Julie's Quilt Project 2018: February

As I mentioned last week, my goal is to create a quilt every month in 2018.  February's quilt is a little bit of a cheater.  I made the bulk of it in February, but finished the binding in March.

Here's the fabric collage as it came together:

You can see an animated version HERE.

After quilting and washing and binding...

...this is what it looks like:

What I like about this quilt:

• I was hysterical about the washing -- at first.  It made the fabric edges raggy instead of smooth.  In the end, I think it was a good choice because it starts to answer the question: Why does this need to be made from fabric?  That texture is part of the reason.
• This quilt feels like my work.  It's the first time I've ever made a quilt that I felt was 100% in line with the way I create on canvas and in my art journal.  Yay!
• I took a number of risks while creating this quilt and I'm proud of myself for trying new things.
• This quilt feels like it could be the beginning of a series of face quilts!  Isn't that exciting?!
• I really like how I created larger blocks of color and pattern from multiple little pieces of fabric.

What I would change about this quilt:

• I would like to try different quilting.  This time around I simply free motioned around each piece of fabric.  I'd love to try an overall pattern or perhaps mix in some thread painting?
• Without washing it, is there a way that this being fabric is apparent and necessary?  I'd like to experiment and try to answer that question!
• I'd like to bind the quilt using a facing instead of a binding.  A facing is a virtually invisible quilt binding, which would make the work feel expansive rather than closed in.
• I'd like to try quilting with an invisible thread -- aka clear nylon.

I'm incredibly excited to share that this piece will appear in the Cambridge Art Association's exhibit, Lost & Found exhibit, April 3 - May 3, 2018 at the Kathryn Schultz Gallery in Cambridge, MA.  There is an opening reception on April 5 that is open to the public and I hope you will come and say hello!

Thanks for stopping by!