Description of my piece:

This is a pillow that I made to be marketed as a product. It is based on a pattern I found within the ‘All the World’s a Stage’ quilt, created by Linda Straw. The pattern can be found in the yellow curtain-like section of the quilt’s main design. There are many elements that make up the pattern, but the imagery of the chicken stood out the most to me, therefore, I wanted to make it the focus of my piece. I used found materials to create the pillow and all sewing and embroidery throughout the piece is done by hand. This gives the piece a homey, sentimental, handmade look about it, which fits well with the nature of quilting. Since I used found materials to craft the Chicken Pillow, the colour scheme has been altered slightly. The original design on the quilt is black, grey, gold, and yellow, which I have tried to emulate in my recreation by using mainly black fabric and yellow/golden threads. I have added some extra details to make it a unique piece, such as embroidered embellishments in the head and incorporating buttons in place of polka-dots, which I think have made this a successful piece.

Reflection on my creative journey:

After considering all the quilts presented that we could choose to focus on for this project, I chose the ‘All the World’s a Stage’ quilt. I came to this decision due to the whimsical, theatrical imagery and the wide variation of bold colours and textures throughout. After zooming into different sections of the quilt, I discovered a whole new layer to its intricate design. This was an excellent discovery as I gained a new appreciation for the artistry and skill that goes into creating such wonderful pieces. I studied these details and patterns and created several experimentations, but soon realised the importance of the chicken’s image in my work. I developed my studies of the imagery of the chicken and its surrounding pattern, using a range of materials such as inks and paints. I reached a point where I knew I had to take my image making further and the chicken had to be in the spotlight. As a result, I challenged myself by taking on the art of crafting a tangible piece, which allowed me to advance my embroidery skills and ability to apply them in a way that represents the quilt and its qualities in a unique fashion.