Tuesday, May 04, 2010

round peg in square hole

Today I'd like to share some of the experimental and phsyical effort it took to get the earth ark panel put together. The photos in this post were taken over the last month. The circle and the square elements were made separately, and they went together well. (separately) The circle part is divided in half between a vintage handkerchief 'heaven' and embroidered silk squares that make up a boat or ark shape. A crescent shape embraces this circle.

The square part is also divided in half and has a white linen 'sky' and a twinkly triangle pieced 'water'. Most of the triangles were pieced by machine, some were done by hand. I used the actual size drawing on fabric as a foundation fabric and basted the square and the circle to this foundation. I had to crawl around on the floor in the church hall for about two hours to do this. Then I removed that foundation fabric. Time was spent firming up the sewing along the piped edges of the circle. The many bias edges in the triangles caused some stretching, and while I was at dad's last week, I re-sewed the side edges of the water section to tighten things up a bit and help it to hang square. Once home, more time was spent firming up the sewing and removing as much of the heavy foundation fabric as possible. Yesterday, Myra Tallman helped me to put Earth Ark into the frame in preparation for quilting. I used a Meri-Mekko print bordered with linen tablecloths for the back. It took us about three hours to stretch everything out. Ned built the frame especially for the circle project and it works really well. The quilt on the frame will be in the church hall for the months of May and June - and I am hoping that women will gather around it.

This was a long post. It's a huge project, and sometimes I doubt myself, other times I think this is the best thing I've ever been involved with.

It goes in waves.

18 comments:

Lesley Turner said...

what a wonderful community project. the work is magnificent. i am sure everyone involved is honoured to be part of the project

Jeana Marie said...

so much work going into this project and it truly is a thing a beauty...wow...wow!
xo,
Jeana

Sweetpea said...

I so understand ***waves***. HANG TEN!!!!

Gina said...

It is an amazing project Judy.

Anonymous said...

Good heavens. Magnificent is the word. Fascinating to see behind the scenes like that and have a glimpse of the construction process. These pictures have a lot of trust and intimacy about them. Thank you for sharing; it was a delight to see.

Jacky said...

Amazing project. I am in awe of what you women have done and I am really enjoying your posts of the whole process.
The quilting stands are fantastic...very clever.
I can imagine all of the women coming together now for the quilting of this piece over the next few months.

Thanks for sharing all of this with us.

Jacky xox

jennlui said...

truly stunning judy! so amazing to see all the work behind the scenes, all the detail and attention.

if we don't let the doubt paralyze us, i think it really does push us along... all the best to you!

ale balanzario said...

What a wonderful job!! it looks wonderful, wow wow!! please let every woman that has been up to this job I admire it.
Ale

chrissythreads said...

looking great- you must be so pleased.

leilani said...

It has been so interesting -- too weak a word -- so fascinating to watch the progress of this piece. I wish I could have participated in its creation.

Velma Bolyard said...

wow! this is an awesome undertaking, and full of meaning for your church/community.

Mnemosyne said...

good gravy it's beautiful.

Maya Sara Matthew said...

Wow!What a beautiful community project.my mind boggles and the enormity of the whole effort which you shoulder and spearhead so gracefully. best wishes.

Jennifer said...

This project is just tremendous! Breathtaking really. In all my years of theological training and ministry and art . . . I've just never seen anything like it. I hope you feel the support that is behind you and around you.

nj said...

I love the back (of the front)! It's always a shame to me to lose the backs of fronts to batting and backing. Sigh...

Wonderful community project.

Diana Angus said...

Look at the love and mutual respect involved.

interwovenness said...

A perspective from one who has been lucky enough to experience the hands-on creation of this project with Judy—It has been a joy to participate each week, to do my small part with everyone else, and then to witness the beauty of how it all comes together. I missed the last two weeks of stitching, and then came into the church hall last night for our community choir concert, and was overwhelmed by the powerful presence and peace of the piece as we prepared to go out and sing…it was perfect. If I had known it would be there, I would have asked if we could have brought it into the main hall for our concert!?!? THANK YOU Judy for carrying the work of the orchestration of this project.

Heather said...

A remarkable project and such a beautiful piece. I hope you will show us a few more pictures of the process as it is completed.