Great to see the sun on a Monday morning after a stormy Sunday! Along with getting hosta patterns folded, and revising all my tree patterns for classes in South Carolina, I finally ironed and cut about 30 meters of mostly green fabrics that I dyed late last year. This gave me a couple more possible backgrounds to audition my fern leaves on.
Now I present all 13 options I considered. I'll tell you what I think, and then you can vote if you'd like.
One: I don't mind this one as the ferns pick up a similar green in the darker background and make it all look part of a forest scene. But it doesn't make my heart sing.
Two: Similar to above but earthier. Even more like a forest scene. Doesn't make my heart sing. This one and number one above may be too realistic in looking like a forest scene for the graphic abstract look I was after.
Three: Not really. Was thinking the hint of a complement of purple might set them off. It does but looks like the ferns don't belong there.
Four: A little light shining through the forest. Makes the ferns disappear. Can you tell I was getting tired of pinning, unpinning, and repinning the ferns again and again on different backgrounds in order to take a photo?
Five: This is a piece of fabric dyed while folded, so it has bars of blues running vertically. The white spots look like light on a lake at night. I could paint them, but no this doesn't do it for me either.
Six: A splash of pink, orange and yellow. Nope.
Seven: In keeping with the same greys in the circles on the fern fronds, I tried a background of grey. Dead and drab. Nope.
Eight: How about a lighter value of grey? Nope, still dead and drab.
Nine: Thinking a little hint of pink in the green might make them pop. Not crazy about this one either.
Eleven: A brighter green. No.
Twelve: Green with a little blue and soft red-purple thrown in. Not there yet. The background seems too busy.
Thirteen: Which brings me back to a white background. This photo doesn't look as crisp and white as in real life. I am not in love with it, but it is still my preference. Thinking I might rev it up with interesting machine quilting, face the edge, and mount inside a modern black float frame. So that's the plan now.
Feel free to weigh in with your choice and let me know why.
I think I like the second one best but maybe with a lighter value. I also really like number 9 except at the bottom where the green gets too dark. In my mind I can't picture the white background but I can't wait to see what you do with it.
ReplyDeleteDear Unknown, I wish I knew who you are :-) I ended up giving up on the white too. See my next blog post. Thanks for weighing in.
DeleteElaine--I was thinking a darker value than six...really truly a dark rust color that might push over to nearly a burgundy to get a complementary pop. Of these, I like the contract of the last one, but it seems flat in this photo--perhaps a more textured (yet not too busy) cream/pale peach? But my favorite of these is, surprisingly (not...it's one of my favorite colors) the deep teal--as if the ferns were hanging over water. I agree the white is not right in there on that teal fabric. Did you try that fabric but with the stripes horizontal? If need be, dye up one (or two) pieces large enough to be the background, one with a stripe/pleat/folded, another with scrunch texture. Whichever looks better is the background, the other is the backing!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarah. I posted some new colour options and layouts last night. I think I have decided on a brown/purple/burgundy background, option 1 in my next post. I am also liking the piece better turned sideways.
DeleteCheers and Happy New Year!
Elaine
5 or 6 get my vote, though it's a tough call. -- I like the contrast if you want the fronds to stand out, though a more subdued orange/rust might be nicer than #5. I can imagine with more thread painting/embellishment, you could make #6 look like ferns in a rainforest, with droplets of water falling off the end of each frond - again with some more thread painting to enhance that effect elsewhere... -- Just my opinion mind! I had to look closely at them several times. Nothing really jumped out at me. I'm sure you'll make it look fabulous. You are such an inspiration. So glad to read your excerpt on using the Brother Scan'N Cut. I nabbed one of those myself but haven't had the courage to really make anything yet. Not many examples for us quilters, so I'll be glad to hear more about your trials with it. Am going to try it with one of my McKenna Ryan patterns that have sooo many little bits to cut out.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ski Wheel :-) I appreciate the feedback. I've put up some new options and have pretty much decided on the first one. I encourage you to try your scan n cut. I found the instructions that come with the mats clearer than the manual. Can you get the store you purchased at to help you out with it?
DeleteElaine, I think you are OVER-thinking! Any one of these backgrounds could work depending on the rest of the piece. I say close your eyes and reach into your pile of choices and go with it. If it needs a bit more, add it, If it needs less, cut some out. Think how it would look in real life in a forest- it would change from one section to another and all would work- some areas disappear, some jump forward. Trust yourself- you always do beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteOver thinking Sandy? Me? Hahaha, you have me figured out.
DeleteI'm not too stressed about the piece. I thought it was a good discussion to have, about changing directions when your plan doesn't quite work out. I'm happy now with some new options I put up, and am probably going to turn the piece sideways or maybe sew a sleeve on more than one side. Thanks for weighing in and Happy New Year!
the last one does make the fern look the best. That is what this is about. The fern.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary. I agree with you for this group of possible backgrounds. I've put some new ones up and am much happier, and am probably going to turn the composition sideways.
DeleteThe tips of the light green fronds seem to disappear against the light colors, and the darker top parts disappear with the darker ones. I would say to try a bright raspberry or tangerine color if you're looking for a bold graphic statement.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura. See my new options. I'm liking it better now.
DeleteThose mottled pieces are so beautiful that I wouldn't settle for solid white. My favorites are 12, 4, 9, mainly for the addition of the lighter yellow/pink that show in the mix. You have a win-win situation here.
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea how many of those mottled pieces I have Martha! I could be auditioning for a very long time! Thanks for weighing in.
DeleteOoh, gorgeous! What about an eggplant? Too dark?
ReplyDeleteTurns out that something close to burgundy does work very well. See my latest post M-R. Thanks for the suggestion. Happy New Year!
DeleteElaine
My choices, in numerical order are 2, 4, 5 and 6. 4 is my favourite, although I admit the ferns get a bit lost. 2 is my next favourite, although you'd like something abstract. In that case I'd choose 6. And if you want something less realistic than 2 and more abstract than 6, number 5 is it!
ReplyDeletehanks for your suggestions Suzanna. I took everyone's comments in mind when trying new options, and also tried a few that came to mind. See my latest blog post. I'm much happier now.
DeleteHappy New Year!
Thanks Heather. Unfortunately black will hide my black edge on the fern. I've put up some new options and am heading in a new direction. Thanks for your comments and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHeather, I don't know where your original comment went? It was in my email but now I don't see it here!
Delete