Patty M in CT....you are my Quilting Angel! I received your lovely package yesterday, and I had no clue why you would be sending me a big box? I thought maybe it was a customer quilt I'd agreed to do,but didn't write on my calendar. (And uhoh...quilting machine had a blown circuit board!)
I was left breathless by your gift. My son wants to know why you are sending me gifts, and if you could send him something too, because his birthday is also in January as is mine :c)
I don't know if this is an early birthday gift or not, my birthday isn't until the 23rd! But I'm treating it as such, and what a happy one it is! I love the fabrics, the colors, the patterns, THANK YOU!!
And since I'm talking about color, I'm tickled that so many are liking the colors I've chosen for Double Delight. Many things combine for my inspiration,but I want to show you THIS one....It's an antique quilt I bought in Asheboro last year. Very homely, homey and utilitarian, it's a HUGE Corn & Beans block quilt. There is ONE cheddar block with double pink,blue and brown. Sound familiar? Look familiar? It's the one odd block in the quilt that made me want to put these colors together in Double Delight.
I don't think the lady that made this quilt was using a color wheel to decide what colors went together and which didn't. I think she intuitively knew what was pleasing to her own eye.
So when it comes to color, think outside of what is "popular" right now as far as fabric lines go. Don't let the home dec industry make your choices for you. Follow nature, look at photographs, I've even seen some interesting color combos on TV when my son was watching a cartoon.
Playing with colors that are out of our comfort zone....EXPANDS our comfort zone! And that's a good thing.
The music playing today, calming my feelings from yesterday..JOHN DENVER. I miss him. He went too soon. But his music is very soul centering to me, and I'm playing and singing......"Its a sweet sweet sweet dream, sometimes I'm almost there, sometimes I fly like an eagle..and sometimes I'm deep in despair....on the road of experience, join in the living day......"
(of course, the dogs are howling! *LOL*)
I have to say those are very pretty colors. One thing I have to say about your site is the play of colors in your quilts. I've been so stuck in a 8 color crayon box, I've moved out. I'm even disregarding the rules of colors and plaids not mix with ...... ! I haven't found a flower garden I didn't like yet and there are lots of color and texture in them.
ReplyDeleteThat is definitely one odd block. It makes me wonder if it was put in later to repair some damage or something. My mom repaired a few quilts before I got my hands on them. Squares of polyester on a wool crazy quilt stick out the same way. Ha. Those gingham triangles are really something. You sure have an eye for seeing potential in something that many of us would disregard. Have fun with your nice fabric gift!
ReplyDeleteWOW! What gorgeous fabric. That brown with a peek of blue is wonderful. It really caught my eye.
ReplyDeleteHope your circuit board arrives today. You must be very hard on your quilting machine!
You deserve so much more in the way of thank yous for all you do for us...your quilting fans.
Subee
I MISS JOHN DENVER TOO! And I love your mystey quilts even if I know the outcome before the end. It means I can be sure that all of my fabric choices work together. Thank you for all your sharing!
ReplyDeleteOk, that antique quilt really has my attention...that purple-y fabric really pops against all those neutrals and my bedroom walls just got painted a pale lavendar....hmmm. I think I feel a quilt coming on, thanks Bon!!! lol
ReplyDeleteLori in VA
I agree...John Denver still had a lot of great music left to make! I can't start skiing without humming Rocky Mountain High on my first run out West.
ReplyDeleteOh, John Denver...he crooned the theme song to my state..."take me home, country roads" Now, living in CA for the past 18 years, it STILL brings a tear to my eye. Thanks for the lovely pics, and especially thanks for your great book! Got it last week and have started three tops! Peace to you!
ReplyDeleteI loved John Denver when I was in my College years too. Today is Elvis' B-day so I'm thinking of him. Might have to use some of his fabric in my DD. That would add a different twist to it. I'm still on step two, but want to do the 9-patches...I like the finished top so far. Gotta keep at it. More strips to cut 1 1/2"!
ReplyDeleteSeeing the photo of the antique quilt reminds me of the beautiful quilts that my Aunt Della makes. When you look at her quilt at a glance they seem perfect.....then you look closer and you will see a odd block......possibly a different pattern, wrong side of fabric showing, or a part of the block turned around. She told me that she always adds a booboo in her quilts because they cannot be perfect......only God is perfect. If you look at my quilts you will always find a "Aunt Della".
ReplyDeleteI cried and cried and cried when John Denver died. I grew up on his music. My parents wouldn't let us listen to most of the Rock music that was out back then.
ReplyDeleteI am learning to play with colors. I look to you for a lot of inspiration and ideas. Thanks for spending so much time and effort on sharing your creativity with the world. You are a wonderful, talented person.
I always loved John Denver. My 2 eldest grew up listening to him ALOT.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite was "Grandma's Feather Bed". Always brings a smile to my face.
I love that odd block in there. How cool is that? Love it Bonnie and love the colors too.
ReplyDeleteCan't beat John Denver and dogs howling at the same time. Ahhhhh heaven.
What a wonderful antique quilt!! I've been thinking about making a corn and beans quilt so your picture is very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteBonnie... I am so with you on colour, its all around us we just have to open our eyes to really see what is right in front of us. Love the antique quilt and the surprise fabrics. They both invoke those creative juices and I can't wait to dig out more purple and brown... and maybe some more cheddar... Thank you for all you share so freely and the inspiration you bring. Loving DD, just need to double back to part 4 :-)
ReplyDeleteThis post made me smile as I have had some color assistance from my DH with your DD. Pink is just too far out of his comfort zone LOL
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have nay JD in my ITunes library, I need to correct that today! I hope to see you soon, have fun with your wonderful giftie!
ReplyDeleteI didn't think that anyone else listened to John Denver but me. I cried like a baby the day he died. I also listen to him almost daily even now. Love your blog even though I never comment. I read it every day. Thanks for posting as often as you do. Karen
ReplyDeleteI miss John Denver too, so now I need to go and put his music on and have a sing along. Thanks for your wonderful inspirational posts.
ReplyDeletewhat a fun package of fabrics - that orange is fabulous. great antique quilt - a woman who knew her own mind. sorry about the circuit border. I'm terrible about remembering these things so Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteI was blogging about the colors in your Double Delight today. I simply love the way you've put them together! I'm going to have to buy some brown though because it's a color I don't normally use. Too many years of hearing my mom tell me that I don't look good in brown, I guess!
ReplyDeleteI don't often use someone else's color choices in a quilt, but in the case of Double Delight I'm making an exception. I think it will help me expand my color horizons.
A long time ago I was transferring flights in Frankfurt and I noticed a very American looking guy walking on the other side of the tunnel. He started whistling Annie's Song...yup it was John Denver! I love his music! Anyway I got to talk to him for a few minutes before our flight to Salzberg. He was really nice. I still listen to his music too.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, it's been a while since I've left you a comment. We became the "proud grandparents" of two new little ones at my daughters house in November! A sweet little girl 16 months and her smiling cute baby brother at 2 months old, they now have an older brother, our 3 year old grand son... so the family is pretty busy! Plus, it seems that time and again our DD has called for help... so, I've slowed down on my blog reading and sewing too.
ReplyDeleteJohn Denver was the prevelent music while my DH and I were dating. We bring out his Christmas music each year and "Grandma's Feather Bed" is one of my favorites too. Each year at Christmas I love to watch a Christmas movie that he is in... can't recall the name at the moment... something like Christmas Town... anyway it's pretty good, and he isn't all that old either!
Hope that your year will be a happy one and that you accomplish all you want to do!
Take care.