Meanwhile, I'll share what I did get done earlier in the month. I added a few more sliced coins and then put them up on the wall pretty randomly. I also cut a few coin shaped pieces from some coordinating solids to try out an idea that kept going through my mind. I put them up on the wall as you see here:
My thought was to place the printed coins vertically in rows and then use solids horizontally in columns so that the printed and solid coins would sort of "weave" through each other. I added some more of the printed coins (without the slices of solids in them) and more of the solids to try to get better idea. Here is the result after it hung on the wall the last couple of weeks. Notice there are lots of holes where I ran out of cut solids. Some pieces also fell off as I brushed against them while working on my other project. I just kind of threw them back on the wall, and some ended up in a bowl somewhere.
Every time I walk by I think, "well there's another fine mess I've gotten myself into." When I stand back from the wall, it all just looks muddy and choppy, and the solids start to take over as the dominant feature, which is not what I intended. I finished my other project today, so now I'll get back to playing with this one. I need to intersperse more coins without the little slice in them, and maybe try some other options for the solids. Perhaps put some of them vertically along with the prints or use some longer strips to make sashing instead of columns, or maybe include some white sashes to help the prints stand out more.
Who knows where this will end up? I sure don't. But I'm going to keep at it. I'm sure it will continue to be a slow project. Stay tuned. Hopefully things will sort themselves out over time.
I'm linking up with the Ad Hoc Improv Quilters because even though I haven't made much progress, I'm keeping it real and making myself accountable to follow through on this project. Feel free to comment away with your two cents worth of ideas.
7 comments:
Well, I'm glad someone else gets sidetracked by a need to complete other quilts. I'd planned to be much further along, too. At least we are together in slowness.
I like your idea but think it looks more like rows than a weave. Does it need a "medium" square where the solid and print combine? Not sure I'm expressing this properly.
Thanks for linking a thoughtful post with #AHIQChineseCoins.
My first thought was horizontal sashing in a dark near solid like navy blue. I think that would make all those pretty print stand out. You could keep alternating rows of prints and solids and keep the prints "vertical" and the solids "horizontal" but just add the strong, dark stripe of sashing. The sashing wouldn't need to be every other row, either. Maybe only interspersed occasionally and randomly...
In the interest of full disclosure, I have five yards of a mottled navy blender fabric underfoot in my studio, so my brain is busy thinking of ways to use it up, even in YOUR quilts :)
I really like the soft colors you are using, blues, pinks and the prints. I also like the alternating rows. No idea of how you would want to integrate them. Give it some time to stew and you will see what it needs. Improv can't be rushed, they say. Good luck with it!
Thanks for sharing what you've been doing, including the ideas you're rejecting. Your struggles help me in mine!
I can't offer any suggestions because this is where I have trouble.... color is just a challenge for me. However, I will say that I know you will keep at it until you come to a solution. I think your sense of design and color is very keen, I look forward to seeing where this goes!
I like your colours and this is an interesting idea, so it will be fun to see where you go. Have you tried making some of the patterned pieces longer, so that they break up the rows of solids? Or maybe move the pattern bits around so that the columns are either mostly dark or mostly light?
Such a lovely mix of solids and prints. Looking forward to seeing more of this.:)
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