17 August 2010

Porthole pillows

I'm excited about these pillows I made to go with my marquee quilt. I used many of the same fabrics I used in the quilt. The neutral solid is a double layer of the same unbleached kona muslin I used to back the quilt.






I wanted to contrast the square geometry of the marquee quilt with some bold circles. The reverse-applique technique is inspired by Lu Summers's porthole quilt. The finished seam of the foreground fabric against the backing applique creates a striking sense of depth. I obviously took my quilting in a different direction than Lu.


The pillow binding matches the binding on the marquee quilt.


This project started with a doodle on deceptively rare and precious note paper.



I like the way the straight-line quilting meets the echo quilting around the circles. I think it evokes a bit of science fiction, or maybe crop circles.

9 comments:

  1. Oh Dan I love those pillows!! they are the perfect complement for your quilt!
    I've told you that your work is amazing? really A M A Z I N G!

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  2. Dan, those pillows are flippin' awesome!

    I just found your blog a week or so ago and am really enjoying your work.

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  3. RosaMaria and P - thanks so much for the wonderful compliments.

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  4. Dan, I'm your newest follower, courtesy of P., blogging about your wonderful porthole pillows. She was not wrong. They are fabulous!

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  5. Fabulous work...I should say play. I love your quilt and pillows! Rosa Maria sent me over, and I am glad she did!

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  6. Oh I was thinking crop circles too and then I saw your comment near the end - I like the contrast of line and curve.

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  7. wow, those are awesome! i love anything with circles.

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  8. Is that porthole your idea? I would love to incorporate it in a show quilt for our next guild exhibit. The theme is "Making Waves" and I keep imagining looking through a porthole. let me know! I'm happy to (of course) to give your name credit.

    : )
    ~Monika in Canada
    Quiltmaker and Fibre Artist

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