Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Challenge Quilt- Stick a Fork in It?


I do like how the tea dyeing worked. I usually use instant tea for tea dyeing but I didn't have any so I used Tazo Chai. I do like the pink undertones that it had. Now the lightness in the grey bothers me. I'm just not sure what to do. I have to say this was a lot of fun. I know now what I would have done differently. Isn't that what learning is all about?


Am I done? Which one do you like best? (I simply turned it upside down.) Which just gave me another thought. What about this version?

Think I'll trying squaring it up and see what it looks like all cleaned up.  I am looking forward to your thoughts.

10 comments:

  1. Wonderful Karen. I have to say I like #2 upside down. For some reason the first one makes my eye go to the center point dividing it in half. Its an illusion that upside down doesn't have the same draw to the eye.

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  2. Janice, I was leaning in that direction too. Glad to have confirmation that I was headed in the right direction. Hugs!

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  3. Hello-They remind me of the background of a Gustav Klimt painting. I like it!

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  4. Laura, You're right! I hadn't thought of that. Thanks!

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  5. Hi Karen,
    For me, both #1 and #2 work better than the horizontal; they both have more energy. I keep going back and forth between the first two and I don't have the same problem that Janice has with #1. In fact, because it draws my eye up, it seems to have more energy. OTOH - #2 draws the eye down and is calmer.

    It's really hard to tell from a photo, but I am not all distracted by the lightness in the gray areas. Au contraire, you need the contrast. If you were to look at this quilt in black and white, you'd see mostly middle tones with smidgens of dark and light -- just fine.

    This quilt top now has such a contemporary look that I'd hate to see you put a binding on it. Why don't you just face it? Look forward to seeing the next step.

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  6. Karen...I, too, like the upside down version...and the lights seem to me to be necessary because with the tea dye you have a good variety of mid range color and need a bit of the light to "pop" the design. In some ways I miss the strong pink stripes that appeared befor the tea dye, but when I enlarged the pictures I could see a bit more of the pink...and the upside down really does look good to me.
    Kristin

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  7. Karen-#2 evokes the idea of an enjoyable jaunt through the woods, not peaceful, but fun. #1 I concure with Janice the eye goes right to the center, I envision a Tee Pee in the midst of a child's chaotic drawing, which would be good if that is what one was aiming for. #3 is interesting in if I walked past it I would have said "I'll bet that was fun to work on", but it doesn't capture the eye like #2

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  8. Great challenges Karen! The center photo (you call upside down) is your last initial "M". :) I do like what you've done... right side up looks very "w"oodsy, upside down looks urban to me and sideways appears to be an aerial map!
    What fun you had. The tea dyeing was a grand idea. What about a bold splash of contrast?

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  9. each day it gets better!!! love the idea of the tea dyeing. I like that the original design is disappearing, and the large squares are dividing.

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  10. I am very happy you are creating! I rested these past two weeks and my blood pressure is normal and I didn't gain a pound.
    The quilt looks great! Were these pieces that you had in your studio?
    I love your blog!
    Martha D.

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Love comments! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.