my perfect gray
Today's quilters like gray. It's the neutral of choice for many and a predictable option when white is less than ideal. For years quilty blogs rang with accolades of Kona Ash for a pale gray neutral. I've dabbled with the shade, but it doesn't really touch my heart. I want a "warmer" gray, a "browner" gray that's still pale and gray. Kona has introduced lots of new grays over the years, and although Kona Pewter is a new fav of mine for a medium gray, I still hadn't been sold on a pale gray... until now.
Remember when I started reading blogs again and found myself immediately inspired? My friend's cut glass block sent me to sketching an idea for a quilt with four large hearts. Each heart is made up of two dramatic prints showcased on a gray background. All I had on hand in quantity was Kona Ash. The scissors print is a likely border fabric. Unfortunately, Kona Ash does nothing for the scissors print. The scissor background has a delightful old-metal sort of feel - a browny-grayish cream. Beside it the Kona has a definite blueish tint in real life. It was hard to capture here.
Well, a gray from my box of DS Modern Solids came to the rescue! I've slipped the bit of it that I have left in here under the pink fabrics. I wonder if you can see the difference on the computer screen? It's my perfect pale gray - warm and gray and just the right value. I love it with all my bright, saturated prints and it happens to flow beautifully into the scissors too.
I used the color visual reference download on Denyse Schmidt's site to identify the gray so I could order more. It's called Dogwood. How perfect is that? Dogwoods are my favorite trees.
Now, if only I had ordered the right one! Instead of Dogwood, I ordered Sand Dune, which has a pale and purply tint. Sand Dune would be nice with cool colors (especially lavender) but doesn't do it for this project. See what I mean? I cut some big squares of it last night before realizing my error. Blah. Wishy washy. Needs more contrast! Waiting again...this time for Dogwood.
I don't usually wait for fabrics. I have a propensity to use whatever is on hand. Making do and being flexible in my creating yield better results most of the time. This time, however, my gut says it's better to wait.
Crossing fingers she really is my perfect gray.
Remember when I started reading blogs again and found myself immediately inspired? My friend's cut glass block sent me to sketching an idea for a quilt with four large hearts. Each heart is made up of two dramatic prints showcased on a gray background. All I had on hand in quantity was Kona Ash. The scissors print is a likely border fabric. Unfortunately, Kona Ash does nothing for the scissors print. The scissor background has a delightful old-metal sort of feel - a browny-grayish cream. Beside it the Kona has a definite blueish tint in real life. It was hard to capture here.
Well, a gray from my box of DS Modern Solids came to the rescue! I've slipped the bit of it that I have left in here under the pink fabrics. I wonder if you can see the difference on the computer screen? It's my perfect pale gray - warm and gray and just the right value. I love it with all my bright, saturated prints and it happens to flow beautifully into the scissors too.
I used the color visual reference download on Denyse Schmidt's site to identify the gray so I could order more. It's called Dogwood. How perfect is that? Dogwoods are my favorite trees.
Now, if only I had ordered the right one! Instead of Dogwood, I ordered Sand Dune, which has a pale and purply tint. Sand Dune would be nice with cool colors (especially lavender) but doesn't do it for this project. See what I mean? I cut some big squares of it last night before realizing my error. Blah. Wishy washy. Needs more contrast! Waiting again...this time for Dogwood.
I don't usually wait for fabrics. I have a propensity to use whatever is on hand. Making do and being flexible in my creating yield better results most of the time. This time, however, my gut says it's better to wait.
Crossing fingers she really is my perfect gray.