In 2016 I created a series of quilts that were based on my friend Rita’s photos of water. Water is a liquid that has no color and no shape, but in Rita’s photos water has a life of it’s own. All I had to do was to show the color, line and shape. The collection was exhibited at my first solo show Reflections that took place in Šiauliai county Povilas Višinskis public library . 11 Water quilts were exhibited next to Rita’s photos that inspired me to create those quilts. One of my favorites of that collection was Great Barrier Reef quilt.
Recently I was asked if I could make a replica of it. I know I can’t make an exact copy of any of my own quilts, but I tried. And here is my story.
I started looking at the original Great Barrier Reef quilt:
Then I went back to the origins and looked at Rita’s photos, that she took when visiting Great Barrier Reef in Australia:
I enlarged a fragment of one photo, because I wanted to be able to see the shapes, lines and textures:
Oh, my God! It looked complicated. My favorite quilt making technique is machine piecing that makes it hard to recreate curved lines. It was hard for the first time, it didn’t make any easier for the second time, but I started piecing blocks.
Oh yes, fabric selection comes first and Albinas is always here ready to help:
The result of the first day of making blocks:
On the second day I made more blocks:
After piecing this many blocks, I moved to the design wall, where I could move blocks around, to fill the gaps with new blocks, and choose the design that pleased my eyes. I played around for some time adding more blocks to fill in the gaps:
Wasn’t that fun? At this point I was happy and decided just to fill in the edges with new blocks:
Finally the top was finished:
I made a quilt sandwich and started machine quilting. That’s my favorite part of all the process of quilt making:
The new quilt is faced and measures 32 x 23 inches (81 x 58 cm):
Details of quilting:
Both quilts next to each other:
Witch one do you like better?
I looked over all my Water quilts, and now I want to revisit some others. Also Rita has more amazing photos of water taken on her travels. I think I will go back to this theme some time in the future. Wish me luck!
I like the one on the right because it the water is more calming. The one on the left is brighter and reminds me more of shallow, rippling water.
I think you did a wonderful job of recreating your quilt!
You produced incredibly beautiful blocks. The quilting is delicious! The overall piece very beautiful with lots of details to look at. Lov’it!
I gravitate to the one on the left. So now I have a better idea of how you come up with your ideas and how you execute them. Great work.
Your quilts are incredible beautiful.
Piecing and quilting are awesome. So much creativity involved.
It is hard too choose: the left one is more quiet, what I like, but the right one has more “drama” in it.
Thank you for sharing your technique and details of your beautiful quilt. I love your interpretation of water (I think I like the new one better, but it’s close), and the way you have created the curves. I truly envy your skill in machine quilting.
Bonjour Madame,
Mon amie Annie Labruyère (http://destulipesetdescoeurs.blogspot.fr/) m’a invité à une promenade sur votre site.
Je suis épatée et voulais vous dire bravo parce que je me représente ce que ce doit être comme travail et comme recherches… pendant des heures ….
Vous m’avez fait flâner au bord de l’eau de belle manière…..
Felicitations…..
Dear Violette,
Thank you very much for your nice comment!
Chère Violette,
Merci beaucoup pour ton gentil commentaire!
Wauw Maryte, how beautiful!!!!! Such nice colors and your quilting is really awesome.