Majesty for Machine Ends in a Sunrise

Majesty created by machine being Appli-quilted.

Creative Solutions for Success

There are often surprises along the way in the creative process.  Its what makes creating works of art challenging, stretching, fun and exciting.  Majesty in my fabrics for the machine version have provided such a journey.

Center without the pastel treatment.

The piece, being traced onto its fusible, ironed onto the wrong side of the background, cut out and ironed onto the right side of the top fabric went to my EOB Machine Elf, Ruth Ann.  She then did the machine Appli-quilting using the different colored threads I gave her. (see Majesty for Machine: Vibrant)

The piece was better, but I still didn't see what I saw in my head materialize.  The design wasn't visible enough, so the piece wasn't popping the way I wanted.

  So what to do?

My trusty, 40 year old pastels. This orange gave the best results.

EOB Elf Ruth Ann is an active art quilter.  She suggested coloring the background with oil pastels.

I'd never done that before.

Its been 40 years since I used my pastels. I remember saving my money and riding my hand-me-down 3 speed bike 7 miles to buy these pastels at my local art store at the Delaware Plaza as a teenager. I was so excited. I used them a lot for several years.

As I went to get them from a drawer, I wasn't even sure if they were still good.

Center with the pastel treatment. Phew! It worked!

Tentatively, I lightly colored in a small section of the background.  My pastels worked, and the idea worked.  So I kept coloring.  The piece maintained its rich, vivid, saturated coloring, but the design could be seen. Phew! I was so glad.

I heat set the pastel in the fabric by laying a pressing cloth over the piece and then ironing it.

This Majesty shows forth the joyous vibrant aspect of God's Majesty.

I see the bursting colors of a sunrise.

I see the last hurrah of a sunset.

I see the explosion of flowers in the Spring. 

Majesty, Medallion IX. created by machine for Island Batik featuring fabrics from Flower Fields, Spring Collection/2015.