Category Archives: Color Inspiration

Color Inspiration Thursday {51}

June 18, 2015 kittywilkin 6 Comments

Irises and peonies took center stage in my garden this week, so pinks and purples dominate this week’s color inspiration. Color palettes are created using Play Crafts’ Palette Builder 2.1 and my photographs.

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Kona Eggplant, Bella Royal, Kona Shadow, Bella Baby Blue, Kona Crocus, Bella Purple

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
4225 – Eggplant
2581 – Dk Dusty Grape
2600 – Dove
2562 – Lilac
2524 – Grey Violet
4225 – Eggplant

I like to get up close and personal with flowers. There’s a whole new world of fuzzy, fluffy, intricate detail that is revealed once you get within a few inches. From afar, sure–flowers are pretty. Once you put your nose inside it and take a look around, you see the tiny details that make each flower unique, and an intricate new world blossoms.

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Bella Petal Pink, Bella Bunny Hill Pink, Kona Putty, Bella Thistle, Bella Magenta, Kona Garnet

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2566 – Wisteria
2564 – Pale Lilac
2314 – Beige
2566 – Wisteria
4030 – Plum
2568 – Mulberry

Peonies. For some reason, this species of peony makes me feel like I’m watching a ballet, each petal a dancer deftly arcing and twirling in unison with the others, yet bringing her own personality to the dance. Typically, I love the symmetry found in flowers, but with peonies I appreciate the organized chaos, the improvisational beauty.

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Bella Lead, Kona Magenta, Kona Cerise, Bella Deep Burgundy, Kona Petunia, Kona Lupine

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
1246 – Grey
2535 – Magenta
4030 – Plum
2568 – Mulberry
2564 – Pale Lilac
2479 – Med Orchid

This time of year, my daughter brings in flowers daily to replenish the vase on our kitchen table. From wild daisies to voluptuous peonies, our table always has a burst of color right in the center. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Color Inspiration, Life

Color Inspiration Thursday {50}

June 11, 2015 kittywilkin 8 Comments

I promised some baby fingers and toes for this week’s color inspiration, but forgot how difficult it is to photograph a squirmy baby, especially the flailing limbs. This week I’ll be sharing one baby color palette, since I never tire of looking at this little miracle, and also a couple of palettes from photographs of the gorgeous flowers my brother and sister-in-law sent. Color palettes are made using Play Crafts’ Palette Builder 2.1 and my photographs.

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Kona Taupe, Kona Pale Flesh, Kona Iron, Kona Aqua, Kona Old Green, Bella Green

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2375 – Antique Blush
2420 – Fleshy Pink
5008 – Sugar Paper
5007 – Grey Blue
2850 – Med Juniper
5014 – Marine Water

I am still in the thick of newborn baby blissland, made sweeter by the fact that little Finn is actually sleeping fairly well now that my milk has come in. I attribute a lot of that to the fact that we co-sleep and he can snuggle me all night long, but whatever the case may be, I feel rested and in love. I know that there surely will be sleepless nights–probably many consecutive sleepless nights–but for now I’m enjoying this wonderful rested and full-hearted time.

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Bella Wisteria, Kona Geranium, Bella Cherry, Bella Peony, Bella Plum, Bella Etchings Slate

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2524 – Grey Violet
4030 – Plum
1103 – Burgundy
2479 – Med Orchid
2566 – Wisteria
5004 – Grey Smoke

A few days after Finn was born, we received the sweetest delivery–a florist’s van dropped off a gorgeous vase and bouquet of flowers from my brother and sister-in-law in New Jersey. Their divine smell has been wrapping us in love daily, and the colors brighten the room.

