Four-In-Art Q4: Light: Ilumination

Illumination

My mind immediately went in two directions when I saw the challenge for this quarter.  The first was the way the sky was illuminated just after sunset, almost like a reverse rainbow.  And I could have done that and probably been pretty happy with it.  But what I really wanted to do was make an illuminated letter.  Medieval style.


Enter the William Morris R

I searched online for an illuminated R that I liked that was copy right free.  I came across the image below.

It is one in a series of letters that William Morris of England designed in the 1800s.  You should read about him.  He apparently started the Arts and Crafts movement in England.  He was also very interested in illuminated medieval style lettering and printing.

The quilt itself is reverse applique, and to describe all the time and the technique I will devote a maker post to this quilt in the next couple of days.

The gold is a lame, the rest are quilting cottons.  The black is a batik.  The whole thing is quilted with Superior's invisible poly on top and black Aurifil on the bottom.

 Just a fun birdhouse print on the back.  Great for hiding stitches.....  A label is coming, I promise.  The batting is actually a fusible fleece.  I'll go into detail in my maker post. 

Finished size: 14"x 15"
You can directly visit my blog *here*

Illuminating Sunlight

My quilted project for the 4th quarter reveal is titled Illuminating Sunlight. You can read more about the inspiration for this project on my blog HERE.

Stained Glass Shadows

My quilt project for this challenge incorporated paper piecing and 60 degree triangles to interpret Elizabeth's sub-theme Stained Glass Shadows. The idea that stained glass shines on a surface and casts a shadow of color on that surface was what we were to base our pieces on. 

The upper portion of my quilt is a paper pieced stained glass block I designed in EQ7.

The bottom portion used 60 degree triangles cut from lighter pastel fabrics 

than the fabrics used in the upper paper pieced block. 

They were sewn in relation to where the shadow colors from the stained glass might fall.

The quilting was used to accentuate the colorful shadows with their somewhat blurred effect on the surface of the containment.

It also helped define the grays of the stone work in which this window was housed.  

 For more information about my challenge piece, visit my blog. Thank you.

Stained Glass Shadows

I loved this theme, which Elizabeth suggested.

I went looking for stained glass shadows in the National Portrait Gallery

although I found most of my inspiration in Elizabeth's photographs, particularly the way the shadows where light wasn't falling looked purple.

My quilt is intended to capture the saturated colour and softened nature of the light where it falls, and the purple shadows and crisp shapes of the areas where it doesn't. Read more about it on my blog

Colored Shadows

Colored Shadows.  A mini quilt made for my Four-in-Art Group.
This Quarters theme was light: Stained Glass Shadows

 I confess that I wish it had stayed more like this, more vibrant, but with time....and water,

 It ended up more muted.  My inspiration was the way the sun shines in through a stained glass window onto the floor tiles of some ancient cathedral.

 Just a fun teapot print for the back.
This mini finished up at 11.5" x 12.5"

You can visit my personal blog to see the details of the making of this mini at rachel-thelifeofriley.blogspot.com

Stained Glass and Shadows

Sadly, my shadows are not all I'd hoped for but you can see more about this quilt on Rainbow Hare, Janine :)

Rose Window

For the August 1, 2017 Challenge, the theme was Stained Glass Shadows, in the overall yearly theme of Light.

Rose Window

13 1/2" wide by 18" long

Quilt Number 185

I decided to focus on the colors left as the sun passes through stained glass windows, doing some improv piecing, then dense quilting to create this little piece.

You can read more about it on my blog, OPQuilt.com (which stands for OccasionalPiece-Quilt).  This is the penultimate challenge for 2017, as our last one for the year is November 1st.  Check back then to see all the talented quilters create for that theme.