ART QUILT GROUP: Life is Like a Box of Crayons....

We could learn a lot from crayons; some are sharp, some are pretty, 

some are dull, while others bright, some have weird names, 

but they all have learned to live together in the same box.  

~Robert Fulghum

I belong to an Art Quilt Group that meets monthly.  The group has 23 members with 10 - 15 attending regularly.  Each meeting is such a boost of creative energy; so many create and inspiring women. Each year we set a goal regarding how we will set our monthly challenges; this year, Jackie, came up with drawing three random crayons out of a box of 64 Crayola crayons and  create a 12" x  12" art quilt with these three colors. Jackie chose our colors for January, and here they are:

The majority of the group was not drawn to the 'macaroni and cheese', so many of their works use this color as a focal point.

I decided that I am not going to fully follow the rules.  I already have lots of 12 x 12 quilts already; this coupled with my goal of experimenting with new techniques, I decided that I would make 6" x 6" quilts that I could bind into a reference book.  This month, I focused on collage for the background using silk, tulle, scrim, paint, and sari ribbon.

Below are the quilts from the rest of the group:

First is Jackie's (the originator of our challenge). Jackie is a retired art teacher and I always look forward to seeing her work.  

 This is Evey's work in progress; I look forward to seeing the finished piece.

Mary's Quilt.  Some of the fabric used was left from an American Doll dress that someone made for her daughter years ago.  Mary used the salvage as part of the quilt because she thought it was interesting that there is a misspelled word on it from the manufacturer.

 Carolyn was having so much fun, she made two challenge quilts.  This is the first:

Here is the second; I regret that I did not get a closer shot of this because the embroidery and beading is fabulous!

This is June's challenge quilt.  June was an art quilter before anyone knew anything about art quilting.  Her work is always fabulous!

Here is Jenny's addition; she began doing this fold, then stitch technique.  After working through the technique, she realized she like the back better than the front.  Everything inside the orange square is the underside of the piece; it is quite wonderful!

Diane has been a member of the group but has been unable to attend due to another obligation the same night as our Art Quilt Group meeting.  This is her first art quilt and I think she did a smashing job.  The title of this piece is 'Crime Scene'; the orange feathers on it tell the rest of the story....

Here is Jane's piece; when she heard about the challenge colors, she thought of her childhood goldfish named 'Cheddar'.  This piece is in honor of Cheddar.

 Group shots of all the challenge pieces together.

Our colors for February are dandelion, sienna, and tumbleweed.  Somehow, I never remember crayons having these elaborate names when I was young...hmmmmm...