Concentration Waining

I really, really thought that getting back into quilting would help me recover from my grief. While I enjoy reading about quilting on the blogs I follow and reading about color in my color course and watching Craftsy videos. I have taken ALL day to cut out 3.5 inch squares for my monochromatic napkin. We are talking about 36 squares here--not 336.

Because my stash was not monochromatic--all my fabrics seem to have more than one color and I don't have a good stash of solids--have to work on that--, I spent time in my LQS yesterday picking out monochromatic fabrics in colors I really like. Now, at home, however, I find that my enthusiasm for the colors has disappeared. This has become a project to get through, not one I am enjoying. Maybe I needed to start with warm colors, like yellow/orange instead of the cool colors.

I know time will help me heal from the fire and death of my mother, but thoughts of her pop into my head regularly. One of the last things we discussed was how she didn't quite see me as a quilter. My next project is going to be the quilt we decided at Christmas that I would make for her. She helped me pick the fabric and the design. I wish she were here to watch it come to life.

Below is the aqua napkin pre-sewing. 

And the Beat Goes On

I have no idea why making my color card for the Color Intensive class from Rachel of Stitched in Color makes me think of Sonny and Cher's The Beat Goes On, but the refrain kept going through my head as I cut the little color cards. Do you think it is the repetitive action? Probably.

Still, it is fun when you start to notice how the colors fit together. I swear to you that there is no, absolutely no, difference between Pansy and Lupine on the card I got. I think Kona made a mistake or I just cannot see gradations of purple. I don't think not seeing purple is a verifiable illness though.

On another note, my card is "slightly, ever so slightly" messy. I left out a color when I was labeling my card and rather than just sticking a random pink (and it was a pink) at the end of the card, I decided to erase the names and rewrite them. Halfway through I am wishing I had left a random pink at the end of the card.

I also used watercolor paper because it was the longest paper I could find and apparently length was important. I now find myself wishing I had chosen something a little sturdier. I am thinking about getting poster board and attaching it to the back. Maybe in a nice bright pink or sunny yellow.

 You will also note that my color cards are ever so slightly different sizes. Clearly I still have some work to do on my cutting skills. No wonder my quilts are still wonky.

And the beat goes on....

Woohoo!! Color Intensive Starting

Color Intensive is starting! Woohoo!!! There is still time to join in the fun because the class officially starts on Feb. 3rd.

Need this so badly as stress relief because my mother was admitted to the hospital today. I live 6 hours away and cannot go over yet (teaching and the semester just started). We also don't know what is wrong--that is the worst part.

However, COLOR INTENSIVE is here to help my stress relief. I am so excited. Can't wait to get my Kona Color Card in the mail so I can start on my manipulative card. Exciting!!

Color Theory

I'm not a graphic designer or artist, so I have been trying to learn as much as possible about color theory, so my quilts pop. Once I practice on enough lap and baby quilts and can sew a 1/4" seam with consistency, I want to do some landscape or art quilts. I think they are beautiful. You can see my color challenge with the quilt below that I am making for my brother and his wife.

While I like the quilt and the colors are okay, I don't think I did value well here. See at least I know one term. I even have the Color Scheme Designer bookmarked on my computer, not that I use it.

So, all that to say I signed up for Rachel's (Stitched in Color) Color Theory class today. I am so excited about it. I follow her blog and love her color combinations, so I am really excited about this class. The class is 5 weeks and costs $55. I could have done a color theory class on Craftsy for less money and with a flashier platform, but this class just called out to be taken. I am really going to enjoy the Kona Color Card project we are doing. Fun, fun, fun! Join me there.