My creative space - a workshop in colour

Right now, my creative space is my new quilt design wall, and the quilt I designed at a workshop yesterday. It is sitting in my sewing room, nicely transplanted from the Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably workshop I attended yesterday. And how did I get to this stage?



It starts with diamonds in "one colour". I decided to fly outside my comfort zone, and chose green. Lots and lots of green. At this point, I was adding diamonds as I cut them, and putting them on my design board. There was no set order - I just stuck them up there, and stood back to see what I had.

Here's Kaffe helping Beryl out with her quilt. I love the oranges and yellows.



Kaffe and Brandon would walk around the room, making comments and changing out diamonds for ones they felt looked better. The used a "reducing glass" (you can get the same effect through your camera view finder) to see which fabrics worked, and where you might have built a "picket fence" to stop your eye flowing down to the bottom of the quilt.



By the time I got to this stage, I knew I had a green quilt, and I wasn't too happy about it. I wanted some colour, so Brandon and I went shopping for some. This photo shows the fabrics lined up against the board to assess the possible effects of them. I know, orange, right?? I was shocked when Brandon suggested that.



And here we have the new colours added in, but I still wasn't happy with a big green "strip" in the middle.



So Brandon did some rearranging and some suggesting (often Kaffe would come and disagree, which goes to show just how subjective colour and fabric choice can be).



And eventually I lost the big green band in the middle, ended up with less of a green leaf salad, and more a mixed vegetable salad with interesting ingredients! Eventually it was time to select an inner border.



I know, this one makes my eyes bleed too, but Kaffe and I selected another cooler fabric for the outer border and it totally changes the effect. I'm really happy with the choices.

Kaffe then spent time at the end of the day critiqueing everyone's quilts. This part was so interesting. He liked mine, and how it had evolved from green into a zany and exciting quilt. Brandon said I was a fabulous woman. I blushed.







And then at the end of the worshop, Brandon and Kaffe showed off a few of their quilts.



This one will be in their next book. It's been photographed against a red barn in either Sweden or Denmark. I can't remember. And it's made with only three fabrics. Love it.



And then I acted like the total Kaffe Fassett fan I am and had a photo taken with him while he was signing our books. It's not very in focus, but the quilt behind us (in focus!) is fabulous! (I may well frame this photo and hang it in my sewing room.)



It was such a great day. I learned so much from Kaffe and Brandon, and I think this might take my quilts to a much more exciting, colourful level! They were just delightful and very charming, and so positive.

(I want to sew my quilt together, rather than have it on a design wall, but I managed to pick up a nasty headache and neck pain from concentrating too hard at the workshop and I am confined to the un-comfort of a sofa. No sewing. No work. No nothing.)

For more colourful creative spaces, you can head to Kirsty's!