the Madonna Idea

Beautiful Flower, Bountiful Garden (41 x 41)

2010-08-01T11:53:00.003-05:00

Barbara posted the details here.

Pink Madonna--Round 2

2009-07-22T17:41:00.002-05:00

I was able to add my part to the Pink Madonna this week. As luck would have it, I had some pieced blocks and embroidery that I had already done. They worked marvelously for what I was trying to show. In my mind, Our Lady of Guadalupe is a folk art madonna; resplendid in her patchwork clothes so I wanted to further emphasis the bright colors Barbara started with in my round. There will be much hand embroidery and embellishments added so I tried to be sensitive to that when embroidering the ribbon. I have really started to enjoy the word ribbons and feel like this is one piece where I could use them effectively.

So, now it is into the mail to Barbara so she can add her part, the final borders. Then, the handwork begins!

Pink Madonna

2009-07-03T08:06:00.004-05:00

Barbara and I are going to do some Madonna pieces this year where we pass the piece back and forth between us so each can add her own touch to the artwork. The first piece is this one, Pink Madonna.
The central Madonna is a printed fabric that Barbara had. I had given her the embroidered blocks when we met at PIQF 2008 and she added them to the Madonna to sew this arrangement. Now it is my turn to add a few rows of what I want before returning it to Barbara for her next ideas--a bit of a 2 person round robin, I guess. I thought you might like to see our Madonna piece develop as we stitch.

Now, for my part!

Tepeyac (Barbara's quilt)

2007-08-08T20:05:00.001-05:00

Tepeyac
20 x 27

I named this piece "Tepeyac" after the hill where the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego in 1531 in what is now Mexico City. Tepeyac was the site of the temple of the goddess Tonanzin and it is the current location of the Basilica of the Virgin.

I finished my Madonna quilt today in what must be record time for me. I'm usually a dawdler, but I was inspired by Debra's dedication in completing "Continue" in such a short period of time.

I scrapped the bottom of the bead bowl for this one.
I embroidered over the skull motifs in this fabric, and put sequins over the eyes

Some of the skeleton limbs were beaded. I did a bit of seam embellishment.

A student gave me this beaded lizard bracelet. I knew I wanted to use it in a quilt from the beginning.

This has been a very gratifying project. I found myself thinking about it and planning it even when I wasn't working on it.

"Continue"

2007-08-01T08:44:00.000-05:00

50 x 40 inches

cotton fabrics, lace, trims, charms, transfer

machine pieced and embroidered

Entry in the art gallery show: Perspectives: Any way you look at it

Dedicated to my son, William Hurter

Now it is time to wait & see if it is chosen for the show! It's been a whirlwind experience, to say the least.

Floral Spray (Barbara)

2007-07-31T14:38:00.001-05:00

I have attached my quilt top to two thin layers of flannel for stability, and I'm adding embellishments through all layers. I may add some leaves to distinguish it more clearly from the background, but this is the basic design of the floral spray at the feet of the Virgin.
The little skull beads were on a bracelet I bought in Mexico. I'm slowly incorporating them into little quilts. I really wish I'd bought more. The yellow and blue yo-yos in the picture have been stitched to form petals with a few overcast stitches.
The little angel button is reminiscent of the angel who is often depicted at the Virgin's feet. It, and most of the rose buttons, were in a bag with some cross-stitch pieces I recently got at the thrift store. The ivory satin roses were also a thrift store item. I think they came with some embroidery floss. The pearl buttons are vintage and have been in my stash awhile.

I'm making progress on the embellishment. I'm beading the Virgin's robe and aura. This is the most fun part.

Almost done! (Debra)

2007-07-31T09:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday's sewing frenzy put my piece well into the "almost finished" category! I am not quilting this piece. It has been heavily interfaced with either machine embroidery stabilizer under the CQ blocks or with Decor Bond in the other areas. It will be firm when it is totally done. I may do a little tack stitch in a few places but it should be ready to go without it.

