A Riot of Color: Spring in Bloom
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks here. Spring seems to have finally sprung, which of course means beautiful colors everywhere, and a terrible allergy season (always a trade off). I have also been able to attend a lot more family events since I haven’t been traveling for work, which has kept my schedule just as packed but a little more fun. And on top of all of this I had a new pattern release over what was Memorial Day weekend here in the US. If you haven’t had a chance to see it yet please check out the Rainbow Quilt Pattern. This, two patterns in one, has been a work in progress for a while and is something that I am really excited to be able to share with everyone.
I spend a lot of time tinkering with different pattern ideas and layouts, trying to decide if blocks should be on point (I have one, on-point nearing the end of the design process right now), should I focus on negative or positive space, and what colors really make the design pop. The Rainbow Quilt Pattern started off on a day that I was feeling particularly low, not very creative and was just trying to push through and develop something, and then of course it got shelved. But a few months later when I was in a better headspace I came back to the design, and realized that it actually did have potential, so I started playing with a little bit more keeping the simple character of the quilt because I found that really appealing. I think it’s really nice to have simple straightforward projects to work on when you are at a low point and looking for something to help boost your spirits. And that idea of boosting one's spirits is where the rainbow palette came from.
If you can’t tell from my Instagram feed I love bright colors. It simply makes me happy to look at them, and I don’t see any reason to choose just one when you can include them all! So, wanting to create a quilt that could boost my mood just by looking at it, I set out creating the rainbow palette. But here is where things got a little tricky (and is why the pattern actually includes instructions for two quilts)- I had to decide if I wanted to highlight the negative or positive space. Turns out I couldn’t choose just one, I loved both, they reminded me of different tile work patterns. I just had to have both (so something you probably don’t know from my Instagram feed is thatI love different architecture and building details, especially unique tiling, and while not related to this pattern, doors). So the next time you are feeling low and want a boost, want to prepare for the winter blues, or make a quilt to boost a loved one, consider making one of these rainbow quilts. Beginner (or hectic life) friendly, it's a great project to bring a little joy into your life!
I hope you get a chance to stop and enjoy some beautiful flowers today, and you stay tuned for next week when I release all the details of my new swap “Book Friends Make Quilty Friends!”
That’s all for now, until next time,
Siobhan
