela’s book Artful Improv.
Before the month was over I had this lovely specimen completed. Measuring 24” x 22” Exploring Shapes, Art Piece 95 easily met all of the requirements.
Exploring Shapes, Art Piece 95
If you have really great eye sight you might be able to read the placard displayed above my art quilt. On the card is the details of my project. This art piece was part of my September, 2019 solo exhibit at Blue Bar Quilts in Middleton, Wisconsin. Exploring Shapes is currently on display in my home.
Believe it or not, we have finally reached the end of this series. I’ve been sharing photos of my recently completed art pieces. Last Tuesday we took a look at number fifteen. Today’s post features the sixteenth, and final art piece in the collection.
Mixed Emotions
Reaching the end of a project always brings with it a mixed bag of emotions.
Sense of Relief: Finishing a project means I can finally move on to other endeavors.
Degree of Sadness: I pour so much of myself into each of the projects that it often leaves me drained, and exhausted.
Elation: Lastly it’s a chance to shout for joy and acknowledge the awesome accomplishment of successfully achieving a goal.
The completion of this series is no exception. I started out with a desire to tackle my goal head-on with every ounce of energy I could muster. My enthusiasm was as boundless as the stars are in the sky.
As the days and weeks passed I experienced the slow drain accompanied by intense concentration. In spite of my fatigue I managed to press-on.
Even though it is sad to acknowledge that the sixteenth quilt is the end of an era, I am at the same time thrilled to be able to turn my focus in another direction. Before doing so let’s take a look at the sixteenth quilt.
The Inspiration
I’ve titled this last item All Done because it brings to a close my quest to repurpose my orphaned Courthouse Steps remnants.
As you can see from the photo below I approached this miniature quilt differently.
Rather than stitching together random snippets of scraps, to create a center panel, I allowed the three tiny fragments to form a cascading arrangement similar to that of a staircase.
The leftover scraps were originally part of a courthouse steps quilt block. Replicating that design with these pieces seemed only fitting.
The remaining smidgens just happen to be from the same original block and as a result their colors nicely compliment one another.
Finishing Touches
To give the itty bitty squares the focus they deserved I enveloped them in a sea of stark white cotton fabric.
The seams of the border provided natural beginning and ending points for the quilting embellishment.
It Packs A Punch
Even though this small art quilt took very little time to create it carries with it a punch that demands attention.
All Done, AP # 65
Quilt Details
Materials: Fabric top and backing are 100% cotton
Batting: Warm & Natural White
Dimensions: 8 1/4” L x 4 1/2” W
Quilting Stitch: Angled lines using white thread
Quilted On: Conventional sewing machine
The Other Fifteen
If you have an interest in reading about and viewing the other fifteen pieces you can find them filed under the category Court House Steps.
Thank you so much for following along on this very long adventure! I hope that you have enjoyed watching.
Don’t Go Away!
I have many more art pieces yet to share so stay connected for the next reveal.
When I set out to write stories about my sixteen quilts I knew it would be a while before I finished. Now that I’ve finally made it to number fifteen I can’t believe my project is almost over.
Last Thursday we took a look at mini quilt number fourteen. Today we move on to number fifteen.
Are They Different?
Creating sixteen different quilts takes a lot of imagination. How boring would it be for them all to look the same.
By the time I made it to number fifteen I was getting bored with my project and eager to get it done. Has that ever happened to you?
To keep myself focused on completing the final two art pieces I had to figure out a way to spice them up.
A Framework
Just like the other fourteen, this one has quilt block scraps laced throughout the center panel. Connecting them all together is a woven framework of teal and lavender strips. The added strips are what make this piece unique.
The squares created by their intersecting pathways form small windows. Some of them are starkly white while others are saturated with color. The tick-tack-toe-like pattern provides a pathway for the eye to travel.
On Second Thought
Directly adjacent to the center panel is a grid of borders. Inside those borders are circles of varying sizes.
I am quite fond of the two designs and the fact that they compliment one another very nicely. They do however draw your eye away from what should be the focus of the quilt.
The flaw, which stands out like a sore thumb now, clearly was overlooked during construction.
Since I can’t go back and change my approach, all I can do is move on and learn from my mistakes.
Have you ever had that happen to you? Do you think the circle borders look out of place?
To Wrap It UP
To complete this original art piece I added a simple arrangement of straight-line quilting using a variegated thread.
Variegated threads are one of my favorite items to use. They add a peppy element of surprise. The abrupt changes in color help to add a sparkle much like that of jewelry.
Court House Surprise, AP # 64
Quilt Details
Materials: Fabric top and backing are 100% cotton
Batting: Warm & Natural
Dimensions: 10 1/4” L x 6 1/2” W
Quilting Stitch: Straight lines using a color coordinated variegated thread
Quilted On: Conventional sewing machine
What Next?
With number fifteen finally finished there is only one more to reveal.
Would you like to take another look at the other fourteen? Links to those can be found under the category Courthouse Steps, Block of the Month. Go ahead and check them out! You won’t be disappointed.
I’m always interested in hearing what you think of my work. Please share your thoughts.
We have only one more revelation to see! Don’t miss out!