I did the broderie perse last night. I had not tried any machine applique on my Janome. Boy, what a dream! I can see more of that technique showing up in future work. The floral print was a Tracy Porter print. I used invisible thread for the overcasting. Today I will add a few machine embroidered monarch butterflies in amongst the leaves and flowers.

The bottom corners will be red/orange 4" CQ blocks; unless I find they are too time-consuming to make. The 5" ones in the main section of the piece were about 20 minutes per block.

I am not quite sure what to do at the top. Wes even got into the spirit of pulling fabrics last night as candidates! What do you think should happen at the top? I have until 3:00 tomorrow afternoon to get my CD with the image to the post office for my Aug 1st postmark.

Any suggestions for a name? The theme of the show is Perspectives: Any way you look at it

Sunday's Work (Debra)

2007-07-30T07:46:00.000-05:00

Sunday found me hard at work in the Studio. I foresee another long day of work today. August 1st looms around the corner. I would hate to miss the deadline; especially since I have gotten so "into" this piece. It has been a delight from the very beginning and although, there is plenty to do, it is not a strain doing it. You know how some projects just will never end? This doesn't feel like that kind of project.

I had to laugh at Allie's comment! Yes, Will would love this piece. He was quite fond of skeletons.

My plan is for the little madonna and Will's panels to be loose. Today I will finish embellishing them and close the back. Then, I can sew the sections of the top half together. I started playing with the idea of a table last night. I pulled out all my old doilies (and yes, I auditioned the yellow ones, Barbara, but they were too bright) and actually like the effect. It shows nicer in person. Then, I started playing with adding the lace to the broderie perse panel(s). We'll see how that plays out.

Slow and Steady (Barbara)

2007-07-29T22:45:00.001-05:00

I'm not on a deadline like Debra, but I've got my Virgin positioned and stitched down, and I'm working on the floral spray that will be at her feet. I'm working with my small yo-yo stash, and adding leaves and petals to the backs so that they'll stand out from the background more.
I seem to work on the floor quite a bit, so I get a lot of volunteer design help. Today Louie was my advisor.

Saturday's Results (Debra)

2007-07-29T09:40:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning I had an idea all scoped out for my design. It, unfortunately, meant making more crazy quilt blocks - like 8 more and some fillers. I was able to get all of that done and size up the cross yesterday. The crazy quilt blocks are 5".

I want the cross to look like it is sitting on a table. I came across this brown piece of fabric while doing pillows last week and had it out on my sewing table. It reminded me of lace so I hope it will give the feeling of a tablecloth or a shawl across a table. I will add some leaf embroidery across the bottom of autumn leaves.

The two sections under the cross will have the Madonna and my son's roadside cross picture as separate pieces that will attach to the cross. On either side of the cross section of the wallhanging I'll have the flowers growing. Butterflies will be embroidered amongst the leaves and flowers, which are going to be my first broderie perse.

This whole piece is very thrilling to work on--it is allowing me to use my encyclopedic head of quilt/sewing techniques to accomplish a goal. I am also venturing more into the machine embroidery as an integral part of the process, which is a place I want my machine embroidery to go.

OK, it's off to the Studio for another day of sewing.

Sewing Begins (Debra)

2007-07-28T09:20:00.001-05:00

I rarely work in the Studio after dinner but last night was an exception. I worked until 10:30 while Wes watched some guy movie on TV. When I turned off the lights I felt I had accomplished a significant amount of work in a short time.

The minute my head hit the pillow the solution to my piece presented itself. Today I'll investigate that idea. My goal is to have all the piecing done today. Embellishing tomorrow and finish up by Monday. Pictures on the CD & in the mail Tuesday--a day before the deadline.

Synchronicity (Barbara's Project)

2007-07-27T18:21:00.001-05:00

It's pure coincidence that Debra and I are both working on Madonnas again. She sent me a note to ask about the Day of the Dead, and I showed her this new Madonna quilt that I've begun on the same topic. I knew I wasn't done with the Madonnas when I finished the fourth in my series, and I'm glad that Debra has another one in her as well.

