fish scale fabric

[Jo Hoffacker]

Greetings!

I have finally succumbed to my husbands pleading, and am making a wall
quilt that is like
one of the old still life paintings (fruit in a bowl) only with fish in
the bowl. I am having
trouble locating fabric that looks like realistic fish scales. I know,
I can hand dye it and use
pens to make the fins and such, but was hoping to aviod it. Any ideas?

Thanks!
Jo

[Phyllis Andersen]

Jo, how big of a piece do you need for the fish scales? I have a small piece
that I used for a fish on a wall hanging. It is in blues with touches of
silver on the edges. It is really just scallops, but I felt it resembled
scales. Each scale is approx. 1" across. Let me know if I can help.
Bigbearlady http://www.bigbear.com/knottypine

[Gay Boston]

There are some really nice fish applique designs on this site:

http://www.quiltcreations.com/BOM/BOM.htm

although you're not likely to see any of these in a bowl! However, since
it's a fantasy fishbowl, why not exotic fish? (Even if you don't use
them, it's a nice site to look at.)

Jo Hoffacker wrote:
>...I am having

[tac...@my-dejanews.com]

Jo, there is also a series of prints called WillowWood by P&B Textiles that
has small scallops, scallops are smaller than your fingernail. I've seen it
in about 6 different colors. Beverly T in Okinawa, Japan.

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[Ruth Pontius]

LOL!! I was picturing fish arranged every which way sticking heads or
tails up from a bowl ( as in fruit arrangement in a bowl). It wasn't
until I read several more posts to this thread that I finally got it: Fish
BOWL!! Duh!! Guess I had better make another cup of hot caffeine here
before proceeding.

Ruth Pontius

[TMMRR]

Ruth, I was picturing the EXACT same thing....I just figured, "hey, different
strokes for different folks"....makes a lot more sense the other way.LOL!

A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

-Tina R.

[Jo Hoffacker]

Beverly,

That sounds like the perfect size. I don't get P&B around here, do you
know if they have one in a silvery-gray?

Jo

[Deb]

Ok, now I'm feeling like a real dingleberry, because when I go back and
read the original post, that's STILL what it sounds like to me!! How about
it Jo, are you talking about live fish swimming in a bowl of water, or
about-to-be-food fish in a bowl on a table? My fuzzy, but inquiring, mind
wants to know!
Deb
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Flats/4237/

TMMRR wrote ...

[Jo Hoffacker]

OK Guys, I really did mean fish as in dead fish in a bowl!
I never said it was a good idea, just what DH wants. ;-)

Jo

[Butterfly]

What size bowl? I have a very realistic fish: don't remember what kind
without looking at it, but if you can use it, it's yours.
Butterfly

[Ruth Pontius]

Jo,

Well now that we know that you really were ( or do I mean weren't :-)
??) crazy and you really do intend to make a dead fish still life, let's
get creative. After all even if DH is a "keeper", this has to be your
wall hanging --reflecting your creative quilting genius. Don't let the guy
talk you into making something boring.
Did he really say dead fish in bowl or just say he wanted something
sort like those still life pictures? Most of those still life pictures
have a variety of elements so your wall hanging should too. Sometimes they
even have a another picture in background. You could have a trophy fish
mouonted on the wall or have the "catch of the day" draped in foreground.
At least you would expect to put fish in a bucket or a fishing creel! How
about those old time woven basket style fishing creels instead of a bowl--
you can find all kinds of neat basket weave fabrics or make it truly woven
out of fabric strips. Is DH a fresh water or salt water fisherman, spin
gear or fly fisherman, etc? There should be the right kind of rod and
reel in this still life somewhere. What about fishing lures? I have seen
several fabrics with tied fishing flies and fishing lures on a cream
background. If you don't get enough fish scale fabrics, try interesting
fabrics with quilted scales or thread embelishments. If you want some
design inspirations I can send you a 6"square of a Hoffman fishing fabric
I am using as the center of my Ocean Wave block quilt. It is available at
a local quilt shop if you want more.

Ruth Pontius

[Gay Boston]

Hey, if it's good enough for Renoir....

[Gay Boston]

Wow, Ruth...next time I have a half-baked idea I'm posting it here so
you can finish it for me! You go, girl!
Gay

[Mary in Rock Island IL]

Or how about fish at the bowling alley, preparing to throw a strike?

Mary

[Kwlter]

Jo,
I have some pale yellow with tiny (1/4 inch) scallops on it. might work for
small fish. I have several yards if youneed any, some I have tea dyed to a
more brown/beige color. if you want some, e-mail your snail address

Judy

[tac...@my-dejanews.com]

Jo, I actually thought about your fabric today because I went on a fabric
store tour here in HUMID Okinawa. The only ones I saw today were in blues and
greens. Sorry, no silver/grey. Beverly T

[Patty]

Hi Jo!

How about applique-ing a few strategically placed
pieces of that sheer shimmery metallic fabric
over, say the side of a fish or two, just below
the top (dorsal??? I don't "do" fish anatomy)..or
maybe some outlining of the scales with that new
hologram thread?

I am thinking that the sheer shimmery stuff could
go over a very deep or very light color, which
would show through the shimmery stuff in a
fish-like manner.

Gee...that is as clear as mud. Oh well.

Patty in So. Calif.

[Suda Nim]

<discussion of how to make a still-life hanging with dead fish snipped>
<discussion snipped, I mean, not the fish>

Hey, if the fish are dead, is it still a still life?
--------------------------------------------------
BJ needs a home! http://members.aol.com/SudaNim/index.html

[Ruth Pontius]

You bet. It would be a very still, still life for sure! LOL

Ruth

In article <19980919121256...@ng25.aol.com>, sud...@aol.com

[Jo Hoffacker]

It sure is... those fish aren't going to move! ;-)
And thanks to all who have helped me find
new fabric and thread ideas for this project!

Jo