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Kona Mulberry, Kona Magenta, Bella Purple, Kona Lavender, Kona Medium Grey, Kona Lime

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
4225 – Eggplant
2545 – Med Purple
2525 – Dusty Blue Violet
2520 – Violet
2625 – Arctic Ice
1231 – Spring Green

I absolutely love this palette! I’m not usually a big purple person, but that pop of lime green does it for me! I can see this being a really fun palette for a quilt for a purple-loving person. The grey adds some balance and the lime green adds interest. I might even lime-up the green a bit more–maybe Kona wasabi style?

Color Inspiration, Life

Color Inspiration Thursday {49}

June 4, 2015 kittywilkin 6 Comments

Since I don’t have any tiny pink baby toes to share yet (Go ahead, ask: Have you had that baby yet?), today I’m sharing more color inspiration from my garden. While the days have gotten pretty chilly lately, the flowers continue to bloom in earnest. Color palettes are made using Play Crafts’ Palette Builder 2.1 and my photographs. Matching solids and Aurifil thread are all care of the awesome Palette Builder!

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Bella Etchings Charcoal, Bella Thistle, Bella Orchid, Bella Violet, Kona Pewter, Kona Rose

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
5013 – Asphalt
2566 – Wisteria
4030 – Plum
2479 – Med Orchid
2606 – Mist
2445 – Victorian Rose

This beautiful Columbine was photographed last week during the last light before dusk. I love the varied shape of this flower, and how it looks so different depending on perspective. Here it is again, during a darker rainy day, from the top:

Over the past few days of rain, the peonies began to bloom. Peonies are among my favorite flowers because of the vivid, voluptuous flowers and bold color. The jewel-drops just add to the luxuriousness! (For the record, forget-me-nots are my favorite flower in terms of color, peonies are my favorite in terms of voluptuousness, and dahlias are my favorite in terms of geometry and perfect symmetry).

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Kona Magenta, Bella Boysenberry, Bella Violet, Kona Bordeaux, Kona Garnet, Kona Crocus

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2545 – Med Purple
4030 – Plum
2540 – Med Lavender
1103 – Burgundy
2345 – Raisin
2566 – Wisteria

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Kona Plum, Kona Cerise, Kona Bordeaux, Kona Violet, Bella Betty’s Teal, Kona Grasshopper

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2479 – Med Orchid
1100 – Red Plum
1103 – Burgundy
5003 – Wine
2850 – Med Juniper
5018 – Grass Green

I wonder what gorgeously colorful flower will bloom next! Are there any turquoise flowers? I’m thinking how wonderful it would be to have a turquoise flower right next to these peonies–my two favorite colors!

Color Inspiration, Life

Color Inspiration Thursday {48}

May 28, 2015 kittywilkin 5 Comments

The garden continues to burst forth with flowers of every size, shape, and color, and I continue to draw inspiration and excitement from the abundant beauty. Today’s inspiration includes more photographs from my garden, transformed into color palettes using Play Crafts’ Palette Builder 2.1.

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Bella Lt Blue, Bella Glacier, Kona Ballerina, Kona Silver, Bella Home Town Sky, Kona Grasshopper

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2560 – Iris
1126 – Blue Grey
2562 – Lilac
2405 – Oyster
5014 – Marine Water
1114 – Grass Green

This tree smells divine. It’s called Pink Silver Bells (Halesia monticola) and certainly lives up to its name. It’s tough to see the bell-like shape of the flowers from this palette photo, but here’s another look:

The flowers feel so dainty and delicate, and the pale baby pink compliments them perfectly.

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Kona Pewter, Bella Etchings Charcoal, Bella Boysenberry, Kona Plum, Bella Berrylicious, Kona Bright Pink

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2610 – Lt Blue Grey
1140 – Bark
2345 – Raisin
4030 – Plum
2479 – Med Orchid
2450 – Rose

If you look down after photographing the Pink Silver Bells, you immediately kick the pink up a notch to one of my favorites: bright, bold, sassy fuchsia. I was anti-pink for a long, long time, but especially lately, I’ve embraced it in both quilting and wardrobe. It’s just so bright and cheerful, how can you resist!? Not to mention the fact that it pairs swimmingly with turquoise, my tip top favorite color. I definitely would use this color palette in a quilt, but if you had told me 10 years ago that I would consider making an entirely pink quilt, I would have laughed and said you were crazy.

