We've had our first frost and I've tucked my garden in so now I can seriously turn my attention to messing about inside. Lying in my own bed a few nights ago, I had an epiphany. For years I'd been thinking about making a house quilt. I'd been looking for a simple house block (without a Y-seam connecting the sky to the roof) without too many pieces. I had a vision of brightly colored houses floating against sunny skies. The name "Turtle Island" kept swirling about in my thoughts. Then I stumbled across a website (http://quiltville.com/happyscrappyhousespf.html)that had topsy turvy houses and I was inspired to start "Turtle Island." After creating about twenty house, I had my epiphany: I wanted to make a quilt of the perfect neighborhood that I would want to live in. I started to think about who I would include in that community. Atticus Finch, of course. Anne Frank, Helen Keller, Alice Neel, Frida Kahlo, Louis Armstrong. And wouldn't it be nice to have Jane Goodall, Elvis Presley, Toni Morrison, and Shakespeare across the way. My list went on and I started working myself into a lather just thinking about it. I decided I wanted to make whacky, off-kilter houses of varying sizes and shapes. I went to Gwen Marston's website for more inspiration.
First chance I got, I went on the Web and found suitable images of my "neighbors" so I could print them on fabric and then use them as the windows on my houses. I hoped for some nice full length shots of a few of my folks so I could have them standing in the doorways. After I found 6 pictures I could use, I made the first few houses. My first foray into house contruction began with creating a bird friendly abode for St. Francis.
I then created residences for Louis Armstrong, Anne Frank and Virginia Woolf. As the mood hits and time allows, I plan to add more. There's a haphazardness about creating these little blocks that I find infectious. I have to be careful that it doesn't turn into a city!
These are 12 of the topsy turvy houses I originally set out to do. Now the name seems more like it should be "Jamacian Rum." Or "Earthquake, Turtle Island." I don't think I want sashing between the houses; I like the idea of them all flowing together without fences between the yards.
2 comments:
Diniyoyo - You are extremely talented and quite creative. I am looking forward to seeing more of your postings. I too am a quilter. Although I enjoy piecing the quilt the best, hand quilting is also an enjoyable activity if I break it down into small parts. It may take me awhile to get through a quilt, but there is a lot of satisfaction and pride when the quilt is finished.
I sure would like a quilt for Christmas, my very talented sister.
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