01 March 2011

narrow it down...


Thank you for your input on the layout dilemma! So many options, so many paths to follow...

Here's a little update on the progress. First I started testing out and rejecting several solids. Deciding they were a bit dull for the scale of this courthouse steps block.

Then I decided to go for a light, "blonde" palette, using the white design elements to bind it all together. After more digging through stash, I settled for these two stripes. With the limitation of my usual 1/2 yrd cuts, I needed something more and another vintage linen piece was added.

(For some reason, it hurts to use my 1/2 yrd cuts of the stripes all in one go. How silly is that? I guess it means a good stripe is hard to find? I must start buying them in whole yrds?)

So this is how my design wall looks today. I think I'll leave it for now and see if I am still happy about this layout tomorrow.

I find that time can be an important ingredient in the process. One that often is scarce... Do you have the patience to leave your wip for some time, to see if you still like it? Or do you just make a quick decision and move on?

10 comments:

Miss Holly said...

Well, if this helps, I opened this page and I thought....what a heavenly quilt..so soft and peaceful looking...it just made feel happy. I think that is a good thing !!

whitey said...

Love the colors it makes me think of summer. Are you quilting it has you go?

Sujata Shah said...

Marit,

I rarely work in a hurry. If I am tired of making decision, I leave the quilt on the design wall of fold it up.. I do take time until it feels right..
And sometimes it is a day and other times it takes a few weeks..
I love your quilt.. Quite calm and soothing compare to what I just finished!

Kim Brackett said...

Love the vintage linens you're using. That will be such a sweet quilt. So Spring-y. I'm rarely take the time to step back for a while and reconsider fabrics/layouts. That's why I end up second-guessing myself after it's finished. :-)

Nifty Quilts said...

It looks great! I like your blond palate.

I used to labor over the decisions for every piece in a quilt. But since workshops with the Gee's Bend quilters and Denyse Schmidt, I've learned to make my decisions more quickly. It's freeing, but my quilts might be more attractive with more thought.

Lisa said...

I love the look!!!

Donna~~ said...

Looks great! Love the stripes! I often "sleep" on things for a day or two when I'm undecided especially, although that sometimes leads to my starting something entirely new in the process.

Live a Colorful Life said...

Okay, I had to backtrack. I haven't have a chance to do any blog reading for a week. SOOO far behind. I really like this option.

And I totally get it about using your 1/2 yard of stripes. I'm thinkinog of upping my purchasing of good stripes and dots to 1 yard cuts...they never go out of style anyway.

liz said...

I love it! Very soothing and beautiful!

Calamity Jane's Cottage, Bonnie said...

Just found your blog and I love your work. Your wip looks like spring is around the corner.
I'm always in a hurry most of the time it works great and then sometimes not so great and I wish I had thought it out more.