We started the Madonna series before we got so heavily into crazy quilting, and now I feel well-armed to really embellish the heck out this piece. I think it will be a memorial quilt, but I'm still waiting for it to tell me.

Debra, I really love that Virgin of Guadalupe panel you're using. I should've bought some when I had the chance. I do, however, have a ton left of the one I'm using.

Day of the Dead (Debra)

2007-07-27T08:12:00.000-05:00

Very preliminary work on a Day of the Dead piece for an upcoming juried art show at Union Street Art Gallery in Park Forest, IL. If accepted it will hang with other work exemplifying the theme: Perspective: Any Way You Look at It. My interpretation of the theme deals with Death. This work will be submitted with an earlier work I did about my son Will's death.

The deadline for postmarked CDS is August 1st so I really have to make decisions and move forward quickly with this piece. I envision plenty of handwork and may have to seriously evaluate the time involved in order to get it done.

These Day of the Dead fabrics are from Alexander Henry.

Rose Pictures

2006-09-11T08:13:00.000-05:00

I like the definition the beads around the outside edge give the rose sections. I also think I can use more rose motifs in some other "problem" areas effectively. For once, I like what is happening here!

New Pictures

2006-09-07T16:25:00.000-05:00

Photographing this piece is challenging. If I get too close to the blocks, the images are blurry. If I get too far away, the details don't show. Please suffer through these with me!

I loved the snowflake effect this Madonna ended up having with the bugle beads. (The image of the Madonna on this is clear in reality.)

I worked on this block today adding more beads, leaves and button clusters. Finally I had to stop! I wanted to keep the lower Madonna more subtle. I may still have some work to do to get this to blend better. And I thought I was done, sigh.

I added some greenery to the blue buttons and rays to the halo, beads to the flower at the bottom. I still have to embellish the Madonna on the right.

These started out as 3 simple buttons and then they became a little garden.

I added pearls to the cross buttons.

I couldn't get a good detail shot here but I added some beads (oomph) to the buttons leading to the lavender rose.

Overall size is 42" x 42"

Do you think I should embellish around the roses in the 2 top squares? I am inclined to leave them alone.

My next step once I have the Madonnas as I want them is to break up the 2 straight lines of trim that divide the middle section. I don't like how I crookedly sewed on one of the trims and I think it could be more interesting with something done to it. I am contemplating a banner saying, "Mary, Queen of Roses" with a small ribbon bouquet or some ribbon roses.

I also plan to machine embroider some kind of stitch along the navy bias tape band so it has some definition (or not). I am not planning to embellish the light blue areas at all (except a sequin fell on there today and looked pretty good but that could take forever. . . .)

Comments are welcome.

WIP Wednesday

2006-08-30T09:59:00.000-05:00

Here are a few photos of the middle madonna flowers I am embellishing. The flowers were made from various pictures of Madonna that I found on the Internet. Several were made from the gown section of one of the pictures. I used the Kaleidoscope software I bought at IQF last year.

Before and After

2006-08-24T08:35:00.000-05:00

BEFORE

All the new pieces are sewn on and the cutouts are ready to be fused. Here are a few detail pictures.

AFTER

I think these cutouts are really cool. I wonder if I will think that after I have sewn them on (with all those curves)??

Winter Madonna Problem Solved

2006-08-23T11:06:00.000-05:00

Finally, I say, finally, I have figured out the problem with my Winter Madonna piece.

I have not liked the white patches. The white background was too stark for the other rich colors. The motif was cut off in some of the blocks. Both just didn't work for me.

With the thought that I might enter the new C&T publishing Fabric Images contest, I took another look at the piece. It's been hiding in a drawer all winter and most of the summer.

It became painfully obvious what to do! I could just cover the offensive white areas with new patches and add new photo images. Off to the computer to make some new madonna and flower images!

