I finished all 36 blue drunkard’s path blocks. I started getting the hang of them again near the end of the stack. Now I need to figure out what to do with them.
My original intention was to remake Autumn moons as Winter Moons. This plan is what got me started on the whole snowflake adventure last fall, though the snowflake adventure took on a life of its own totally separate from this. I thought I could change the color scheme and replace the leaf blocks with different blocks for different seasons. Here’s a look at that on the wall.
Hmm. This isn’t soaring. The snowflakes definitely would need to be larger. Maybe Snowflake 3, version 2 would have more “oomph” . Also, I think the color values aren’t quite right. I think my lights are all too similar, or I need more medium/lights mixed in. Yes, the colors values will definitely need tweaking if I pursue this any further. Of course borders would help, but I don’t like this enough at this point to spend too much time piecing border units. Maybe I’ll come back to it.
After that ho-hum reaction to what I threw on the wall, I scrambled up the units and came up with a few different layouts unrelated to snowflakes.
Of the three, I think the first has the most potential, though the others might work if I made a few more units to be able to fine tune value placement a bit more. Still, It’s missing something though I’m not sure what, so I am going to put all these units in a box for now. Maybe I need to let go of symmetry. Maybe I’ll end up tossing in another color. We’ll see what happens after everything simmers for a little while.
As an antidote to all this indecision, I am going to go sew with some yellow, grey and black fabrics, putting together a very straightforward quilt that I have all planned out. I sure hope this one cooperates and works out as well in fabric as in my head! At least the first block did (unless you’re not a fan of yellow). The block is 20” square so it will work up to a nice sized quilt very quickly.
Joanne, I adore that first layout with the snowflakes!! I still have my flakes. . . still have plans for them. . . ummm, I think I officially have my first UFO!
ReplyDeleteAs for the layouts without the snowflakes - I like the third one :) and that first block looks awesome! Can't wait to see more of this!!
I think your winter moon has real potential! Like you said, simmering a while might help. An idea might pop into your head in the middle of the night or something! And of course I love sawtooth stars.
ReplyDeleteI think winter moons looks great, I'd put a white border around the snowflakes to make then pop out. Maybe a few purple-ish pieces in the curved blocks would help add interest too.
ReplyDeletejen dot barnard at btinternet dot com
You might know I'd be the rebel in the group, but I like the middle block best; somehow the alternating reversal of the colors really appeals to my eyes. You probably also know that star block has my favorite star pattern. I'll be watching to see how you put that one together! ---"Love"
ReplyDeleteI like the color reversals in the second one but I think I need to make more units with more contrast, or with the dark/light positions reversed, to make the pattern pop. I'm going to wait on this one a bit longer and concentrate on the star blocks.
DeleteI really do like the first block best, but letting go of symmetry is often the best way to tweak a quilt to make it pop. What about adding a light purple or periwinkle to offset the colors? Black, gray, and yellow block pops beautifully. So much fun to experiment and see what happens. I love those little surprises.
ReplyDeleteThe first is my favourite as well. Someone else suggested some purple, and I love periwinkle, so those just might end up in the mix when I get back to this. I need to step away from it for a little bit! Right now I'll focus on the yellow to go with the daffodils that bloomed today. Yay! Spring!
DeleteI really like the last layout. But I really like it with snowflakes. So here is a random suggestion. Could you put a snowflake in the center of your layout and maybe one in each corner?
ReplyDeleteHmmm, perhaps the snowflakes need a plain light value border around them to frame them and set them apart from the DP blocks. I really like the placement of the DP blocks in the first image. It has terrific movement. Nice work on the black, grey yellow quilt. What's not to love about stars?
ReplyDeleteI like what you are trying to do with the winter moons project. It has lots of potential and I will be watching to see what you decide to do after it simmers a while. It never hurts to wait to see what ideas come as you think on it for a while. I also like the star, the yellow with grey and black looks wonderful. Have fun with your projects!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I like the winter plan. I'd add some light blue around the snowflakes..... Love the first of the three in the middle pictures. How about an applique snowflake in the middle? Must really finish off my room so I can finish some things... like those poor neglected snowflakes for a table runner.
ReplyDeleteThat star block is striking. 20" is a real ch-ching, bonus! As for the Drunkard's Path, maybe you also need more variety of fabric textures? Maybe (IMHO) more dark-mediums. Did you look at it through a Ruby Beholder, or through a red transparency to see the values? Or in a semi-dark room from outside the room. That helps me a lot with value. I looked at your Autumn Moons, just beautiful, and it flows better for some reason. This one seems chopped up somehow and I am not sure why... I like option #3 too of your other layouts, but #1 is also really good. Knowing you, it will all jell and be spectacular. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWinter moon looks so wonderful to me Joanne, I hope you can figure out what it is you feel is missing and then make a quilt like that! Yes, i see about the bigger snowflakes. It always does seem to help to let a quilt quandary age a little bit.... and I know you will figure out something you love I .liked the other three layouts too.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very pretty star block!