It seems lately I have been using a lot of warm colors and neglecting the cool blues. So I pulled out some blue-green-purpley pieces and put them on the design wall to live with them for a while. It didn't take long to add some bright warm pieces to the mix.
I do use a lot of turquoise in my work, as it has enough oomph to coexist with orange, yellow, and pink, but the medium or deeper blues have been resting in wait on my shelves.
That's a lotta blue!So I am challenging myself to use it in my next work, in a BIG BIG way. Maybe even put it on the back...
Which sorta brings me to the thought I had as I woke up this morning. My approach to quilting has changed, and needs to be articulated. I am a verbal processor and have to say or write my thoughts (why I have a blog) to really feel them.
For most of my quilting life I have been single minded about the quilts I make. They had to be arty, show stopping, impacting eye catchers. Well, I still want there to be that quality to my work, somewhat, but my focus has shifted, one might say, drastically.
1. I find I want to USE UP my fabric, not save it for something really important.
2. I want to really like the process, which is why I am so thrilled to have found QAYG techniques
3. I don't care as much about trying to be innovative or groundbreaking anymore.
4. And I want to make a lot of quilts. Up to the ceiling, overflowing the closets, and drawers, until there is no fabric left. Big quilts. Little quilts. Wall quilts. Bed quilts.
And then I'll quit.
For me there has to be a goal and using up the stash is it. I JUST received a big box of fabric from Joann's, including 50 yards of dyeable muslin, and yardage in bunches of solids to coordinate with my prints and dyed fabrics. So the shelves are bursting with material for new work. Starting tomorrow I will aim at a quilt a week and see what happens. Today is my day out (knitting) and I am seeing the sewing machine repairman for a consult, even tho my machine is working beautifully, I want to maintain it so I never have to experience being without it again. And I am still considering a backup machine, so there is that...
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It has been raining for days and Chumley is hoping for a sunny day soon.
I have so many quilts here I'm wondering what to do with them???? Quilting is all over my house... Love the bright blue.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this post because it means you'll be quilting for a long time! I've never been much of a blue person. It always seemed to make me feel a bit blue, plus I wore a navy blue uniform for years at NWA. But those blues shown above on the design wall are a whole different story! I can't wait for more.
ReplyDeleteYikes....a quilt a week!!!!! I'm exhausted just thinking about it. I'm loving those blues.
ReplyDeleteAh, what is it with us women of a certain age? We're thinking about all our 'stuff'--Laura Fry, a wonderful weaver, calls it S.A.B.L.E. (stash acquired beyond life expectany) and saying "use it up!" I don't know if it's the passing of time ticking, ticking in my head or if mortality is staring me in the face, but I'm with you. I'm "using it up" and have made & quilted 18 quilts since Jan 1st. Hardly made a dent!! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post...the part about verbal processing resonated with me because while I am bad at it, I have come to realize that I need to do it to move my (printmaking) work forward. My ideas remain pretty muddy in my mind unless I force myself to organize them and maybe even tell someone!
ReplyDeleteI am not a quilter, but I find your work totally captivating and am so glad I added your blog...thanks again!
I love all those blues and purples and also the fact that you will be quilting for one time yet. But a quilt a week, wow!
ReplyDeleteThat last picture speaks volumes. It's kind of what I've been doing lately with all our nasty weather.
The darker blues give everything depth. They recede nicely. Keep quilting! I hope to retire someday and play as you do.
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Looking forward to seeing what you make with your yummy blues, purples and green/turquoise solids
ReplyDeleteI don't think you'll EVER exit the quilt world!
ReplyDeleteHmm...it's hard for me to imagine that, even if you managed to use up your stash, and never bought any more fabric, you'd lose the desire to make another quilt. I think you'd wake up one morning and run to the quilt shop with yet another idea! Mrs. Creativity doesn't stop thinking, planning, and creating...well, something like that. :-)
ReplyDeleteIts like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot
ReplyDeleteabout this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message
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