Need it like I need water

This is a ‘diamond’ mini quilt that I made in 2016:

Need it like I need water (detail)
Lucy Farmer, 2016
Acrylic paint, hand-painted silk, cotton, lurex thread
52cm x 60cm approx. (20 1/2” x 23 1/2” approx.)

I hand-stitched all the pieces together and hand-quilted the letters.

Need it like I need water (detail)
Lucy Farmer, 2016
Acrylic paint, hand-painted silk, cotton, lurex thread
52cm x 60cm approx. (20 1/2” x 23 1/2” approx.)

I tried many times to use the sewing machine but I could never get it looking right. A friend advised me to stitch it by hand and showed me how. Honestly it was so much faster and easier doing it this way I got it finished in no time.

Need it like I need water (detail)
Lucy Farmer, 2016
Acrylic paint, hand-painted silk, cotton, lurex thread
52cm x 60cm approx. (20 1/2” x 23 1/2” approx.)

Silk was a lot more difficult to sew than the cotton painting rags I’m currently using. I am using the sewing machine now for my current ‘Need’ project. I am contemplating hand-stitching the finished facets together.

It was around the time that I was making this small quilt that I started saving my painting rags and paint water with the intention of making something fabulous like I am today!