Friday, November 6, 2009

A colour scheme

I've mentioned the quilt along that Kellie at Don't Look Now is hosting and have been mulling over which colours to use for the past week.  
I love her colour scheme of reds, pinks, and some oranges a lot, but I wanted to do something a little different to what I've done before and maybe stretch myself a bit. How about these fabrics?

I have what I thought would be a good background to use, this white with pink spots. I lay some pieces on it and recoiled at my bland doesn't do anything for me choice. It just isn't working, the background is too busy and the aquas are too boring for me somehow.
Out came the reds to try on some white background. Wait a minute, I wanted to not go down that road but I have a lot of fabrics in that colour scheme and it does look pretty fabulous. What to do moment here. Shall I go my safe option?

Back to the drawing board, the background definitely had to go so out came some white.  Sorry it looks a little pink in the photo but it is white. Oh that's so much better but mmm, still not sure. It's got something missing.
Hey, I like that bright teal in the upper left corner.

Eureka, light bulb moment here guys! Why don't I follow some well known guidelines? You know the one that suggests using different values? Of course it was that! I had fabrics out that were all of a similar value. I needed to go lighter, darker, brighter and control the amounts to get the look I am after.

Oh that's more like it!  I think I'll go with this, it's looking much better. It pays to remember those early patchwork lessons. Another learning experience, so time well spent.

Ok well that's sorted, just waiting to see what everyone else does now.  I hope you all have some time to stitch or play with fabric too this weekend, have a good one.

41 comments:

Red Pepper Quilts - Rita Hodge said...

Beautiful! Great color selection you have come up with. Can't wait to get started on mine, hopefully next week.

Rita

Cathy @ CabbageQuilts said...

Oh you are ahead of the game, I haven't started yet either. Your choice in the end is fabulous, I love that teal, makes it all dance. xo

Frou said...

Love your colours... especially against the crisp white.

I'm playing with 30s fabrics, just because I have so many of them, and I love them... except am a bit freaked by Kellie's instructions and wondering how to modify to be able to backbaste!

Barb said...

Yes, I will say that I love your color choices too.....

Marlene said...

Yes you are way ahead. Mine is not even started. I love your selection of fabrics that you have settled on. It now really works.
Have fun.

Anonymous said...

FAB choices! I once took a work shop with Sally Collins, and she said, "Color gets all the glory, but value does all the work!" It will be lovely to watch this project evolve! ; )

Seams Sew Together said...

Love your colours!!

Quilts on Bastings said...

Beautiful colours - that is going to look stunning!

Darlene said...

Fabulous choice! Another beauty looming.

Carol said...

It's going to be incredible!

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

That is going to look great! I love the Blues and teals! PS. I have added you to my blog list, so I'm looking forward to seeing your progress, you are way ahead of me! Jess

Betsy said...

Carrie, wow, I love your color choices. That will be an beautiful quilt indeed.

Abby and Stephanie said...

White makes a crisp blank canvas for you to add your gorgeous colors. It really makes them pop.

Copper Patch said...

Wow you've done lots already. I was having major compass problems so bought a new one today. Must get moving on it this weekend as I feel like I'm waaaaayyyyy behind already. Love the colours, it's going to look stunning!
Abbe

Anonymous said...

No doubt this will be another one of those gorgeous quilts that I see at your place! Good eye on the color too!

Barb said...

Oh, Lovely.
Looking forward to watching this one progress.
happy friday-
barb

Anonymous said...

oh this quilt will be beautiful
have decided this is one that I am not joining in at the moment!
great colors!
Kathie

alobsiger said...

Love your timely post and your choices, Janet! I have only been pondering choices for this one. It is one of my favorite patterns and I have had fits and starts trying to machine piece it over the years. I am happy to say that I have a template set for it too. :-) I love the pinks, reds, oranges but also would like to do something different....can't decide! It should be FUN though!

Kaaren said...

Awesome color choices, Janet and very complimentary to one another. The white background provides the blank canvas, inviting you to paint the perfect portrait which I can't wait to see!

Heleen said...

So, so, pretty all these fabric colors together!

ranette said...

Thank you for the reminder as I'll be choosing fabrics for this project this weekend, hopefully.

I love the colors you used and the bright teal is amazing!

Nedra said...

You have such an eye for color. Great selections, and the quilt along looks fun.

*karendianne. said...

This is a timely post for me because I was playing with triangles last night - not paying ANY ATTENTION to color and what I got was... well, a block where you could tell I wasn't paying attention to color. As the evening wore on I started to pay attention but I'm going back this morning with fresh eyes. Where's the "value" in that? hee!

Sheri Howard said...

That is going to be stunninig.....I am sooooo tempted to make that!

wishes, true and kind said...

I haven't started either :( -- but yours is looking fantastic! Love your fabrics!

Crispy said...

Color is always a challenge to me and that lesson in value is such a great one. Amazing how our mind's eye can lead us astray....good concepts but often hard to execute. You have solved your issues in your usual wonderful style.

Crispy

In Awe of Applique said...

ah yes...value! most likely the answer to most of my color problems when I hit the indecision point and things don't look quite right...thanks for the lesson! Loving your colors, it's going to be beautiful...can't wait to see it

YankeeQuilter said...

I tend to pull way too many mediums when I first set out fabrics for a project too...the lights and darks take a bit more effort! Love the teals you are using. I hope to play in the fabric piles this weekend and catch up!

Dolores said...

I'm glad you stuck with the teal. It's my favourite colour but that first background just wasn't doing anything for it.

QuiltedSimple said...

Love your final color selection. You've been busy!
Kris

Sharon said...

Wow, you have some amazing projects on the go. This is my goal for 2010, more challenging, time consuming projects, the rewards are amazing. I think I might have to give this pattern a whirl.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Great colors! Mine will be way way different! I too had compass issues and just came home with the third (and finally right size) one! You are inspiring a lot of people on this!

Deb said...

Your decisions are absolutely spot on. Love the crisp white and the change of value makes it really zing. It's reminding me of summer coming and cool water - it will be beautiful. How big are he background squares you are using?

Thimbleanna said...

Ohmygosh! I didn't learn those rules! Picking the colors would definitely have been the worst for me. I'd love to do one in blues and greens. This is such a fun project -- I'm sure you'll have a great time!

Juliann said...

Beautiful fabrics. I am hoping to do this one too but first I need to figure out how to draft the pattern - and to find a compass which I cannot imagine I do not own.

Eileen said...

Values really do make the quilt. I love how you worked out this problem right in front of our eyes. :-)

Ginger Patches said...

Love your final choices!! Glad you're going with the white background it really has a crisp look--it's going to be gorgeous!!

Rose Marie said...

Awesome colour section and fabrics! I just bought a compass, so will need to make a start on drafting the pattern.

Marjorie said...

Thanks for sorting out your color issues here. I'm generally not a big fan of scrap quilts, so I'm having a hard time with mine allowing for the randomness...

Nanette Merrill said...

Oh my gosh I just love that shape and I love the turquoise feel of the fabrics.

Sonja said...

I've tried to participate to Kellie's DLN quiltalong but unfortunately couldn't make it...