Janet Bolton's workshop #2
Drum roll please:
Well here it is. So much work for such a small piece (about 4 inches by 6), but every single stitch was both an instinct and well thought through.
I started off with a totally different idea in mind. I was thinking of a boat yes, but with greens and blues and the sea. Then I picked up colours for the beach and the 'sea' just wasn't coming. I kept seeing grey stormy skies. The boat became stranded by the receding tide. Like my favourite Cape Cod beach in the winter. In the surface a monochromatic landscape, in reality full of shades of browns/gold/greys/blues. The odd splash of colour on a boat/a buoy/the white of the gulls/strange objects brought back by the tide.
And the space. The big New England skies, not necessarily an ndless expanse of blue, but full of wind and clouds and squalls of rain and 'movement'. C'mon you East coasters, help me out here!
There had to be a boat, because some of my favourite memories of my days in that part of the world have boats in them. An old, rusty, paint-peeling, fading, wooden fishing boat. No details, just the idea of a boat.
So this is it. Hope you enjoyed the 'tour'.
The sea IS there. Can't you smell it?
I can smell it from here - Monica it is WONDERFUL! And the red button placement? Tops.
Posted by: Ali | Monday, 25 June 2007 at 12:54 PM
Bravo!!! It is so worth the time and thought you put in. It's just perfect!
Posted by: sarah | Monday, 25 June 2007 at 02:41 PM
You should be very proud of this... it's fantastic!
Posted by: Becky | Monday, 25 June 2007 at 04:12 PM
I can smell it -- and see it. Great work!
Posted by: Angela | Monday, 25 June 2007 at 05:32 PM
it's beautiful!
it's perfect!
Posted by: amandajean | Monday, 25 June 2007 at 07:04 PM
I love the story of the inspiration as much as the piece itself.
Posted by: Flibbertygibbet | Monday, 25 June 2007 at 08:42 PM
Wonderful piece!
Posted by: Mirre | Monday, 25 June 2007 at 08:50 PM
beautiful. and the single button just works...you were right.
Posted by: Zoe | Monday, 25 June 2007 at 08:52 PM
I'm jumping up and down in my chair as I look at it. That's seriously amazing Monica, and very inspirational.
Posted by: Megan | Monday, 25 June 2007 at 09:22 PM
Oh that's fabulous. and the button is perfectly placed. I hope you will frame it and hang it someplace.
Posted by: pixie | Monday, 25 June 2007 at 10:05 PM
This is simply gorgeous. I love JB's work and have often thought of giving it a try ... this is inspiring me :) Thank you.
Posted by: Trudy | Monday, 25 June 2007 at 11:27 PM
It's great! I love the seagull. :)
Posted by: Christy | Tuesday, 26 June 2007 at 04:19 AM
That's sooooo good. I love all the detail - it's certainly inspired me.
Posted by: Sarah Jayne | Tuesday, 26 June 2007 at 09:57 AM
This is wonderful!! Totally you and yet totally janet Bolton!Love it!
Posted by: janet clare | Tuesday, 26 June 2007 at 10:20 AM
Hi, I came over to visit from Kristin's blog. Wonderful quilt - especially the little boat. I am totally envious that you got to take a class with Janet Bolton. I just had her book out yesterday to reread it.
Posted by: Tonya R | Tuesday, 26 June 2007 at 11:36 AM
Yes, I can nearly smell it. What a lovely piece you've created :)
Posted by: Felicia | Tuesday, 26 June 2007 at 12:32 PM
yes, I can smell it, and almost hear it too - so impressed, I could never work so freely
Posted by: rubyrose | Tuesday, 26 June 2007 at 01:17 PM
fabulous!
Posted by: beki | Tuesday, 26 June 2007 at 02:04 PM
Wow! The detail is amazing! It's a work of art!
Posted by: Anina | Tuesday, 26 June 2007 at 05:04 PM
Love it. Love everything about it. Especially? The button.
Posted by: odd dotty | Tuesday, 26 June 2007 at 05:48 PM
This is so beautiful! Janet Bolton is one of the fabric artists I admire most, and I would give anything to take a class with her!
Posted by: Hilde | Wednesday, 27 June 2007 at 06:02 AM
Fantastic. It looks like the sea here..just a few hundred yards from my door. The colours are perfect. Gorgeous. Wow.
Posted by: bigbucketgirl | Wednesday, 27 June 2007 at 02:29 PM
This is beautiful!
Posted by: Chara Michele | Wednesday, 27 June 2007 at 06:21 PM
.... it's *completely* perfect. Beautiful work!
Posted by: brigitte | Wednesday, 27 June 2007 at 09:59 PM
i'm in awe! what a lovely, lovely piece.
Posted by: kristin | Thursday, 28 June 2007 at 05:13 AM
Oh Monica, I love it. Especially the "instinct and thought through" freeing isn't it? I love it when things change and you are able to roll with the changes and see where the creative process takes you. Wonderful!
Posted by: Sonya | Thursday, 28 June 2007 at 06:28 PM
what a wonderful piece, thanks for the tour. It definitely has a beachcombery feel to it and the mournful, single seagull and beached boat give it a great sense of atmosphere. It's beautiful and a great result of what sounds like a brilliant course.
Posted by: julie | Saturday, 30 June 2007 at 05:42 PM
Was this the workshop at Cowslip? I wanted to do this one - but had another engagement. I love your piece - it is simply beutiful
Posted by: Mary @Sew to Sleep | Sunday, 01 July 2007 at 09:02 AM
wow! That is lovely. I just got Kaffe Fassett's quilt Road with some of Janet's quilts in them and I am smitten! I am adding your blog to my sidebar and I will be back. Thanks for posting this- its wonderful! xxxooo calamity kim
Posted by: calamity kim | Friday, 28 March 2008 at 03:36 AM