Somewhere around the middle of May, my poppy garden is in full bloom creating a gorgeous area of waving red orange petals outside my kitchen window. One of my favorite spring flowers, the poppy keeps me humble as a gardener. I never could grow a single one anywhere I lived yet when we moved to Port Byron, they just appeared one spring and kept coming back without any help from me. I just need to admire them and be in awe of their determination. Like in quilting, sometimes the most unexpected and unplanned combinations or designs work out and everything just feels right. This art quilt was originally made for the Cherrywood 2024 Challenge. It wasn’t accepted as a finalist yet is one of my absolute favorites in all 5 I’ve entered. “Remember Yesterday, Celebrate Today and Hope for the Future” is filled with dimensional flowers and stems/buds, drips with sparkling beads and crystals, is covered with hand dyed laces and secretly has the names of family and friends who have passed away listed on the backs of the “taggies”. Love this one!
Tag Archives: Cherrywood Fabrics
My Cherrywood Challenge
Very exciting news this week! My Princess Diana artquilt was selected by Cherrywood Fabrics to be a finalist in their challenge. FYI: We had a selected group of various pink/white fabrics to create our piece focusing on the theme of Princess Diana. I added some sage/darker greens for accent in the corners and the leaves which was allowed. Using their beautiful white fabric, I was able to soak it in bubblejet, dry, and print various images of Diana at work helping others. Since my focus was on how she inspired others (like me) to help where and when needed, I created a mask out of the darkest pink and swirled the corded ties around the face of the piece (How many masks did I make during this pandemic? I lost count at 150). Heavily beaded to pick up on the glamour of Diana, there is also a dimensional center beaded rose in the right corner. Using the lightest pink fabric, I overdyed it with Darma’s Fushia Dye to create a unique batik look for the petals. I’m excited to see where it goes from here! We all find out towards the end of February, which of the selections are the big winners but I personally feel that I’ve already won by just being selected. The quilt will be on tour for a year and photographed for their book. Awesome!!! Cherrywood, you’re the best!!! What a great opportunity for a quilt artist. Thanks!!!
“Uniquely . . .Prince”
An exciting day when I received word that my “Prince” art quilt was accepted as a finalist in this year’s Cherrywood Fabrics Challenge!! Like “The Lion King” piece, this one will be photographed for the book and go on tour around the country for the upcoming year 2018/19. Am still grinning since mine were both chosen for the two challenges that I entered 😁. Perhaps the gorgeous purples in the fabrics were the enticement or maybe the lure of a rock and roll theme for an amazing musician pulled me in, but it was an adventure researching Princes’ life and music while I designed the piece below. Had to figure a way to keep the guitar strings supported so there’s a laminated cardboard piece on the back to keep the quilt from collapsing or curling in when hung. Loved putting all the beads and crystals plus the variety of embellishments that were mostly hand dyed. ‘Way cool theme and fun to create. Will let you all know what venues it will appear in. Anxious to hear myself!
The Lion King Challenge: Cherrywood Fabrics
Wow! I’m a finalist in this challenge and am so excited thinking that others besides my friends might like my artwork. 🙂 This was an interesting piece to create because I got to use the lovely Cherrywood Fabrics (like suede) in black and golds. So much of African fabrics are texture and design oriented that I had to figure a way to paint the animal prints and use quilting patterns to speak to these. Embellished with gorgeous African Beads, raffia, and giraffes cut out of exotic wood veneer (not to mention the signature Lion King Logo), it was a lot of fun to design. As I listened to the powerful music from the Broadway show, studied online videos, and talked with others, I focused on the concept of the paths that we follow throughout our lives (our circles) and sewed with my Bernina. Loved working with this fabric! Had fun creating around the theme! And, am eagerly waiting to hear if it “goes on the road” with the Lion King Tour. And maybe (keeping the fingers crossed), it gets displayed in New York City at the Lion King Broadway theater this fall!! It’s in Minnesota being photographed for the book at the moment. ‘Way Cool!
marykayhdesigns 