Thursday 25 September 2014

'Sardines Are Swimming' Mini Quilt



This is my new, favourite Mini Quilt!

It started, back here, with Venetia and Maria painting the background fabric and then lots of different patterns on some muslin - which became the fish. I just sewed these on raw applique style. You might remember, all my mini quilts have a quote or words of some kind. This one reminded me of a song I used to sing at school when I was quite little - 'Apusski dusky'. It's from a song book called 'Apusskidu'. I picked up an old copy of the book at a charity shop a while back, and we all like lots of the songs in there (Michael Finnegan, Bananas in Pyjamas, Lily the Pink, She'll be coming round the mountain, Yellow Submarine, Morningtown Ride, I whistle a happy tune, Frog went a courting... Are these ringing a bell with any of you? Maybe you sang them at school too?). I don't know why the 'Apusski dusky' song has always stuck with me, it's not one of the better known ones, but it has. Here are the words to it:

In middle ocean,
Sardines are swimming,
Apusski dusky, appuskidu.
A boat sails over,
Down comes a net.
Apusski dusky, appuskidu.

One wise old sardine
Flicks out a warning,
Apusski dusky, appuskidu.
Swift through the water
They dart away.
Apusski dusky, appuskidu.

With tails a-flashing,
Sardines are swimming,
Apusski dusky, appuskidu.
So full of joy that
They're swimming free.
Apusski dusky, appuskidu.


Anyway, I picked a line from this for my words, added a few swirly, bubbly lines of quilting, some sequins for eyes and that was it. Not at all complicated, but I really do love it.

Maria and I took it to the beach today for photos. Unfortunately it was quite a grey day, and extremely windy. Maria tried very hard to hold it up for me to photograph, but it was tricky...







That wind was just a bit too gusty! We finally gave up and laid it out flat.


I love how the paint splatters, which the girls just flicked all over the background fabric, work so well with the bubbly, watery, ocean effect.




And it's hard to get the effect in a photo, but I also love how the sequin eyes sparkle in the light.


This one just feels, to me, the perfect combination of fabrics, design, words, feelings and memories. And even better for being a collaboration with the girls. It makes me happy! Have I said I love it yet?!

Have you got any art work up in your house, either made by yourself or someone else, that makes you happy? And do you have a favourite song from your childhood?

Sally.



9 comments:

  1. That's gorgeous. Love the water effect of the fabric and that the girls helped make it so it's got special significance.
    Love M's hair too!

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  2. Wow, amazing! I love it too! Maria looks so darn cute trying to hold it up :)

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  3. I can see why that would make you happy - it's fantastic. The watery effect of the paint, and your quilting is perfect.

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  4. This is one of my favourites, too. Everything from your fabric choices to the words to the sequin eyes of the fish, make me smile.

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  5. I love the colors in the background and how the darker circles could be coral or bubble or other fun details in the surroundings. You have a cute helper, thanks for sharing the windy photos - it looks like it was a fun photo shoot anyway. :)

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  6. All your quilts are gorgeous but I think this might just be one of my favourites too - the bubbles, the colours, the fish and the words are all just perfect! I love the song too but I don't remember it, though Lily the Pink, Bananas in Pyjamas, She'll be coming round the mountain and Yellow Submarine are all childhood favourites and Morningtown Ride is still one of my favourite lullabies to sing to the children :)

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  7. I love it, too! It's the perfect mix of soul and fun, and the message resonates with me...I'm so happy to be swimming free, too!

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  8. so brilliant and fun, and I love the look of fun on Maria's face :-)

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