The Journal Quilt Connection, a Massachusetts 12" x 12" quilt group, has members choose a theme for each month. I chose birthdays or beginnings for July and posted these earlier. Pam's theme for August is strawberries. For me, that was a tough one, since I prefer cherries.
When I remembered John Lennon's Strawberry Fields, I began to warm to the theme. After about age 4 1/2, John Lennon (according to Wikipedia, and other sources on the Internet) lived with his aunt next door to a Salvation Army orphanage named Strawberry Fields. If I understand correctly, he loved to play in the wooded garden behind the home, especially when he heard the band starting up. I could also relate to Lennon's talk of trees as well as the elms in his memorial in NYC.
When I remembered John Lennon's Strawberry Fields, I began to warm to the theme. After about age 4 1/2, John Lennon (according to Wikipedia, and other sources on the Internet) lived with his aunt next door to a Salvation Army orphanage named Strawberry Fields. If I understand correctly, he loved to play in the wooded garden behind the home, especially when he heard the band starting up. I could also relate to Lennon's talk of trees as well as the elms in his memorial in NYC.
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People have studied the song's lyrics and made references to how different John felt from others. One source said he experienced visions that others didn't. There is in the second verse: "No one I think is in my tree." John said, "...therefore, I must be crazy or a genius."You can find all this and more if you Google Strawberry Fields Forever Wikipedia and check other URLs.
To create my quilt, I first drew simple shapes of boys and trees. I decided to cut silhouettes out of black fabric and applique them to the abstract strawberry field. I used Wonder Under and and then a blanket stitch. I knew I needed to quilt the background so I just started sewing straight stitches from the center out. A tiny border was called for so I used a 50-year-old iron-on hem binding I found in the attic. I stitched over that. Maybe I should quilt the boy and the tree but I don't know what would work. Perhaps I should have tried the "scribbling" open zig-zag black stitch painting earlier recommended by Susan! Maybe invisible thread to break up the expanses?The backing is a larger more realistic pattern of strawberries and kiwi.
Linda, I do so love this quilt! (Hmmm - I think I've said that before. :-) ) The fabric, the silhouettes, the "Strawberry Fields Forever" quotation all combine into one very effective whole. Kudos again!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the look of the silhouettes! Unique--I can't remember a quilt which uses them, and someday you may find me borrowing that idea! I most definitely do NOT think you should quilt the silhouettes, either. Having a heavily quilted background means that the figures of the boy (clever to have his kite be a strawberry--love that!) and the tree pop out in ways they would not, were they quilted as well. 50 year old iron on hem tape??? Wonder is that is still made? Amazing that it hasn't deteriorated and still "sticks"!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job recapturing the idea of John Lennon. It's got a wonderful nostalgic feel to it! The blog story really made it more meaningful! Donna Jean
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you were to substitute a black on black fabric rather than that totally black one...AB
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt --- the red brings about the idea of strawberries and the kite is one - very clever. I like the old-fashioned look of it all, and the boy's hat (John's hat? ) adds to the feeling of "old." Thanks for bringing us up to date on the song's title...always makes the visual more meaningful.You must have had your hem tape even before you married. It was just waiting to be used in a special way. ss
ReplyDeleteThat was not a hat but a tuft of hair I should have splintered as it was originally. Sometimes I move too fast. Ok...I exaggerated. I got the hem tape a short time after marriage. It won't be 50 years until after this year :*)
ReplyDeleteI, too, like cherries better than strawberries. However, maybe strawberries have more cache. Your strawberry background is certainly cheerful, and the boy with the strawberry kite, playful. I'm not a great John Lennon fan, but I like the song, "Strawberry Fields," and I love your Strawberry Fields Journal Quilt.
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Remember --- "in the eye of the beholder " - the boy is wearing a HAT :). ss
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