Friday 28 February 2014

Challenge 4 Art - SPACE

The fourth theme of our Challenge 4 Art project is SPACE.  When I chose this theme for our group several months ago, I had a definite plan of how I would interpret it.  My plan was to make teenie-tiny stars and sew them in the shape of the Big Dipper.  However, over the past couple of weeks my idea changed and I decided to go a bit more abstract and depict what can be seen FROM space instead of what is seen IN space.  A different perspective!


These are crop circles - circles of irrigated land in the desert.  I'm pretty sure that the images that come to mind when you hear the words 'crop circles' are those made by aliens in wheat fields and not actual crops growing in circular patches, so I have added an image from the Internet that I printed to use as my inspiration so you can see what I mean.


I used some of my precious Oakshott fabrics and two different shades of linen to make my SPACE wall hanging.  Two different colours of Aurifil thread plus invisible thread were used to stitch the raw-edge applique circles down after I ironed them secure using some Wunder-under.  Some of the circles are outlined in thread and they all have stitching on the circles themselves.  Here are a few of the process pictures with the first image showing the jam jar lid I used to create my circles!


I think by now most people know I love green so seeing the irrigated crop circle images on the Internet really did inspire me.  Crop circles are quite beautiful, especially those found in desert areas as the pattern they create as a whole is quite graphic.  They also provide colour in an otherwise bland, neutral, barren and sandy area.  Here are two links of similar crop circles if you'd like to see more: click here or here.

And finally, one more image for you to see my SPACE mini alongside my GROWTH mini.  Yes, I love green!


To see how the others interpreted the theme SPACE, click on their links here:

Claudia of Machen und Tun
Ellie Q of Color My World
Susannah of fiberchick

12 comments:

Leanne said...

I love it! I wish you would put bigger photos on your blog too so I could see it even better.

MetroQuilter said...

This is amazing; love where you've taken your inspiration from, stunning.

machen und tun said...

Dear Amy, I love, love, love your interpretation of this challenge!! And funny how we both started rather literal just to get to abstract ideas and simple forms.. Thanks for this very cool theme, I enjoyed working with it and it got my creative juices finally flowing again - a big thanks for that especially!!!
claudia

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

I love your space design and the growth hanging. This challenge is certainly inspiring you to do very beautiful work :)

Jo Jo said...

It's a really cool design, Amy :)

DeborahGun said...

this is so cool Amy, and I love how your two wall hangings look together :-)

✄ Erin @ Sew at Home Mummy ✄ said...

Beautiful, I absolutely love it!!

fiberchick said...

Love it! I love your change in perspective. What is seen from space rather than what space looks like. This is cleverly conceived and beautifully executed!!!

Gertie Pye said...

I love green and love your design! You come up with some fantastic original pieces Amy. I might earmark some of my precious greens for some lovely circles after seeing this beauty x

Ellie Q said...

So neat to see both your pieces together! Love your idea, and the Oakshotts! Yum! Great job!

Leanne Parsons said...

Well, I have now learned my something new for today! I had only ever heard of the alien crop circles before. Your links were very interesting. Your quilt is lovely too...I see how crop circles could be inspiring.

Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...

Thanks everyone - I seem to be having problems with email so I am not able to reply to you individually. Thank you for stopping in :)