Well, here is my first offering to the group:
"I will lift up mine eyes". Thread sketching on silk. A3 size.
I am not really religious, but as soon as I learnt that I would be able to participate in this theme of
Architexture, I immediately started thinking about soaring and elegant cathedral ceilings. Perhaps I was sub-consciously influenced by Alain de Botton's concurrent visit to Australia to promote his most recent book. Over the past week, I have also had a work trip to Adelaide, known as Australia's City of Churches. Perhaps it is because of the start of Lent, I am not sure, but I knew this is what I wanted to represent.
I had hoped to be able to take some photos in Adelaide, but sadly that wasn't to be, so the quilt is based on a photograph by Jan van der Crabben, accessed through Wikipedia, and covered by the "Creative Commons Attribution - Share Alike 2.0 Generic Licence" which allows the sharing or adaptation of images with attribution. (The resulting work, such as this quilt, are then covered by the same licence)
The quilt was constructed with a base of white homespun and cotton batting, covered with layers of white, cream and pastel strips of different weights and textures of 100% silk, from the stash for eco-dying. You can see this in the following photograph of the completed quilt, taken on top of the lightbox.
I really started this quilt without knowing how I would finish it. I like the raw and uneven edges, but it did need something to give it a "full stop". I discovered a scrap of the gold embroidered sari border, which seemed perfect but too small. I actually went to our local fabric and trims shop to look for something similar, but when the shop assistant asked if I needed any help, the look on her face when I tried to explain I wanted something "ecclesiastical" made it all too clear I would have to modify and make do.
I mitered the 2 small strips I had, then ran off lines of gold thread the extend to the top and left borders - in keeping with the frayed edges throughout the quilt. I actually think this is better than if I had been able to find enough trim to frame the whole image.
I finished the opposite corner a lace truncated cross - again discovered amid the stash of silks.
The rose window was no in the original photo, and I tried to emphasis its focal point by cutting some gold silk to roughly fit the shape - like looking at a glorious dawn or sunset through the window.
Wonderful and thought-provoking theme. I am looking forward to the next one!