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Bella Steel, Bella Mauve, Bella Amelia Lavender, Bella Betty’s Brown, Bella Baby Blue, Kona Geranium

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2610 – Lt Blue Grey
2566 – Wisteria
2524 – Grey Violet
5013 – Asphalt
2562 – Lilac
4030 – Plum

Lilacs are an annual reminder to enjoy every minute and always take time to stop and smell the flowers. If you don’t, you will miss them! As soon as the lilacs begin to flower, I cut some for our table so that we all can enjoy them to the fullest. I love that this year, my 5 yr old daughter has made it a daily routine to go out and smell the lilacs upon returning home from school. Like mommy, like daughter!

Our house smells divine, thanks to one bouquet of lilacs on the kitchen table. Can you smell them from there?

Color Inspiration, Life

Color Inspiration Thursday {47}

May 21, 2015 kittywilkin 5 Comments

The blues found in nature are among my all-time favorite colors. Forget-me-nots, delphiniums, hyacinths, the sky, the ocean… all the most gorgeously varied shades of blue! Today’s color palettes are created from some photographs of grape hyacinths found at a local park–Belfast City Park.

Color palettes are created with Play Crafts’ Palette Builder 2.1 and my photographs. An awesome feature of the palette builder is that it matches fabric solids and Aurifil thread, too. This week I discovered that we could use more variety in our fiber blue-voilets–the matches are not entirely accurate–or maybe mother nature wins the hand when it comes to color. That doesn’t mean we can’t soak in the gorgeous colors and feel inspired!

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Kona Deep Blue, Bella Terrain Iris, Kona Hyacinth, Kona Dahlia, Bella Clover, Bella Stone

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2735 – Med Blue
1248 – Grey Blue
2520 – Violet
2520 – Violet
2908 – Spearmint
2605 – Grey

This palette captures the lighter blues and purples, while the next one focuses on the darks. Seeing this sea of hyacinths, I had to take a little detour to photograph them. Now THIS is spring!

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Bella Night Sky, Kona Bright Periwinkle, Kona Laurel, Kona Coal, Kona Lavender, Kona Hyacinth

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
1248 – Grey Blue
2775 – Steel Blue
4173 – Dk Olive
1158 – Med Grey
2520 – Violet
1128 – Lt Blue Violet

Perfect little grape bells dance around a hundred stalks. This palette reads more purply, catching the darker and denser flowers. As I mentioned above, the solids and thread color matches are not as accurate as they usually are.

As you can see, the actual fabric matches read a lot more on the side of either straight blue or straight purple. The flowers are a lovely blend of blue-violet in a variety of shades. Isn’t the aesthetic variety in nature amazing!?!

Color Inspiration, Life

Color Inspiration Thursday {46}

May 14, 2015 kittywilkin 1 Comment

Ahh, spring! Color is everywhere, sun is slowly warming the soil, and the world is coming back to life. Spring is my favorite season, until summer comes along… and then fall with the crispness and the gorgeous leaves, followed by that first gorgeous snow that makes me love winter. I guess I’m just grateful to live in a place with clearly defined and vastly different seasons. The constantly changing environment keeps the wonderment fresh.

Today’s color inspiration is again from my garden, with color palettes made using Play Crafts‘ wonderful Palette Builder 2.1. The matching Kona & Bella solids and Aurifil thread is also a perk of the palette builder–if you haven’t tried it, I would definitely suggest taking a moment to make palettes out of your favorite photos. It might change the way you see the world–or do you already see the world in fabric and thread?

