Jumping to conclusions

On one of my email lists someone posted a link to an article that had some very negative misperceptions about the quilting world and art quilters in general. Here is the article. I started to respond to the article as a comment, but it was much too long, so here is my response.

It's a shame this writer used a very little bit of research and an enthusiasm for one quilt teacher to make negative generalizations about a huge and varied quilting and art quilting community.

I do understand and appreciate her enthusiasm for Leah Day's work. She's very creative, an excellent teacher and I'm glad her efforts have led to a successful business. Too bad the writer didn't leave it at that. And she is far from the only person who offers her work freely. Designer Bonnie Hunter has been giving away free quilt patterns on her website for many years. That led to her huge popularity as a teacher and author.

Other than that there are so many misperceptions that it's hard to address.

First, "quilts are poorly represented online." What? There are thousands of websites and blogs where professionals and hobbyists display their work, share techniques, give away patterns and more. There are also email lists where members share generously of their experience and ideas.

Next, there is a huge range from quilt to art quilt. There are traditional quilts made from well-known block designs which are in the public domain, there are original quilt designs for traditional (non-art) quilts, usually sold as patterns, and there are one-of-a-kind art quilts.

Because quilting grew up from a tradition of freely shared patterns, and because quilts, unlike most other pieces of art, can be reproduced, it makes copyright a very difficult subject. It's not like a book where once it's written, no one else can write the same book.

Rather than "copyright bullying," there is an effort to make sure people understand fairness in use of others' designs and patterns. No one can copyright an idea, a concept, a design or technique. And (except for a few problem people) no one tries to. What can be copyrighted is the fixed expression of that design, including written patterns, the actual quilt and photos of it.

There is a huge problem of people copying patterns, and depriving the authors of the money they would make if everyone who wants to make a quilt with the pattern buys the pattern. We've seen that with people making copies of a pattern to use for teaching a class (for pay), as well as "sharing" the pattern with a friend.

And while pattern designers have every right to expect that people won't buy one pattern and use it to mass produce their design, the other claims, that you can't show a quilt in a quilt show without the designer's permission, or that a free motion design can be copyrighted, are exaggerated at least. I know a few designers have tried to control their designs being shown, but that's extreme. If they want to sell the pattern they have to expect that people will make and show the quilt.

The author's description of most quilters as "affluent and retired" who don't need the money, is way off. While there are many quilting hobbyists who fit that description, there are just as many who are designers, quilt makers or quilt artists as a business. They may do it for love, but they can't afford to do it and lose money at it. And there are even more who work full time and fit their quilting and art pursuits into their "spare" time. And she skipped entirely the "modern" quilt movement, which is made up primarily of younger quilters. Which I'm thrilled to see.

Finally, an art quilt is different from any other quilt because it is the original creation of the quilter. It is art, just using textiles as the medium. Are painters supposed to post detailed photos of their works online so people can copy their every brush stroke? If you want to become a quilt artist, learn about art, study different techniques and create your own work. It's not something you do from a pattern or quilt.

Just a few thoughts. Again, it's a shame the writer of this article jumped to so many conclusions based on generalizations.

More later.

Photo Friday - dried flowers

Original, dried flowers on Tybee Island dunes

One of my purposes behind Photo Friday is to get myself outside to take pictures of all those scenes that I keep noticing. But since we've one of the coldest, grayest and wettest Januarys and Februarys I've ever remembered, that hasn't been happening. Maybe soon, if the groundhog's prediction of an early spring was right. Don't we all hope!

So, here's a couple of photos I took on Tybee Island during New Year's weekend. These little flowers had grown in the dunes and were completely dried. I loved the delicate, lacy look of them. And of course, I love to experiment with all the filters and effects in Photoshop to see what happens to a photo. Often the result gives me an idea I want to incorporate into my quilts.

So, here's a closeup of the flowers, which are tiny, about the size of a dime, and some variations.

Filter - Artistic - Cutout

Filter - Stylize - Glowing edges

Image - Adjustments - Invert

The first, using the cutout filter, could, with some adjustments, be used to create a printed fabric.

The one using the glowing edges filter makes me think of neon. Maybe an idea for stained glass or a hint of an idea for a batik.

