Saturday, April 14, 2012

Color inspiration


I'm still working on quilt backs for old projects.  Or at least I'm still thinking about quilt backs.  In the last week I've mostly been pulling fabrics and calculating yardage to buy.  
I love this stack of Jennifer Paganelli fabrics for the back of my Mod Valentine quilt. 
Just looking at the gorgeous colors and mix of prints inspires me to get this quilt finished!
  

I'm also still swooning. 
Slow and steady.  Slow and steady.
This is Swoon block #4, made at a Portland Modern Quilt Guild sew day at Fabric Depot last Saturday.

And this is Swoon block #5, made at my sewing circle.  I just kept my head down and soldiered on while hilarity ensued all around me.  
Nothing is more entertaining than the shenanigans that take place at sewing circle.



My Swoon blocks so far....
The Swoon colors are so soft and lovely.  Peaceful and springlike.

However, as we start to see a little more sunshine each week in the Portland area, I am starting to really enjoy and crave color.  Rich, saturated color.  

No one enjoys the sun more than Portlanders.  Yesterday we had a real variety pack -- rain, hail, and sun.  As soon as a few rays would break through the clouds, everyone was outside and in high spirits. 

I love the colors of these Kaufman Pure Organics!


"Oh, did you not want me to sit on this stool where you so carefully placed your Swoon blocks and Pure Organics to avoid cat hair?"

 

 A friend is planning on making her daughter's wedding invitations, including some stitching and decorating with fabric flowers.  I pulled a few fabrics from my stash and now can't stop looking at the beautiful color combinations.  I'm not planning on using the Paradise Gardens on any particular project in the near future (at least not until I finish those UFOs), but I'm really enjoying the colors and prints.



My collection of red and white prints for my Christmas in July quilt is really growing now.  You may remember that I started collecting them for my Swoon quilt, but couldn't wait and went a different direction with fabrics and colors.  I'm still planning on my red and white Christmas in July quilt; however, now I can't decide if I want to make another Swoon quilt (which I think would look fabulous) or go with another pattern.

The red and white idea came from Christmas 2010 when my daughter bought all red and white paper for gifts.  It looked beautiful!


In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy a variety of other colors

 
 and beautifully cut and stacked fabrics all tied up with a bow. 
I just love it when fabric stores take such obvious thought and care when cutting and packaging fabrics.  This stack was purchased from Sew, Mama, Sew, and they always do an exceptional job.

Sometimes I have to just leave these pretty little stacks all around in the sewing studio for inspiration.

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

8 comments:

  1. Your Swoon blocks look great! LOVE the reds and whites!

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  2. hi,
    i just stumbled upon your blog and thought i'd inquire about your cat (while trying not to sound rude)...... has that mark on his/her nose been there for a long time, or is it something more recent? i only ask because we have a pure white cat. she is almost 17 and last year had to have cancer removed from her nose. it started as a small dark spot and slowly grew larger. something common with white cats, for obvious reasons.
    i'm sure you're a good cat mummy, so forgive me for sticking my beak in. i just thought better to be safe than sorry.
    julie :)

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  3. Guess what I was doing Friday and Saturday while the sun was dancing about our land? I was inside the Expo Center schlepping goods at the Automotive Swap meet....Such a deviation of my true self...and such a different world!! No one even wanted to talk about "...beautifully cut and stacked fabrics..." :/ It was a long 2 days!!

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  4. Love, love, love all the red and white! I want to make my son a red and white quilt for a graduation present. You just reminded me to move that project closer to the top of my list!

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  5. Such beautiful and inspiring pictures. Your Swoon blocks just make me....swoon!

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  6. Your swoon blocks are so beautiful Joan!

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  7. Your blocks are so beautiful!!

    And I love all the fabrics there :)

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