Page 83 - The Digital Cloth issue 2

Ingrids Painting onto fabric The finished quilt embroidered by
Caroline Sharkey
Embellishing the Surface is Caroline’s way
of creating textures that are interesting and
change the way You as the viewer look at
fabric.
Stitching into the surface gives a changing
palette and adding colours brings the artwork

to life.
Caroline enjoyed stitching and decorating
Whale Song as it was very different to her
usual work. I asked Ingrid if she was up for the
challenge and answer was yes sure I will give it
a go…. I stabilised some white fabric to make
it more canvas thickness and sent it to Ingrid
living in QLD at the time. Once Ingrid

painted the basic background and whales onto
the artwork, she sent it back to me.
It already looked so gorgeous although Ingrid
had purposely left it very thinly painted as we Adding the small torn strips of sheer
wanted the thread and applique layer on it organza onto the whales to give them shadows
without being too plastic like. and sheen was my favourite part of the whole
process. I then touched up the flowers with

I started stitching and got lost in the Lumiere paints and added more stitched
decorating with many colours of thread and flower designs to the surface.
layers to highlight the whales and flowers. Once the main part was stitched it was the
decision to add the small appliqued shapes I
cut from a fabric to decorate the lower area
and then add the sheer fabric to the top
surface area. Free motion drawing around the
designs was the quilting idea and once I
started I could hardly stop, the added facings
finished the edges.

Ingrid named the quilt and I loved it instantly,
it certainly was a project we were together in

sync with and a totally enjoyable experience.