More distressing
Janice came around this afternoon to help do some more edge treatments. We got my spare car tyre and painted the tread with some brown paint. I rolled the tyre onto the edge of the quilt and I love the resulting tyre mark. It represents the time that my ex tried to run me down with the car - my car- not even his own car! With the recent deaths of 2 people who were run down by a car it seems now, all this time later, he was just trying to scare me (or else I was incredibly lucky).
I then started cutting the left hand edge by the word 'please'. Janice said I was too restrained, to even, not angry enough, so she completed the cutting with much more meaning than I had been giving it.
We then tried to scorch an iron mark into the quilt but my iron wouldn't get hot enough to actually burn the fabric. Maybe the painted background was 'protecting' the fabric. So Janice decided to paint the image on. To get the steam holes she used a hole punch and cut tiny circles of freezer paper to use as a mask for the paint. Brilliant idea! I would never have thought of it. I have learned so much working with Janice. These circles were arranged as in the pattern on the soleplate of the iron. She pressed these to the quilt surface (with an iron, ironic huh!) and then painted the iron shape sparingly with a brush. I think it looks fantastic. This image is on the quilt because I was discussing the quilt with some ladies from my Friday night group. One of the ladies told me of her experiences, so the iron is her part of the story.
I now have to char the edges of the quilt more and stitch the cross on, then we are ready to photograph it for entry. Wow!
posted by Helen | 10:25 AM
5 Comments:
Wow, just read your blog about this quilt and its progress... what a visual impact it's going to have!
To me, and maybe I'm reading it backwards, but I get more of the impression that the victim is coming out of the black hole in the center. The edges being unfinished and ending with a word on red, would mean that the woman is finally getting angry enough to make some changes.
The tire mark means not an additional hurt but an escape, peeling out and 'burning rubber'.
Good luck on the contest you enter it in!
How interesting, that you read it in such a positive fashion! We were thinking that, as you read the story from the outside inwards, it would represent the downward spiral into despair that overtakes so many of the violence victims. But I can see that it could also be read as a journey outward into hope and action. That's very cool!!
I've just read the entire blog, from the beginning of the idea to now. I think it is a very powerful statement Helen. It seems that having Janice's input as a sort of "observer" to the subject matter has been really helpful. I can see where you may have felt restrained by your experiences, whereas it seems Janice has been better able to express the outrage women (and you) feel about domestic violence. This is only my observation, though. I love forestjane's comment too - how we see ourselves is such a big part of our lives isn't it?
I just wanted you to know that the quilt, and reading about the process behind it has really moved me, so I think you have achieved what you set out to do. Congratulations on a great job.
What has been the outcome of the project? When will the quilts be shown?
Hi Jenni
Thanks for your positive and encouraging feedback. To know that it has moved you means we have achieved what we set out to do.
The quilt has been entered for a challenge, sponsored by the Human Rights Commission, at the New Zealand Quilting Symposium which is being held in January 2007. We find out at the end of the month if the quilt has been accepted. The winners are announced on 19 January, so a wee while to wait.
Thanks for taking the time to post.
Hi Helen, thanks for stopping by at my blog..*VBS* Always nice to see a new face!
I would be most honored if you want to use my "thought" in your guild newsletter.
It's an original as far as I know, and it struck me so funny that particular morning...LOL
I had made my toast in the kitchen and then brought it to the computer room to eat..and there is was as I looked down...a white tread on that freshly buttered toast. It made me giggle at how "normal" that probably was, but funny.
So, by all means, please do share the humor of being a quilter..*VBS* Hugs, Finn
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