Journeys

The past four and a half years with Viewpoints 9 has been quite a journey! I can’t believe it’s the end of the third cycle already. This group has helped me to grow and to push my limits in my art, in my thinking and in what I demand from myself. Thank you all!

For this challenge and my theme of water, I used rusted fabric to make an old map I call “The Journeys of Sir Richard” (30.5” H x 40.25” W). 

I wanted to stretch myself to not only use my undesirables, but also use elements of all of the challenges this cycle. Here’s what I did:

• Challenge 1 – Use thread in a new way for you – Well, I finally did some hand stitching! Sir Richard’s island forays are stitched by hand. Note to self: budget more time when doing hand work.
• Challenge 2 – Neon – I used neon blue paint for the water.
• Challenge 3 – Unconventional fabric – I tore and cut a piece of leather and burned lettering into it for the “sign plate”. In addition to the leather, the rusted fabric includes linen and canvas, two unusual fabrics for me.
• Challenge 4 – Tradition – The quilt is made with traditional block piecing.
• Challenge 5 – Dimension – (Hopefully) I created depth in the water with the use of color and contour. 
• Challenge 6 – Natural Dyes – I used rusted fabric pieced together in 2.5” squares.
• Challenge 7 – Monochromatic – Does brown qualify as black? I only used blue paint and the natural rust/black color of the fabric.
• Challenge 8 – Text – Areas of the map are named and the entire map is labeled with text.
• Challenge 9 – Undesirables – My rusted fabric counts for two of the challenges! I may have to rethink the undesirable part.

The Undesirables

I’ve never met an artist without a stash. This trend of collecting transcends art and extends to all passions. I have spoken to friends in all arenas: fishermen who have their special stash of lures, triathletes with their stash of equipment, surfers with their “quiver” of boards.

As a novice art quilter I was thrilled by all the things I saw. As my eyes opened to new techniques, my stash of “tools” expanded. I confess, at the beginning I was more of an acquirer than an artist, but the fire of technique is born of the flame of passion. And so my passion for all things quilting led me onward.

Unfortunately, and inevitably, the process of collecting favors some items and leaves others behind: the undesirables. For art quilters it may be a fabric or tool or component or technique. Something that seemed perfect in the moment but not so perfect later. It may have been tried and discarded or never used at all.

In cleaning my closet recently, I came across many items that caused me to ask “What was I thinking?!!” I had beans – yes, dried beans that someone said made nice beach rocks – and thread waste – yes, discarded thread that someone said would make a nice bird’s nest – and…well, you get the picture.

What are the undesirables in your closet? Fabric? Rubbing plates? Embellishments? I challenge you to dig deep into your early days of learning and acquisition and unearth something you previously cast aside. Use the undesirable to stretch yourself and to create something you’ve not imagined before.

The vertical dimension (height) should be 30”. The width is your choice.

Undesirables?

A thousand pardons to my V-9-3 teammates !!  One of my personal undesirable traits is a poor memory unless I have written information down. When I am holiday far from my home, I actually have to remember to read it..which is what happened.  Totally blanked, Martha had to nudge me.

We are visiting good friends in Northern California.  Friends who introduced me to Mid-century modern design among other things.  We often go 'thrifting' together where we find other peoples undesirables that, for us, are treasures.

Pictured above is beautiful red West German pitcher, paired with a classic Eva Zeisel pitcher bought for $10 at a flea market.

I shot this photo to take in the painting behind it.  It is a collage using discarded magazines, blue flat plastic bottle rings, a bit of fabric, buttons and paint.

All of us find beauty in some things that others find undesirable.  Knowing this, when I return I am going to rent a tent, fill it with my own undesirables and invite all the local guilds to come find something beautiful for themselves.