I am pleased now! The upper squares will have rose sprays cut from fabric to cover those white patches. I also plan to cut out the computer images and buttonhole stitch them to the blocks (eliminating the white around them).

While this piece may not be contest worthy, it is satisfying to come to a solution!

O Serene Like the Moon, O Resplendent like the Sun

2006-04-15T20:21:00.000-05:00

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

Barbara's Composition

2006-02-19T10:15:00.000-06:00

I'm designing my Winter Madonna and I've decided to work in circles as well as in white. The central image is transferred onto a round doily and surrounded by a traditional applique design called Cesar's Crown. I've used the challenge fabric in every other section of the crown.

I'm using another traditional applique pattern in the smaller circles called Wheel of Lilies. The Madonna also carries lilies in the central image, and is surrounded by them in one of the smaller ones. Two of the darker circles also have the Wheel of Lilies applique (actually ironed on) but the contrast isn't sharp and I may do those over.

The whole composition is pinned to a pieced background on which I've arrange vintage hankies. One of these is beige, and I may coffee-stain the white ones to increase the contrast.

I've imagined this as a round piece, so I may re-position the hankies and cut the whole thing into a circle. I'll have to back it with Peltex if I go that route.

And here's a piece that I designed at the same time, I've got plans for this one which also involve Madonnas.

Top is Done!

2006-02-07T19:36:00.000-06:00

Here is the pieced top ready for embellishing!

I finished this today and will let it "rest" while I scurry around and make some Lesson Quilts for the training lessons I start on Friday for the about.com position. Having to return to beginning level quilts and think about each step so I can write the directions is an interesting process. I can't believe I have been on "automatic" for so long!

This one I will also have to think about---not exactly sure how I will do the embellishments. Just let me not get carried away!

More Blocks Added

2006-02-07T09:02:00.000-06:00

Here are a few progress photos (and an experiment with writing on photos!)

Almost done with the borders--should measure about 40" square when done

Side border Blocks

Shiny Fabric in the Blocks

Debra's Winter Madonna Takes Shape

2006-02-02T15:36:00.000-06:00

The Winter Madonna is due the middle of March. It has some specific guidelines to follow: use some of the glittery white jersey knit from Barbara and give the piece a wintery feeling.

Winter in Houston is not icy and even though that is the standard fare for most of the country, I chose to concentrate on the winter foliage and the glittery fabrics of the holidays. I wanted the overcast grey sky, silvery nights and the blue mantle of the Madonna juxtaposed against the rich reds, greens and blacks of ballgowns and bedecked homes.

A new source for inspiration was the Dover Publication called Elegant Floral Designs, a collection of permission free designs of black flowers and lace motifs. Each page features captivating flowers in stark black that can be printed any size. I decided to transfer them to fabric and use them like Victorian cutouts. They determined the direction of this piece---a crazy quilt.

I downloaded the images into my photo program and arranged them for sizes. I printed them onto transparency plastic thinking I would do gel medium transfers but that idea proved to be fruitless. So, I used the transparencies as originals and copied the designs directly to fabric with my printer. The images came out great!

This is one of the transparencies pinned to my design wall.

This is one of the printed fabric sheets.

This is the central Madonna figure with a bit of a Art Noveau look.

6 of the Crazy quilt blocks

Closeup View of the Motif in the block

I will do some more crazy quilt blocks for the outside border and mainly machine stitch embellishments before beading the piece.

letter to Mama (about quilt)

2005-12-18T08:47:00.000-06:00

October 15, 1895

Dearest Mama,

I was so pleased to get your letter in the mail this morning. I look so forward to news of you and Papa at home. Some days I wonder how I could have left the East and come to this country called Oklahoma. I guess the promise of a different life with a man I love caused me to pick up my trunk and wave goodbye. But, I do miss you and especially our chats about needlework projects.

I have finished the quilt I mentioned in my last letter. It is so different from the other quilts the ladies make here but I thought it would be a good way to show my love for my new baby boy. I will hang it over his cradle so he can know that he has two mothers who love him. I will explain it to him when he is older. He seems so little to me! Thank you so much for making the long train ride here to help me. The scraps you brought from home are already in the quilt.

