A Shimmering Quilt Surface

A couple of weeks ago, my mother gave me a magazine clipping about the artist Gustav Klimt– specifically, the tapestry-like element of his patterns and paintings. I like to think I do a pretty good job of coming up with original designs, but there’s nothing like a fresh source of inspiration.

Obviously, I departed a bit from the original source. For starters, my colors are much more vibrant and I don’t think this piece has that wonderfully spooky/mysterious aura that so much of Klimt’s work does. Like most of my work, it’s more playful and fun.

But I do hope I captured that visual sensation of an overall pattern that is both spontaneous and controlled, improvised but geometric…

Once I’d sketched out the overall design, it came together so easily– it’s just squares and stripes after all– but slowly because those little squares are only 1″ on each side. Fortunately we finally got a real New England snowstorm this weekend so I’m happy to be cuddling indoors in my sewing room.

I still haven’t given up on my mission to deplete my stash of scraps. The challenge of it is addictive– and truth be told, my bank account could stand another month or two of restricted fabric shopping