Contemporary Quilting

I recently went to an exhibit on Contemporary Quilting. It was wonderful, so many creative designs, all artistic and emotional...the creators had really put a piece of themselves in their work. I myself have known quilters for the past 5 years or so and have come to understand what a passion these women have for communicating and expressing something important to others through their fabrics.

I've wanted to take up the hobby for a while and have not had the time. This year though I managed to finish my first lap quilt.

Nothing to gush about but I did enjoy choosing the colors for the quilt and deciding how the pattern would be put together. It was a simple quilt but did take a while to complete being the first one I've worked on! I am far from skilled in the sewing department but I think as I continue this hobby piecing the quilt together will go faster and faster.

What I worked on above is more of a traditional quilt design. What I'm inspired to try now is a Contemporary Art Quilt. A while back I was inspired to try something new, work on a project that would never sit on a lap but instead would hang on a wall - but it would be fabric. I created the two pieces below.

These are simply contructed pieces, I am particular about colors going well together so picking the fabrics took longer then sewing them! As you can see there is a dark to light, light to dark theme. And the pieces would hang opposite on the wall, one vertical, one horizontal. What I will do next is pick a border and backing fabric and I'm going to hand stitch it all together with some sort of eccletic pattern. I think I may also use some beading.

I'm very inspired after this show so I believe I may have more pictures of new projects coming soon!