I decided to use the brown linen piece for the background. I know you wanted me to have it for a table topper for the living room table but linen is so impractical here on the prairie. I do not have the nice help you have in Boston. The rich brown color is perfect. It is surprising how quickly my white linens discolored here. I love them anyway so I put them in the quilt to preserve them.

Some of my friends found out I was making this special quilt and gave me some pieces to use. It really makes the quilt have so much more meaning. Do you remember Rian, the mayor’s wife? She came by with her cute Schnauzer, Riley, when we were having tea. She is so different from me, Mama! She was throwing out an old quilt. Can you imagine? I begged her for a little piece of the corner. I cut it into a heart for the corner of my quilt. I bought some tiny mother of pearl buttons from the dry goods store when I made the christening gown so I had a few extras to use. The teacher at school, Barbara, gave me a charm I sewed on the heart. She also saw my crazy quilt blocks from that sewing circle in Boston. She encouraged me to use some of the stitches again. She had some metallic thread she shared with me. When you go to town next, would you send me some silver threads, please?

One of the ladies from my stitching bee is very good with crazy quilting too. You should see her work, Mama! The Boston ladies would just swoon over her stitches. She had some pictures of the Virgin Mary and showed me how to glue the pictures to fabric. Her name is Allie and she is so accomplished. I think she will be leading the stitching bee next year. She thought I could probably cut the skirt off my taffeta dress and use strips for the pictures. I saved the buttons and sewed them on the patches too.

My neighbor, Joanne, the one who I read to on Tuesday afternoons gave me a very old piece of beading. She said she saved it from her mother’s ball gown when her mother was at the Governor’s Ball in Virginia. Joanne really wanted me to have the piece. I feel so honored. I am sure it is her way of saving Thank you for reading to her. Her eyes are beginning to fail her and it is a pity since she is young too.

I added the pocket from Wesley’s mother’s dress and a little appliqué from her wedding dress. He is so sentimental to have saved it for me. He knows I cherish these little tidbits of history. Maybe it is his way of helping me adjust to this life that is so different from Boston. He likes it here—he is working on the town’s design so he is happy. He comes home with news of oil in the land near us. I am not sure what we would do with oil but he is sure it would make us rich.

Let’s see. I also used a scrap from the couch in Boston. I still love the leaves on that linen fabric. I had that very old tatted lace from Grandmama and I sewed it down without cutting it. I had a few pieces that I tried to tat too. They are not as good as Grandmama’s piece but I used them anyway. I had some homespun left from my apron and a piece for a smock I didn’t make so I used them for the quilt.

Oh, Mama, you should see how this piece looks! You would be so happy to know I am becoming an accomplished stitcher like you. Those long hours in the parlor practicing my handsewing may become a real nice hobby here in Norman. The ladies do like to get together and sew, have tea and pretend we are back home in the East. Although this is home now, isn’t it?

Give my love to Papa. I will send a picture when Wesley takes me to the capitol in November for the monthly legislative meeting. Oklahoma City has some stores and a nice hotel. He promises I can go with him. He wants a family portrait taken with his new baby boy. I’ll sneak in the quilt too!

Warmest love,

Debra

(As you can see, I took some creative license here! Plus, Blogger didn't accept my handwriting font but you get the drift, I hope!)

Pictures of Our Lady of Unconditional Love

2005-12-18T08:29:00.000-06:00

Our Lady of Unconditional Love
32 x 47 inches
collage quilt with photo transfer, machine embroidery, hand quilting, dyed and distressed linens & laces, various fabrics
October through December 2005
Debra Spincic

Our Lady of Unconditional Love

Main Madonna Photo Transfer with Gel Medium

Smaller Madonna Image with embroidery stitches

Detail of Linens

Heart Detail with buttons and charm

Pocket Detail & Stamped Rose on Taffeta