Last year I started a new smocked art quilt, and spoiler alert, I hated it so much that after I finished it I didn't even want to blog about it. But recently I made some changes to it to bring it back into my good graces, so I figured it was time to share.
I started, as usual, with painting fabric. To be honest, I have no idea what prompted me to initially pick the yellow/pink/brown color scheme (with pops of turquoise?) but I did.
Unfortunately, the paint didn't set well (my fault for washing it out before ironing) and then for some strange reason I painted on more brown and some purple? I was in a time crunch for a show entry, so I just proceeded. I quilted it, and then in an effort to make it more earthy, I couched a bunch of brown an orange yarn down in the quilting. I smocked it using a tighter smocking pattern than usual and then mounted it on a piece of sono-tube to give it the semicylindrical lantern shape.
I love the shape and the smocking pattern, and I even love the extra oomph that comes from the couched yarn, but the colors were just gross. Washed out, and pale, but also feeling like Easter candy barf?
I really struggled with what to do with this piece, come back Tuesday to see what I landed on.
It looks fabulous and I can't imagine what you would do to make them look better. I look forward to your next post.
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