26 Comments
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Marilyn WK's avatar

Love it, Jo! I was so surprised when I saw the fish. It opened my mind up to see how out of scale they were with the pond. They are so VERY expressive and so much better than tiny fish might have been! I've wanted to do a map of the country neighborhood where I grew up for a very long time. I'll get there eventually!

Jo Avery's avatar

I'm so pleased you liked my large fish Marilyn! Thank you!

Becky Curran's avatar

This is pure magic! I too love a row of fish all lined up, like sardines in a can, which reminds me of my Dad.🥰 Can’t wait to see where you go with this.💓

Jo Avery's avatar

Oh thanks Becky!

O V Brantley's avatar

Love it!❤️

Jo Avery's avatar

thanks!

Kara E Benavides's avatar

Love your maps. And your thinking process of the first map is ringing bells with my current project. I am making a football team quilt for a client and have just gotten overwhelmed by all the details I was trying to add. I was trying to force an exact map of the stadium, roads, river etc. But I finally realized that is not working. So stadium is central, and other aspects are represented more comically in squares around the center. Queen size, in case you are wondering. ugh. hahah

Jo Avery's avatar

Oh wow that sounds like a huge job! But you're right it doesn't have to be exact, it can be expressive and interpretative and be all the better for it!

Kerry Boozenny's avatar

Brilliant ideas. Your imaginary land map quilt is amazing. I love maps too. I’ve been saving up ideas for a slow stitch map about a lighthouse near me where you can see humpback whales. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get it out of my head but you’ve inspired me. Thanks for sharing the story. 🐋🐋🐋

Jo Avery's avatar

thank you Kerry, I hope you find a way to get it from your head to your hands!

Janalyn Martinez's avatar

Love these; what a cool idea!

Jo Avery's avatar

thank you!

Kristin Shields's avatar

I love this so much! I’ve done map quilts before in the style of Valerie Goodwin with a lot of raw edge appliqué. This makes me want to try this method. Thanks so much for sharing!

Jo Avery's avatar

oh thanks Kristin, I hope you get a chance to try it!

Janna Zimmerman's avatar

Beautiful work❣️ I too was inspired from the very same! Thanks for reinspiring my map making curiosity 🪡✂️

Jo Avery's avatar

thank you so much Janna, and for the book order!

Pam Gantz's avatar

Jo, your map wanderings remind me of Jean Wells’ “Off the Wall Quilts” of which I’ve made several. Most of mine have been small, 8” x 8” x 1/2” high. I’ve never done a map on them. You’ve planted a seed in my brain for the future. Thank you. Pam (pjstitches)

Jo Avery's avatar

That's great to hear Pam, have fun!

Kathy's avatar

So cool! I love it 🥰

Jo Avery's avatar

thanks Kathy!

Christine Payne's avatar

Love, love, love Timna Tarr and how she inspired you. Beautiful work, Jo!

Katriina Ratilainen's avatar

Ooh, that tickled my imagination!🤩🥳🪡 And gave a ton of new ideas both for sewing and painting, thank you!🤗

Janey Beasley's avatar

All so beautiful, I love them, wonderfully vibrant and abstract but still recognisably maps. ❤️

Dori's avatar

I love this idea. It is magical, as you say. Thank you for the tips about waiting to layer and using the cotton that is easier on the hands. I'm always considering that as my making process. Hope to do something similar for my soul daughter as an engagement gift.

Susan Miles's avatar

This is fabulous! A map quilt is on my to do list and this has given me great inspiration. Thank you for sharing your journey.

Vickie Herrmann's avatar

These are spectacular! I love maps but never thought to incorporate them into creative needlework (other than antique samplers). Thanks for sharing.