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Bella Dusty Jade, Bella Betty’s Teal, Kona Graphite, Bella Christmas Green, Kona Jungle, Bella Sprout

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2845 – Lt Juniper
2850 – Med Juniper
1246 – Grey
2892 – Pine
2890 – Dk Grass Green
1114 – Grass Green

On a whim, I did a quick google search for green after creating this palette. I felt like this photo and resulting palette said so much, yet I couldn’t quite put it to words. An interesting website on color psychology pretty much nailed my sentiment. Green…

This is the color of balance and harmony. From a color psychology perspective, it is the great balancer of the heart and the emotions, creating equilibrium between the head and the heart.

From a meaning of colors perspective, green is also the color of growth, the color of spring, of renewal and rebirth. It renews and restores depleted energy. It is the sanctuary away from the stresses of modern living, restoring us back to a sense of well being. This is why there is so much of this relaxing color on the earth, and why we need to keep it that way.

There’s much more reflection on the color green here, if you are interested. Maybe I need more green in my fabric stash?

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Bella Ochre, Bella Shocking Pink, Kona Mango, Bella Kansas Red, Bella Pine, Kona Pickle

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2930 – Toast
2215 – Peach
2210 – Caramel
2385 – Terracotta
5013 – Asphalt
5016 – Olive Green

Ahhh, finally some more color! I love this range of oranges, with a nice anchoring dark green and a splash of Pickle! How can you go wrong with Kona Pickle?

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Bella Fig Tree Apricot, Bella Amelia Orange, Kona Cedar, Kona Nectarine, Kona Moss, Kona Evergreen

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2930 – Toast
2210 – Caramel
2350 – Copper
2215 – Peach
4173 – Dk Olive
2570 – Aubergine

Here’s just one more photo to share the smooth silkiness of the tulip petals. This palette would make a fabulous spring quilt, perhaps with some added low volumes. Simple, cheerful, full of new life.

What is your favorite sign of spring?

Color Inspiration, Life

Color Inspiration Thursday {45}

May 7, 2015 kittywilkin 8 Comments

What a difference one week makes this time of year! Last week, we barely had buds on the trees, and this week the garden is blooming with life! Today’s color inspiration comes (finally) from my garden. Color palettes are created using Play Crafts’ Palette Builder 2.1 and my photographs.

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Bella Stone, Kona Shadow, Kona Blue Bell, Kona Graphite, Bella Eggplant, Bella Parchment

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2605 – Grey
2600 – Dove
5088 – Sugar Paper
1246 – Grey
2468 – Dk Wine
2315 – Pale Flesh

Our magnolia trees are blooming, painting the yard with gentle whites and vivid pinks . I love that we have multiple magnolia trees, since they are usually one of the first signs that spring is truly here. Their blooms burst seemingly all in one day, another flower blooming each minute. Late last week, on one of the first truly warm days, my five year old noticed this phenomenon and said, “Mom, another flower opens every minute!”

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Kona Espresso, Bella Etchings Charcoal, Bella Plum, Bella Petal Pink, Bella Etchings Slate, Bella Barn Door

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
5024 – Dark Brown
2370 – Sandstone
2566 – Wisteria
2562 – Lilac
2325 – Linen
2345 – Raisin

I personally prefer the pink magnolias, but perhaps it’s because range of bright pinks really cheers me up after a drab colorless winter. They are a little slower to fully bloom, but I’m patient.

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Kona Blue Bell, Kona Graphite, Kona Amber, Kona Citrus, Bella Pesto, Kona Pickle

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
6720 – Slate
1126 – Blue Grey
2145 – Yellow Orange
2120 – Canary
5015 – Gold Yellow
5016 – Olive Green

My first garden-inspired color inspiration post of spring wouldn’t be complete without some daffodils. The family who owned the house before we did planted about a thousand daffodils. I’m not exaggerating, either. We have at least six different varieties, and they are everywhere: along just about every garden border, forming sunny circles around trees, even just popping up in the grass in some spots where clearly there used to live another decorative tree of some sort. This time of year, our table is adorned with vases and mason jars full of daffodils picked with glee by my kiddos.

