Gwyned Trefethen’s Musings

Week 2019 – 03/15

One of the advantages to working on a smaller scale, as I have chosen to do for my MAP (Monthly Art Project) is how quickly a piece comes together. Today’s post examines how “But Can She Type?” evolved.

Creating gradating strata is a good way to start a bargello layout.
Strata warps slightly no matter how carefully it is sewn. This is due to the natural stretch in fabric. In order to minimize this effect I always line up my ruler with the center strip before cutting off the next strip.
The strip is sewn into a loop by seaming the top and bottom edges together.
The bargello pattern is created by shifting which fabric is on the top of the strip. Therefore, the strip is reopened to have the correct fabric on top.
Note how when sewn together the fabrics descend or ascend like stairs.
I chose to do a bargello background for this piece to mimic the look of typewriter keys striking paper.
I echoed the sentiment with my free motion quilting the various words of the question, “But Can She Type”. If you look closely you will see “can” following the wave of fabric.
This poster of Golda Meir was the rallying cry of feminists for those of us coming of age in the ’60s and ’70s. No one would dare ask Meir to take a letter.

I am linking up with Nina Marie’s Off the Wall Fridays.

By Gwyned Trefethen

I am an artist who uses fabric, thread and miscellany to create designs gifted to me by my imagination.

16 comments

    1. Thank you, Mary. The impetus for the impetus 🙂 is the Art Quilt Challenge. The latest assignment was interpret a quote. I strayed a tad (must be the artist in me who refuses to color in the lines) since technically the phrase on the poster isn’t a quote. It was certainly quoted frequently enough for it to find a secure home in my brain.

  2. Excellent! Love the idea of bargello to mimic typewriter keys. It works.
    I do remember Golda Mier. Back then the idea of a woman being elected or even running for any office was unthinkable, say nothing of being the prime minister of Israel. It s taken this long for a woman to even run for our presidency which shows you how slow progress can be. We will get there though. Someone has to straighten out this country.

    1. Glad you you like “But Can She Type?” Bet you know why I made it. 🙂 I admit to having a very strong view on the state of women in the work force. It is hard for me to believe that child care is the same issue for my daughter and daughter-in-law as it was for me 40 years when they were born.

    1. Marty, I received a notice only minutes before your comment stating that you were successful signing up to follow my blog. Thank you for going the extra mile. This is my second post on WordPress and I am still learning the behind the scenes workings. Hopefully, things will get easier.

  4. This is really interesting, love to see quilters using test on their quilts.

      1. Actually, it was a test using text. Either word works. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it.

  5. You continue to be an inspiration to me Gwyned. I have been considering a new approach for my blog as well. Thanks for the updates. Hopefully our paths will cross again. At least we stay creatively connected.
    🌀 Kasia

    1. Always good to hear from you Kasia. Thanks for following me as I switch blogging applications. I’m still on a learning curve with WordPress, but it is getting easier.

    1. Thanks for stopping by Andra. Love what you are doing with 3D fiber work.

  7. I Love your artwork. Some might say that I have to say this as your husband. I say it because I have watched you progress for many years in your abilities to create artwork.

    1. Couldn’t have gotten where I am today without my photograph, general contractor, and shipping and handling department.

  8. Trying to sign up to get new posts by email. Informed I must leave a comment! Hope this works…

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