Sunday, March 23, 2008

Color Woes

I've struggled with the color selections from the first with Aster Blast (pattern from Quilter's Newsletter Magazine).

I purchased some of the fabric, the pink, blue and white with a different project in mind. But that project turned into something else and I soon decided to use these colors because I loved this pattern so much. I later picked up the brown for the stars and stems and the reddish-brown for the baskets. I was never easy about the color combo, but after putting together the star points, I was feeling better about it.

Then, I started working on the applique and ugh! Nothing was working anymore!

First of all, I had picked a lighter background fabric and when I put it next to the star points, the white fabric got lost ... so that had to go. I picked up the darker fabric and the star points "popped" better and I was happy. However, I didn't think about what this would do with the flowers ...

So, the other day, I put it all together and this is what I got:
UGH!!! Could it be any uglier? The basket fabric overwhelmed everything and had to go and then the flower centers overshadowed the flowers rather than blending in. So then I started thinking ... maybe pink or green for the baskets? Maybe the brown for the flower centers, but, no that would over power the flowers too ... such color woes!

So, I ended up at Pickering Farm yesterday to look for alternatives ... with Diana's help, this is what I ended up with:

Okay, better ... the sage green picks up on the green in the blue and white fabrics and the brown centers don't totally overwhelm the flowers ...

Something about it still bugs me though, but I'm charging ahead with this color scheme. It'll probably all look different by the time I get it together and put the border on anyway.

I have to say that I've struggled with color on this project more than any other ... I usually just pick the colors and charge forward and it works out. Do you ever struggle with the color like this? How do you solve your problems??

Well, back to it!

Happy Easter to those that celebrate the holiday!

4 comments:

jacquie said...

I have color/value struggles too. I would be interesting to change both of these pictures to black and white and look at them. I do this sometimes when I'm struggling, and taking the color away sometimes gives me a clue to what is bugging me. I think you are on the right track!

country mouse said...

What a cute block to use for the corners. I can't say I have a whole lot of struggles with color/value, I tend to be a brave soul though. My mom has told me I have been blessed with an eye for that kind of thing and maybe I have. Looking at your block, I see what you mean about the colors. I like the colors of the flowers, I probably would stick with the light yellow centers. I wonder what it would look like with the green for the flower stems and the brown basket? The only thing that doesn't sit quite right with me is that the basket and the background are so similar value wise. The green basket just kind of blends in. Or maybe brown centers for the flowers and a brown basket with green stems? I do have to say that I love that color scheme, though, very much my kind of colors. I'm sure it will be lovely!!

country mouse said...

Also wanted to thank you for visiting my blog. Always nice to meet other bloggers!! :cD

Shelina said...

I tend to second guess my fabric choices too. I've already been thinking about border ideas even though I came up with perfectly good plan at the quiltshop yesterday.
I don't see anything wrong with the fabric choices in the first picture.