Although it wasn't explicitly stated, I think part of the reason we chose this challenge was to see if we could come to like something we might be prejudiced against for whatever reason. Now, I'm not entirely sure why I don't like hexagons much to be honest, I just don't. Someone suggested they might be too geometric, or precise and I think that's probably it in some deep subconscious way.
Brown, well I don't like brown in textiles much because I grew up in the 70s. Add some orange to that and you've got every childhood trauma right there. So of course I had to add in some orange. It didn't matter that it was Heather Ross orange either, because oh my I do not like this colour combination! Mat suggested after it was too late that green would have been a good background, and then I thought perhaps a paleish blue might have been good too, but it was too late and I'd already done all the quilting so wasn't going to change it. But I think perhaps it would soften the starkness of the brown against the white. I really need to stop using so much white as backgrounds.
So what do I like? Well I really like how I put the hexagons on (barring a few layout issues I can see now) with the negative space. And I really like how I quilted it.
Basically I quilted on the hexagon shapes first, then appliqued the hexagons on. I left parts of the top unquilted, so both the quilting and the actual hexagons have a lot of empty spaces. In fact, I could happily take off the hexagons and just have the quilting! I also really enjoyed making the hexagons, it was satisfying and good for keeping hands busy while watching tv.
Verdict: I still don't like brown much, but I think it's possible that, used judiciously, I could come around the hexagons. Just not brown ones.
amazing job - everything is done so neatly! also not a big fan of brown, but I am a fan of this :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not a brown fan but it looks really good
ReplyDeleteA coloured background would have been interesting but I still like this, it gives the hexagons great definition. I share the 70s induced brown/orange phobia. When I look at childhood photos and am upset by the contrast of my friend in pretty blue & white dresses and ribbons beside me with a polyester brown and orange trouser suit and a boys haircut my mum still insists it was fashionable.
ReplyDeleteI totally get your not liking brown being a child growing up in the 70's as well. I think what you did in challenging yourself doubly proved to be a wonderful piece in the end. I particularly like the quilting you did, it makes the piece.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Poor brown, it gets a bad rap in the modern quilting world doesn't it!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm still not a brown fan, but I can start to see the possibilities. Maybe!
ReplyDeleteAh this made me laugh. I'm sure I can find a photo of me in a red corduroy jacket and pants with a pageboy hair cut, or maybe in brown. Either way, definitely not in a pretty dress! I used to hold a small grudge against my mother until she told me that I had very strong ideas about what I wanted to wear and often she had to let me go out in things she didn't like. I didn't have the courage to ask if the outfits I've got on in photos were the ones my parents liked, or if I was actually personally responsible. I'm definitely favouring the former!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I like the quilting too :)
ReplyDeleteAha, the determined child argument. My mum likes to tell me I chose what to put on too. Aged 4 I wouldn't be the one who actually put them in the wardrobe so I'm still holding her responsible
ReplyDelete