Wednesday, May 12, 2010

New Work-advice please??

I've completed this piece (measuring about 20" x 22") using deconstructed screen printing, machine piecing and hand quilting.
I'm pleased with the over all design, thrilled with the way the fabric came out from the printing, and I like the piecing of the narrow insertion strips.
But I'm not sure I like the edges of the quilt. While the general uneven-ness of the edges appeals to me I'm not sure about the top and bottom right hand corners. They seem to drop a bit too much and I feel that "the drop"  serves no specific purpose.
I would appreciate some feedback, please...............

14 comments:

deanna7trees said...

How about turning the piece so that the right hand side becomes the top and then hang some beads (or a rope with a bead at the bottom) from the top left and top right edge. That will even it out. It's a beautiful piece.

Susan Purney Mark said...

I'll try turning the photo first and see if that might work :))
thanks for the idea!

Gerrie said...

I love the wonkiness. No embellishments needed!!!!! It does not need to be evened out - it is art.

janice pd said...

I love the way the color dances across this piece. I also think the borders are a good addition to this. They mimic and repeat the wonky grids of the set in black pieces. I say leave it as it is.

bronwen said...

I wouldn't put a boarder on it and finish it with the wonky sides in tact. xo

Norma Schlager said...

I think I would like it turned once to the right, but leave the uneven edges. I like it!!

Juanita Yeager said...

I am not opposed to the wonkiness of the piece however, if you are not set on an up or down, I would turn it one turn to the right and let the left edge be the top, if not that then I think the upper right corner is too severe and the bottom right corner needs to be more on the same plane as most of the bottom edge. Like the piece very much except for the two corners.

Suzanne Sanger said...

I hate to sound like the quilt police, but my feeling is that if YOU are questioning the edges, then you think there is something wrong--and you may be right. It's a little hard to know how much of what I see is a camera distortion issue and how much is real, but to me, the right side being significantly longer (top and bottom) than the left side looks like a mistake, and one that will not be rectified by turning the piece. If it were mine, I think I'd straighten out the top edge--whichever one that would be, and reduce the "drip" of the bottom right corner a little. I quite like the unevenness of most of the edges, but I think a little of it went a bit too far. I think what may bother you is that the piece in the photo is basically trapezoidal instead of basically rectangular, without there being any reason for the current shape. To me, there is nothing at all wrong with uneven edges, but an out-of-the-norm basic shape that isn't clearly "for cause" is somehow disturbing. If you MEAN to be disturbing, go for it. If not, well, you know.

BTW, I LOVE the piece itself. The colors, the surface design elements, the black mullions, the composition are all wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Dear Susan,

What I noticed right away was that the uneven edges echo the shapes of the grids within the piece. I like the rhythm this repetition sets up.

Keep us posted on your final decision,

Linda
quiltlady@san.rr.com

Anonymous said...

I might just straighten the bottom right. When I do that on my screen with a piece of paper it creates more depth in the center of the piece really inviting me in!
Great piece.

Amie said...

Very interesting piece! The only corner that sticks out to me is the right upper. It looks somewhat more uneven than the rest. Also, is there too much "white" space up the side and to the top (including the big square on the right corner) What if you made the right side a little less uneven and inserted somemore of the insertion strips (if possible). If not possible, what about something screen printed with a bit of black. That right corner just seeems a little lonely. Beautiful piece!

Martha Ginn said...

I LOVE the blocks and all the variety you have in the color and shapes. Generally, I enjoy things with more of a free-form design, and there is plenty of that in this piece. But I think it begs to have a clean/crisp edge and let the movement and wonkiness be in the middle....I have to agree with Suzanne that if you worry about the edges, then your artist's eye may be leaning toward squaring up.
Martha Ginn

Jeanette Thompson said...

I love it, it is wonderful.

LynnDel said...

To me the question to consider is, what can you do to make the general viewer know the wonkiness is part of the design and not a miscalculation?