The inverted one creates a really interesting color scheme, very spooky and other-worldly. But it could also be a very modern quilt, black, purple and gray. Could have possibilities.

And the stamp one would make a fantastic batik fabric. I can see it in just about any color.

Any other inspirations?

Filter - Sketch - Stamp

More later.

A little bit of quilting

I'm here. I think. I've even been in the studio for at least a while every day.

But it's hard to concentrate because I'm worried about a kitty who is not feeling well. It's so difficult when they can't tell you what's wrong. Tests haven't found anything specific and the vet thinks it's a strain or bruise, so I'm watching and giving  him time to heal. He seemed to be feeling better yesterday, so I hope we're headed in the right direction.

Okay, back to sewing and art. I have been in the studio a bit. I've put facings on several small pieces that I plan to frame, haven't tackled framing yet. I had thought I would like facings better than bindings for these pieces, but I'm not sure. It's very hard to get a nice, smooth, even edge with the facings. I may go back to a very narrow binding. Decisions, decisions.

I have a couple  more painted pieces in progress, and a couple that are just quilting. Here's a finished piece that is just quilting. I quilted the designs with one thread, then echoed and filled in the quilting with several different threads. When I finished I felt the border fabric was a little bright, so I dabbed on a bronze paint using a stiff paintbrush to tone down the color and add a little richness to the border. This one was finished with a facing.

This is my first journal quilt for February.

Lots of other little stuff, but that's enough for now. More later.

Quilting Gallery weekly contest

This week I discovered the Quilting Gallery weekly contest. Each week they post a theme and quilters send in pictures of their quilts that fit the theme. The one that gets the most votes wins a prize package.

This week's theme is Half-Square Triangles and I entered my Treadle On Triple Star, which I finished last fall just in time for our quilt show. Voting is open through Sunday night, so please go vote for my quilt!

Vote here.

The quilt is toward the end of the page. Here's a detail shot to remind you which one it is.

More later.

Photo Friday - color

There's been a lot of discussion on a couple of my email lists about color, color wheels and value, and since I've been spending a lot of time with my Lumiere paints, I decided to play a bit. I created a color wheel with the paints, which I think is rather pretty, and tried out arranging them by value. The breakdown looks good in color but you can see in the black and white version that two of the mediums are the same value as the lights. Just shows it's not as easy to judge value as you would think.

light, medium and dark values, judged in color

More later.

in black and white the values are more obvious

Pretty in paint

My first painted quilt was kind of an accident, as I started with a piece I'd already quilted. So I decided to make another and take notes along the way on what works best.

Start by quilting with a contrasting color, then echoing the quilting
with a second color.

Here are the basics on a simple painted quilt, using Lumiere paints.

The paint shows up best on a dark background, so start with a dark fabric and border it with a two inch border. For this one I chose a fabric that picks up some of the colors in the paints.

Layer with a thin batting and cotton backing. I used leftover 80/20 cotton/poly batting. Baste all the way around the edges with a long stitch so the layers won't shift.

Choose two or more colors of thread to quilt the main area. Both should contrast, and the first you use should be the one you want to be most prominent.

Starting at one of the edges, begin free motion quilting. It helps to have some plan of what motifs you want to use and where you want them. Let the design overflow into the border at a few points. Then quilt the border with a color that blends into the border.

Begin painting with main color in larger areas.

Changing to your second color, follow the quilting lines from the first color, quilting inside any motifs like flowers or leaves. This will be your painting line. Add additional quilting to emphasize different areas if you want.

Get out a selection of small paintbrushes, including fine and wider brushes (about one-fourth inch). Wash brushes with soap and water and allow to dry between uses.

Begin painting, using the main color in the larger motifs first. Allow each group to dry (about an hour) before moving on to the next group.  After the main areas are painted, go back to add accents and shading. Paint can be smudged with nearly dry brush for subtle shadings.

Allow finished painting to dry 24 hours, then heat set with hot iron and press cloth. You can add quilting on the painted areas if desired. Finish the edges of the quilt as desired.

 Enjoy your painted quilt! More later.

Add accents and shading after the large areas dry.

Photo Friday - Tybee Island Lighthouse

Here are a couple of photos I took of the Tybee Island (GA) lighthouse a year or so ago.

More later.