Transformation

Commissions can make me nervous. I find myself trying to create something through someone else's eyes and that is extremely difficult to do.  I had avoided them for a couple of years, but when my son-in-law, who was looking for a unique gift for friends of his who were getting married, called to ask if I would make them a small quilt, I was flattered enough to take it on. The fact that he is a great guy probably entered into it as well.

Aside from the size-- twelve inches square or thereabouts, he also requested that the quilt be an image of a volcano: the bride, who was from Australia, and the groom, who was from California, were going to celebrate their wedding in Hawaii among the volcanoes. And so I set to researching exactly what volcanoes looked like.

When I determined that he also wanted the image to actually be recognizable as a volcano, I put aside my more abstract sketches to pursue later and chose one that was definitely volcano-like but more quilt-like than completely realistic.

The gold and lighter purple are hand appliqued and the dark purple is fused raw-edged appliqued.  I wanted the quilting on the rock pieces to suggest the aboriginal paintings of Australia without directly referencing them.

Naming this little quilt was a challenge since there are so many catastrophic words associated with volcanoes that are not exactly appropriate for a wedding quilt.  But then our Art 1016 challenge word for February was announced: Transformation--and I shamelessly stole it as the name of the quilt! It was perfect for a volcano and a wedding. Alas, this quilt is not 10 x 16 inches so I still must come up with a piece to fit that challenge. 

Anyway, my son-in-law was pleased, and I was pleased.

And if you are still reading about this small step on my journey, thanks for the company!