I didn't finish clearing up the mess from the last quilts; somehow I was sidetracked into playing with my batiks, and now there's a new layer of fabric and scraps on top of the old mess.
I suppose I should get all militant and tough, and force myself to clean up, but I doubt that will happen. I have a horrible cold/flu, and the batiks are a distraction and a bright spot while I indulge in being ill.
I cut up a whole jellyroll, but that wasn't enough variety, so I cut strips from a heap of FQs and added them in to the mix. Then I raided another jellyroll and pulled out anything that would go with what was on the design wall. I still wish I had more variety, but I think I have enough pieces to make a 72" square quilt, and that will do for starters.
I don't feel comfortable working with batiks, I love the fabrics close up, but when I step back from the design wall it just looks like mud and grunge. Sigh.... I just feel like no-one has told me the rules for this game yet, so I have no idea what is going wrong.
I know the answer is to keep working with these fabrics, and keep making quilts and learning, but it's a bit discouraging to go back to beginner status. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to start this when I'm sick, but at least it's taking my mind off my physical symptoms.
Would it improve it in your mind to include a contrasting bright? White? Mind you from here it looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteI have a liove hate relationship with them. My most used quilt by guests was my batik quilt and my niece has it. Don't buy them anymore but feel I probably have a couple more in me. I feel your pain with the cold. Say 14 for me and just over it.
ReplyDeleteI love batiks but its rare that I use them simply because there's so much other fabric to choose from. I do know the feeling, though, that happen when my fabric choices don't work the way I thought they would. I hope you feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you would like batiks just mixed with your other quilt fabrics instead of all together with each other. For a batik quilt it looks exactly as it should.
ReplyDeleteWell I think your "mud and grunge" looks pretty good.
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