Soul Searching!!!!

At some point in time we all start with a bit of a blank page.  We start accumulating fabrics for a variety or reasons.  Soon we have fabrics folded, stacked, jammed, shoved, drawered or shelved in baskets, boxes and bags.  Every precious piece has meaning and we continue to hunt down every elusive bit we can to make up the perfect stash.  Well...I say start using that stash!  If your's is like mine it has bits that are more active than others.  I sometimes star at my cupboard, my cubbies and my baskets of collected pieces and marvel at that promise of joy!
On Saturday I taught a workshop for the NSW Quilters Guild that does just that...activates your personal stash. 

First I'd like to show you this design board.  Very hand in deed to have a portable design board to take to workshops.

 

Steph made this handy design board with two bits of foam core and some iron on pellon.  The two bits are taped together so they open up like a book. 

We started by  talking  about colour in a technical sense for a while but then...then...Kaboom!  We got busy.

This table was sorted into meaningful stacks but by the end it was in a total state of colour chaos!

What did we do? Well, everyone brought in a diverse sample of strips and from THEIR STASH.  That way they were working with what they had to see what techniques can be acquired to make interesting, dynamic quilts.

 

There were a lot of heads down in complete concentration.  It is amazing how much focus we can generate when we work with colour. 

 

I could almost hear people thinking,...FOCUSING...on what we were doing. 

We all got a chance to talk about what we were realising as we worked,  Janet was working in her aqua fabrics adding variety to a pack of purchased strips while we were noting that she was wearing the colour she was working with! 

 

Deb also matched her strips.

Deb often works in deep reds as evidenced by her first block.  Even when we work with one colour there is a lot to learn about creating  movement, balance and contrast.

 

Francoise started out slow but got a lot of progress happening as the day progressed.  In fact that was how everyone seemed to progress.  Slow and steady to start and then after our lunch break the blocks started coming together at lightening speed.

Each stash had a particular direction.  I had taken a sampling of my own strips as an example but by the end of the day most of them were gone!  It made me realise what people might see when they come into my shop.  I can see that it might be overwhelming to understand where to begin adding contemporary fabrics into existing stashes. It might seem as though you have to start over but that is absolutely not the case! 

I think it was obvious by the end of the day that contemporary fabrics are not to be feared but to be seen as a liberating step to expressing your inner connection to colour!  Don't be afraid of big prints with lots of colours! Use them to activate the blenders, the quiet fabrics, the sweet and the pretty!  Use them to add zest, life and interest in your projects.  It doesn't mean you have to toss out your existing stash but rather to look for things that invigorate it!  ok. that is my speech for the day....go forth and colourfy the world!!!! kathy

Comments

[Leah]

Looks like a fabulous class!

[Michelle @ The Crafty Little Fox]

Love digging around in the stash. You always find somehting you have forgotten about :)

[marg]

Hi Kathy, just wanted to say thanks love reading your blog :-)

[cathie]

I love the look of those evolving creations. I also spent some time peering at the quilt layouts on the floor - in the background, wanting to see where they were going with their ideas...That creative journey is so much fun!

[Elizabeth]

I was talking with a friend yesterday as she is heading to a class with Kaffe in Pennsylvania at the end of the month (diamonds class). I asked her if she'd seen your blog, and she said Yes! Love it! She told me she learns a lot from reading it, and so do I. This post is a case in point, as it's interesting to see the use of color and pattern in building a block. I look forward to the future when all these blocks start making their way into your shop--completed. That's one of the enjoyable things about your blog--we see it from start to finish, plus there is such a variety because you have all your customers to draw from.

I notice you are all wearing fall/winter clothing in the photos--we are too, as Mr. Winter just doesn't want to seem to leave, even though it is is May in Southern California!

[Coach Outlet Online]

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