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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Not quite right


Here’s a new piece I just finished. I needed a new sample to take to the class I’m teaching later this week for the East Cobb Quilters’ Guild in Marietta, Georgia (near Atlanta). So I was hurrying, hurrying, hurrying along, but I had a vague feeling that something was not quite right. Nothing I could quite put my finger on. But I was in a rush, so I ignored that nagging sensation and moved along. The minute I finished quilting. I knew what it was. Do you? Yep. The dragonfly’s wings are on upside down. Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

Beyond the wing issue (I will never look at this piece without knowing it is WRONG!), there are some things I love about this piece, and somethings I'd do differently. I love the beautiful colors and texture in the wings. I love that hand-dyed background. I love the circle raindrops, where I did some thread sketching on the surface, and then some quilting to add dimension. But if I had to do it again, I'd do more dragonflies, probably three (the one looks kind of plunked there), or at least not center the one dragonfly so much on the piece. I could have added more movement to the piece if I had quilted it differently.

Regardless of the design flaws, and the wing malfunction, it is still a good sample to demonstrate the techniques I’ll be teaching. I’m going to teach my “Start With a Photo” workshop where we make my Round Red Barn design this Thursday, meet with some of the quilters that night, then do my presentation at the guild meeting on Friday, and teach a thread-sketching class (the dragonfly) on Saturday. I just love meeting and teaching other quilters! It is going to be fun.

What do you think I should name this piece?

14 comments:

  1. Topsy-turvy Taffy

    Topsy-turvy because the wings are upside down and Taffy because the colors of the background make me think of salt water taffy colors, seaspray, and carnivals.

    BTW, I'm not sure I would have put my finger on the fact that the wings are upside down!

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  2. I didn't notice the wing issue at all -- my eyes were drawn to the circles. They are great! And so is this piece.

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  3. I think the majority of people won't notice the wings unless you tell them. How about "Flying in the Face of Convention"?

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  4. Regardless of the "wingding" it's a lovely piece. Made me smile :)

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  5. You could just say that the body got turned around instead of the wings being upside down. It's a lovely piece anyway you look at it. I love the colors---yummy.

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  6. I didn't notice at all, and I bet no one else would... I like 'dragonfly on drops'.

    I do enjoy following your blog.

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  7. I would have never noticed if you had not told me;)
    I think it is beautiful!

    Debbie

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  8. Isn't it funny how only you can see certain things.... I would have never noticed the problem with the wings!

    Love the piece!

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  9. Have to agree and say I wouldn't have noticed. Another wonderful piece and I am really enjoying your series in QA as well.
    "Rainy Days and Mondays always get me UPSIDE DOWN":)

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  10. Oh my gosh I didn't even notice the wings! I think it is lovely and am enjoying this pink and yellow color combo. It is like pink and yellow lemonade out on the porch :)

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  11. Fabulous piece!

    We are our own worst critics. A quilting friend told me years ago, never point out your mistakes. Almost always no one will notice. It is so true.

    I love it with only the 1 dragonfly taking center stage. Think of what Georgia O'Keefe did with 1 flower.

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  12. The quilt is beautiful, however, the wings are also attached at the wrong place. They should be attached to the thorax not the abdomen.

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  13. Dee Dee, they are attached in the same spot as they were in the Dover clip art image I used. I suppose they could have been drawn incorrectly there.

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