Journal Quilts 2006 - January, February, March, April

Lady in Waiting - January 2006

I was really struggling with my feelings about the impending birth of my first grandchild. My daughter seemed so young. My years as a single mother were the most challenging of my life, and I feared her future with the father of the baby was not secure. My worry colored all my thoughts and I decided I’d just work it through with a journal page. I wanted to use the fabric I marbled last summer. While looking at some Egyptian tomb art, I found a figure I wanted to adapt. Lady in Waiting was created. She deserved a lot of beads, which were sewn on in the hospital after Dad’s knee surgery. I am still worried!

Lady in Waiting #2 - February 2006

I was so happy with the first "Lady in Waiting", that I decided to try again with another type of image. I searched and searched and finally found an image from a "Printer's Mark" from 1493. A printers mark was used like a trademark - something printers used as a signet - during the Golden Age of Printing.

I used the marbled fabric once again, and added beads, but this one was a disaster!



















Elizabeth in Bloom - March 2006

Michelle is home from college this month and she shot some film of Elizabeth and her big belly. After she got back to school, she sent this picture to me via email. I printed it onto fabric, but then what? I decided to tear some sheer fabric I had monoprinted with flowers last summer into a strip long enough to cover the image. It hangs loose - attached only at the top.

This one is a bit of a disappointment, too.
















Grace - April 2006

This is to be my final "pregnant" journal quilt. The baby will be born this month. My daughter is radiant, graceful, and serene. So different from the way I felt when I was pregnant with her 21 years ago!

I've been able to use my hand marbled fabric each month so far.

Journal Quilts May, June, July 2006

Postpartum Blues - May 2006

Airus was born April 29. He is beautiful and healthy. The delivery was easy and my daughter is radiant, calm and serene as a new mother.

Elizabeth is not experiencing postpartum blues, but I know a lot of people struggle with depression after delivery. I wanted to use the Egyptian image from my first journal quilt and do it again - this time with the baby in arms. I wanted to do it shades that would convey the impression of postpartum blues. I think it might have been better if I'd used a contrasting color for the background - maybe orange or yellow? I dunno.






Madonna - June 2006

I had the idea of using some shibori dyed fabric for the background. I used reverse applique for the figure - two different fabrics - so I layered three fabrics on the top of the quilt sandwich to get this effect. I think the differences in the two fabrics are too subtle, actually, and I think I could have done a better job placing the figure. It would have looked a bit nicer a bit higher up, maybe.












The Duchess - July 2006

While helping my mother move this month - we came across some things I had never seen before. One of those things was her set of Alice in Wonderland paper dolls! Many parts were still there, and I was taken with this image of the Duchess. She let me take the whole set home!

I thought this Duchess image fell right in with my series of madonnas! This madonna must be the grandmother, though!

Really, I have been so dismayed these days at my reflection when I look in the mirror. Yikes! I am a grandmother! Gravity is starting to have its effect on my appearance. I don't look quite like this old gal just yet, but I fear I am headed that way!

Journal Quilt August 2006

Madonna a la Picasso

I did a little Picasso research in August because I wanted to create my own version of an abstracted figure style continuing my “Madonna” or mother w/baby theme. I like this image - it is one of my favorites of the series! This was the last quilt I made using my own marbled fabric.