Be Delighted

"Oh my my my my, what an eager little mind!"

Auntie Mame

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Van Gogh's Coffee

A couple of months ago my friend, Toni, informed me she had entered me in an art quilt challenge because she knew it was something I would do. And she was right. The challenge, by Cherrywood Fabrics (challenge@cherrywoodfabrics.com) was to create a 20" x 20" quilt inspired by the works and palette of Vincent Van Gogh. Each entrant received a package of dyed fabrics, three blues and one black, recalling the colours Vincent often painted in, and could then add two or three more colours from their same fabric line to complete the concept of their quilt. I'd like to say I mulled for days over what to create but quite honestly, this idea, probably fueled by caffeine, came to me pretty quickly.
 The work has now been completed and submitted and I will find out in late August whether I made the cut. Chosen quilts will win awards and also go on a national tour for a year, including the Houston International Quilt Festival. (Many competitive quilters admit their quilts have been to a lot more places than they have.)

I decided to document the whole process as I worked on it. Most people don't realize how painstakingly slow fiber arts can be, even on a small piece like this, but as someone who enjoys the process, it is one area that I actually have amazing patience in. And I am not known for my patience.

First I got some plain white sketching paper and drew a big coffee cup. I used a Sharpie marker to create bold outlines which would be used as pattern pieces on fabric to cut out the individual shapes that would form shadows and highlights.


I then cut the white fabric shape and fused it onto the black fabric, followed by fusing the blues on the white. I added some background yellow because Vincent loved using yellow in lavish ways. Also, warm colours were a nice contrast to all that blue and black.



Time for some swirls. Starry night is a go.


Then the stitching begins:


More stitching, more embroidery. Even sequins! I was going to add a spoon for a little diagonal drama but came up with a better idea.

More details. And actual paint. Homage to the master.


Finally, I needed a professional image shot so I called in the pro from Dover, Naomi Hill, for some hi res photos.


So wish me luck, and thanks,Vincent, for all the beauty!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wrNFDxCRzU

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