We probably all have pieces of fabric we are attached to -- but in most cases, the fabric would be much more interesting if it were cut up and combined with other fabrics.
Last week's demo piece in a gelatin printing class was a mishmash; I wish I had thought to take a picture of it before I cut it up. Printed without forethought, it was going nowhere fast. Then I cut it up and used it selectively.
Earlier, I was reading Elizabeth Barton's blog and she mentioned that she's okay with cutting up her own fabric because she knows she can always make more. True - we can always make more. It won't be the same (why would you want it to be?) and could easily be even better!
Try this: pick a piece you've printed but really don't like. Cut it up and force yourself to use it in something. You might be surprised at how terrific it looks after you are done.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
making the cut
We probably all have pieces of fabric we are attached to -- but in most cases, the fabric would be much more interesting if it were cut up and combined with other fabrics.
Last week's demo piece in a gelatin printing class was a mishmash; I wish I had thought to take a picture of it before I cut it up. Printed without forethought, it was going nowhere fast. Then I cut it up and used it selectively.
Earlier, I was reading Elizabeth Barton's blog and she mentioned that she's okay with cutting up her own fabric because she knows she can always make more. True - we can always make more. It won't be the same (why would you want it to be?) and could easily be even better!
Try this: pick a piece you've printed but really don't like. Cut it up and force yourself to use it in something. You might be surprised at how terrific it looks after you are done.
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4 comments:
I've always had the idea that if you don't like something you made, it always looks great when its cut up into smaller pieces and incorporated into a larger project.
But at the same time I struggle with having too many prints in one piece. Even if they seem to work well together I second guess myself to the point that I talk myself out of it. I'm working on that.
Some of my favorite art quilts are printed fabric with minimal quilting. So I guess I kind of see both sides of the argument.
By the way Rayna, I am REALLY enjoying your book! Its given so many ideas that I would not have thought to try, can't wait to get going on them! Thanks for putting together such a wonderful guide!!
Thanks, Lynn! Glad you are having a good time with the book - send me some pix along the way.
I have to say that some of my favorite quilts are also whole cloth
(including my own). Sometimes cloth just needs to stay as cloth; other times - it is better cut. Depends.
we could be having this discussion in the hotel lobby in Lowell!
hooray.
Ah, well, we'll just have to continue it here.
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