Inspired by Young Students

I find inspiration in the strangest places. These two inspiring pieces of artwork are from the elementary school where I teach.

The top drawing was done by a 5th Grade student "playing" with the Geometry template. The paper had fluttered to the floor. I almost just stepped over it but decided to pick it up for a closer look. I loved what I saw! When I asked whose paper it was, I got no response. Students probably thought they would get into trouble. I finally begged the person to identify himself or herself -- I told the class I wanted to be able to take the drawing home to put it into Electric Quilt. It will take a few more lines so it can be paper-pieced. I'd like to make one huge block and applique it to the back of a shirt.

The second piece of art might be a flag. It is construction paper cut and glued to a 9" x 12" piece of lighter colored construction paper. I found it attached to the southern hemisphere of a HUGE world map on the wall of the school's common area. I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know what country it might represent. Maybe I can ask around to find out whose class the "flag" came from.

And what more might I find . . . I'll have to cruise the hallways to see what else I can find. I promise I'll carry a Hall Pass!

Same look, different color scheme. . . .

What a difference color and fabric make! The block pattern is from the Florida Cabin Fever Quilt Guild April Block of the Month.

One aspect of quilting that I need to learn more about is color. I'm accustomed to sewing clothing where colors tend to match and blend. In quilting, fabrics need to contrast -- light, medium, dark, and even the visual texture on the fabric.

I have purchased several quilter's books to help with with color theory related to quilting. All these books are on my quilting bookshelf:

• Quilting Color Magic from House of White Birches
  
• Color Play by Joen Wolfrom
  
• Color Magic for Quilters by Ann Seely and Joyce Stewart
  
• Color: The Quilter's Guide by Christine Barnes
  
• EQ5 Color: Applying Color Theory to Quilts by Susan McKelvey
  

Even a couple of the many color theory websites could be helpful to me:

• Color Wheel Basics for Quilters at About.com
  
• Moda's Color Theory
  

But I haven't used any of these resources . . . . yet.

Now, where is that color wheel I bought? How about just a box of 96 Crayolas?

How about a black quilt . . . . ?

I've begun to work with black background fabric this year. I had seen photos of Amish quilts using solid black background and jewel-tone solids. Working with black and solids did not appeal to me until I visited the Florida Cabin Fever Quilt Guild website to find their 2009 block of the month. It's called A Touch of Amish. "A touch" was right up my alley! I've made the first four blocks, but not quite with jewel tones! Love my avocado green. Yes, a throw back to my favorite color of the 1970's.


Then the quilting guild that I belong to asked for help paper-piecing the blocks for the 2010 Opportunity Quilt. Those ladies know I looooove paper-piecing. I had to learn to sew curves and New York Beauty blocks to do that first one. These three blocks are made with batik fabrics. The black is not solid but seems to have a touch of turquoise marbled through.

So now I've decided to make myself a black lapquilt. I'll be using Carol Doak and Electric Quilt paper-pieced blocks for flowers, stems, and leaves. I've found some beautiful background fabric from Kings Road. Not a batik, but it looks like it -- black with dark green shooting through it. No, not avocado green. :-)