Traffic Jam

October 11, 2007

trafficjamfull.jpg

Yay, I finally got this monkey off my back! I don’t know why was so hard, being it’s a simple concept and similar to this quilt that just went together like butter, and I consider to be one of my best quilts, technically speaking. (maybe that’s why it got into FiberArts International 2007).

Maybe part of the problem was all the starts and stops. I started it for this TV taping, then had several interruptions. Or maybe because I had artistic doubts about my work during the process and decided to recklessly experiment.

trafficjamjar.jpg

Or maybe it’s the maze mentality. I wanted to put a maze pattern on it because of the traffic theme, and the project did become a series of starts, stops, and wrong turns.

If you’re wondering about the solution to my background problem, pastels.jpgI used oil pastels to adjust the color. These are cheap school kid oil pastels by Colorific, but what I had on hand. This is not recommended for fabric.

In discussions on the QA list, I learned oils in oil pastels may eventually destroy the fabric. Maybe not for a few years, but in terms of 50-100 years which is how conservators think. Here’s a link to good explanation about Shiva Paintstiks that could be an alternative.

trafficjamtexture.jpg

Meanwhile, I had a great time using the oil pastels on the background, using predominantly purples, but highlighting with a blue. I love this effect, so will have to try the Shiva paintstiks in the future. And I was thinking, since there are really only three main elements in the quilt, I could cut them out and sew them to a new background. Or better, I could just move onto new projects!

p.s. Here’s a couple more process shots - click to see bigger. trafficjamtsquare.jpg Squaring up the quilt is always difficult for me. I leave lots of room to crop after I’m done quilting, and try to use a t-square or laser-level to chalk the lines. This quilt is only 3′x4′ so the t-square worked pretty well.

Here’s why I covered the background with pastels. trafficjamhair.jpgI had quilted it with a light-colored thread, then when I stepped back, thought it had the unpleasant look of being covered with hair. Which is how I felt too. When things aren’t going right in an artwork, I feel like I have hair growing under my skin. Ever feel like that? :)

Filed Under media, process 


Comments

18 Comments so far

  1. Felicia on October 12, 2007 5:54 am

    Glad you finally finished it :)

  2. Judy on October 12, 2007 8:17 am

    I LOVE how “Traffic Jam” turned out! I’ll never have toast and jam for breakfast again without thinking of your wonderful quilt!

  3. PaMdora on October 12, 2007 8:20 am

    Thanks Judy, just hope you never have tire tracks on your toast!

  4. Denise Aumick on October 12, 2007 8:39 am

    Give yourself 10 (or more) pats on the back. The maze quilting is perfect and so is the background deep, rich saturated coloring.
    Denise

  5. PaMdora on October 12, 2007 9:45 am

    Hi Denise, I really had fun with the maze although it wore my brain out. After I went over it with the pastels, seems like I lost a little contrast. But I definitely try the maze thing again!

  6. Diane on October 12, 2007 10:53 am

    So cute! Love the cars.

  7. Jill Smith on October 12, 2007 11:23 am

    Love it Pam and you mght be right about using oil sticks over the quilting,
    Jill

  8. Anna Rice on October 12, 2007 11:39 am

    Love It! Deliciously delightful - your work always makes me smile!

  9. Christine Marcum on October 12, 2007 1:49 pm

    You have a great “eye”, but a critical one too. Time to move on to the next project, because this one is fabulous as is.

  10. Meg on October 12, 2007 2:14 pm

    That is really cool how you used those pastels on the background. Your art is so neat! it really inspires me, seeing you complete all these works! You have such a rad style!

  11. merrilee on October 12, 2007 2:33 pm

    Hmmm, there might be something to be said for all of our art self destructing in 50 or 100 years. Maybe then we wouldn’t take ourselves so seriously! Love it, Pam!

  12. PaMdora on October 12, 2007 4:35 pm

    I know Merrilee, haha, you like to send them out the door (sales$$) as soon as they are done, and I like to hang onto stuff.:)

  13. Katie on October 12, 2007 6:59 pm

    Purple is my favorite color. I love the quilt.

    As for hair…I don’t know about feeling it under my skin but I sure do have dog hair on my floors, under my bed, on my clothes and in my sewing! :)

  14. judy on October 12, 2007 8:40 pm

    I took a shiva paint stick to the martian quilt after my husband had photographed it and i liked the color in the slides better than reality. So I colored the whole landscape a deeper shade of red. I was a little afraid to do it, but I was so much happier after I did.

  15. PaMdora on October 12, 2007 9:48 pm

    Sometimes I make decisions to change my work after studying the photos. Good thing you changed your martian quilt - it turned into a real winner.

  16. Joan M. on October 14, 2007 8:34 am

    Pam, I think it is terrific and love the maze quilting. This is just more of your wonderful personality and thought process…so human and down-to-earth. Your art and quilting are awesome. Joan

  17. PaMdora on October 15, 2007 1:50 am

    Thanks for the compliment Joan, you’re being too kind, now I’m blushing! :)

  18. Kaye Wood on December 5, 2007 11:58 am

    What a great theme for a quilt. Thanks for sharing.
    Kaye Wood
    kayewoodtv.com

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