Some quilts are a very long time in coming. They come in and out of storage based on deadlines, time management, and whims. Such is the story of Fruit Salad.
Fruit Salad first made an appearance at the Crow Barn in the spring of 2010. I was there for two weeks to take Sets and Variables I & II and which I wrote about here.
The second week of study resulted in the foundation for my Color Grid Series which has been a particularly satisfying exploration of the traditional quilt block called Squares and a Square.
Dance Party at Tamara’s House 37H x 37W 2012
Part of why Fruit Salad went up on the design wall and came down from the design wall so many times is because I kept trying to make it into a grid. Do you see the grid I am trying to impose in this photo?
In reality, it is much closer to Berry Picking.
Berry Picking 22H x 18W 2012
Berry Picking Detail 22H x 18W 2012
And Boulevard. All three of these quilts feature an elongated and distorted view of the grid.
Boulevard 32H x 48W 2011
Boulevard Detail 32H x 48W 2011
This winter, when it fully sunk in that I was having two solo shows in the month of February, I realized that the only way I was going to have enough material was to seriously focus on finishing up some favorites.
Fruit Salad went back up on the design wall.
Since I began Fruit Salad, my aesthetic concerning quilt edges had changed dramatically. For a brief moment in time, I produced quilts with edges not cut with rulers. Some would say these edges are organic, I would say they are wobbly. I am currently in the straight edge camp. This meant I needed to go back into the quilt and gentle straighten the edges. I wrote about this process here.
Once the top was done, I spent about 25- 30 hours quilting.
Here are few peaks at the back.
And another 6 or so hours stitching facings and hanging sleeves onto the quilt. I did most of this finishing work during a power outage in Homer, Alaska.
I was there to hang my show CUT-STITCH-PRESS at the Bunnell Street Arts Center and have an opening. Unfortunately, a storm but the kibosh on that. You can read about how fun that was in this blog post I called Wind Storm-Power Outage-Blizzard. Really, it was good fun hanging out with the staff of the Bunnell. I left with the quilt draped like this–ready and waiting to be hung.
The next week, Walt and I drove back to Homer for the rescheduled opening. Uh Oh. Fruit Salad was hung upside down. Note to self–leave others notes if you want your abstract work be hung properly.
Fruit Salad has finally be photographed and properly documented. Here is what it looks like right side up.
Fruit Salad 35H x 55W 2014
And a few close ups.
Fruit Salad Detail 35H x 55W 2014
Fruit Salad Detail 35H x 55W 2014
Fruit Salad Detail 35H x 55W 2014
I hope you all are having as good of spring as we are up here. It’s absolutely wonderful to feel the sun for so many hours a day. It feels like fruit salad weather….
I love it
Sent from my iPhone
Thank you Beth! We enjoyed walking across your bridge today in this amazing weather.
It’s beautiful! I love that is has some quiet areas too.
Ruth- I have the hardest time with quiet areas. It just seems to easy. It’s good to hear you say this. I like quiet in other people’s quilts, but struggle to effective use space that way in my own work. Thank you for saying that.
Awesome story about the life and journey of Fruit Salad!
Maria, your quilts are very colorful, happy and playful. I shy away from making quilts where one has to match corners and seams. I do love to make art quilts haven’t made as many as I would like to yet ! I love your Fruit Salad
Thank you Zohra. Keep stitching. You learn something new about yourself and your work with each one.
Thank you! I have been trying to tell each quilt’s story. Fruit Salad was so long in the making, but in the end that becomes part its history.
You are a master of design, color, and integration of varying factors. I loved this quilt! Sherry Valentine
Sherry- thank you so much for saying that. Wow. I aspire to that and it feels great to have someone see it.
I absolutley love your dance party at tamara’s house – such an evocative title and such a powerful design – and then i see all the detailed stitching – wow! Respect!
Thank you Kacy!
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