Koi Pond

Koi Among Water Lilies
23"h x 23"w, framed, © 2004
Commissioned by
Bob and Dorothy Muroff
LBI, NJ and Nevis, West Indies

Update 11/9/04: finished!

To commission a quilt, contact clvquilts@yahoo.com.

September 2004 Update:

After seeing their quilt hang in
Fiber Revolution: a Survey of Styles
at the LBI Foundation of the Arts & Sciences,
Dorothy and Bob decided they want a different framing solution to the originally specified solid oak frame.
(Not to worry, I'm using Peter's custom-made frame for the Motmot quilt.)

Instead, Bob would like to see the quilt lie on top of a linen matte suspended by bamboo poles to enhance the Asian feel of the piece. He has asked that I remove the large white lily and sew in a few tiny lilies in the background.

June 2004 Update: It took me many attempts to get the request for mauve clouds to look right. After trying printed fabric, then paint fabric, then painted batting, then a purple fiberous material, I finally solved the design element with many layers of tulles. Next the reeds around the pond will be laid in. March 2004 Update: 'Water bubbles' have been added to enchance the idea that the koi is leaping out of the pond.
Next the green foliage will encircle the water edge.

February 2004 Update: An unexpected 'set back' happened when none of the sheer & semi-sheer fabrics that I 'auditioned' for the fins were visable under the dark blue sheer. I had to use cotton so they can be seen under the water. Now I'm 'couching' metallic thread for additional shine. Next I'll add pearls and crystals for water bubbles.

December 2003 Update: When Bob asked for a slight change in the design (see June Update), it took me a while to figure out how to handle the new visual perspective without making the koi appear as though it was floating on top of the water.

I wanted to create deep surface ripples by using many layers of batting and quilt along the contour lines of the print on the fabric. My plan was to then overlay the section with a sheer fabric to add a sense of mystery and depth to the pond.

Where I had trouble, was finding the 'right' sheer fabric that coordinated with the color scheme yet not be too dark or too light or to dense or to porious. A visit to Cindy Friedman's stash of silks solved that problem.

The next hurdle is to create the fins and tail so that they show up above and below the multi-shaded blue sheer. Then I'll couch additional metallic threads on top of the sheer. The pockets of air between the two layers will make the water appear to shimmer.

July 2003 Update: The variegated thread for the fish scales comes off the spool like a single running crochet stitch. Then I tack it down with cotton thread, making the pattern loop back and forth across the fish. The goal is to have the scales curve with the koi.

White Lily - with yellow seed beads

June 2003 Update: After showing Bob the original design and fabric mock up (below), he decided to simplify the composition to a single koi and white water lily. He and Dorothy were very happy with the orange fabric for the koi and the water pattern. They asked that mauve be worked into the sky, possibily as backlighting on some whispy clouds.

The leaves and the forward petals of the water lilies will only be semi-attached to the quilt top. They are separate quilted units. Each leaf has a different print on the top side and a lighter print on the underside.

The body of the koi will be heavily padded and will be at least 1"-2" deep along the back fin ridge of the fish. The tail will extend over the mat. The eyes and gills will either be embroidered or trapuntoed, depending on which technique looks more realistic.

original mock up
Here are two mat prints possibilities. The darker one on the left is blue with a white fish scale motif. The sage green and light blue pattern is floral.
original design

Exhibitions:

"Fiber Revolution: A Survey of Styles" LBI Foundation Loveladies, NJ August 2004

Sign Guestbook

	September 2004 Update: After seeing their quilt hang in Fiber Revolution: a Survey of Styles at the LBI Foundation of the Arts & Sciences, Dorothy and Bob decided they want a different framing solution to the originally specified solid oak frame. (Not to worry, I'm using Peter's custom-made frame for the Motmot quilt.) Instead, Bob would like to see the quilt lie on top of a linen matte suspended by bamboo poles to enhance the Asian feel of the piece. He has asked that I remove the large white lily and sew in a few tiny lilies in the background.
June 2004 Update: It took me many attempts to get the request for mauve clouds to look right. After trying printed fabric, then paint fabric, then painted batting, then a purple fiberous material, I finally solved the design element with many layers of tulles. Next the reeds around the pond will be laid in.	March 2004 Update: 'Water bubbles' have been added to enchance the idea that the koi is leaping out of the pond. Next the green foliage will encircle the water edge.
February 2004 Update: An unexpected 'set back' happened when none of the sheer & semi-sheer fabrics that I 'auditioned' for the fins were visable under the dark blue sheer. I had to use cotton so they can be seen under the water. Now I'm 'couching' metallic thread for additional shine. Next I'll add pearls and crystals for water bubbles.
December 2003 Update: When Bob asked for a slight change in the design (see June Update), it took me a while to figure out how to handle the new visual perspective without making the koi appear as though it was floating on top of the water. I wanted to create deep surface ripples by using many layers of batting and quilt along the contour lines of the print on the fabric. My plan was to then overlay the section with a sheer fabric to add a sense of mystery and depth to the pond.	Where I had trouble, was finding the 'right' sheer fabric that coordinated with the color scheme yet not be too dark or too light or to dense or to porious. A visit to Cindy Friedman's stash of silks solved that problem. The next hurdle is to create the fins and tail so that they show up above and below the multi-shaded blue sheer. Then I'll couch additional metallic threads on top of the sheer. The pockets of air between the two layers will make the water appear to shimmer.