Greetje Hein – Book #4
The Ice-shed
Living on an island means you need a boat to go to the mainland.
The fisherman caught their own fish, but all the other things people on Schokland needed came from the mainland, 15K away. Normally this was no problem, but during very cold winters, when the sea was frozen it was a very difficult time. The only way to go to the mainland was over mostly frozen water.
That is why they build an iceboat; a special boat prepared with gliders and a sail. The parts that were frozen well they sailed, rough parts the boat was pushed by 4-6 men. In open water it was used as a boat. This iceboat was sheltered in a special ice-shed. The ice-shed on Schokland is the oldest building of the island, of course it is restored.
Nowadays the ice-shed is part of the museum and used as children’s atelier. I wanted to show the remote area from the island to the mainland. This distance the brave men had to go several times during the cold winters.
For this quilt I painted the background with pearl-white and silver textilepaint. For the sky I added a little bit of blue. The shed and boat are appliqued, windows are done with inktense pencils.
The whole piece is free-motion quilted.
FIFTEEN BY FIFTEEN 
Love it, the cold and remoteness is clear. Great attention to detail, well done.
You did a great job capturing the cold harsh life of the islanders and what they had to endure to survive there. The colors, perspective and depth of distance is well executed. Bravo.
You have given well the feeling of cold, isolation and distance. Particular attention to details. Bravo!
The different quilting patterns give texture and define the areas : ground, the frozen sea and the sky. The use of pearl white and silver paint is very effective. We can feel the cold !
Love the simplicity to denote the isolation caused by the frozen water. Beautiful quilting and design. Of course the touch of the red sail gives it an extra “pop”. Great quilt.
You have created such a wonderful atmosphere. I can feel the cold and the hardship of surviving on the island. Just beautiful quilt! Great attention to details, colours, atmosphere, mood, composition. Bravo!
Your depiction of the ice gives me the shivers! The quilting greatly adds to the realism of your image.
I love the way that you have shown the mainland so far away and have captured the cold and loneliness of the island. The colours you have used are perfect and truly make me feel the ice and snow. I really love this quilt
First I love to hear the story of life on the island. It adds to my love for your country now that I’ve been there a few times. The perspective creates the distance, and the textures correspond with ice and snow. The simplicity of the quilt is what makes it a masterpiece.
A deceptively simple design with great use of perspective. The limited colours give a real feeling of winter and the hardship of surviving harsh conditions.
I can feel the cold and ice in your work. I love the different quilts at work. And the story is very interesting.
This quilt says it all: the hardmanship, the icy cold, the loneliness.
You really caught the atmosphere and your quilting gives it depht.
I love how you subtle added the mainland in the distance and the bare trees behind the shed. Bravo!
The icy cold is so evident here as is the hardship of surviving the tough conditions. The mainland seems sooo far away! The shed is beautiful and you have caught the atmosphere very well. The different quilting patterns add a lot to the overall picture. Beautiful piece!