Hello Friends. . Since getting back from Holidays in February, time has been on hyper-speed. But that is just how things go sometimes. While I was away I was able to do some extra reading and research.
I stumbled upon a decorating article that tied into quilting. My internet exploring lead me to the “Colour of the Year”. Brakes on! Colour of the year! Is this something that I should make note of?
I quilt in colours that speak to me at the moment. Sometimes it is tied directly to the pattern that I plan to do and sometimes it the season or just my mood that day. I can honestly say that I have never given trends any thought when choosing colours for my quilts. This year I vowed not to use green. You see, I love green. When in doubt – I pick green. Well wouldn’t you know it, this years’ colour is GREEN! LOL
As quilters, we often get stuck in colour ruts. Much like piecing where the layout is familiar and comfortable or the piecing does not require a learning curve.
Most quilters have a favourite colour that speaks to them. It is a colour that they gravitate to when choosing colours for a new quilt. It is important to explore new colour ways. Just like new designs and layouts, it opens the creative mind to the possibilities of a new palate. “But where do I start”? This is a question I am asked a lot. This fear occurs because many quilters do not feel confident when choosing colours. I can see you nodding your head now as you read this.
As you go through your day, lets say walking through the grocery store or perhaps the mall, observe the colours around you. The mixtures of lemons and oranges next to the apples and bananas. Or perhaps a rack of new spring t-shirts on display in front of a store. Colour combinations that speak to you and make you say, “I would of never thought of that”.
You can start to take pictures with those fancy phones we all seem to have so that you can refer to them later. I like to take pictures of flowers in the summer. I put them as a slide show on my screen saver as a kind of catalyst for new inspiration, especially in the winter when our landscape is a mixture of whites, greys and black.
It is hard to think of new colour combinations when we have a stash to use in a colour way that is tried and true. But limiting ourselves does not allow for growth and adventure. It’s always fun to see where a little push may bring us.
Speaking of new layouts and colour ways, I would like to share a few photos of completed quilts from the Storm at Sea workshop that took place in early November. Thank you so much for sending along photos of your quilts.
Thanks for dropping by. Until next time, stay safe, quilt with a new colour, and watch the snow melt.