Sounds of the Stitches
Delyse Upton
Our group, Over the Border Stitchers (a small subgroup of CQ Exe Valley), took part in the Chinese Whispers challenge late in 2013. When our quilts went to the Loch Lomond Quilt Show in 2014, we felt we were ready for another challenge. Led by Ellen Seward, this time instead of a photo we would all receive a CD with the same section of a piece of music (chosen secretly by her husband David) with no titles or words, just music.
We were to listen to it thoughtfully and jot down, draw, scribble, etc whatever came into our minds or inspired us during that time ... spontaneity was the key. We had six weeks to complete the work, which was to comprise at least three layers, any medium, any finish, but must measure 36 x 24 inches portrait or landscape. It could be as simple or as complicated as we wished but mainly it was supposed to be FUN! As with Chinese Whispers, we were to say nothing to anyone in the group about the music or our work. We were due to have a “reveal” along with the music to see how we had all interpreted the same tune. We began on 12th October, finishing on November 23rd.
We were to listen to it thoughtfully and jot down, draw, scribble, etc whatever came into our minds or inspired us during that time ... spontaneity was the key. We had six weeks to complete the work, which was to comprise at least three layers, any medium, any finish, but must measure 36 x 24 inches portrait or landscape. It could be as simple or as complicated as we wished but mainly it was supposed to be FUN! As with Chinese Whispers, we were to say nothing to anyone in the group about the music or our work. We were due to have a “reveal” along with the music to see how we had all interpreted the same tune. We began on 12th October, finishing on November 23rd.
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I did enjoy the music, it was lilting and fluid—all sorts of ideas floated into my head. Though it seemed familiar, I did not know the title or composer. Several members thought it was a signature tune of a programme on TV. I played it several times and kept coming back to the idea of a bird murmuration, so started to research but came to the conclusion I was making things too complicated, so that idea went out of the window. As it happened Sallie had the same idea and produced a beautiful quilt.
Sally Waring
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Delyse Upton
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Later I felt that a flight of butterflies would still portray that undulating movement, so my quilt ended up as “Flight”. I used only spotted and dotted fabrics for the butterflies and quilted with a sashiko stitch, weaving in and out to indicate the flight patterns; overall the butterflies formed a rough shape of the British Isles (according to my husband), so I stencilled in Wales and Scotland as a touch of humour.
We met up at Barbara Janssen’s house for the great reveal. While we viewed the quilts, her husband played our challenge music on the violin – it was quite an emotional moment. Cakes and sandwiches finished off the day. I think everyone enjoyed this challenge and there is certainly a echo of the lilting melody (The Girl with Flaxen Hair by Debussy) running through the images.
Click on thumbnails below to see an enlarged image.
Janet Gent
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Barbara Janssen
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Deborah Relf
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Pat Mallet
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Penny Armitage
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Jan Allchurch
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Ellen Seward
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Lynn Carr
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Anne Turner
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