Leaves Of Grass

(With apologies to Walt). When I left you on Monday, I had managed to come up with a design to put to use the fabrics in the Drunken Quilters' Challenge. I had an idea to do grass in those wheaten earthy colours (plus a few shiny fabrics of my own) as the ground beneath Mr. Rabbit; but before I did that, I had to make a backdrop for the focal point and adjoining elements - which meant I had to quilt the background.

(Well, I didn't have to, but for me lately, my process seems to be that I quilt the background first and then add elements - quilted or otherwise - on top of it. )

I also needed to do something to convey the movement in the inspiration piece, and the best way to do that was through the background quilting.

Speaking of background, I wanted the fabric blades of grass to be the lower focal point, but I didn't want them to just be laying there on top of the backdrop relative to nothing, so I also had to quilt in some background grass for them - I mean they were practically there already in the rust dye - they just needed a little drawing out.

And you'll remember that my rabbit was a flying rabbit rather than a jumping rabbit - and since I had to use some of the Japanese paper, my idea was to use it as a kind of exoskeletan for the wings, laying it over some of the tulle fabric. When I tried that, it looked like what it sounds like - some paper lieing on top of some tulle (no picture necessary lol); but having cut the fabric and not yet fused it down, I decided to do it the other way around - and put the "boning" under the tulle rather than over it.

Ummm, no.

I tried something else though - and it looks good from the back, right?

To see the full reveal (seriously, I think it's one of the prettiest things I've ever made!) and to discover how I dealt with THE BEAD PROBLEM (dun, dun dunnnnnnnn!) - come back on Friday!

See you then. :)

15 comments:

Sequana21.3.12
You always have the most interesting "problems."

I've never had any problems with MY flying rabbits. HA!
Mary Ann Tate21.3.12
It's very interesting to see your process:) I like flying rabbits.
Katie21.3.12
Oh my goodness, a bunny with wings? Just like Pookie, from the stories I read as a child!
elle21.3.12
This is something I can do. Sort of. I have rusted some fabric and I have MQ'd backgound and added texture with leaves. But a flying rabbit? Too Cute. I shall be back on Friday! :)
Kit Lang21.3.12
Elle, please don't copy my work.

It's lovely and flattering when people are inspired by what I do, but be inspired as this piece was by Dali's work or my "Musicians of Bremen" piece was by Mary Stori's Bluegrass Postage Stamp quilt; don't be a copycat.

I don't sell patterns or kits 'cuz my work is mine and I want other people to do theirs. Okay?

Thanks!
Marjorie's Busy Corner21.3.12
This is the neatest piece.....very nice
Queenie Believe21.3.12
How exciting!!! It's funny how a challenge turns out to be one's favorite piece!
Sooooo loking forward to Friday!
Have a great day!
Always, Queenie
Dolores21.3.12
I'll be back. It's an interesting process - quilting first.
Dale Anne Potter21.3.12
Kit, this is LOVELY!
THANKS for posting the link on The Thread & Needle Network.
Mary Stori22.3.12
The design is really coming together....I like how your background quilting helps to add energy and movement....
Kit Lang22.3.12
Thanks Mary - that was it's purpose, so I'm glad you noticed! :)
Sheila22.3.12
Amazing work , loved seeing this and can't wait for the big reveal !
Linda22.3.12
Lovely! Anxious to see the reveal.
elle23.3.12
Kit, I am always intrigued with the how of how things are done even if it is something I have experimented with myself. I'd like to follow your process but I'd not copy another's work. Sorry you misunderstood. I did mean I can be inspired by your work but still create something of my own.
Regina24.3.12
You are one of those quilters that make me question why I bother making my boring, conventional quilts.......:-)