Tag Archives | Color

“Happy Family” Complete

Here’s my latest quilt, Happy Family

"Happy Family" complete. An art quilt by Ellen Lindner. AdventureQuilter.com/blog

I’m REALLY happy with it and I hope you like it, too.

As you can see, I added three loose circles, to add interest. Since there are three members of my immediate family, and because the colors are so upbeat, I decided to name it Happy Family.

I got carried away when taking detail shots. Again, because I just love what happens when these busy prints interact with one another.

."Happy Family" complete. An art quilt by Ellen Lindner. AdventureQuilter.com/blog

"Happy Family" complete. An art quilt by Ellen Lindner. AdventureQuilter.com/blog
As usual, I printed 99% of these fabrics myself (with dye.)

"Happy Family" complete. An art quilt by Ellen Lindner. AdventureQuilter.com/blog

"Happy Family" complete. An art quilt by Ellen Lindner. AdventureQuilter.com/blog

This quilt is 32″h x 35″ w.

"Happy Family" complete. An art quilt by Ellen Lindner. AdventureQuilter.com/blog

It’s available for purchase, at a price of $1100. If you’re interested in buying it contact me via email with the link at the bottom of the page.

Ellen Lindner
P.S. I really like the loose circles. I think I’ll use them in a future quilt.
P.P.S. I can’t wait to get started on the next quilt!

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Dyeing with Forethought

I’ve been dyeing again. These are the fabrics I created in a week-long session.

Dyeing with Forethought. Ellen Lindner's fabric dyeing results. AdventureQuilter.com/blog

I tried to repeat motifs and colors so that I might be able to use some of these fabrics together. Like these.

Dyeing with Forethought. Ellen Lindner's fabric dyeing results. AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Or, a different combination.

Dyeing with Forethought. Ellen Lindner's fabric dyeing results. AdventureQuilter.com/blog

I don’t use much white, but thought it would be useful for creating contrast and interest. So, I did these.

Dyeing with Forethought. Ellen Lindner's fabric dyeing results. AdventureQuilter.com/blog

These are all mono prints, done on slick vinyl. The vinyl makes the dye bead up, giving lacy results.

Dyeing with Forethought. Ellen Lindner's fabric dyeing results. AdventureQuilter.com/blog

I think the blue and green one, above, could become a whole cloth quilt. Maybe with the addition of some black stitching?

Dyeing fabrics is always fun!

Ellen Lindner

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Composing an Abstract Composition

In my last post, I showed how I started with a diagonal composition. That was probably a good starting point, but I could very quickly see that it was way to bulky and “regular.”

I knew it needed to have some variation and some energy added. So, I started trying new things. First, I got rid of the pink corner and I added a  high contrast print with circles. That helped a lot!

Composing an Abstract Design. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

I pieced together the center section, which had vertical pieces. I was pretty confident with that portion, so I left it in place while I auditioned changes in other areas.

IComposing an Abstract Design. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog Composing an Abstract Design. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog Composing an Abstract Design. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

You get the idea. But then, I decided I should turn that center section 90 degrees – just to mix things up.

Composing an Abstract Design. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

It didn’t immediately look better. As a matter of fact, maybe it looked worse. But, since it was DIFFERENT FROM MY EARLIER VISION, it appealed to me and I decided to work with it some more. (After all, I could always turn it back.)

I kept this new center orientation as I continued to work on the placement of the red.

Composing an Abstract Design. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

I’m loving the energy of this piece and I’m having fun working on it.

It needs a title, so I’m writing my thoughts on a list as ideas come to me.

Ellen Lindner

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Twigs of Teal and Red-Orange: Getting Started

I dyed this fabric last year and it’s one of my favorites.

Teal and Red-Orange Quilt: Getting Started. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

I was really happy with the way I had a viable design without doing anything more to it, but HOW do you design with that? I had a false start last year and am now trying again.

These are the collection of “featured” fabrics I thought I might be able to use. I call them featured fabrics because they have high amounts of contrast in them, which will draw the viewer’s eye. When working with such fabrics, I try to put them in place early on and then fill in with less dramatic fabrics, as needed.

