Given the quilt challenge topic "Strong," I remembered the countless lessons and encouragement in my childhood home to be physically, intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and morally strong. While I thought about other images of strength for this quilt, I quickly doodled my head above a fast scribble of my house on scratch paper (see below).No matter how I thought about the flags of "Boston Strong," weights of all kinds and symbols of strength in mythology, I was always drawn back to the major import of home for encouraging the strength of people, the oversized head image in my scribble very slightly influenced by Francisco Goya's giant.
I enlarged my scribble and used a light box to pen it with a Sharpie on fabric. I then "scribbled" again with scissors and fabric, spottily gluing down the quickly cut fabric for house and lawn with Aileen's Tacky Glue. The home image is neither calm nor orderly. It's size looms big, multiple and important.
After being fairly satisfied with the image and thinking that painting would have been much easier, I layered maroon tulle atop the 12" x 12" to further secure the small pieces of fabric. I also cut a black backing larger than the quilt and brought it over the front sides to hand-stitch a border. I machine-stitched a bit of everything with invisible thread and then embroidered the face and clouds with a back stitch and a running stitch, respectively, using no. 8 thread. Click to enlarge the images.
Your "scribbles" amaze me. They show me how tiny my talent is compared to a REAL artist...Just incredible to be able to pencil a few lines and turn them into a recognizable person. Love this one especially since you sent "Linda" to me. Thanks, my lifelong friend!
ReplyDeleteRA
This one blew me away. Your explanation and picture explain it so well!
ReplyDeleteI really love that! The scribble of yourself is amazing. I am also drawn to the bright colors of the house. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThe Cabinet of Dr. Caligari ! Your quilt makes an inspiring comment about strength. It's not necessarily the symbolism of flags, weights, muscles, Boston Strong in bold letters -- all outward and aggressive signs of power. But strength is something actually quite internal -- the slow building up of confidence that comes from within, the home inside yourself. Beautifully done Linda.
ReplyDeleteI had to research The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and figure you are referring to the sets! Thanx for the reference. I found on-line: "The first thing everyone notices and best remembers about 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' (1920) is the film's bizarre look. The actors inhabit a jagged landscape of sharp angles and tilted walls and windows, staircases climbing crazy diagonals, trees with spiky leaves, grass that looks like knives. These radical distortions immediately set the film apart from all earlier ones, which were based on the camera's innate tendency to record reality."
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you for these comments!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I have already commented on this wonderful quilt on the MM blog, so I won't repeat what I said there here. Except to say that this is one of my favorites of all your little 12"x12" quilts. I think focusing on the strengths of home and family is such a powerful way to go with this theme. I have always thought your home in MA was charming and is really the epitome, in my mind's eye, of what a cozy family home ought to look like. I was IN your Amarillo home years and years ago, but have no memory of it. But I have heard so very much about your wonderful parents and those brothers of yours that are stellar men!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda,
ReplyDeleteI love the James Thurber-esque quality of your sketch. You've captured the warmth and affection with which your home is imbued, but the honest design also shows a quirky side - this is not an Ozzie-and-Harriet fantasy land. Well done! - Ellen
Terrific, Linda -- I think I marveled at it in an email instead of on your blog. Nevertheless, the blog is wonderful -- proving once again what a clever artist you are and what a fun "drawer" you are. :)
ReplyDeleteFinding "you" overlooking your work is so real!!! I love all you do and wish we lived nearer so you could train me. Think you'll ever move back home? That is our plan. Hope so, hope so!!!
DeleteLove U, RA