Saturday, September 12, 2009

Minimalism


"Minimalism"
31 x 38 inches

Here's my project that was inspired by the quilts of Yoshiko Jinzenji and Ingrid Press. I've titled this one "Minimalism". I've also been influenced by Jacquie at Tallgrass Prairie Studio blog. . . . I love the clean, spare look of her quilts. This is only to the flimsy stage - I have no time for quilting it yet.

This was fun and it came out very close to how I had visualized it even though I had no real plan when I started. This style of work still intrigues me and I'd like to do at least one more quilt in this style. I even already have another idea.

I know that Yoshiko Jinzenji has a line of fabric out, but 1. I don't know where to buy it and 2. No way am I paying something like $20/yard for fabric! After looking at the quilts on Monica's blog post about the Birmingham Festival of Quilts, I thought I could make it without the fancy fabric.


So, I hauled out my graphic white-with-black fabrics and starting cutting. I cut a strip @ 2 inches by width of fabric of each fabric. I used a maximum of 4 or 5 inches of each strip of the graphic prints. I used lots of the white fabric! I lost count of how many strips I cut of the white. Now I have enough of the graphics left over to do another black & white quilt!

You can see in these closeups how I inserted those graphic prints. Some of those little pieces are only 1/4 inch in width.

My seam allowance really show up here and I think that's because I have the quilt top on a piece of grey felt. I think they'll show less when it's layered with batting and a backing. I kind of like how they show anyway. I think it adds another design element to the top.


The hardest part for me, which kind of surprised me, was being minimal! It was so difficult to stay simple. I kept wanting to add more of the little strips of graphic fabric. I think I may still have too much in there - I could go even more minimal.


Oh, and the other hard part? Remembering from block to block how to construct the log cabin! Shhhh, don't tell anyone, but my log cabins are a little confused. Some spin one way and others spin the other way. We'll call it an on-purpose design feature, OK?


I found the funniest cat video today on Yahoo. Click here to see the cat who takes drinking from the kitchen faucet to a whole new level. I've never seen a cat do something like this before . . . it's just amazing!

11 comments:

  1. This is a wonderful quilt, Sharon. Thanks for sharing it. Wow.

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  2. I love this look. It bring up all sorts of possibilities. Gwen Marston has a white quilt with red squares in her Liberated Quiltmkaing book. I wish I could show you a picture. Just think what you could do with this idea. Great job!!!

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  3. This looks fabulous.....Can't wait to see how you will quilt it.

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  4. WOW....I'm speechless....WOW...I
    just don't have the words.....WOW
    ...LOL..did I say I was speechless?
    I love this look...it is going to be so 'marvy' (isn't that your word) when you back and quilt it. I just can't wait to see it A-L-L
    finished and bound....are you going to bind it in black or white?
    That cat video was so-o-o funny...I think he liked the way the water 'beat' down on his head...like he was getting a pulsating massage!!

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  5. Wow is right. you did a lovely job on it. I'd have such a hard time with minimalism, would be scary. silly kitty!

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  6. I like this a LOT. I do like the way your seams show - almost a lattice effect. Very interesting quilt! And so soothing.

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  7. another lovely finish. congrats. I really, really, like this one. how are you going to quilt it?

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  8. Thank you for sharing all the fair pictures. I love county fairs and looking at your pictures makes me feel as if I was really there. Great craft/quilty entries.

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  9. I am having difficulty in leaving comments this evening. My comment about the county fairs was supposed to be on Exhuberant Color's blog. Sorry.

    I really like your very minimal quilt. It is quite the art quilt. I also want to know how you are going to quilt it. Great job. Congrats!

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  10. Ooh, I like this one, too! Great job!
    And I thought my cat was goofy!

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  11. Enjoy how you did it in a log cabin setting. Will give that a try.I did buy those expensive fabric. I hope I don't mess up. Fabric are rather thin as well. Thanks for sharing.

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