beach | Night Quilter

*Note that this was mostly written before last week’s Slow Stitching Retreat. It still holds true, just add a week of slow stitching to the list of adventures that have been keeping me busy!*

I feel like I’ve been overly absent from this space these past few weeks. I have been wrapping up SO many projects and making things happen behind the scenes, but I promise I will return to more regularly posting here soon. Most of my time lately has been spent going on grand adventures to the coast of Maine with my trusted and ever-able assistant (also known as my husband) and a giant chest full of quilts to photograph for the Quilter’s Planner.

I’m excited, relieved, happy, and have I mentioned excited?… that I have officially finished the photography for this year’s planner and I couldn’t be happier with it and the fantastic planner Stephanie and her graphic designer Lindsie are putting together this year. I will definitely be sharing much more about the Quilter’s Planner 2017, so I will hold back the excitement just a little bit for now. However, this week’s color inspiration comes from photographs taken along the coast of Maine, during our photo shoot adventures. As always, color palettes were created using Play Crafts’ Palette Builder 2.1 and my photographs. Maybe you find even a fraction of the inspiration these natural details bring me!

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Kona Pearl Pink, Bella Platinum, Kona Medium Grey, Kona Coal, Kona Pepper, Kona Black

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2405 – Oyster
2606 – Mist
2625 – Arctic Ice
1158 – Med Grey
2785 – V Dk Navy
2692 – Black

This first one fills that final gap in “colors that don’t often star in color palettes” in getting ALL the greys. Barnacles are such gorgeous tiny creatures, both dainty and tough as nails all at once. They also provide a gorgeous aesthetic randomly arranged on a tide-swept stone. These beauties were underfoot as I photographed Rita from Red Pepper Quilts‘ contribution to the planner (recently revealed on IG), so before hustling off to the next photo location, I had to give them a private photo shoot. Gorgeous greys!

Corresponding solids from left to right:
Bella Lead, Bella Etchings Stone, Kona Cobblestone, Bella Rust, Bella Burgundy, Bella Kansas Green

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
1246 – Grey
5011 – Rope Beige
2375 – Antique Blush
2335 – Lt Cinnamon
4012 – Copper Brown
2370 – Sandstone

This vibrant rusty chain was sitting right next to the barnacles on the beach in Bar Harbor! Again, a tiny detail that when seen closer simply jumps out at you, begging to be captured in photo. I love the subtle neutrals on the stony beach, with just a few tinges of green from seaweed, boldly divided by a lone rusty chain. I’m holding onto summertime as long as I can, but this palette has an air of autumn to it. Shhh, let’s not talk about that.

Back to berry-picking, lake splashing, sun-kissed summer bliss! Enjoy your day!

Weather in Maine this past week has varied between -20 degrees F and a balmy 20 degrees, but I’m still dreaming of the hot 88 degree sun in Cozumel. This week’s color inspiration is your first little taste of the tropics, care of my vacation photographs and Play Crafts’ Palette Builder 2.1. No worries; If you don’t get your fill of the tropical warmth with these palettes, I have enough to last through all of the frigid northeast’s winter month of January.

Take a little trip with me. Imagine you’re here, just getting off your catamaran to spend the rest of the morning on a soft, warm beach…

Ah, the warm, white sand!

Corresponding Kona cottons from left to right:
Ash, Medium Grey, Coal, Sky, Sand, Taupe

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
2600 – Dove
2625 – Arctic Ice
1158 – Med Grey
2024 – White
2205 – Flesh
2335 – Lt Cinnamon

The beach at Cozumel was so glorious. Between the warm white sand, the huggable green palm trees, and the perfectly turquoise water, I was in heaven. After getting off the boat, it seemed it was only right to flop down in the sand and get a closer look. This rope tied around a piece of driftwood seemed like a perfect place to start with the warm color inspiration. The combination of textures paired with the soft, soothing colors makes this a lovely palette that makes me dream of the beach in the summertime.

Corresponding Kona cottons from left to right:
Evergreen, Coal, Titanium, Ivy, Black, PFD Bleach White

Corresponding Aurifil thread from left to right:
5021 – Light Grey
1158 – Med Grey
5008 – Sugar Paper
4173 – Dk Olive
2692 – Black
2843 – Lt Grey Green

Who doesn’t love to hug a palm tree? Seriously. Is it just me, or is it literally impossible to walk by a palm tree without hugging it? Maybe it’s just me, but either way, the view up the trunk into the tropical fronds is worth the extra hug. No coconuts fell on my head during the taking of this photograph, so no worries!

At least my girl Maddie agreed with me. She’s a girl after my own heart!