Saturday, April 15, 2006

O Serene Like the Moon, O Resplendent like the Sun



Here at long last is my Winter Madonna. It was personal challenge to make a predominantly white quilt, and I feel like I learned about contrasting subtle color gradations. Perhaps I've even lowered a bit my resistance to white.

This quilt is hard to photograph because of the white and the monochromatic palette. It shows better in the close-up photos. I coffee stained the original background fabrics, and then layered over them with white lace. I layered handkerchiefs over that. Most of this piece is constructed by machine, except for the buttons and the lace edging.


The title for this quilt comes from the Great Mary Litany, as did the words I incorporated into my Gold Madonna.


I will still have to experiment with methods of hanging this piece. It's pretty stiff since I used peltex and a layer of batting. Perhaps I will use a ribbon to create a hanger. It needs to be hung because lying on the table it has an uncanny resemblance to a pizza.
--Barbara

8 comments:

Debra Dixon said...

Well, I was really good with it until that last line and the "uncanny resemblance to a pizza"!

I love the layering idea--that turned out great and gives the piece such interesting areas to see.

I hope to one day post mine!

allie aller said...

I would so love to see this "in person" so I can really enjoy the exquisite construction methods you have used (bring it with you to Portland?)...I love your sense of balance with the embellishments, and that you have integrated them so well with the machine quilting. The feel of the piece is invitingly feminine...making the Divine approachable...

Granny Fran said...

She is definitely serene and resplendant. She needs to be hung where you can bask in her presence. Pizza?! For goodness sake, keep her away from the table.

Rian said...

Barbara, you just knock my socks off with your creativity. The circles look like sand dollars.

Have you heard the Legend of the Sand Dollar?

THERE'S A PRETTY LITTLE LEGEND
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TELL
OF THE BIRTH AND DEATH OF JESUS
FOUND IN THIS LOWLY SHELL

IF YOU EXAMINE CLOSELY
YOU'LL SEE THAT YOU FIND HERE
FOUR NAIL HOLES AND A FIFTH ONE
MADE BY A ROMAN'S SPEAR

ON ONE SIDE THE EASTER LILY
ITS CENTER IS THE STAR
THAT APPEARED UNTO THE SHEPHERDS
AND LED THEM FROM AFAR

THE CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA
ETCHED ON THE OTHER SIDE
REMINDS US OF HIS BIRTHDAY
OUR HAPPY CHRISTMASTIDE

NOW BREAK THE CENTER OPEN
AND HERE YOU WILL RELEASE
THE FIVE WHITE DOVES AWAITING
TO SPREAD GOOD WILL AND PEACE

THIS SIMPLE LITTLE SYMBOL
CHRIST LEFT FOR YOU AND ME
TO HELP US SPREAD HIS GOSPEL
THROUGH ALL ETERNITY

There really are five little doves inside every sand dollar.
Pizza, my foot.

Barbara C said...

Wow, thanks for the sand dollar poem Rian. It's amazing that the images fit this piece perfectly. The small circles have a traditional pattern called "Wheel of Lilies" that I chose because it echoes the lilies the Virgin is carrying. I looked it up, and the lily is associated with the madonna as well as with Easter. It does however, also take on the other images: the doves, the sanddollar, the star and the snowflake. Thank you for posting the poem!

Micki said...

This is really great. I like everything about it.

Deb Hardman said...

I laughed out loud when I read your comment about looking like a pizza. Too funny.
Seriously now though, this is a stunning piece. Really beautiful!

Ale said...

pense q era un blog de MADONNA, LA REINA DEL POP!!

AJJAJAJA

SALUDOS

:)

BYE

ALEJANDRO