Color is slowly popping up between the tufts of green. We even have a tulip peeking out:

And one of my favorite colors of blue hides beneath the daffodil stalks:

Spring is here!!

Color Inspiration, Life

Color Inspiration Thursday {44}

April 16, 2015 kittywilkin 8 Comments

This past weekend, my husband and I escaped for a long weekend getaway to the Bay of Fundy. It was our first trip alone together since our almost 5 1/5 year old daughter was born, and with another baby expected in the next month or so, it was most likely our last for another couple of years. A babymoon, if you will. We made the most of it and adventured more than we would be able to with little kids in tow, and relaxed more than we would be able to with little kids in tow. It’s all about balance.

The Bay of Fundy is known for having the highest tidal range in the world. I’ve wanted to travel to the Bay of Fundy in Canada since my estuarine ecology studies in college. There’s something about 40 foot tides and vast mud flats that makes me happy. Our short timeframe and my 8 months pregnant body didn’t really allow for as much exploring as I’d have liked, but we had a great time anyway. Today I’ll be sharing some color palettes from photographs taken on our trip, created with Play Crafts’ Palette Builder 2.1.

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Kona Lake, Bella Etchings Charcoal, Kona Slate, Bella Navy, Kona Black, Bella Dusty Jade

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2715 – Robins Egg
1158 – Med Grey
4140 – Wedgewood
2784 – Dk Navy
2692 – Black
2845 – Lt Juniper

Low tide on the Bay of Fundy means boats are grounded, many feet below the dock. I loved how the blue of the boat hull matched the sky.

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Bella Soft Finish Black, Bella Etchings Slate, Bella Tan, Bella Platinum, Kona Mocha, Kona Taupe

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
1285 – Med Bark
2625 – Arctic Ice
5011 – Rope Beige
2560 – Iris
2468 – Dk Wine
2375 – Antique Blush

The geology at the Bay of Fundy was decidedly red-brick colored. Between the red mud and the red rocks, there was a heavy theme of brick (marsala!?) in my photographs. The rocks exposed at low tide are shaped by the tides, the strength of the rocks, and the presence of the joints in the rocks. The rock in the cliffs the stacks are being cut from are arkosic sandstone and coarse poorly sorted conglomerates (thank you, Wikipedia–geologists, please correct me if I’m wrong!). We loved exploring caves carved into the soft red sandstone at St. Martin’s Caves. Isn’t the power of nature amazing!?

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Kona Black, Bella Lead, Bella Stone, Kona Crimson, Kona Teal Blue, Bella Caribbean

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2692 – Black
1246 – Grey
2606 – Mist
2345 – Raisin
1310 – Med Blue Grey
2850 – Med Juniper

This boat has seen better days, but never have I seen one more full of character! I think because of the drastic change in tide each day, the sides of the boats moored to the dock get a beating. It’s still gorgeous, though!

Not only did color abound, but there was plenty of texture and pattern to be enjoyed as well.

Rocks as pocked and battered as this one littered the beach. I suppose this is what happens when 40 feet worth of tides come in and out each day, rolling and bashing the rocks against each other.

Seaweed. Gorgeous. This feathery seaweed covered the exposed rocks, creating a seascape of brown-green-red as far as the eye could see.

I loved the gate at City Market in St. John’s. It’s a lovely balance of geometry and balanced aesthetic. Quilt inspiration is everywhere!

I’ll leave you with a good laugh. With a tendency to take a million photos, I wanted to be sure to have at least one of my husband and me together on our adventures, and an arms-length selfie just wouldn’t cut it. So of course, I set up a timer photo with the plan to run and join my husband for the photo like I always do. After three or four failed attempts, we decided that maybe the one who wasn’t 8 months pregnant should do the running. The first photo is my favorite fail, with the camera set by yours truly. The second photo is the first try with my husband setting the camera, successful with a good second to spare!

