River Memories

Pieced & Quilted By:

Karen Middleton

Description:

“River Memories” started as a guild challenge to use mostly gray with one color (I think the ratio was 90% gray/10% color) in an 18″”x24″” space. When I learned about the challenge, I was instantly inspired by memories of cool winter mornings spent on the boat with my family. I grew up near the Chesapeake Bay and boating is a huge part of my culture. I wanted to showcase the quiet ethereal beauty of the land and waters I grew up on in a way that most visitors to the area typically don’t see or experience. “River Memories” invites viewers to get lost in the serenity of the river at wintery dawn.

This quilt is my first foray into machine applicae and art quilting. I was inspired by mosaic art to create the sunrise and hint at the rays of sun breaking through the remnants of the night sky. To create the perspective of the sky, I lightly sketched guidelines on the dark background. I then cut and applicaed over 90 individual pieces to match the sketched lines and create the presepctive over the the horizon.

To create the water effect, I mirrored the horizon below the treeline. I then laid four strips of light grey fabric on top of the mirrored horizon and sketched (on the fabric) lines to simulate the movement of the river and to help develop to perspective. I used an X-acto knife to individually cut the holes in the four gray topstrips. I also cut holes across the strips to create the illusion that the water overlay was one piece. You have to look closely and explicitly for the applicae lines between the light gray strips to see that particular detail. To continue the perspective effect, I cut the smallest holes in the strip closest to the horizon and the largest holes in the strip furthest from the horizon.

To create the illusion of a fog/snow bank, I layered the fabric strips on top of each other to help create a sense of depth and movement. Finally, I used the remnants of the pieces that were used to create the treeline on the horizon, to make the trees in the foreground. ”

Quilted On:

Domestic

Pattern Source:

Original Design by Quilter

Techniques:

Applicae