Thursday, August 14, 2008

Now I get it

It took me awhile but now I see it. Several people commented how the last fabric shown yesterday made it look like the piece had holes and was laying on top of a whole piece of fabric. This was the fabric that I used several places in the top. It took me until about the 3rd person saying it before I saw it. Even though I had rejected this one yesterday, now I think that is kind of an interesting concept. J~MT wanted to see this one as a choice. I would have to be careful how I cut this one if I used it.
Here is another zebra print, kind of an every which way stripes, not traditional zebra.
Here is a larger (than the one 2 days ago) zebra print that is a creamy white and black.

I loved all of the comments yesterday, even though I didn't email everyone back. It really opened my eyes to see things my "tunnel vision" didn't allow. It was like having all of my friends over and everyone giving me their opinion. Thank you friends! Please tell me what you think of today's choices, or if you still like one of the previous ones.

I really didn't want you to think that was all of my black and white fabric yesterday. I showed this stash almost a year ago but some of you weren't reading my blog then. These are the regular (not batik) black and whites. Remember, I have been quilting over 50 years. That has given me a long time to collect fabric.

Other pictures of my stash can be seen by going to the LABELS column on the right side of my blog and clicking on Stash. I have never shown pictures of all of my kid prints, yet. Yes......I have a lot of fabric. I don't go on trips, I don't own a boat or second car or expensive jewelry, etc. In other words, Priorities, and sewing supplies are my priority. Well that and flowers for my garden, 2 priorities.

22 comments:

Linda said...

I love the look of the first pic in todays' post - yes, it looks like holes in the quilt thru to the border fabric in the back!! Can't say it well, but I think you see what I mean.
I have lots of black/white prints too - love to use them as accents.

Anonymous said...

Really like the pee-a-boo effect of today's first border. Can't wait to see what you decide on.
Louise

Vicki W said...

I didn't notice the floating effect in the first photo yesterday either but I REALLY like it! I suppose you could even sew the borders so it looks like the center section is laying angled on the "base" fabric. That might look cool. Regardless, that's my current favorite!

Anonymous said...

Have you tried putting a few small blocks of color in the border, to allow the center to migrate outwards? It might blur the big demarcation between the center and the border, and integrate the two.

Gene Black said...

I am loving the top one also. The "hole effect" is really interesting. I missed that yesterday also.

The Stash- WOW....I have only been quilting for a few months and my stash is getting scary. I can't imagine a 50 year collection.
My selection of black and whites would barely be enough to border one quilt. However, I have more blue than anything else.

Quiltdivajulie said...

Of today's offerings, I really DO like the effect of the first option shown ~ I missed it yesterday. (I also like the mixed up zebra print - first of two shown - but it is a distant second.)

Have fun playing with the options! Pretty sure the end result will be AWESOME!!

Joyce said...

I like the first one too for the optical illusion.

jovaliquilts said...

I see by all of yesterday's comments that we quilters are definitely an opinionated bunch! Fun!! That "holey" print was my second choice yesterday, but it has moved to first today with the illusion effect that others mentioned. I think several of the ones you've shown would work just fine, but this "special effect" puts that fabric over the top.

Sequana said...

Are the blocks sewn together yet? Now that we're looking at that illusion, I might like to see a couple more scattered around.

I'll take the stack of stash on the left, pls. *L*

Cathi said...

I absolutely love the effect you get with the first option in today's post!! That is definitely my favourite now.

Anonymous said...

Wanda, I've been mulling over these choices and can't decide. But it occurs to me to try a narrow black and white border and then a wider colored border. Maybe the wider border would be pieced, as you did with the blue/green crazy blocks.

Just an idea--

Mary G.

quiltmom anna said...

Hi Wanda,

I really like the effect of the top one too. It does give a peek aboo effect or optical illusion- it is an interesting effect. I still like the negative leaf fabric as my second choice.
Thanks for sharing your process.

As for a stash, it is great fun to collect fabric- there are so many beautiful fabrics to choose from- You have some real beauties. It is interesting to see the kinds of fabrics that people collect. I love batiks and florals but have begun to collect some other kinds too - 30s fabrics and country colors.I have been collecting for 12 years and Yet need more storage VBS.
I have way more than I probably could ever use- like many other quilters that I know. When someone is looking for fabrics they will often come and shop in my stash. Other quilt friends do the same for me- such is the generosity of quilters.
Happy quilting,
Regards,
Anna

Anonymous said...

Have you considered just a sliver of the top choice fabric, then a pieced border from the scraps already in the blocks of the quilt. I find a wide border of any of the black and white or white and black choices distracting and harsh to the beauty and calmness of your pieced blocks.
~Catherine

Anonymous said...

Me too Wanda~ I REALLY REALLY love the top one today also. What everyone is calling the "peek a boo" Isn't it odd how we are affected by color differently on a daily basis. Second choice would be the zebra prints but definitely not the bamboo print.

Thank you for showing me what the woven bamboo print looks like.

Such fun to be involved in a choices.

J~MT

StitchinByTheLake said...

I have to jump on the bandwagon here - I like the top fabric and the way it brings your eye to the blocks. blessings, marlene

Sue Krekorian said...

It would be interesting to audition more fabrics for an outer border around the first of todays to keep the peep-bo effect. Maybe a black and white with a darker value, or random-pieced binding of colours and/or mixed black and whites?

elisepearson said...

Hi! I love all of the options you've shown today.

I like the peek-through effect of the first fabric (hadn't noticed that yesterday -- my favorite yesterday was the pebbles).

But I think my favorite is the white-net-on-black fabric that you've got in the second picture. That fabric makes the piece into a story for me -- that there's a big black and white net that's captured colors on the viewer's side (collecting the colors as they can't get through), and only a few straggling bits of b&w fabric have jumbled in with the colors that are caught on this side of the net. I guess that's what imagination is for, eh?!

I love your work!

Sharon said...

OK, you have tons of opinions here! Hee hee! I will add my voice to the chorus - I love that first border choice in today's post. It really makes the blocks sing with that see-through effect. I also like the first zebra print, but only as a distant 2nd choice.
You have an awesome collection of black & white fabrics! *envy* I've been working on collecting them the last few years, but nothing to rival yours. I agree, fabric is MUCH more important to me than fancy jewelry or cars or trips. We all make our choices, hmm? I'm thankful that I have the resources to make quilting a priority for myself!

Anonymous said...

Wanda, I really enjoy your blog. This quilt is so beautiful! I also like the very open floral in the first photo. The optical illusion is quite interesting. I really like the pebble fabric from yesterday too. The balance of black and white in that fabric seems just right for this quilt. The variety in scale also works well, but I can't really articulate why. Have you considered using more than one of these B&W prints for the border? Someone at my house is always saying more is better, especially when it comes to fabric! Or beads...

Marilyn said...

I really like this b & w print today. To me it's like looking through a curtain that has holes in it through a screen. Looking forward to what you do.

Betty J in OKC said...

My vote's for the first border shown on this page. I love the effect of holes in your quilt, as an optical illusion.

Betty J in OKC said...

My vote's for the first border shown on this page. I love the effect of holes in your quilt, as an optical illusion.