I’m linking up with Yvonne’s Thankful Thursday, since I’m thankful for our little escape. Spending time as a couple, while seemingly impossible with little kids, is so essential. I’m so glad we make the time to have together time on a regular basis now! (Did I mention that my husband encouraged me to take my sewing machine with us, and during the relaxing afternoon following our adventure I was able to do some sewing? Talk about gratitude!)

Color Inspiration, Design

Color Inspiration Thursday {43}

April 9, 2015 kittywilkin 6 Comments

Meet Yvonne Fuchs, known as Quilting Jetgirl. I first met Yvonne in the New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop hosted by Beth at Plum & June about a year ago. Since then, through blog comment exchange and other quilty interaction, we’ve become friends. I was fortunate enough to spend time with Yvonne in person at QuiltCon and I’m looking forward to many more quilting hang outs in our future, despite the fact that we live a country-width apart.

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Kona Pepper, Kona Tomato, Bella Longhorn, Kona Straw, Bella Pastel Blue, Kona Surf

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
4241 – V Dk Grey
2395 – Pumpkin Spice
2155 – Cinnamon
2320 – Lt Toast
2612 – Arctic Sky
2740 – Dk Cobalt

Today’s People Palette features Yvonne in front of her quilt Namibia Trees. The color play is fabulous, since who doesn’t want to pair bright reds & golds with royal blue!? Great choice in attire, Yvonne!

Yvonne is a big proponent of building and embracing the online quilting community, which is one of the many awesome things about her. She’s also not afraid to be real, and opens philosophical discussions about all things quilting and beyond. As she says on her blog, “Quilting is more than just a creative outlet for me. I want to pause and reflect on larger ideas to cultivate a community of discussion and insight.” You can read her philosophy discussion posts HERE. I particularly recommend The Four Agreements and Creativity and Time.

Yvonne both creates custom quilts and designs quilt patterns, and recently released a gorgeous pattern called Triangle Transparency, which is currently available for sale in her Craftsy, Etsy, and Payhip stores for $6 through Sunday, April 12th, which is a savings of 33% off of its regular price. Here are some more of my favorites from her recent quilts:

quilting jetgirl quilts — Top to bottom, left to right: Foothills Mystery Quilt, Love and Loss (Pantone quilt), Life: Ups and Downs, Tessellated Leaves

I asked Yvonne to answer three short questions to help the world get to know the color inspiration star of the week a little more intimately:

Where do you fit into the worldwide family tree of quilting?
I define my branch as the introverted, cat lady, quilter, blogger. I think I span between traditional and modern quilts in terms of style, but left to my own devices (aka with no commissioned quilts), I would lean heavier on the modern aesthetic.

What is the #1 most played song on your iPod?
I don’t know about song, but my favorite bands are Coldplay, Linkin Park, and Chevelle, and their songs are featured heavily in my music playlists. 🙂

What is your least favorite mode of transportation?
What an interesting question! That is really hard for me to answer. I love to walk, and I am amazed by cars, trains, and planes. I can get a bit motion sick in cars and boats, but a bit of planning ahead almost always solves that issue. I have only ridden a horse twice in my life, but both times were enjoyable experiences. Can I say riding a camel just because I never have (but I’d be willing to try!)?

I confirmed with Yvonne that she was choosing riding a camel as her least favorite mode of transportation, since she talked a lot about enjoyable transport, and she confirmed: I know it said LEAST favorite, and I guess I vote for riding a camel as least favorite (they spit, right?). I guess I just am super thankful I can still walk comfortably and I am amazed at modern contraptions to get me places faster than that.

Spit, they do! Thank you so much, Yvonne, for being my People Palette star!

You can find Yvonne in the bloggy quiltiverse here:

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The color palette was created using Play Crafts’ Palette Builder 2.1 and a photo provided by Yvonne. All images were provided by Yvonne.