December 6, 2008

Revision Quilts

For this second year in a row, Fibervision had a Revision Challenge. Each participant put a quilt or quilt top that they made, but no longer want, in a brown paper bag and trade their bag with another participant. The challenge is to take whatever piece your receive and Revision it into a new, wonderful, useful object or quilt.
Some people remove pieces and reuse them in some way. Some make additions and turn them into useful items like bags or boxes. Some change the look by dyeing, discharging or painting the fabric.
I received a finished quilt, complete with binding, a label and a poem. It's a pretty traditional pattern, but it had bits of yarn and tulle running through it a lot of beads. I had a very difficult time with this piece, because I know it took many hours to make. I didn't want to destroy it. I stared at it for months and often used it to cover up when I was chilly in my studio. I knew I had to do something dramatic to change it but what? Cutting it wasn't going to be enough and I couldn't take it apart because the quilting was quite dense. I decided to paint it.

Here's the quilt after it was painted with Setacolor, stamped with Neopaque and rubbed with Shiva sticks. It's very different, but it still isn't quite finished. Now I'm needle felting wool roving on top in a swirling circle pattern.

I told everyone that I was going to turn it into a bag, but they all thought it was great as a quilt and didn't want me to cut it.

What do you think? Keep it whole or turn it into a large tote bag? Hmmmm

The big reveal was today at our holiday party. Everyone made fantastic Revision pieces and fabulous food. We spent the afternoon at Cathi's beautiful house enjoying each other's company. It was a great day . . . a very welcome break from the ever present landscaping project.

7 comments :

Anonymous said...

What an amazing transformation! I think it would look great as a bag.

Joyce said...

What a great idea! I have a couple of quilts that would be candidates. You did a marvelous job on the one you got. I think it's fantastic now.

Unknown said...

I really love the revised quilt - DO NOT CUT IT!!

Sandy said...

It was a nice quilt; now it is great. Is it possible to make one of those bags that unbutton or something and become flat?

Michelle said...

Wow, what a spectacular transformation. It's really beautiful.

Rayna said...

Judy - what a transformation!! Looks great, I'd leave it alone...on the other hand, it might really make a spectacular tote bag. Maybe...

Lora Martin said...

This quilt looks like you. Maybe it is the colors, but it seems to relate to you most recent fire quilt. i hope you don't cut it, but you have to do what speaks to you.