I have a lot to learn about color placement and value it turns out. I spent yesterday afternoon playing with fabric and a new ruler tool a friend sent me. I have been wanting to make a Kaleidoscope quilt ever since I saw Cindy's at Hyacinth Designs. The colors, the alternate circular design that appears, I just love all of it!
This is Cindy Lammon's gorgeous quilt. She has been super nice to share her pictures of her project on her blog, Hyacinth Quilt Designs, and her technique to make the blocks as well. She graciously gave me permission to show her quilt on my blog. I love the circular motion and the happy colors (that's a given!).
What I am realizing as I embark on making one of these Kaleidoscope quilts of my own is how important color placement and value are. I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon playing with fabrics. Choosing some of my new bright/modern fabrics was pretty easy. I decided to go with greys, oranges, and golds from an assortment of fabric collections including Denyse Schmidt's Flea Market Fancy, Florence, and Zen Chic's Comma.
My first attempts at putting some blocks together was an epic fail. So awful, I don't even want to show you. Making the blocks is easy and fun, but it just wasn't coming together color wise like Cindy's quilt does. There truly is an art to picking fabrics that blend well together. You have to be very selective on where you position your lights and darks. Notice how Cindy has featured her darks in particular in the photo above. The balance is so pleasing to the eye.
I have a lot of work to do! Believe me, I will keep you posted. This is a work in progress for sure.
39 responses to “Help! Hot Mess Here.”
I have one of the rulers and still have not had the nerve to use it! My friend, Kim Mason, has made several that were posted on her old blog. This link will take you to a couple that she made that I just love!
http://www.almostdailynews.com/artist/2013/05/19/working-on-pentecost-sunday-morning/
I have one of the rulers and still have not had the nerve to use it! My friend, Kim Mason, has made several that were posted on her old blog. This link will take you to a couple that she made that I just love!
http://www.almostdailynews.com/artist/2013/05/19/working-on-pentecost-sunday-morning/
I have one of the rulers and still have not had the nerve to use it! My friend, Kim Mason, has made several that were posted on her old blog. This link will take you to a couple that she made that I just love!
http://www.almostdailynews.com/artist/2013/05/19/working-on-pentecost-sunday-morning/
Love the happy colors in the quilt Cindy at Hyacinth Quilt Designs made and I can see how color/value placement is essential in having the design work.
Who knows, your first try may be a new look for the block?!
How goes the triangle border for yesterday’s quilt?
It’s going to be a sunny warm day here! Happy April!
Hugs!
Love the happy colors in the quilt Cindy at Hyacinth Quilt Designs made and I can see how color/value placement is essential in having the design work.
Who knows, your first try may be a new look for the block?!
How goes the triangle border for yesterday’s quilt?
It’s going to be a sunny warm day here! Happy April!
Hugs!
Love the happy colors in the quilt Cindy at Hyacinth Quilt Designs made and I can see how color/value placement is essential in having the design work.
Who knows, your first try may be a new look for the block?!
How goes the triangle border for yesterday’s quilt?
It’s going to be a sunny warm day here! Happy April!
Hugs!
I am sure you the fabric placement will come to you 😀 For me I play with the fabric and then walk away for awhile and then when I come back to it the ” light bulb” in my head goes off 😉 Looking forward to watching your progress on this one.
We woke up to snow this morning so I plan on working on my Hampton Ridge blocks that were supposed to be done already .
I am sure you the fabric placement will come to you 😀 For me I play with the fabric and then walk away for awhile and then when I come back to it the ” light bulb” in my head goes off 😉 Looking forward to watching your progress on this one.
We woke up to snow this morning so I plan on working on my Hampton Ridge blocks that were supposed to be done already .
I am sure you the fabric placement will come to you 😀 For me I play with the fabric and then walk away for awhile and then when I come back to it the ” light bulb” in my head goes off 😉 Looking forward to watching your progress on this one.
We woke up to snow this morning so I plan on working on my Hampton Ridge blocks that were supposed to be done already .
I’m going to compare what you’re doing to Star Trek—-because you are essentially exploring a new galaxy. I will bravely continue to watch your adventure from the comfort of my computer. Thanks for being courageous.
Pam
I’m going to compare what you’re doing to Star Trek—-because you are essentially exploring a new galaxy. I will bravely continue to watch your adventure from the comfort of my computer. Thanks for being courageous.
Pam
I’m going to compare what you’re doing to Star Trek—-because you are essentially exploring a new galaxy. I will bravely continue to watch your adventure from the comfort of my computer. Thanks for being courageous.
Pam
I will watch your progress with great interest. I, too, find these newer fabrics beautiful, but challenging. Thanks for sharing your process and progress with us. I really find it helpful when you share your colour insights. Thanks!
I will watch your progress with great interest. I, too, find these newer fabrics beautiful, but challenging. Thanks for sharing your process and progress with us. I really find it helpful when you share your colour insights. Thanks!
