Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2016 0:11:01 GMT
The workshop I'd been waiting for so long to attend happened a couple of weeks ago. It's something that I'll remember forever, and it really changed my thinking about colour and the process of working on quilts. The quilt Kaffe was teaching was the Mediterranean Hexagon from his Quilts in Morocco book. I'd never done a hexagon quilt before, so this was something new.
Having never seriously worked with a design wall before, it's something I'll do from now on - helps so much to see things at a distance. Both good and not so good mixes are much clearer. One of the things that Kaffe and Brandon Mably said time and again was not to 'edit' what's on the design wall until you have a lot of blocks or pieces up there. It was spot on advice. I was ready to edit after 2 or 3 pieces!
I found that what I started out wanting to achieve (a 'red' themed quilt) turned out to be completely different. It morphed into a red/orange/purple/yellow/green one with touches of blue. Took a bit of getting used to, but as more hexagons and surrounding stars went up, I really started to like it. I'm a sucker for bright colours, but this combination was out of even my comfort zone. 
The variety of colours and looks from the same pattern was amazing - every one was different.
One of the surprising things was the surrounding stars. Kaffe 'suggested' (which means you HAVE to try it) using fabrics completely removed from what you'd chosen for the hexagons. To illustrate this, the lady sitting next to me used a potato themed fabric as part of her stars. And it looked fabulous!!! Sort of like you don't notice it until you get close up and get a lovely surprise when you realise what it is. I chose black on white geometric-style fabrics for my stars - I've always liked the contrast and zing adding black and white to quilts brings.
I've always been one who thinks I don't have an eye for choosing colours (I guess that applies to a lot of quilters), but I got a huge boost in confidence when Kaffe told me he thought I had a good eye for it - that the fabrics I'd chosen flowed and nothing looked out of place. Can you imagine what that feels like to be told by a doyen of colour? It completely rocked my world and has made me go forth with confidence. I went online after the workshop and picked up half a dozen extra fabrics that I just knew would fit with this quilt - and they absolutely do!!! Amazing!!! I'm sure part of what he teaches involves instilling confidence in attendees, but even so it was a momentous moment for me.
I'm a slow, accurate cutter/piecer so it came as a shock when we were told to go and cut the hexagons as fast as possible. I couldn't get over my need for accuracy, so I didn't get as many done as most of the other people, but it was enough to demonstrate the lessons.
Kaffe and Brandon are two completely different personalities. Brandon was buzzing around, bright and chirpy, while Kaffe was more reserved, thoughtful and considered. But both were equally happy to help with fabric choices and information sharing, and many of us felt comfortable rocking up to ask for advice. They chose a wide selection of fabric from the store for people to supplement what they'd brought along, and the fabric that Brandon's shirt came from managed to make it's way into my quilt. Having them help choose fabrics made it seem like they'd had a tangible hand in making the quilt - so this one will be staying with me when it's finished. My special quilt.
I had such a wonderful day - the quilt store that organised the whole thing did an outstanding job. The venue was great, the food way too yummy and they thought of everything that you could possibly need and potentially forget to bring. No actual sewing was involved, but we came away with our designs pinned to our 'walls'. I was able to get my book signed and also pick up a limited edition signed KF bag for myself and my 2 dear quilting friends in the US. Can you tell I'm still on a high???
Sorry to rabbit on so much. Here are some pictures of the day. Mine's 2nd from the bottom.
