"Medallion I"

This is  a progression of the first in my latest series entitled "Medallion" , an interpretation of the traditional medallion quilt.

1.  The size of this background for the central medallion is

8"H x 7"W

3.  The outside border has enlarged the piece to about 18"H x 16"W

6.  The strips comprising the border, one with stitching...

...and one without

7.  The border, stitched with finished                            edges

9.  Outside now measures 24"H x 24" W

10.  Detail of fused elements

11.  Trying out circles to activate the picture plane

12.  More depth needed in the circles, so I added blue to five.

13.  The shape and position for the next border, 32"H x 32" W

14.  The striped fused border.  The edges will be finished in red using the tedious satin stitch.

15.  Detail of the striped pattern created by fusing alternating strips of different painted fabric to the Peltex. 

16.  After a great deal of consideration, I decided to rotate the blue border. I'm not totally convinced about the circles nor am I unconvinced.  Just undecided. Shifting of the blue border allows more options with the striped border.

18.  Detail shot of the newly added circles and the zigzag stitching of the stripes. 

17.  I decided to zigzag each and every fused strip in red.  Not the super zigzag, just the regular kind.  It delineates the stripes.  It has made the perception of the color more red, instead of brown.  The circles were placed in order to add a bit of balance.  This picture is much redder than the actual piece due to poor lighting at the time . 

19.  I tried adding some ovals that didn't work and decided to work with this solid red border.  The ovals didn't work because they were too active and distracting.  I'm thinking that this solid border will allow for some other interesting elements to be added. I want to retain a version of regularity, but also introduce a slight asymmetrical visual path.

20.  I had small gray triangles left from cutting out the ovals.  Since I rarely use this shape it seemed natural to toss them into the mix  in order to shake up the design.

21.  I still want to use ovals, so I made some paper templates to try them out. 

22.  The triangles will eventually work into the design.  I decided a red border all the way around was too strong and now I'm opting for gray canvas on the top and no additional border on the bottom.

23.  "LET GO ALREADY"  has been my mantra for the past few days.  No matter how much I want to add borders, this particular piece does not need to be any larger.  So, I have to release the image I had in my head because it isn't going to happen.  I did add the reddish/orange ellipse at the bottom (had to get that environmental movement reference in there)  as well as some small fused circles and grommets.  Now, it's time for the hand embroidery...texture must make up for size!

I will be hand embroidering red coils along the striped border.

24.  Grommets along the blue border give the space breathing room as and reinforce the visual path the eye takes within the design.

25.  I spent three days and a total of 18 hours thus far on the hand embroidery.   It adds great texture from a close vantage point, but isn't as noticeable from a few feet away.  I like adding that sort of interest to the surface because it is another level to grab the viewer.  The detail of the coils and other embroidery stitches also frequently symbolize elements scattered in the atmosphere (pollen, seeds, spirits, energy, bugs...you name it).

all images (c) 2007 Sonji Hunt

26.  This is the finished version of MEDALLION I. 

It measures 33"H x 32"W

completed October 30, 2007

2.

3.  The two pieces will be machine stitched together.  I am a firm believer in overlap as opposed to cutting sections away underneath for sewing ease.

4.  Detail

5.  Figuring out the next border

8.  Detail