2003 Journal Quilts

January – September 2003, each 8-1/2" wide by 11" high, © 2003, Maria Elkins, All Rights Reserved.

This year I used my journal quilts to experiment with different ways to paint and quilt faces. But I also wanted to challenge myself to use colors I don’t normally use. In reality, that means any color that is not blue!

Stephanie

  • Comments: I wanted to find a way to have detailed control over this portrait, so I decided to explore ways to use colored pencils on fabric so they would be permanent.
  • Coloring Agent: Derwent Watercolor pencils covered with Setacolor Colorless Extender; embellished with photos printed on HP transfer paper.
  • Quilting Thread: Kaleidoscope threads

Sarah

  • Comments: On this one, I tried to paint quickly without being too perfectionistic.
  • Coloring Agent: D’Uva Erasable Watercolors and Jacquard Lumiere
  • Quilting Thread: Sulky Holoshimmers and sliver metallics

Judy

  • Comments: This was my attempt to quilt the face a new way. "Why not feathers?" I thought.
  • Coloring Agent: Shiva Paintstiks
  • Quilting Thread: YLI 100 weight silk thread

Jaymie

  • Comments: This one proved to me that stippling the face definitely does not enhance the three-dimensional quality of the facial contours.
  • Coloring Agent: Pentel FabricFun Pastel Dye Sticks
  • Quilting Thread: Sulky 40 weight Rayon

Christie

  • Comments: Another one where I tried to paint quickly, loosely, freely. I wanted this one to be fun!
  • Coloring Agent: Jacquard Dye-na-flow
  • Quilting Thread: Superior Threads Rainbows variegated polyester

Bethany

  • Comments: This was the first face I painted. I liked it so much, it was the last one I quilted — I was so afraid of ruining it! This one is still my favorite. Maybe it’s because of her eyes…
  • Coloring Agent: Tsukineko All-Purpose Ink
  • Quilting Thread: YLI 100 weight silk and invisible threads

The second Journal QuiltPages project was proposed by Karey Bresenhan, Director of the International Quilt Festival. It was to be "a free-form exercise in creativity, specifically planned to encourage quilt artists to stretch and grow." The project was open only to members of the QuiltArt list and the QuiltPages were displayed at the 2003 IQF show.