Landscapes

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Landscapes

In keeping with the idea of salvaging every scrap possible, the landscape series of quilts began. Almost 25 years ago I was making an improvisational pieced quilt using some beautiful hand-dyed fabrics.  After sewing each seam I would trim away the uneven edges so the next seam could be sewed straight. As I trimmed, a stack of slivers and bits of fabrics grew, and from that the idea came to me that this was useful material that could be made into something. It occurred to me that since they were landscape colors, that would be the natural place to start. So with nothing to lose, I divided out the sky fabric colors from the ground ones, and I literally threw the pieces down over a background and free motion zigzag stitched until all the pieces were secured.

That first piece was accepted into 1993 Quilt National and a new genre for me was born. Over the years the technique has been refined and evolved into an impressionistic look. This method has been used for many more landscapes over the years and has expanded to other styles and I know I will not live long enough to explore all the possibilities. But what I do know is that it created a monster… now I am not able to throw anything away… not even the tiniest pieces… all are given a new and useful life.

BARBARA OLIVER HARTMAN | 122 RED OAK LANE, FLOWER MOUND, TX 75028 | 972.724.1181 | barbaraohartman@aol.com