I am often asked about how much time it takes to complete one of my art quilts. The first answer that always comes to mind is “As long as it takes to get it right.” I don’t really track the amount of time that goes into any piece I am working on, but complex pieces with multiple characters and detailed backgrounds take longer than those with single figures and simple backgrounds. I just keep working until I am satisfied with the result, but the process I follow is the same for all:
Ideation: I begin with a concept that I translate into a rough sketch. Drawing is not my thing, so I don’t try to get everything perfect. I just want to get the key elements down on paper (# of figures, positioning, background elements, etc.).
Design: This is a critical step where I literally make “paper dolls” of the figures, wardrobe, hairstyles, and background elements and work out all the details of the piece. I do this in paper because it is much less expensive than fabric. I literally move the paper pieces around until I like the overall arrangement. Once this is done, I “audition” a variety of fabrics until I come up with a combination that I think works well together. When the fabric selection is finalized, I cut out the background and all of the elements of the composition.
Construction: Putting the quilt top together requires working in layers from back to front. That is, elements that are in the background must be placed before those in front of them. For each layer, I need to be conscious of what will show through to the layer on top of it. I also need to think about the thickness of the piece so that it will fit through the sewing machine. Using a combination of hand and machine stitching, I then sew down all of the elements of the composition. Next, I layer the quilt top with cotton batting and a backing fabric. The final construction step is to fill in the background of the design using a hand-sewn rice stich. This is a very old quilting stitch that was used to hold quilts together before sewing machines were invented. It is so named because the stitches look like grains of rice. I use it as a tribute to my ancestors who made their quilts by hand.
Finishing: I finish my quilts with a binding in a complementary fabric and a label with my handwritten signature. On the back, I sew a Tree of Life charm that is a symbol of my interest in family history and genealogy.