Marsala, the
Pantone Color of the Year, was met with a pretty chilly reception around blogland when it was announced, yet I was kind of anxious to play with it a bit. I had gathered a few fabrics as possibilities and was mulling over what to do with them when I flipped through
Alex Ledgerwood/teaginny Designs new book, Improvising Tradition: 18 Quilted Projects Using Strips, Slices, and Strata, and saw IT. That being her En Pointe Wall Hanging, with its slashed blocks reminiscent of a traditional rail fence.
The fabrics I ended up using were
Essex Linen in Natural,
Kona Sienna and Brick (the closest I've come to my
Pantone Marsala swatch), and 2 luscious
Kaffe Fassett Shot Cottons, a Terra Cotta and a Multi Stripe "Parma".
There's something about these blocks that is low-stress and satisfying, not something I can say about all improv. Here they are on my gray design wall, nighttime lighting and all.
I really would be happy just making more blocks, but decided I'd stop here and see what I could come up with. The first layout below is most like Alex's, but I rearranged my blocks a bit just to see if there was anything else I liked as well.
I may do something totally different, we'll see, but so far this little
dalliance has been invigorating. Not quite what you'd expect from reddish brown, is it? {wink}
Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.
good for you! we usually do a pantone color of the year challenge at our MQG but decided unanimously that we didn't want to do Marsala! so each officer picked a solid FQ off the wall & on Tuesday the guild will vote on OUR color of the year! should be fun
ReplyDeleteTotally fun and cool idea. I like them all but love #2 except for the littlest guy I think would look good up and away to the R from where it is now. ??? I don't know I am just saying what my mind thought looking at them all. I can't wait to see what you come up with.
ReplyDeleteI kind of like the idea of a color being hard to label definelty won't be able to pull from stash and go scrappy for the challenge. I've got "too maroon, too orange, too brown, too .."
ReplyDeleteThis looks awesome - I love improv though so I'm a little biased. And I LOVE Marsala which I know puts me in the minority.
ReplyDeleteOooh--great blocks! I'll look forward to seeing what you do with them! Plus, I think Marsala is a GREAT color.
ReplyDeleteSome colours get a bad rap, but once they are in a project, they can look quite fabulous. Well done!
ReplyDeleteCAPTCHA is All gone! I should post about this easy fix! Not sure why Blogger can't tell folks...they talk in engineer talk and not a kaymans language! Glad it worked.
ReplyDeleteI like the upper right layout where the really tall, skinny piece is lying horizontally. I would move it a little toward the left, though.
ReplyDeleteBravo! How to make a color with a bad rap look cool! Seriously, I think Marsala is a difficult color to coordinate with (and not look dated) but it is a very interesting color, as you have shown!
ReplyDeleteLove the rich colours you have used in these improv blocks - they look amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love the minimalist look of the different layouts.
ReplyDeleteI love the bacon quilt!
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling Serengeti when I see these lovely blocks up on your design wall. Lovely piecing and great colours!
ReplyDeleteI'm a big a big fan of improv and love your layouts. So many possibilities.
ReplyDeleteYou've got a couple layouts up there that I like quite a bit! I'll be watching to see where you go with this :o)
ReplyDeleteWell, I admit I'm not a marsala fan, either, but what you've done with it is great! Love it.
ReplyDeleteI like how this is looking. Still undecided about the color myself but then I haven't looked for any Marsala fabrics yet.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of backgammon. I like it! I like brown myself, and marsala.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of backgammon. I like it! I like brown myself, and marsala.
ReplyDeleteI think I said this on IG, but I love it with just the 4 or 5 blocks and a neutral background! I can't wait to see what you come up with though! I've been debating joining in on the marsala challenge.... hmmmmm
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