Guzman - All about strips : colorful quilts from strips of many sizes

Colorful Quilts from Strips of Many Sizes

Susan Guzman

For my husband, Ervin. I thank you for the love, encouragement, and time youve given to support my craft. I will always treasure how youve had my creative back from the start. I would not be doing what I love without your confidence in what I do. I love you.

All about Strips: Colorful Quilts from Strips of Many Sizes
2015 by Susan Guzman

Martingale
19021 120th Ave. NE, Ste. 102
Bothell, WA 98011-9511 USA
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eBook Edition: 2014

No part of this product may be reproduced in any form, unless otherwise stated, in which case reproduction is limited to the use of the purchaser. The written instructions, photographs, designs, projects, and patterns are intended for the personal, noncommercial use of the retail purchaser and are under federal copyright laws; they are not to be reproduced by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, including informational storage or retrieval systems, for commercial use. Permission is granted to photocopy patterns for the personal use of the retail purchaser. Attention teachers: Martingale encourages you to use this book for teaching, subject to the restrictions stated above.

The information in this book is presented in good faith, but no warranty is given nor results guaranteed. Since Martingale has no control over choice of materials or procedures, the company assumes no responsibility for the use of this information.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

eISBN: 978-1-60468-475-9

Original Source ISBN: 978-1-60468-474-2

Since I was a young girl, Ive admired designs with strong form and color. I find beauty in the details of my environment; whether its a staircase with an engraved banister or a carved surround to a fireplace, my interest magnifies as I study the artistry of the details. Much of what I know about design is from paying attention to the small touchesand to my instinct. Im a self-taught quilt designer who has gleaned skills from prior experiences in the creative marketplace.

When working with fabric companies and magazines, a designer must adhere to certain guidelines and design for a particular audience of fans and subscribers. When Im able to, I insert more of what I personally like, including fabrics with lots of interesting color and pattern. In my designs, I want to show off the fabrics as best I can to enjoy the beauty of the fabrics in big pieces; I prefer not to cut up beautiful prints.

My design style tends to be eclectic. It has a modern appeal with traditional roots, inspired by my love of architectural elements, interior design, and quilts from the past. I like designing clean-line quilts that can be jazzed up with vibrant, exciting color. I also love a neutral palette for a more refined look and appreciate the calming effect of neutral colors.

While deciding what quilt designs to include in this book, I wanted to be sure that the body of work would encompass a collection of timeless, modern quilt designs that anyone can make. I also wanted the designs to be diverse enough so that you could easily show off your favorite stash fabrics or designer collections. In addition, I wanted to keep the writing personal, as if you were spending time with a good friend, and to include tips and suggestions on how to discover new ways of choosing color and looking at inspiring images.

My hope is that through this book, youll more clearly understand and appreciate your unique style; its such an important part of who you are, the decisions you make, and what you define as appealing.

Im often overwhelmed by the color wheel. Yes, its trueand thats coming from someone who has worked with color and design professionally for almost 20 years. I know. Please dont cringe.

As far back as I can remember, Ive instinctually known what I like as far as color and style are concerned, and have always felt confident in choosing what I feel works. Call me a rebel, but I would rather select colors from nature, a favorite photograph or magazine image, a colorful piece of cloth, or a beautiful painting from the Italian Renaissance than use the color wheel to select colors for a quilt. Using the color wheel allows for too many opportunities to second-guess myself; I feel less pressure if I rely on my gut to tell me what works, and I trust it.

In the following section are some general principles to help you understand color, including tint, shade, and tone. That way you can feel confident in choosing your own color palette, rather than relying on using a bundle of precut strips.

Colors can influence our mood, creating a sense of excitement, serenity, or even melancholy. Some colors can invoke perception, such as when you see a particular color, another one of your senses (taste, or sound, perhaps?) is also stimulated.

Pink. A certain hue of pink can invoke the taste of sweetness, so its become a favored color for pastries and candy. Feng Shui principles recommend painting the walls of a bedroom pink because its serene and calming. What a novel idea for those of us with hurried lifestyles, and for those who have trouble sleeping.

Orange. On the contrary, orange is associated with loudness, such as the vibrations you feel when a trumpet is blown.

Red. Advertising agencies take full advantage of subconscious responses from their intended audience. Viewing the color red, for example, releases adrenaline, creating excitement; blood pressure can rise and breathing becomes faster. Crazy, right? Its also known that the color red stimulates ones appetite. There have been claims that food tastes even better in a red environment and, as a former interior designer, I often used a shade of red in a kitchen or dining room.

Yellow. Theres a reason caution signs are yellow; yellow is a warning color. To use nature as an example, a variety of insects with bright-yellow markings have poisonous stings or bites, like bees or wasps. Their yellow-and-black combination makes us pull back; we arent willing to go near for fear of being stung. Babies are more likely to cry in a yellow environment and people, in general, can become anxious and lose their tempers when surrounded by yellow. Yellow is also synonymous with speed and is often used on sports cars.