Thursday, January 19, 2006

January Journal

The journal quilt project has been challenging and fun. I felt free to try new things, since, if it didn't work out, I wasn't going to ruin a large major piece. Here's the front side of my finished page:

Here's the flip side:

Each side features a photo of my hand, which I manipulated by pasting it into a Word file. When you do that, a menu of effects appears, and I tried different ones until I found two that I liked. The manipulated images were printed onto transfer paper and then ironed on to fabric. The one on the back didn't transfer very clearly, so I machine quilted around it. I also framed that one with jute rick-rack.


The front side was foundation pieced and then heavily quilted. The idea of this image came to me in a yoga class.


I composed the words I wanted to use, and then tried writing and stamping them on strips of fabric and ribbon with gel pens and fabric paint. I settled on using my alphabet stamps and acrylic pain.

I also added gold buttons.

The foundation for the back side came out of my stash of itty bitty scraps.


I picked browns, and spread them end to end on a scrap of denim. I covered the whole thing with tulle and then quilted the heck out of it. I added the photo and trimmed it. At the last minute, I got daring and stamped some copper colored leaves on the top part. I think it came out nicely.

My major experiment with this piece was the photo manipulation. I intend to do more of this as the year goes on. I also intend to reflect on my dreams and visions.

19 comments:

Pat/SWquilter said...

Beautiful quilt, Barbara! It's so interesting to see how many people in the group chose trees this month in one form or another, but all so different, at least from what I've seen and heard others say about their pieces so far.

Kim said...

I agree with ALL the above comments. The branches coming from the fingers with the hand as the tree trunk is a powerful image. Really nice.

Micki said...

This is a nice piece, both on the front and back. very calming.

DebbyMc said...

I love this...it truly is the color and feel of winter (well, not here in S. California..but elsewhere...) I am very interested in your letters and stamping...I will be playing with that in one of my next challenges. That you had this idea during yoga class made me smile...I can't think of ANYthing in yoga class except not falling over...but I'm getting better...Great quilt!

jenclair said...

I'm running out of descriptive phrases, but agree with all previous comments. So many fresh ideas to examine in these journal reveals that I will have to come back and take notes later. What a terrific little quilt!

Samantha said...

Wow, lovely. I love how yourhandis featured on both sides of the piece, and the colors really fit the theme.

FYI, if you enjoy want to try some more photo manipulation, have you heard of Picasa? It's free, fun, and user friendly... http://picasa.google.com/index.html A fellow quilter recently got me hooked on it!

Debra Dixon said...

This piece definitely has Barbara stamped all over it! I like the new direction--Alot! yet I can still see some of the scrappiness too. Which leaves did you stamp? I love those veiny looking ones--are those the ones?

Fab-Oh!

Anonymous said...

It is very creative and lovely workmanship. I like that you used the scraps. That always make me happy and seems the heart of quilting anyway. The hand in it is inspired. Good job!

Barbara C said...

The stamped leaves are the brown ones you can see over the beige and gold fabrics. I felt very brave putting paint on that quilt not knowing how it would turn out.

Granny Fran said...

What a wonderful image, I love that you did the same image so differently on front and back. I also like the scrappiness and your stamping is so well done and adds a lot.

Sandra said...

This is wonderful. It just has a deep and mysterious feel to it. Great use of complementary colors, design, and textures. And your stamping ain't too shabby either! Photos are SO much fun to work with. How you gonna top this for February?

PaigeTurner said...

Your journal quilt is awesome! The branches growing from the fingers --were you doing the tree pose in yoga? What a great idea, and so evocative. You used so many intriguing images, words and techniques--I am humbled and inspired by your creativity! Beautiful job!
Beth

Helen said...

A very interesting and powerful design Barbara. It has such a feel of the month, dormant, earthy and the roots really give it a solid feel. I really like it.

Balwearie said...

I absolutely love the hand - front and back! I love the look of trees in the winter when you can see all their beautiful bare branches. You've done an excellent job here and I can't wait to see more. Oh, and I think you did the paint on the quilt thing spot on.

Pam said...

I love the collage effect and your trees - Nice Job

Marianne said...

Some of you are so resourcefull to express yourself with this medium. I've never done anything with photos yet, let alone manipulating them LOL. I'm making notes. Love your work.

Jen said...

I'm late to comment, but I think your use of photo with all the other elements is very effective. The combination feels original, especially with the addition of words. You can see and feel a "message" but it has enough subtlety for multiple interpretations. The stamping worked well too. Jen

Rian said...

Oh Barbara, this piece is incredible. I just love it. You're amazing.

Suze said...

wow...interesting piece. Really like the branches coming out of the hand.

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