I made a lot of those little diamond four patches and threw them up on the design wall. The more I looked at it, the less I liked those big dark diamonds - the ones with the wavy design - even though that fabric was my inspiration for the whole quilt. There are no sacred cows. If a fabric doesn't work, it's gone.
So I covered them up with some of the leftover big diamonds, and I liked it a lot better.
So I cut up another big print and moved stuff around, and yes I like this. I didn't like the dark medium-sized diamonds, so I removed some of those.
A little bit more shuffling, and more filling in, and I had this just before I went to bed. I like it so far, though I won't really be sure until I have all the empty spaces filled with something. I know what I want the shapes to do, and they're not doing it just yet. And hey, I might put back some of the stuff I took out. We'll see.
For those of you who are looking at this and thinking.. "Yes, but the shapes are not defined... the colors blend together... you don't see the individual pieces..." (And my least favorite: "there are no big blank spaces for fancy quilting designs..." Um, not in my quilts, pal. I'm the star of my show.)
You are right. I do not want this to look like a lot of individual pieces sewn together. I want the viewer to see a dance of color. THEN I want the viewer to notice all the shapes are diamonds, and THEN I want the viewer to notice the different sizes of diamonds, and that they keep making more diamonds. THEN I want the viewer to notice the vertical rows of little diamonds, and THEN all the different fabrics. When I decided to call this quilt "Diamond Tapestry" that's exactly the look I was going for.
Like I say, I have a lot of work to do, but it's the kind of work I like doing.
7 comments:
I'm pleased that you removed those dark large diamonds - it's made a huge difference. And yep, I get the 'smooched' effect and I think it creates a very rich, luxurious feel.
Megan
Sydney, Australia
I like it so much more without those few darker diamonds. Lovely with the smaller ones, and 4 patch ones, my eye goes from one to the other.
you're right: those dark diamonds needed to go. I like the quilt very much. (I also like negative space, but it can definitely be over-rated!) my quilts are usually all about the colors, and the way they play with each other. can't wait to see how this turns out!
It is looking so good now Lynne, I too like it without the dark wavy blocks even though I love that fabric and have a couple of fat quarters of it in my stash. Thanks for your explanation of what you want with the quilt, You teach us something every day.
It's very William Morris-y. I like it.
I love all the changes you made, I thought the first one was ok but when you made the first change I really liked it and it just continued getting better.
Tapestry says it all . . . just keep going. I have ZERO doubt that you will nail it!
Post a Comment