I will watch your progress with great interest. I, too, find these newer fabrics beautiful, but challenging. Thanks for sharing your process and progress with us. I really find it helpful when you share your colour insights. Thanks!
I too have trouble with color and value. Which is probably one of the reasons why I’m drawn to two color quilts. 😉
I too have trouble with color and value. Which is probably one of the reasons why I’m drawn to two color quilts. 😉
I too have trouble with color and value. Which is probably one of the reasons why I’m drawn to two color quilts. 😉
I’ve found the best approach for me when doing really new designs is to start simple. I use only 3 or 4 new fabrics that come from the same line so I know the colors will work well together. That way I only have to worry about lights and dark placement. And, I only make a few blocks as ‘test’ blocks.
Good luck and May The Force Be With You! ;p
I’ve found the best approach for me when doing really new designs is to start simple. I use only 3 or 4 new fabrics that come from the same line so I know the colors will work well together. That way I only have to worry about lights and dark placement. And, I only make a few blocks as ‘test’ blocks.
Good luck and May The Force Be With You! ;p
I’ve found the best approach for me when doing really new designs is to start simple. I use only 3 or 4 new fabrics that come from the same line so I know the colors will work well together. That way I only have to worry about lights and dark placement. And, I only make a few blocks as ‘test’ blocks.
Good luck and May The Force Be With You! ;p
Value – The hardest thing to master in quilting, jmho. That is what makes a quilt sing, great value placement. Keep at it, every quilt we learn something, and that’s what keeps us going!
Value – The hardest thing to master in quilting, jmho. That is what makes a quilt sing, great value placement. Keep at it, every quilt we learn something, and that’s what keeps us going!
Value – The hardest thing to master in quilting, jmho. That is what makes a quilt sing, great value placement. Keep at it, every quilt we learn something, and that’s what keeps us going!
Aww, I want to see your attempt, it might be better than you think! Color value is the hardest thing for me, which is probably why I am drawn to kits. I like everything, so tend to think it all matches…wrong. I am very impressed with Australian quilts and how they throw everything but the kitchen sink and it looks incredible. Can’t wait to see what you end up with 🙂
Aww, I want to see your attempt, it might be better than you think! Color value is the hardest thing for me, which is probably why I am drawn to kits. I like everything, so tend to think it all matches…wrong. I am very impressed with Australian quilts and how they throw everything but the kitchen sink and it looks incredible. Can’t wait to see what you end up with 🙂
Aww, I want to see your attempt, it might be better than you think! Color value is the hardest thing for me, which is probably why I am drawn to kits. I like everything, so tend to think it all matches…wrong. I am very impressed with Australian quilts and how they throw everything but the kitchen sink and it looks incredible. Can’t wait to see what you end up with 🙂
That quilt is so pretty. I bet your blocks look great. Picking fabrics can be a challenge. Good luck.
That quilt is so pretty. I bet your blocks look great. Picking fabrics can be a challenge. Good luck.
That quilt is so pretty. I bet your blocks look great. Picking fabrics can be a challenge. Good luck.
I picked up on Cindy Lammon’s kaleidoscope quilt and the tutorial for it as well. Colors, etc. are just gorgeous and certainly say Spring. Inspiring (but I have not dug out my kaleidoscope ruler just yet.) This looks like a design wall project for sure, step by step. Gotta be brave.
I picked up on Cindy Lammon’s kaleidoscope quilt and the tutorial for it as well. Colors, etc. are just gorgeous and certainly say Spring. Inspiring (but I have not dug out my kaleidoscope ruler just yet.) This looks like a design wall project for sure, step by step. Gotta be brave.
I picked up on Cindy Lammon’s kaleidoscope quilt and the tutorial for it as well. Colors, etc. are just gorgeous and certainly say Spring. Inspiring (but I have not dug out my kaleidoscope ruler just yet.) This looks like a design wall project for sure, step by step. Gotta be brave.
That is a beautiful quilt for sure… but trust yourself and believe in what you are doing…. All those other quilt designers have confidence, why not you? And of course this isn’t your first rodeo! LOL You have made many quilts that have inspired me! Keep up the good work! -Hugs
That is a beautiful quilt for sure… but trust yourself and believe in what you are doing…. All those other quilt designers have confidence, why not you? And of course this isn’t your first rodeo! LOL You have made many quilts that have inspired me! Keep up the good work! -Hugs
That is a beautiful quilt for sure… but trust yourself and believe in what you are doing…. All those other quilt designers have confidence, why not you? And of course this isn’t your first rodeo! LOL You have made many quilts that have inspired me! Keep up the good work! -Hugs
Have you tried looking at your fabrics with one go those red things. Can’t think what they are called but it makes all the fabric look black, white and grey so that you can see only the value and not the colors.
Have you tried looking at your fabrics with one go those red things. Can’t think what they are called but it makes all the fabric look black, white and grey so that you can see only the value and not the colors.
Have you tried looking at your fabrics with one go those red things. Can’t think what they are called but it makes all the fabric look black, white and grey so that you can see only the value and not the colors.