Find Your Joy and Other's.....

What do I find the most enjoyable part of doing a Barn Quilt or a fabric quilt? Choosing a pattern and colors of course!

I love the challenge of finding that right combinations of fabrics for a quilt and choosing patterns that compete, yet complement each other. I find the process of assisting a customer with the perfect BQ selection that captures their personality, placement and what they enjoy about life itself, just as fulfilling. For instance, when I hand them my copy of the Barn Quilt Addiction book, I suggest that they only look at the list of quilts by name. Something will move them whether it is patterns such as Gather Around, Friends and Family, Patriot Spirit or others that will have a special meaning. Once selected, I then show them the pattern itself. Very often they love it and we have just made that part of the process settled.

Next is the enjoyment of choosing colors. This is where a customer will quickly become overwhelmed with making a decision but I try to make this as quick and painless as possible. First it is important that they clear their mind of colors that may exist in the pattern image selected. Then with my ability to steer them in the right direction, I pull out my paint chips and begin with some rather “out of the box” questions and some relevant ones too. Relevant, what color is the wall that it will be mounted on? Is it going outdoors on indoors?

If it is going to be placed outdoors, is there any trim colors adjacent to where it will be hanging? Picking the right colors for outdoors can be much more intimidating than indoors where they may already have a color palette in mind. That is usually a much easier process. So at this point we usually have a couple of colors in mind. Here is a list of questions that I ask to hit the mark for the colors to be combined:

1. What is your favorite color?

2. What color is your living area in the home?

3. If married, what colors did you use in your wedding?

4. And lastly, what is your favorite season?

Answers to these will lead me to pull together some colors that will make a beautiful barn quilt that stirs an emotional connection. I rarely ever hand my paint chips over to them to shuffle through because that ends up in disaster, and an overwhelmed client.

Once color decision are made, I moved in the digital imaging process where I lay the pattern out giving them eight (8) different images to choose from. We all know as quilters, when you change the placement of a fabric, it can totally change the look of the pattern. Barn Quilts are no different. As shown in the pictures, these can all look very different but I always tell my customer, go with your first instinct. Something visually appealing happened and don’t second guess it.

It is a fun process and the same can be done online. Once a customer chooses a pattern, they are prompted to choose a color palette from many, many preselect color combinations. Each one of these can also be customized by deleting a color or adding. Customers are then emailed eight (8) images to choose from. This process makes it fun and enjoyable for both myself and the customer. Takes the stress out of ‘will I like it or not” when it is done. Sight unseen is not always the best route to go.

However, I just had the enjoyment of picking out fabrics for a quilt my mom is starting and I will always love the process of making those choices. Just wish I had more time for sitting at my sewing machine instead of a paint brush in hand. As long as creativity is involved, I am content and happy! Quilters know that feeling right?

Carry on the Addiction,

Talara