Making fabric choices is challenging.  In my minds eye, I have the picture of what I want to accomplish as far as color and value are concerned; however, it is very difficult to accomplish that vision with fabric.  In my opinion, it is more difficult using fabric than using paint - one is constrained by what fabric one has on hand.  (Subtle sub-text - have an ample supply of fabrics.)

With the leaf quilt, a couple days ago I posted an article about auditioning fabrics for it using 3 colorways: brown, red, turquoise.  At the end of this article, I've posted a link to that page so you can see those references.  Rosalie Cooke and Holly Meyers helped with their feedback in making the decision as to which colorways to use:  turquoise for the squares in between the blocks, and red/orange for the sashing.

Here are the blocks next to each other:





To my eye, this was a bit on the bland side with those large blocks of turquoise/green color.  Yes the solids will be a playground for quilt designs, but I need to step it up.  At that point I thought about using red sashing.  I found some strips of batik and tested the idea.







Not too shabby, but it reminded me of my love for bandannas and I want to preserve that look for another quilt.  So this was ixnayed.  Then I thought how about using dark values for the sashing, again going to my cupboard and finding some strips of fabric to make the test.







Ummmm, that would be no.  At this point, these are 3" strips, the reds were 2 1/2" strips, both too large in scale for these 8" squares, finished size will be 7 1/2".  So now we need to find the correct color for the sashing and think through the scale/width of the strips.
Back to the cupboard, sorting through fabrics and in the back of my mind, I'm remembering all the paintings I've done whereas I mix in orange next to phalo-green (turquoise) and how dynamic that marriage becomes.

Aha!  I found a chunk of fabric, probably late 80's, early 90's - a Jinny Beyer design and it is the color I want = red/orange.

BUT do I have enough?  Math skills needed.  

1. Scale.  2" cut / 1 1/2" finished sashing.  Check.
2. Fabric How many strips, and how long each strip.  11 strips x 2" x 45" 
3. Do I have enough fabric?  Check.

I laid out just a few blocks on top of the fabric to get perspective on the finished size of sashing (1 1/2") and also if the color choice was right.  It looks good, sothis is going to be it.






By the way, those are the tips of my RocketDog silver shoes you are seeing at the bottom of the quilt.   I'm standing on my kitchen island to get a straight down shot.  Keep on keeping on!  To be continued..

- Viktorya

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>>>>>>>  1st article about Leaf Quilt Blocks