I mentioned last week that I’ve started working on a quilt design a day challenge, in which every day I choose one of the two design-seeds palettes and create a quilt design based on the photo and using the palette.
I’ve had a few questions since then, that I thought I’d answer for you all!
I use Illustrator to make my designs because that’s what I have and know. There are other people joining in, and they all use different programs such as inkscape (a free program), EQ7, and one participant even uses Processing which is a programming language. There are no real rules, people are welcome to use whatever they want, including pencil and paper.
The goal is to just do something creative every day with a loose time-limit. That time-limit helps from falling into perfection mode, and doing it every day leaves room for mistakes and experimentation, because if it doesn’t go well, there’s always tomorrow!
One of the things I have enjoyed the most is that we have a thriving Facebook group (open to anyone, please feel free to join!) and I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the different designs everyone comes up with with the same starting inspiration.
The fun thing is that there are no real rules. Not everyone participates every day. Some people make their own palettes, or find their own inspiration for their designs. Some people add or remove colors. What is “allowed” is really up to each individual.
I’ve gotten permission to share some of the designs from the facebook group with you, below. I think you’ll agree there is a lot of creativity in our little group!
1. artichoke tones by Amy @ Badskirt
2. whisked tones by Jason Wehmhoener
3. leafed brights by Jason Wehmhoener
4. stacked tones by Gillian Smith
5. nature hues by Gillian Smith
6. petaled brights by Amy @ Badskirt
7. breakfast tones by Jason Wehmhoener
8. global brights by Stacey @ Stacey in Stitches
9. mosaic hues by Stacey @ Stacey in Stitches
A question for you all – if I started a weekly or monthly link-up for these quilt design sketches, would you be interested in participating?
14 thoughts on “Quilt Design A Day”
I like the lilies with the diamonds and the third Tuscan tones trees (that’s hard to say!) looks like a really nice quilt back. Upon studying that set though, I noticed there is a tree with a face in the middle picture!! He’s kind of creepy looking.
HAhahahaah the “monster tree” design was made because my friend said she saw a monster face from the way the trees were placed in the first design. So I added a monster face for her. 🙂 The third tuscan tones one is my favorite, too (and you’re right, super hard to say!)
I think I will have to press my nose against the window. I remember the days of learning Photo Shop and Illustrator. Hours gone and I never noticed their passing. Gotta get a few things done in life.
Ahhh yes, I spend a lot of time with both of those programs for my job and for play, and I pretty much have to set a timer these days or I’ll never get off the computer. 😉
love color crawl/color set, esp the colors (: also tuscan tones – i have had a little triangle/tree quilt in mind……hey, not on ‘the spreadsheet’ yet, tho – better get on that! (:
This design a day thing has added so many things to my spreadsheet-I-don’t-actually-have-but-should-make-someday that it’s a little overwhelming. Maybe I can just make the patterns and someone else can make the quilts?
You intimidate the rest of us with your awesome design skills! I’ll be standing over her in this corner. 😉
Pffft, oh hush! Nobody puts baby in the corner! 😉 Your design skills are mad-tastic, so I’ll be hearing none of your sass.
My energy level is low these days. My sketches are very simple and mostly I change things up once I start working so making desings is not really my thing. I like your tuscan tones.
I totally understand. 🙂 And thank you! That one is one of my favorites as well!
Love the water lily on the diamonds! I’ve got diamonds on the brain due to the Olympics, and that inspired my current water scene diamond quilt. Having too much fun with diamonds!
Oooh yah, that olympic diamond motif was so beautiful!! I apparently have diamonds on the brain as well. 😀 Your water scene diamond quilt is absolutely gorgeous, btw! I love all those different blues and your gradation is perfect. 🙂
I think I’ll jump in. I love playing with EQ7 and using the design seeds is something I’ve been thinking about for awhile.
Oh yay! I hope you will join us! 😀 There’s quite a few people using EQ7, so if you run into any issues, feel free to ask the group and they’ll be happy to help out. 🙂