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Friday, August 21, 2020

A Slow Start :: Improv Madness

I was itching to do some improv on a large scale, but it was slow going and I wasn't sure if I had it in me!  

I've spoken about improv and how you need to 'let go' and 'let loose' when doing it.  Don't give up as it changes with each added piece.  You may not like it one minute and the next minute it becomes magic!  

When I started this project I felt like a fish out of water!  Had I lost my ability to think outside of the box?  It felt like I was trying too hard and things were not coming together as I had hoped.  I even mentioned to my daughter that I don't think I can remember how to do this!  

Eventually I took my own advice and kept at it.  While it was slow going in the beginning I eventually found my groove, confidence and was inspired to keep going.  So much so that I couldn't stop!



It seems my favorite color combination these days is pink, orange and yellow.  After pulling every possible shade in those colors, I made half a dozen stacks of colors that I wanted for each block.  The idea was in my head...I just needed to execute it!



Piece by piece, stitch by stitch, add this, cut that...one step at a time.  There were some 'Edward Scissorhand' moments throughout!  Fabric carnage everywhere!



The pieces and blocks came together in all shapes, color and sizes.  I was getting a glimpse of my idea forming and that fueled the fire to keep going. 


It looks like a hot mess!  There is always a method to my madness even though it doesn't look like it!



I'm using Kona Natural as the anchor for the entire quilt.  Adding bit's of it mixed in with the colors as well as the frame around each block.



The flow of the colors is going to be key in this quilt.  This block shows how the orange and pink are mixed in order to get the gradation of color I'm aiming for.



Once each row of blocks were made I added the frame around each block.  On some sides I added a wider piece in order to enlarge the blocks that may have been a bit too small.  This was all going to change with the next step.  I just needed enough to work with.



That next step was yet another border!  This was going to tie the blocks together and further the gradation vision of mine.  



Once I got over the feeling of 'I can't do this', it was pure joy!  All the worry and doubt faded away.  I just had to stick with it and trust myself.



There has been a lot of changes since this photo was taken.  It may still looks like a hot mess to some, but to me I see potential and progress!  I'm hopeful!


  LINKING:


22 comments:

  1. oh this has such great possibilities! Thanks for sharing your process along the way. i can't wait to see this come together

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  2. OOoh, lovely color palette and I look forward to seeing more. :)

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  3. Looking good and looks like you had a lot of fun.

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    1. I had so much fun once I got over the initial ‘what am I doing’ part!

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  4. I like the way that a sliver of white (Natural) is in each block. And I am in awe that you have that many different solids in those colors! Thanks for sharing the design process. I'm due for an improv project and you've inspired me.

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    1. Hopefully I balanced the bits of Natural in each block! I’ve been collecting solids for a very long time. I order small pieces and try to buy colors I don’t have just to round out the stash. It helps when I make something like this!

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  5. I really like where this is headed. You do improv SEW well, Jayne!

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  6. I, too, love pink/orange/yellow color palettes - specifically hot pink, tangerine orange and lemon yellow. :) Been stuck in that groove (not exclusively) for maybe a decade now. Great times!

    :) Linda

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  7. I love these process posts and the way you get so much depth and impact from a 3-color quilt by using so many different shades and mixing them up so deliberately. Especially struck by how the orange bits in the mainly deep pink block give so much fiery energy to the pink -- yet it still reads pink overall.

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  8. This is a STUNNER!!! I have followed you for a long time and love all the work you do. This piece gets my heart beating faster and propels me to my sewing room, too. I LOVE this one - the pinks added in - WHOA - so absolutely blissful! Thank you again for sharing your wonderful work!

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  9. Not a hot mess at all! Your color combo is smashing, and I love reading through your improv process. My own improv definitely does NOT progress like yours. You have a gift for it. My latest improv piece that began as blocks is tucked away in the closet, never to be resurrected again. I kept striving for what you said - "the next minute it becomes magic" - and my piece only looked worse. Unfortunately, I've spent dozens of hours on it, and it's at least 60" square, the pain of being unable to successfully complete it is real. Your improv talent really shines with this one. It's gonna be a remarkable finish.

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  10. Beautiful colors, reminds me of a sunset. Or sunrise? Congrats on doing improv well.

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  11. Hi,
    this kind of quilting isn't for me...I like order. But your quilt will be beautiful when done!!! Have a great day!

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  12. Those are such fun blocks and appealing colors! They're making me think of Creamsicles! :) I've used Kona White and Kona Snow - now I have to go check out Kona Natural.

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  13. This is amazing Jayne. I had no idea where you were going when you started. I love it!

    Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

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    1. I had no idea where I was going with it either! I had an idea when I started and was pleasantly surprised it came together!

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  14. Great job with those improv blocks! I am intrigued and looking forward to seeing more.

    -Soma

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  15. It appears you are no longer a fish out of water! Interesting post. Interesting piece.

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  16. oh I love what I am seeing! Glad it's finally to the fun stage!

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  17. I love color and gradations, this is going to be amazing!

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  18. never a hot mess, but a great improv quilt. It is great the way they are higgledy piggledy yet they all pull together

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