A Field of Poppies

I am taking part in a wall hanging exchange with a small on line art group . The size limit for this piece was originally 8x10 but I decided to go a bit bigger as I am freeling limited by size lately. This small quilt is approximately 11x17. I am sending this piece off to Laura by the end of the month. We were each asked to submit color guidelines and Laura asked for bright colors and nature. She is a North woods nature girl for sure!!!

I have always loved poppies with their brilliant red blossoms and paper thin petals. The blossoms are so very fragile yet the plants are tough as nails and if they are happy they will grow in profusion.



I have been reading books by quilter Ruth McDowell lately. Her fabric collages are very striking in that they use a huge variety of prints and textures in an incredibly efffective and pleasing technique. So Poppies were my subject and bright colors were my palette.





I cut many different blades of grasses from fabrics that had Wonder Under fused to the back. I stitched the grass down in layers using various stitches and then created the poppy blossoms seperately, before stitching them down to the grassy background. I used yarn for the stems that I couched down and a bit of upholstry material for the hairy little buds. The final step was to add beaded centers.
(Photos will enlarge with a right click!)

All that remains is to pick a backing fabric and bind the edges. It will be done using a green print, I think. The hardest part will be putting this in the mail!! I am reallly very happy with this piece!!!! It is a very good thing that it will be living with my dear friend Laura, who happens to be a wonderful quilter and collage artist, and I know that she will really appreciate it!!!!