I always have a list of quilts I want to make, but sometimes a rogue slips into the queue. Recently as I fossicked through my quilts and scrap parts I came across a 12 by 12 inch square sewn together scraps part that said beach to me.
I combined that square with scrap strips, an ancient fat quarter of unknown origin, painted color catchers, and organza scraps. I also used special leftover strips from a gift of painted fabric. My goal was to convey the feeling of hazy brightness I’ve experienced at the beach, not necessarily a beach landscape.
Here’s how I began.
I finished the edges with a sparkly rat tail that hinted at sea glass to me. All the quilting and edging was done with 40 weight cotton thread.
I’m linking to Off The Wall Friday.
The Snarky Quilter 
You really captured the hot, hazy beach look. Nice colors.
Thank you. For once my use of color was restrained.
very evocative. I need more beige in my stash!
That’s funny as I have almost no beige in mine, though I know it can be a good neutral.
You have truly captured that beach feeling and I love your use of organza and the sparkly rat tail. I use “blobby” all the time… Don’t artists have their own dictionary ;>)
I’m so glad my intent comes across. I’m also glad I kept that sparkly rat tail cording from 6 years or so ago.
I love this piece. Definitely feels beachy to me. You give us so many ideas of materials to use in our art quilts. I’m going to start saving my prettier color catchers for projects. Before I used them to wipe down areas of dust/lint. Have a great weekend.
Thanks so much. Color catchers will obviously pick up any free dye in the wash, but they can be painted with fabric paint and stitched.
Yes, it works! The ebb and flow of color and form, the wavy horizontals that help soften the straight verticals, the mix of materials … and yes, “blobby” is a word … and I learned another word for “rummaged” that speaks to the heart of the situation, especially if I find scraps and schnibbles that, with a few more months in hiding, just might become the fossils referenced by the Latin root. Thanks for another inspiration!
Thanks, Jane. Every time I use stuff from my scraps pile I feel justified. After all, the stuff only takes up a few boxes.
Absolutely, Joanna! Scraps are a quick word for “fabric I have not yet used in a project.”
Well, there’s the size issue as well. Scraps to me are smaller than a fat eighth.