February’s Improvi-Robin WIP is packed up and ready to mail to the next player in our circle. Here’s what I received to play with:
And here’s what it looks like now:
First improvisation was to use my rotary cutter to slice into the original block to the left of that lovely fish. A deep breath and some courage was required, but my Muse said it had to be done. I pieced back in a few narrow strips of flame-orange meant to represent coral. Applique would have tidier, but I wanted that slight distortion of the background HSTs, because when you look through water, things get distorted.
Step 2 was to add a new fish print and a nice piece of a very precious (because I have so little of it left) coral print in my fave teal/olive/fuschia colors. Philip Jacobs, I think, Kaffe Fassett Collective for sure.
Step 3 was to trim a wavy bit off the top of the original block and add some watery prints and a green batik to that edge (the strips that go all the way across the width).
Then it sat on the design wall for a week or so, telling me it wasn’t quite done. I happened, when cleaning out my scrap drawers, to come across a lovely blue and white “monstera” leaf print that I forgot to photograph before cutting it up. The green and white bits you also see in the HSTs added to the top is an Amy Butler print salvaged from the peasant skirt that I cut up to finish off this block. It’s fun to see how those two leafy prints, when cut up into smaller bits, deliver a nice rendition of churning water. So satisfying that it turned out just as I’d hoped! Even better, my row of HSTs turned out to fit the width of the block exactly! I could pretend that’s the result of careful planning and triple-checked quilt math, but truth is it’s a happy accident synchronicity.
This WIP is headed to Jackie, who will to play with next. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with.
Thanks, Abby, for sending me such a fun block to play with!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
It looks fantastic!! I can’t wait to get it!! My mind is already “swimming” with ideas!
I saw this on the flickr Round Robin yesterday, so it was very interesting to read about your process today as I didn’t realise quite how much you had added. It looks terrific.
Great additions! At first I didn’t notice that you had sliced the original block to add the coral – I thought it was appliqued. But you are so right – images are distorted through water – perfect choice to add the coral that way. Once again, great improvisational work; your fabric choices are spot-on!
You were very brave to slice this block and the result is fantastic !