Guest blogger: Lisa

The Red Room

I decided to do my solid segments challenge using Matisse's Red Room,  This painting has always inspired me.  I love the colors the most.  This painting is loose and yet defined at the same time.  I had the exceptional experience of seeing this painting in person three years ago at The Hermitage in Russia.  At the time I didn't know that this painting hung there.  I headed to the Impressionists galleries because they are my faves and imagine my surprise when I turned the corner and found one of my favorite paintings staring back at me!

So now the challenge.  Victoria sent out the word and I thought, "Hey that could be fun!"  So in I jumped.  I must say that I was intimidated.  I even went back and looked at other paintings after I realized this challenge might be over my head.  In the end I kept coming back to the Red Room, and I saw that I needed to give it a shot.

I cut a piece of paper 15 x 15 to loosely sketch out where I wanted things to go and to help me with scale in keeping the finished piece the right size.  

I started in the upper left hand corner because I thought that looked a little easier and if I could just get a corner done, it would keep me on track.  As in any big undertaking, breaking it up into smaller sections helps you see it through to the end.  Once I got rolling, I couldn't stop!  

I did have to re-do a couple of parts when I realized they were either too big or too small for the over all design.  I'm not big on measuring, so for me it's trial and error most of the time.

I love the way the top came out.  It is a tad bigger than the 15x15, but I'm sure my swap partner Shelly won't be upset!  Now to the quilting.  I did leave this on my sewing table for four or five days.  I was again intimidated and didn't want to ruin it!  I kept circling it like a cat hoping for some inspiration.  

After much contemplation I thought the best way go was to just start.  I knew I wanted lots of free-motion quilting for all the blue detail in the painting.  I also did some black lines in the trees and the chair.  I didn't want to over load the piece, so I kept it simple.

For the back I used some Matisse fabric that I had in my stash.  If you look closely you can see one of the woman that Victoria did in a solid of hers.  Too fun!

I really enjoyed this whole process.  It made me stretch my mind and flex my muscles.  I had to think outside the normal piecing box and figure out how to make it work.  Thank you so much to Victoria for inspiring us to do so.  I am also very grateful to be a guest blogger on her blog too.  I have to pinch myself!

**Thank you Lisa for playing along! I am just giddy that you actually had MATISSE FABRIC in your stash!

Gotta go find me some of that!  I loved seeing how you approached making the top.  You worked it out, you tried something new, and it's really adorable!  Well done!!!!