Did you ever have a Ouija board? It came with a floating pointer, over which you lightly placed your hands. If you were patient (and happened to be at a teen sleepover), the pointer would start to slowly move and mysteriously spell out your fortune or deliver messages 'from beyond'. Supposedly, if the directions were strictly followed, participants had no power to override Ouija board's declarations.
These are the fabrics I started with for my Trip Around the World challenge. After making Molly's high-key, brightly colored quilt (with the same red dot, actually), I knew I wanted a bit duller palette of fabrics, with more grayed colors and more of a mix of styles ~ 30's, Japanese, 19th century repros, classic dots, stripes and plaids. No pinks, no lush turquoises, no clear, true colors aside from red. So I pulled out the pile above to start with and cut some 2' squares. Moved things around a bit on the wall and laid out a few sequence options before starting. I was off.
But a funny thing happened. After the first couple of rounds, my piece starting fighting me. No matter how many quiet fabrics I auditioned in each round, it spit them back at me. 'You think this plaid is so great? Pfft. No contrast!'. 'You reeaaallly want to use that gray print? Go ahead. You'll end up taking it off.' (Yup) Like my 15-year-old self at the Ouija board, try as I might to resist the message, this bossy piece is telling me where to go. Round by round.
But it's fun! And this pattern really does work better making decisions round by round ~ so contrary to my usual routine.
After my last post, I had a few comments and emails asking about the challenge group. Although I pretty much keep my Facebook page limited to family members and old friends, I do follow a few artists and crafts people including Australian quilter, Brigitte Giblin. A few weeks ago, she issued a challenge to interested followers and I requested to join the group. Although several of us couldn't wait and jumped right on the bandwagon, it actually technically only started on Sunday, June 1.
The basic instructions are that you must start with some sort of red dot fabric in the center and then repeat it, as directed, in several subsequent rounds. (The only fabric requirement is to have 1/2 meter of this fabric on hand. And a stash, of course.) For June, the assignment is to stitch 9 rounds, one of those using the red dot.
If you're on Instagram, you can do a search for #bgtawc and you'll find some of the participants' work posted. And if you think you might want to join along, do a FB search for the group, Brigitte Giblin's Trip Around the World Challenge. Fuller instructions are given at the top of the page.
*Drumming fingers* So, now what do I do until July?
Only kidding. Plenty on the list....
This is looking very vintage! So far the bossiness is working beautifully.:)
Posted by: audrey | June 04, 2014 at 01:44 AM
I agree it has a very vintage vibe going on. Ouija boards were a must have at every sleepover!
Posted by: Kelly | June 04, 2014 at 08:01 AM
I still have my board - I love the design. My is a little different.
We used to sit in my closet and do it, lol.
love your project!
Posted by: barbvedder | June 04, 2014 at 08:35 AM
You're KILLING me here!!!! I need another project like I need a hole in the head, but OH so tempting!!!! I LOVE LOVE your quirky out of the normal color combination -- AS ALWAYS. I would NEVER have put those fabrics together -- HOW do you DO it???? Gosh. I LOVE it! All hand pieced -- is it taking a long time? I've never really hand pieced before, although I do a lot of hand sewing. SHOOT! I'm going to have to go check it out. And I need to stop reading your blog -- it's lethal!!!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | June 04, 2014 at 09:02 AM
I love your Ouija board analogy! It's funny when a quilt has a mind of its own. Yours may be opinionated but it is beautiful:)
Posted by: Susannah | June 04, 2014 at 09:47 AM
Quilts do have a way of telling you what they need :0) I think your first few rounds look wonderful!
Posted by: janet | June 04, 2014 at 10:14 AM
I love yours so far! You're really tempting me to play along!
Posted by: Sarah | June 04, 2014 at 11:27 AM
It's funny how some quilts have a mind of their own, the trick is being able to listen. I'm loving the fabrics you've used so far, the look is wonderfully kinetic.
Posted by: Rachaeldaisy | June 06, 2014 at 05:21 PM
Loving this eclectic mix Jan, and the way THEY are dictating where they want to live!!
Posted by: Meredithe | June 06, 2014 at 06:52 PM