Thursday, September 12, 2013

The Right Key

Initially drawing a blank on where to go with this one I went for a drive to the park, passed several homes, and an industrial park.  Sat on a bench for a while and came home, passing that same industrial park.  This time however, I noticed a locked gate and thought, “you'd need the right key to open that one.”  Bingo.  An idea was germinating.  I had some painted fabric that resembled an industrial park and looked like this.


I cut it in half and used the lower half, hoping it might work to represent a chain link fence.  Keys? I gathered up old keys around the house.  Will they work?  How will I portray them?   Using a stenciling technique, I traced them onto freezer paper, cut out the shape, and pressed the resulting stencil to the fabric.  With Shiva paintsticks I got the images of keys onto the fabric.  I also remembered a pointillist technique I had learned.  I found an image of an old key and went to work.  This just might work.
 
 

I went on a hunt through antique stores, thrift shops and found an old skeleton key and decided that I would do a rubbing.  I didn’t like the result, so I set the key aside. The piece needed some hand stitching along with the machine quilting to add what I thought would give it some depth. 
 
 

 

It still needed something else, but what?  I added just what an old key would need; keyholes.  Next, I added the keys.  Everyone needs THE RIGHT KEY to open something, don’t they?  There you have it. 
 
 

7 comments:

  1. I love how your piece came together, including how and where got your inspiration! Adding those keyholes was the perfect finishing touch!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is such a great combination of so many things. The printed background has so much variety and the keys and key holes really speak to the challenge. I especially like the largest key, what a gorgeous shape.

    ReplyDelete
  3. beautiful! Your choice of background fabric was wonderful and how you proceeded just perfect. What a fabulous skeleton key, altogether, you definitely found the right key!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Brigette, I love the way you germinate ideas! This is so cool! What a wonderful combination of techniques, great composition,yummy texture!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. i love all the steps you went through with this one. All the techniques and ideas all went together so well.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is such a fun and happy Open quilt! Great use of techniques. Love the colours and whimsical feel!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Like some others in the group, the thoughts behind the work are interesting and thought provoking. I really like where you went with this one, Brigitte!

    ReplyDelete