Our Next Challenge - Split Complimentary

The split complementary scheme is a variation of the standard complementary scheme. It uses a color and the two colors adjacent to its complementary. This provides high contrast without the strong tension of the complementary scheme.

Pros:	The split complementary scheme offers more nuances than the complementary scheme while retaining strong visual contrast.
Cons:	The split complementary scheme is harder to balance than monochromatic and analogous color schemes.
Tips:	1. Use a single warm color against a range of cool colors to put an emphasis on the warm color (red versus blues and blue-greens, or orange versus blues and blue-violets). 2. Avoid using desaturated warm colors (e.g. browns or dull yellows), because this may ruin the scheme.

BOUNCING SPHERES

I chose to do this quilt in my favorite color which is blue. I wanted to do something trying to achieve a 2 dimensional look and I wanted to try to do spheres which were a challenge and need some work. I did not find using the monochromatic color that challenging in fact I enjoyed that part of it. I was also trying to achieve a light source moving from light to dark to give it a feeling of moving into the background. It was a good exercise and one I need to try again.

Bejeweled Harbingers of Spring

This monochromatic color challenge really was a challenge for me...even my wholecloth quilts are a riot of color! In the end I chose green for my color since spring is here in New Orleans and St. Paddy's day is Saturday.This little quilt is a departure from my usual in shape and quilting. Simple leaves and even simpler spiral quilting. I'm enjoying these color challenges!

More about the construction can be found on my blog.

The Poetry of Trees

Being a collector of quotes and a quilter of what I see around me, I thought this monochromatic challenge was the perfect time to use some of my rust-dyed fabrics.  This poetry of Kahlil Gibran has always resonated with me  ...

"Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky,

We fell them down and turn them into paper,

That we may record our emptiness."

Value Studies

Peak Experience, 13x14 inches

I did two value studies for this challenge.  The piece above is discharged black linen.

Silver Lining, 15x21 inches

And this one is shiboried recycled linen.

See more photos of both quilts and additional information on my blog.

Monochromatic

The limitations imposed by this challenge provided an excellent creative push!

I was interested in seeing what I could do with textile paint on fabrics from my existing stash.   The blue background is a printed quilter’s cotton...

'Moonlight Flight'; 21"x14.5"

'Village'; 15"x42.5"

 ...the fuchsia piece is commercial batik.  I layered up the surface using textile paints applied with brushes and my own original rubber stamp designs followed by machine quilting. 

Working on two pieces at the same time is a helpful practice, allowing ideas to flow in a call and response dance and giving me two pieces for the challenge.  You can see details of this work along with additional information on my blog.

Ghosts Walk The Blue Mountains

Ghosts (detail)

Ghosts Walk The Blue Mountains

This piece, 28” x 34”, was created in response to the latest challenge to work exclusively in a monochromatic color range.  I chose blue and decided to also continue to work on my current series:  Ode to Australia.  It was very difficult not to give in to my color urges....I SO wanted to add a little yellow, just a tad of orange.  This WAS a challenge.

“Ghosts Walk the Blue Mountains”

The Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia, is roughly 3900 sq. mi. of sandstone plateaus and gorges, rich in coal and shale.  The range was named this by European settlers because of the blue tinge the range takes on when viewed from a distance. 

The Aboriginal people who had inhabited the mountains for several millennia, the Gungdungurra, believed the mountains had been created in the Dreamtime when Creator Spirits fought an epic battle leaving the scarred landscape.

It is believed by many that the first European to cross the Blue Mountains was a former convict, John Wilson, who was freed in 1792.  He settled in the bush, and lived among the Gungdungurra people, who, he said, guided him through the mountains.

Evidence of Aboriginal habitation is found in many areas, notably Red Hands Cave, a rock shelter containing hand stencils from adults and children.  The hand prints are believed to have been created 500 to 1600 years ago. 

“Ghosts” is machine pieced, machine and hand stitched and spatter painted.

I will post more information about the construction on my own blog.  

Ghosts (detail)

Monochromatic Memories

I loved this challenge word and knew that I wanted to tackle a photo with people. 

Monochromatic Memories 20" x 17" machine applique, pieced and quilted

It's a photo of me and my two oldest daughters. They are beautiful and I wanted to do them justice. Both of them liked it, which is all I can ask for. 

I had to purchase most of the fabrics and threads for this one, that tells you right there that is't out of my comfort zone. I had done replication of people using magazine paper in college, this was more fun!

There are more photos and some technique-talk on my blog.

Monochromatic

This is my monochromatic piece. I just wanted to work with circles, hand dyes, batiks---and yellow green!

My Secret Blue Garden

My Secret Blue Garden 13"x13" 

The monochromatic theme was very challenging for me because I'm a "color person".  It took great restraint to not add yellows and greens to the flowers. I have to admit, I added a backing with more colors just to satisfy my color urges :)  The center circle is a pond surrounded by for-get-me-nots and allysum.  Next comes the lupines, followed by the blue poppies that I've tried to grow with no success. Sparkling bead lined garden paths complete my little Secret Blue Garden.

I used batiks, yarn, embroidery floss, and a gazillion beads.  (Not really a gazillion, but it seemed like it.)  Unfortunately a lot of the beads don't show up in the photos.

A big thank you to my friend Kathy for helping with the photos. I learned that I need a new camera and some lessons!