I’ve been painting and quilting, but assembling the pieces in a different way.
This year, the Clay Festival has a central theme of vessels. Although most calls are for clay, there is one call that is open to other mediums. The Neo-Mimbreno exhibit prospectus states: “The artist should depict, through two-dimensional or three-dimensional media, their interpretation of a vessel. The work must be inspired by the prehistoric Mimbreno culture of the Southwest.” My quilt, MIMBRES SECTION, used many Mimbres pottery symbols, so I figured I could use those symbols in a different way. I painted and printed individual pieces, or “shards”, using different images, cut them apart and layered them on gray felt and black canvas. I quilted each piece individually and hand stitched them together to “reconstruct” the pieces into a whole.
Originally, the shape of the vessel was to be wider, shorter, and sloped inward at the top to a narrow opening. I constructed a wire support system in that shape, but then realized that the “shards” would not easily adapt to the narrowing aperture without darts or pleats…or SOMETHING! I am not very adept at working with a heavy wire cage (and had cuts and pokes on my hands and arms to prove it), so I was not too happy to toss it after all my efforts. I realized I needed to keep the body of the vessel simpler… with a gentle slope. It ended up being almost three feet tall. I made a lid to place on top of the body and things fit together well…no wire cage needed as a support. I used a stiff interfacing to keep the shape and to mold the top. This detail shot may help illustrate my description.
I submitted this piece in answer to the call…we’ll see…from the studio
studio 18 art 
It’s wonderful! Having a wire form is one way. Another is to use something like Timtex. Cameron Mason makes 3D textile vessels. I really like this one.
Thanks, Jeanne. I think the “interfacing” I ended up using for support may be Timtex, but I had three different ones wrapped on a bolt and I didn’t know for sure it that one was the Timtex. Whatever it was, it worked!
It’s a beautiful piece, Sue, it seems that everything
you try works out really well!
Oh, Meta, not really. I guess I just persevere until it works, OR I trash it after a short time when I realize there is no hope! Thanks, Sue
Great stuff! I haven’t seen anything like this before.
Thank you. There are many quilters who do 3D quilting, some vessels and some figurative. Again, thank you.
Love it!
Thank you so much. Sue
This looks great. Fingers crossed for the exhibition. It has also given me an idea for a different way of presenting some of my own work. Thanks
Thanks! Now that I have done one, I have learned the technical aspects of assembling it. If I ever decide to do more, I feel I can work the design to fit the shape I want to create. Sue
Love this one too.
Thank you again. This one was a trial and error learning experience. I may do some 3D pieces again now that I have a clue as how to construct them.
Well, I can’t wait to see what you do next!