Teal and Red-Orange Quilt: Getting Started. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Next, I pulled out every fabric I thought might work. As you can see, I like these colors and found that I had quite a collection.

Teal and Red-Orange Quilt: Getting Started. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

But, maybe it needed something unexpected. What about accents of yellow?

Teal and Red-Orange Quilt: Getting Started. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Hmm. Maybe.

I liked the large twig (center right) on the dull orange print. But, I didn’t like the background fabric. So, I stenciled on a couple more using paint.

TTeal and Red-Orange Quilt: Getting Started. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

These should be usable.

I had my fabric decisions (mostly) made, so it was time to start moving things around on the design wall. (The challenging, but fun, part!)

Ellen Lindner

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Finishing Up the Red and Yellow Quilt

After finishing up the left 2/3 of my red and yellow “bean” quilt, it was time to tackle the right yellow portion. It came together pretty well. (Still in -progress below.)

Red and Yellow Abstract. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

During these final stages I also considered added some skinny lines, for energy. (See them pinned on at the top in the photo above?) I eventually decided against them, however, because I thought they’d attract too much attention. I wanted the other contrasts to be the attention getters. (And those bean shapes, of course.)

From early in the design phase I thought I’d probably want to applique on another couple yellow beans. (If you look back at the first post, you’ll see that I had one little piece of yellow fabric sitting on the red – near the top – as a place holder.) I auditioned that idea further near the end.

Red and Yellow Abstract. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

I also considered adding some red ones. That’s what the red blobs are for in the photo above. I decided I just needed one. I made it a partial bean, like the other red ones.

And then I cropped both sides. (But, I later added some of the red side back.)

Red and Yellow Abstract. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Finally, I had it all put together and quilted.  As you can see above, I added some more bean outlines during the quilting process. I really like using a double black line for emphasis.

Then, it was time for photography.

Photographing "Spilling the Beans," and art quilt by Ellen Lindner. AdventureQuilter.com/blog

You can see the full finished quilt here. I’d really appreciate your thoughts about it – especially what you think about these two colors together. Yay or nay?

Ellen Lindner

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Color in Carlisle

I had forgotten how much fun it is to cut colored paper and glue it down. But, the ladies in my Adventures in Color class, in Carlisle, PA helped me remember! Gee, did we have fun!

In this class I encourage table mates to share their materials. This adds to the fun, since everyone is immediately sorting through things and helping one another look for the perfect item.

Color in Carlisle. A class with Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Doesn’t this look enjoyable? Each student made a workbook using the materials you see here. First, they learned about the color wheel. Then, cool and warm colors.

We had a mid-afternoon “field trip” around the room, with each person showing her favorite page. Several people loved the cool colors.

Color in Carlisle. A class with Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

They include every version of yellow-green, green, blue-green, blue, blue-violet, and violet/purple.

They can be pastel and muted.

Color in Carlisle. A class with Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Or bright. Or dark.

Color in Carlisle. A class with Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Students were encouraged to show a variety of values and brightness on their pages.

Color in Carlisle. A class with Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Cool colors can be calming. They tend to recede, so they’re especially good for backgrounds.

And then there are the warm colors.

Color in Carlisle. A class with Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

They include every version of yellow, yellow-orange, orange, red-orange, red, and red-violet.

Color in Carlisle. A class with Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Warm colors are dramatic and they tend to come forward. They’re especially good for foregrounds.

Color in Carlisle. A class with Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

And then, of course, it gets even more exciting when you start mixing warm and cool colors. I’ll show you examples in my next post.

Ellen Lindner
P.S. I’m so sorry that I didn’t record who made each of these pages! Ladies, if you identify your page, please let me know and I’ll give you credit.

 

 

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“Waiting for the Lightnin’ Bugs” Complete

My latest quilt is complete! As you can see, I decided to square off the edges.
These colors are true. My earlier ones were shot in the studio. This one got proper lighting.

Waiting for the Lightnin' Bugs. An art quilt by Ellen Lindner. AdventureQuilter.com

Waiting for the Lightnin’ Bugs

The dark colors of the quilt, combined with yellow streaks, reminded me of a cool evening, in VA, watching the lightnin’ bugs as they came out. (Yes, I pronounce it like that. I’m from the south!)

