Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!
Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement! appeared in Art Quilting Studio, Summer edition, 2018. Ann Baldwin May is having Fun With Color!Texture! Movement! in each of her art quilts.
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/press-coverage/
Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!
Having Fun With Color!Texture! Movement! will show the steps needed to add color,texture andmovement to art quilts using the fabric layering technique.
Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!
GETTING STARTED
The fabric layering technique makes it easy to have Fun With Color!Texture! Movement! to your art quilts. Begin by laying the back cotton fabric on a table. Choose a size that will easily fit on your work table. A square or rectangle about 15”-20” is a good start. Press the fabric to lay flat. Cover with batting which should also lay flat. Don’t worry if the edges don’t exactly line up, they will be trimmed later. Next, choose a fairly neutral background fabric or fabrics. Overlap the fabrics about an inch. If the fabrics shift during quilting, the batting won’t show. Cut a meandering line to look like rolling hills on the edge of the top fabric. Lightly baste with a glue stick.
Choose your Colors Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!
Choose your colors adding a range of hues from light to dark as well as colors that contrast. Play with the colors to see what you like. Be ready to eliminate those that really don’t work. Go for an impressionistic view rather than a picture perfect trunk, leaf, or branch. Each viewer’s eye will blend the colors uniquely.
Start Large to Small
When beginning to create the scene, start with the largest part and work to the smallest. Cut out the tree trunk and add branches as you go. Flip the fabric and use the backside to add dimension. When you have the tree the way you like it, lightly baste. Just baste in a few places not all over. Later on, if you may want to slide a branch underneath and you won’t be able to if it is totally glued down.
Add Details Having Fun With Color!Texture!Movement!
Add rocks to the foreground. Choose fabric that will work for you to add texture. Avoid fabrics that have rocks printed on them. I chose marbled fabric I bought at Pacific International Quilt Festival and a redirected fabric to add texture. You will notice that they are cut simply. Lightly baste the rocks to the background.
For the medium sized branches, I couched (zigzagged) decorative threads and ribbons on to a multicolored piece of redirected linen. Then I cut the branches out. I lay them on the piece balancing out the colors. Crossing branches adds interest and movement. Keep going until the scene is pleasing to you. Baste lightly.
Leaves Add Interest
Working on the leaves is so much fun. Gather contrasting and blending colors. Make the leaves about
3”-4” varying the shape and size. Small scrap pieces are all that are needed. Pay attention to balancing the placement of the colors . Reflective, shiny sheer fabrics add a pop to the leaves. Save them for the top for the greatest effect. If you choose to have the leaves stick out from the edge, make those leaves ½” bigger for ease of zigzagging. During the final trimming you can adjust the leaf lines by cutting before zigzagging. Lightly baste leaves in place. Your art quilt will also be successful if you decide to make the edges straight .
The Beginning of the End
When your artist’s eye says that the scene is complete, cover with tulle. Make sure that the tulle is 2 “ longer on all sides. It can pull a bit during quilting. Pin the tulle down making sure that it is flat but not stretched. Use a lot of straight pins; remove as you quilt. As with other quilting techniques, begin in the middle of the piece and quilt outward. Edges may be rolled to accommodate the machine’s space.
Helpful Hints
Beginners will have success stitching along the edges of the branches, following the lines of the fabric. More experienced quilters can add movement by quilting lines resembling slanting plants. Choose a thread color that blends with the background. I highly recommend Aurifil thread for successful free motion quilting. Trim the edges and zigzag two times. Press lightly with a pressing cloth or piece of fabric. Add a sleeve to the back to hang. Stand back and admire!
Everyone Starts Somewhere.
Several years ago I began my path from traditional quilts to art quilts. I took a class in the fabric layering technique from the award winning, Meri Vahl (meriartquilts.com). Meri had learned the technique from Northern California artist, Laura Fogg(laura-fogg.squarespace.com).The technique allows for much personal creativity; none of our work looks similar. I was inspired to create a tree with leaves overflowing the edges as I have sold five pieces to the new Kaiser Permanente Facility in Scotts Valley and WEatsonville, California. A change in color scheme keeps all of my trees unique.
Important Materials
quality scissors; large and small, sewing machine, darning /free motion foot, walking foot for zigzagging, rotary cutter, cutting board, plastic see through quilting ruler, cotton fabric for backing, tulle, synthetic fabrics, redirected materials, commercially marbled fabric, sheers, batiks, Aurifil thread, Avery glue stick, pressing cloth ( to protect tulle and synthetics from melting when being pressed),a pointed wooden stick , straight quilting pins(They are longer than sewing pins.)
Tips
- Leave a 1-2” empty back ground space on the sides of your piece. Then when trimmed your art doesn’t lose any interesting parts.
- A light colored tulle will be best for your first project. I personally am not fussy about the color of tulle I use.
- This technique is a forgiving way to practice free motion quilting. Before I learned this technique, I was ready to give up with free motion quilting in frustration. Lower or cover your feed dogs. Put your stitch length at 0. Use the darning/free motion foot with Aurifil thread. Push foot pedal control fast while slowly moving/quilting the layers of fabric.( Fast foot ,slow hand) Aurifil thread is available at most quilting stores. It appears more expensive but it really isn’t. I pieced and quilted a queen sized quilt of many seams with one spool.
- Throwing the leaves onto the scene adds movement. Free yourself from cutting out perfectly formed leaves.
- Use a large straight pin like a hat pin to get the tiniest dab of glue on the tip and gently slide under the fabric to be basted. I use a wooden stick similar to an emery stick to help me gently nudge the pieces of fabric to where I want them to be.
Advice for Beginners
I come from the world of bed quilts. The basic sewing skills used in traditional quilting are fundamental for most art quilting. However the “Quilting Rules” can be left behind. Buying patterns, pressing seams and matching seams are a few of those rules I have freed myself from. Give yourself permission to try something new, be it a color combination or creating your own designs. Listen to yourself. Take baby steps. You decide if you like your work or not. If not, change it. There is no wrong way to do it. Many art workshops or seminars begin with activities to get people in touch with one’s creative side.
About the Author
Ann Baldwin May lives in Santa Cruz, California. In 2012, she retired after teaching elementary school for 36 years. She began quilting in the 1970s. Ms. May participates in the juried Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour from her studio in the Santa Cruz Art Center. She recently sold five tree art quilts to Kaiser Permanente for their facilities in Santa Cruz County, California. May is a member of SAQA( Studio Art Quilter Associates). Contact her at baldwinmay49@yahoo.com or www.annbaldwinmayartquilts.com. Or visit her Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/annbmayartquilts/
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/01/creating-movement-in-abstract-art-quilts/
