I participated in a color duo challenge organized by several illustrators. I wanted to make Log Cabin Pendants with my larger square bezels that had been languishing in the proverbial drawer since 2018. A list of color pairs was a way to start!The ones above are Pomegranate/Kelly Green, Lavender/Mulberry, Cerulean/Strawberry, Avocado/Pink Candy Floss and Carrot/Coffee.The whimsical color names were wonderful, once I got past wanting to know “official definitions.”
I also went to the 2021 Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza on an afternoon when it was mostly empty and enjoyed the quilt brilliance. Fiery really caught my eye, pieced by Kathy Dunkle, quilted by Cindy Carey, Dragonfly pattern by Ann Shaw.
Around the Square by Margaret Almon, glass and ceramic on wood, 8×8 inches.
I remember reading that color gets all the glory but contrast does the heavy lifting! This mosaic was inspired by a pattern from The Quiltmaker’s Color Workshop from Weeks Ringle and incorporates some broken dishes from my great grandmother Margaret’s china—the feathery white and amber pattern. My mother was so pleased that I could use the broken pieces in my art. This one hangs in my studio.
Kaffe Fassett is the epitome of bright colors with his quilts, fabric, knitting and mosaics. I had the chance to see his work at the Michener Art Museum a few years ago. A postcard of this quilt is on my bulletin board in the studio. I feel a kinship with those who love the colors in Fassett fabric! I made some Trip Around the World Mosaics early in my mosaicking. I may need to revisit it.
Trip Around the World/Sunshine and Shadow Trivet by Margaret Almon
Asymmetric Log Cabin Quilt Mosaic by Margaret Almon, glass on wood, 10×10 inches.
Quilt patterns never cease to delight me! This is a variation on the Log Cabin quilt block, and I never grow tired of all the ways to express Log Cabin Quilt Love. The modular nature of quilts is very suited to mosaic. I used to think I liked sewing, but I actually liked pattern, fabric, color.
Autumn Crosses by Kaffe Fassett, constructed and quilted by Pauline Smith. James Michener Art Museum. Photo by Margaret Almon.
I went on an excursion in the rain to the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown to hear a talk by Kaffe Fassett about color. The first book I owned about mosaic was by Kaffe Fassett, and I was drawn to his use of color. Fassett has created art in many mediums from knitting, fabric design, quilting and mosaic. Someone in the audience asked him if he had a favorite medium, and he said no, that it was all a vehicle for playing with color, that he calls his studio a color laboratory. He sees color choices as an intuitive process, trying out different combinations of fabric on flannel “audition” boards until the colors vibrate or click. Fasset’s first medium was painting and painted only in shades of white! Another audience member asked if this was his preparation for moving to color, and he said yes, it was a kind of palate cleanser.
My first medium was collage, and color was my love. A friend asked if I had thought of being a painter because of my use of color, and it hadn’t occurred to me. I just wanted all the color. Looking at my photo from my previous blog post, Verve Patchwork in Orange, I recognize both a kinship with quilts and with collage, particularly the wood collage from another exhibit at the Michener, Pattern Pieces.
Barn Raze by Laura Petrovich-Cheney, salvaged barn wood, 30×30 inches(2012). James Michener Museum of Art. Photo by Margaret Almon.
Look at this quilt-like patchwork of orange by New Jersey artist Laura Petrovich-Chaney. She created a series of sculptures using wood salvaged from homes after Superstorm Sandy. Watch this moving interview with Petrovich-Chaney on the Weather Channel about her project.
Verve Pendant in Orange and Coral by Margaret Almon, glass on copper 1.5 inches, SOLD.
For a winter infusion of color and joy, be sure to get to these exhibits. The Fassett quilts are inspired by historical quilts and are laid side by side to see the new interpretation of amazing quilts from the past. I had to detour myself around the gift shop, since there were many tempting books by Fassett as well as ribbon from collection with Brandon Mably and Kaffe Fassett Studio. I was knitting while waiting for the lecture to start and the woman next to me said she wished they were selling yarn as well. I would’ve bought yarn.
Brandon Mably introduced Kaffe at the beginning of the lecture and told us how he helped yarn store owners learn to pronounce his name, “You have a safe assett with Kaffe Fassett.”
Rainbow Log Cabin by Dorothy Fravel, Keystone Quilters Show 2015. Photo by Wayne Stratz.
Another pleasure at the Keystone Quilters 2015 Show was coming across a Rainbow Log Cabin made by Dorothy Fravel. For my kindred spirits in Log Cabin Love, I just finished a Rainbow version of my own the week before, and look forward to sharing it with you.
Orange Detail of Rainbow Log Cabin by Dorothy Fravel, Keystone Quilters Show 2015. Photo by Wayne Stratz.
Shaun – Bright Star Quilt (detail)by Jamee Pemberton at Keystone Quilters Show 2015. Photo by Wayne Stratz.
Driving to the Keystone Quilters Guild 2015 Quilt Show, Stratoz and I got a bit turned around, but the leaves were gorgeous and snuck in when we weren’t looking. This Bright Star quilt by Jamee Pemberton caught my eye, with its autumn orange, those little sawteeth along the border. She made it for her nephew Shaun.
Here is a beautiful piece by pianist Catherine Marie Charlton called Stars Awaken from her Riversong album. I imagine an awakening star to look something like Jamee Pemberton’s Bright Star.
For Roger: Quilt by Julie LaRiviere. Pennsylvania Quilt Extravaganza, 2013. Photo by by Wayne Stratz.
Julie LaRiviere created this quilt is for Roger Beatty, educator at the Cape Cod National Sea Shore, who brought a love of the sea to many children. The nautilus spiral was my first spiral love.
Sea Spiral by Margaret Almon. Glass, gold smalti, dichroic, and abalone shell on slate, 7 inches.
Pieces that are spiral shaped, fabric with spiral prints and overall quilting in spirals ~ layers of spirals. Quilting allows for the imprint of spirals that create texture and flow. So cool.
Life Spiral Mandala by Suzanne Halstead, mosaic frame by Margaret Almon.
When I went looking for the quilt photo, the Life Spiral Mandala came up on the screen. My friend Suzanne Halstead created this with crayon, over a chafing dish, so it melted as she swirled. This technique leaves it’s own imprint as well. I created a mosaic frame to go with it.
