Thursday 23 May 2013

It's done and dusted

I have finally finished my City and Guilds course.  I have been doing it for about 15 months, and although I started fast and furious the last couple of Modules have taken me much longer than I anticipated. I have learned a lot, not least, that I can turn what is in my head into a piece of textile art work, but also that I must not expect to be able to do so over night.  As this goes against my nature of a quick turn around on the making front, it is time to take stock. When I retired from my full time teaching I knew that I could at last find time for creating in my life and it has lead me to explore lots of new areas. I certainly did not expect to have an on-line shop when I started out.  I have also learned a lot about myself. I started this blog as a means of recording my continuing education into my third age.

This quilt holds rather a lot of very special meaning for me and I was sure that I really wanted to get it right.  Firstly it started with photographs I took at Luton Hoo walled gardens.  Photography was the first step I took in my new adventure in creativity. The garden was like stepping into a secret world, discovering a neglected, magic place that was being lovingly restored. It spoke to me, I had been looking for it ever since I had read Frances Hodgson Burnett's book The Secret Garden as a child.
When I had chosen the images for the design, I searched for quotes about figs. There weren't many, but the one that stood out was the reference to Sylvia Plath's novel, The Bell Jar, which I talked about in a previous post. Although I did not remember reading the passage, the book holds a special place with me as described before.  I decided against putting any words onto my quilt, but it took me a long time to make up my mind, in fact, it was trying to choose which fabric, which stitches, where to place things that took so long.

Before I decide which branch I am going down next, I could do with a little consolidation, but who knows what will grab me next.

But now I will lay this project to rest and share with you some of my inspirational photographs and the finished article.














Thank you all so much for your lovely support.
Now I'm going to do a big tidy-up and decide what I'm going to do next!!
Hope you have a great  holiday weekend and are able to make the most of the grim forecast.
Jill




10 comments:

Marigold Jam said...

It's beautiful Jill and congratulations at completing the course and gaining your new knowledge and skills. I had only been thinking of you recently and wondering how things were going with you so it was lovely to find your post and to know that you have reached this particular goal. Good luck with whatever route you decide to follow now.

Louise said...

Looks fabulous!!

Heloise said...

You must feel really pleased to have achieved such a great piece of work. It looks wonderful.
Good luck with your next venture.

menopausalmusing said...

It's a beautiful piece of work and so very YOU. I particularly like those little swatches of colour, top left and the leaves using netting.
It was great looking back at the original photos again. Looking forward to seeing what you do next Jill.

ju-north said...

This is out of this world Jill!! Many congrats on a fabulous piece of work! Wonder what you will do next - so many possibilities!

Barb Cady said...

This is just beautiful, I have enjoyed your city and guilds journey and will miss it, but congrats on finishing in such a short time. I hope you share your next journey! X

Gina said...

It's fabulous Jill. You must be really thrilled.

Maggi said...

The quilt is stunning. Congratulations on getting everything completed. Look forward to seeing where your next journey takes you.

LAC EMP 2020 said...

Just catching up on my blog reading and wondering how I missed this unveiling! Surely there was a fanfare or drum roll I would have heard all the way down here? What a triumph Jill, a real testament to your eye for design and commitment to finishing. It is beautifully conceived and what excitement to now have it done and dusted and be able to decide 'what next?'.

Joy said...

Jill, your quilt is beautiful and creative---none other like it!