Here’s a detail shot

Waiting for the Lightnin' Bugs - detail. An art quilt by Ellen Lindner. AdventureQuilter.com

And another. All fabrics were dyed by me.

Waiting for the Lightnin' Bugs - detail. An art quilt by Ellen Lindner. AdventureQuilter.com

I’m kinda loving this.

Check out the web page for a larger image, another detail shot, and purchase information.

Ellen Lindner

 

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My Version of Muted

Possible duplicate post

When putting away hand dyed fabrics, I noticed that my least favorites, the dark muted pieces, actually looked pretty good together. I decided to make a quilt with them, and to include a few accents of lighter colors. I was headed for a quilting retreat, so I packed up my potential fabrics to see what I could come up with.

First, I wanted to get the color palette right.  I threw all possibilities up on my portable design wall and easel combo.

My Version of Muted. An art quilt in-progess. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Not bad, but I could see that some of these colors would need to be used in smaller amounts. See the next photo for modifications. Note that I scaled back a few of the brightest colors. (Ignore the blue tape.)

My Version of Muted. An art quilt in-progess. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

I spent quite a bit of time getting happy with the palette. Then, I started joining fabrics in pairs. Next, I altered each pair in some way. Maybe I added a skinny line, a skewed alignment, or a curved seam. I call this process”slicing and dicing.”

My Version of Muted. Art quilt in progress. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com

I continued adding alterations, trying to make each unit interesting. Other than making sure I mixed up the colors well, I didn’t think about composition, shapes, or joining. Once I was home, I assembled units into larger sections.

Finally, it was time to think about composition, size, and shape. I spread out units to see what I had. I was happy with the level of energy and interest, but I didn’t want a horizontal quilt. I knew I’d need to make additional units for the top and bottom, and to fill in some other places. No more random “slicing and dicing.” I was now designing “with intent.”

My Version of Muted. Art quilt in progress. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com

Watch for my progress in the next post.

Ellen Lindner

 

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Dyed Whole Cloth

I’ve been working on incorporating a variety of motifs and colors into one piece of dyed fabric and I finally got one I really love.

Mabye I Need a Crystal Ball. Dyeing fabric with Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

I rotated it 90 degrees and put it up on the design wall. Now what?

I had a lot of fabrics with the right colors, so I pulled them all out and pinned them up on the design wall. Lots of options here!

(This is my typical process, followed by lots of editing.)

Dyed Whole Cloth. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Perhaps this green-on-green piece would be a nice counter point. Not bad.

Dyed Whole Cloth. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Next, 2 questions:
1 – Could the first fabric hold its own? Would it need some more contrast? It looked pretty awesome by itself.
2 – Regardless of the answer to the first question, should I alter the original fabric? Maybe move the chevrons around?

Dyed Whole Cloth. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

I decided that I should add some contrasting fabrics to the original one. Something dark and maybe green. Back to the green shapes. I liked inserting them between the chevrons.

Dyed Whole Cloth. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

But, maybe the chevrons shouldn’t all start at the top. What about this? I was missing the darker green. And maybe the far right chevrons are too far to the right? Lots more trial and error needed.

Dyed Whole Cloth. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

At this point I was folding fabrics and pinning them in place. No firm decisions or cutting yet. Soon, though! Check the next post for more progress.

Ellen Lindner

 

 

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Dyeing Successes

In my last post I showed you several fabrics that changed dramatically when washed and dried. Thankfully, that’s not the norm. I thought you’d like some assurance that things DO usually turn out as I want them. A few examples:

Fat black and brown lines on white (which stayed white, I’m happy to say.) I like this pattern and think I’ll do more similar pieces.

Dyeing Successes. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

This piece had a rather anemic, mostly-white background, which I didn’t like. However, there were some small teal patterns in the background and I decided I wanted the bulk of the background to be a solid version of that. Hooray for color matching!

Dyeing Successes. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

This nearly solid red-orange requires a lot of restraint! With all the colors and tools at my disposal, it’s REALLY tempting to add more pattern and color! But, I occasionally manage to create such fabrics. Thank goodness, because they’re very much needed.

Dyeing Successes. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

What kind of dyeing successes (or challenges) have you encountered?

Ellen Lindner

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