Kitschy Quilt, May 2016, Well I have to do something while my hair and nails are drying.

Ok, here's my first blog.  Of any kind.  Amazing since I spent decades writing to earn my living!


The first challenge as a member of this august creative group was to create a "Kitschy" quilt.  That term has many meanings and so can be broadly interpreted. However, to me, mid-century design and lifestyles scream kitschy. Fresh and lively, and over the top glamour!

So my Kitschy quilt depicts preparing oneself for the glamour of the 1950s: Hair set in pink rollers, a big scarf tied around the rollers (so we could go out while the hair was setting and still look good--maybe), matching red nail polish and lips, something turquoise (the table), lots of eyeliner, jewelry, and a sonic style wallpaper.  But all of that takes time, so what is a girl to do?  Drink wine, of course! So here is "Well I have to do something while my hair and nails are drying."

Detail of "hair" as wrapped around the "rollers".

The rollers are made from empty Sulky thread spools painted pink, wrapped with a thin layer of plastic bubble wrap and wrapped again with a mottled pink cotton that reminds me  of the foam rollers we used to have.

Her hair was made by first creating a skull cap of a multi-brown and gold streaked fabric and fusing it to the head.  Then I took strips about 2.25" wide and 6" long and and cut 1/8" wide slashes through the 6" length, leaving a 1/2" on one end. I stitched in the intact end of the slashed pieces to the skull cap, RST, and rolled the "hair" around the roller. I glued the bottom side to the skull.  There are five rollers in this cutie's hair.

Detail of scarf stitch to back of head.

The scarf is a piece of dressy fabric that was also featured in an underwater fantasy quilt I made a few years ago.  I'm always looking for fun fabrics to use in my art quilts.  Sometimes I regret that I didn't buy a lot of more of certain fabrics when I discover all the ways I can use them.  I simply cut two strips about 5" wide, RST sewed one end along the base of the scalp, trimmed closely, and then wrapped it up.  I took a few stitches along the top back of the head to secure the edges

To detail her face I used Derwent color pencils, some fabric ink pens, and good old 21st century blush makeup. Her nails have about 10 coats of clear polish on them.  Fabric really absorbs that stuff!

This was a fun project.  I created so many ideas while coming up with this one that I hope I can find the time to create a series of my version of Kitschy.