Color Limits

Color is a very personal thing... isn't it? In fact if you look at well know fabric designers and quilters work, almost immediately they can be identified, not to mention that they usually have their own "branded" color story that they work with. All too often, you hear stories of artists and crafters who exclaim that there is that one color that they just can't seem to warm up to, they never use, or find it difficult to work it into thier usual color scheme. How is it for you when you are forced to think outside the box, and grab that one color that says "no, not me... not today!"?

On the other side, I think it is important to push ourselves, to try new things, step outside our comfort zone, and attempt to try colors again that have been omitted from our go-to color palette. It's a bit like trying brussel sprouts after not having eaten them in the last seven years... you know, to actually see if we still really hate them as much as we remember.

Recently I stumbled on these fabulous free patterns from Lillyella that I just could not resist since I've been on my mini mini quilt swap kick! It shouldn't be too much of a surprise to anyone who has read my blog, that a bright and colorful palette was the easiest for me to come up with:

But after I had shared pictures of my Mini Mini Sunburst on Instagram, both on the same day, I found something that was quite striking to me: The softer, more muted mini got more likes than the bright one. This was really amazing to me since it was a color scheme that did not come naturally, but forced me to step outside my comfort zone... I really had to think about it a lot more. So once I finished the first butterfly, I knew I wanted to push my color limits again and see the response.

Update: the two Sunbursts are almost tied now since I wrote this, and this time around the bright butterfly is way ahead of the softer one... go figure! I guess if it's not broke, then don't fix it, right?

Oh, and a BIG, BIG BTW... I finished my Swell quilt! You can also see the finished teaser picutre on my Instagram feed. Taking a good picture this time of year, with enough good daylight, and when my tall quilt holder (aka husband) are all available at the same time is almost like waiting for the sun, moon, and stars to all come in perfect alignment... let's just say that it's coming!

Linking up this week to WIP Wednesday and Let's Bee Social. 

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What's Your Color Song?

I've been thinking about color a lot lately. 

We all have a tendency to gravitate towards certain colors, while perhaps we avoid other colors... and we all probably have our reasons why, whether we realize that reason or not.

A while back someone pointed out to me that the majority of my fabrics stem from two main colors: green and shades of pink. After having considered it, I came to the conclusion that there might be some truth in it. I really noticed recently when I sorted my fabric stash by colors... and there it was staring me back in the face!

My favorite color has always been green, even as a little girl. I never went through the "pink is my favorite color, therefore EVERYTHING must be pink" phase. When I think about green I think about life, spring, new, growth, nature, and think it's the one color that somehow makes everything complete. Looking at the color wheel, perhaps I might make the natural gravitation unknowingly to the complimentary color of green. Even though I embrace lots of colors, especially bold colors, the two colors that I somehow seem to avoid are red and blue, especially in combination with each other... and I'm not even really sure why. It's true that I see the repetitions over and over again with my fabrics choices, but when I consider my clothing choices or how I decorate my home, that is a completely different equation.

I once had someone tell me about people that can see color while listening to music. (you can read about it here) It was an exciting thought to think about multiple senses being connected in such a way. There are even some that claim that they can taste, hear, and smell color. Wow, can you imagine experiencing color with a sense other than sight?!?  

Taking that into consideration, it's been fun for me to think of color in a completely abstract way that perhaps the way we combine colors might even be like a song. Each song is different, each song unique, and each song is our own. Sometimes a favorite color combination might be like singing your favorite, old familiar song.

So what's your color song?

...slow but sure progress on my paper piecing project, but linking up to WIP Wednesday nonetheless.

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