bbwalkup

wow, you guys just inspire me so much. I personally have a fear of the color wheel. I totally understand what the colors are and why their in those spots, but picking colors just scares me to death.
Most of what I make is gifts for this person or that, I'm always so freaked out if the colors work, will they laugh at my choices. I make a lot for the neices and nephews, with them being so young I can usually pull if off with novelty fabrics for them. But the adults are what worries me.
I don't have any background in art, actually drawing and painting scare me as well. Maybe it's more of a mental block??
When I don't buy enough fabric or go looking for something to go with whatever I need, I safety pin the sample to the zipper on my purse, that way it's in my way and I don't forget about it. I can usually get really distracted in the fabric store. All that clearence just begging to come home, fabrics I just know someday would be perfect for God only knows what...

Norah

My feelings, exactly. And I have a whole travel trailer full of them. I can't even get in there. I already have the perfect fabric.... somewhere. So I go buy more.

susan s.

I am soooo. jealous :mrgreen: of your sewing travel trailer, that's just what I was looking for. Something to put in the back yard and turn into a little retreat. Maybe with a hot tub of my own :) I'm so desperate for sewing space I've got my eye on the dog house! Looks pretty cozy from here :D

As for choosing color's I kinda afraid of my lack of fear. I don't want to be the only one who can stand the noise one of my "creations" might make.

quiltmaker101

Norah, I have to agree with the Flying V Goddess. I sketch out my quilts on graph paper if I am not at home to put them into EQ5. Both of these are good ideas for finalizing your plans without cutting and regretting. I have a box of 100 colored pencils and a spiral bound graph pad I take with me whenever I feel a quilt idea coming on.

I think half the fun of making a quilt is taking the time to find exactly what pleases your eye, and letting your creativity take its time. "Let the quilt tell you what it needs" is what I have heard over and over. I spent almost a year collecting the fabrics for my "Leaving California" falling leaves quilt, and it was so worth it! Whenever I look at it, every fabric is exactly what it needed, and that makes it so much more worth the time I spent planning and sewing.

Relax and enjoy being a creative person, and don't rush yourself!

Wendy

triciasquilts

I had posted in another thread this morning about Joanns and their fabric. An employee told me the other day, they were told that until they get rid of their clearance fabric, they won't receive any new calicos. I think this is ridicolous that this corporation does things like this. We'll just go somewhere else to find fabric.

Norah

Running out of places

Flying_V_Goddess

That strange. If you really do know the color wheel and why the colors are in those spots then you shouldn't have too much of a problem choosing colors. And just because you don't have a background in art doesn't mean that your quilts are going to turn out bad. Personally, I think quilting is an art in itself so to me you do have a background in art.

quiltmaker101

Luckily there are lots of online and in town options for fabric shopping. I have rarely found good quality quilting fabric at Hancock's or Joanns. Maybe its not so bad that Hancock's and Joann are giving up?

Norah

Keep that rosy outlook! As for me, the more choices, the better. Maybe we will be forced to beat the bushes for other places to shop and find a real jewel somewhere. My best find was the garment district in Los Angeles. I went there with my son. All of the shops are holes in the wall, just filled with fabrics from all over the world, and very reasonable. I only went to 4 stores and spent over $100 for bags of fabric. Maybe I'll get to go again someday.

susan s.

Well I've been helping them get rid of their clearance fabric so they should be ready for new stuff any time now :lol: I'm having that same problem finding the exact right fabric for the baby quilt I want to make. Being this is for a baby born in January though I don't feel as if I can afford a year to look for the perfect fabric. Tho I still will keep my eye out. I'm going to have to change the plans so the baby can have the blanket while he's still a baby.