The Search for Inspiration is on..

Roses in January, found at a local shopping center; The Fountains

Embellishment of sewing kit ' Chocolate n' Raspberries' continues..

Inspiration 'booklet' made from colorful pic.s from Romantic Homes

 I found inspiring color in different places this weekend, the rose still blooming with three hopeful buds at a favorite shopping center in January, how brave. Then I took an old issue of Romantic Homes and tore out colorful  pic.s and trimmed and tore the pic.s again and shuffled them, then stapled them to form a little book of wonderful color inspiration.
Good to do with your old magazines, sometimes you get combinations that are just amazing and get you all charged up.
 How do you find color inspiration?

Romantic Homes is one of my fav. magazines, this is the newest issue.

Winter Muse on ........

Winter landscape, resting, phoenix like, waiting to be reborn.

 

 

Finishing my art quilt, 'Tropical Punch', with hand embroidery.

Happy New Year to You and may the Muse of Embellishment Inspire you!

Happy New Year!

Color and..Allie Aller's book, Crazy Quilting...

Merry Christmas!!! I'll be busy with family for a couple of weeks.

 

I pulled out Allie Aller's book, Crazy Quilting, she uses color so beautifully.

I had to include the bottom half of the cover,

 Allie Aller's book, Crazy Quilting, is so practical and easy to understand. Her chapter, Work in Progress helped me finish my crazy quilt, 'Prima Donna'. I was bogged down in the middle and didn't know how to wind it up. On page 119 she writes about a conversation she had with Erica Carter about just that thing, being at the point where 'you just hate it'.
Erica told her, "Oh, that's the best time! Do you know why? It's because that's when you become willing to take some risks. You have to make a leap. And that's when the breakthru comes." Words to live by, don't you think?
She uses color value; light and dark, skillfully, keeping your eyes moving to take in all the details.
Excellent book to have in your reference library.

This chapter is one of my favorites, she walks you thru the process.

Color Muse, what is a neutral?

Strawberries n' Chocolate sewing kit #1, trims have been sewn down.

Arranging embellishments, more to come...

Collaborative Quilting by Freddy Moran & Gwen Marston.

I've sewn down trim on my 'Strawberries n' Chocolate' series sewing kits. I'm 'interviewing' placement of embellishments now.
I checked out the book, Collaborative Quilting by Freddy Moran & Gwen Marston, from my local quilt guild. The authors' use of color is brave and amazing. Freddy Moran claims that red is her neutral. I looked up the definition of neutral and for the most part it seems to mean; no color or not charged, as in science.
I think that red is charged and packed with excitement. Perhaps she is using the obvious oxymoron to show her sense of humor. It's a great book full of inspiring uses of color and technique. It will brighton up a grey day.
Remember to check out, Sharon B's WIPW , to get inspiration and tips for finishing your project.

Page of Collaborative Quilting showing colorful blocks.

Speaking of Color and Christmas....

I passed this neighbor's house on my walk..glorious color!

Heavenly Bamboo bush, lovely reds, greens, yellows, purples..

On my morning walk I found examples of reds and greens working together nicely. They are opposite on the color wheel; complimentary. Both of these pictures show good value; balance of light and dark, the recipe for good eye movement, allowing your eye to 'see' detail.
More on color to come...

Why is Color so Important and Yet so Misunderstood......

I'm busy making yo yos, using silks, eyelet, tulle, batik etc.......

My color wheel, a very important tool........

 I was thinking today that color is so important to a project's eye appeal ( that 'pop' thing). Why is it that so many don't have a clue as to what makes the colors in their projects lack pizzazz? It's very simple, they don't understand color. To some people the ability to use color well comes natural. For everyone else there are tools that really help. Using a color wheel and understanding what value is; dark/light, is a start. Then add practice, experimenting; this is training your 'eye' by using it. A well made color wheel will have good directions that are easy to work with. The Sew Red Glasses are handy, but squinting to see placement of lights/darks works too. Is your work all light or all dark? If there is a mix of both your eye moves and takes in the details. Color is the thing that makes it sing.
This is my work in progress, check out Sharon B's Pintangle WIP to see other artist's projects.

Sew Red Glasses, 'color value made simple'.