I had made over 20 Gaa-barge pieces. They were made from scraps that were left over from other projects. Also left over thread . Anything picked up off the floor or taken out of the waste basket. Most were made with traditional quilting methods.
I decided to make an underwater scene with cut out fish from a leftover scrap. A peacock feather became a piece of coral. I did some thread painting and it turned out very nice. After I made the underwater scene, I wondered if I could make a landscape out of the tiny bits and pieces of fabric that should have been thrown away. When I was working, I had several photos taped to my work station. They were of places that I had been and enjoyed. Maybe I could use the photos and commit the scenes to fabric. The scenes were small so the first thing that I did was enlarge them to 8″ by 11′. It seemed the perfect size for a small wall hanging.
The first one that I made was terrible, It was a mountain scene in N. H. I had written a mission statement before I started the Gaa-barge project and it stated that no matter how bad a piece was, it would remain in the project. This one is still with the others, mainly to remind me that not all quilts are successful. Some are really, really bad.
I worked out a technique that was satisfying and actually taught classes on how to make a Landscape Gaa-barge quilt. The students enjoyed the process and made some awesome pieces.
The photo was taken in Provincetown, Massachusetts on a trip that we took with my Mom and Dad, I have such fond memories of out trips together.
The wall hangings are an interpretation of the photo and are not an accurate copy of it. Thread painting adds a lot of detail.
I keep the photos in a baggie that is stapled to the bottom of the wall hanging.
I have several of these little scenes and will probably make more when I find a landscape to copy. I started one and am bogged down with it. It is sitting in a drawer until I feel the urge to finish. Quilting should be fun and this piece was not. I was trying too hard to make it perfect.
Have a great day and happy quilting.
Miss Molly quilts 