Buzzings from a quilter who bumbles her way through life!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

What Inspires You?


From the Dick and Jane book I read in First Grade.

My idea of what the world experienced as "autumn" or "fall" was from the books I read as a child. I grew up in San Antonio, Texas. We don't have colorful falls here. We have gorgeous springs in years with good rains and you wouldn't believe the waves of color from wildflowers you see then in fields and roadsides. Our autumns are not spectacular.
I often saw these glorious colorful scenes and wondered what it would be like to actually experience them. Then when I was grown and married, we lived where the falls were beautiful! Still, my ideas of "fall colors" have been shaped by books. 
Here are a few autumn color schemes I matched up from books I have on my shelves. The fabrics were in my stash.
Anno's Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall
From A Year of Birds by Ashley Wolff



We Look and See, by Scott, Foresman and Company
Madeline's Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans
From Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

Where do you get most of YOUR inspiration? (You don't really have to answer that, but it is something to think about!)
I'll see you on October 8th -my day to show my Leafs Me Happy blocks!
Until then.....
post signature 

14 comments:

  1. Your post today reveals the true artist within you. What a wonderful post.

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  2. Loved your post! I am new to quilting and this has helped me with the color selection. I always want to match my colors and have a hard time with contrast! Thanks for your inspiration!

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  3. I remember Dick and Jane! And the Madeline book, too! Love your fabric pulls inspired by each book illustration.
    Hubby and I took a drive through the desert on Sunday and I found myself so inspired by the colors and textures in Saguaro National Monument at sunset. Another day I felt particularly inspired by a display in the garden section of Lowes. The spring flowers had just arrived and the display of bright colors and the myriad of greens in the leaves made me want to drive to a quilt shop immediately!

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  4. I love the fall inspiration from the books...very cute and clever! Nice pictures to, especially the Little House and Ox-cart Man pictures...very fall! I've grown up with fall every year and never thought about those that have to just see it in pictures ...another blessing to be thankful for :)

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  5. lovely fabrics Linda,i get my inspiration from seeing items made and patterns.xx

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  6. What a lovely idea. Of course, with all those wonderful combinations pulled, I'd have to start a quilt. Sometimes, I work from a focus fabric. More often, I find a color group I like in one quilt picture and a pattern I like in another and combine the two. Be well. Lane

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  7. I love the children's books esp the ones with houses. I often go to used bookstore to go thru' the children's books. I've never experienced the months in colours based on the season and until today, that is still a mystery to me. Everything I know about the seasons are based on books and movies. I use my experience from selling at craft markets to gauge what's a good fabric colour or mix. Everything I make is for sale so I need to know what sells and what doesn't. Sometimes I'm so wrong.

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  8. I have never thought of using children's books as inspiration for quilts. Thank you for sharing. You have inspired me.

    Trina

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  9. I really enjoyed this post. I just love the illustrations from the books. Thanks for sharing those and the fabrics. Such a neat idea to use a books for fabric choices. I look forward to seeing your block. Thanks for coming by my blog during the "leaf" hop. I love gingerbread too.

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  10. Linda you are brilliant to use these wonderful old books for your color inspirations. Such a great idea and your fabrics are all gorgeous together. I love the old images as I truly believe life was simpler "back then". Thank you so much for sharing this. Falling into Autumn Bliss...

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  11. Every time I stop in at your blog I learn something new. I would have never thought to look at pictures in book to draw color schemes from. Thank you!
    Like you, we don't get much fall color. One day I hope to head back east to see all the autumn splendor.
    Have a wonderful weekend, Linda!

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  12. Very clever way to co-ordinate fabric. Great tip! :)

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  13. Well that's a neat idea, Linda! I don't seem to get any inspiration here lately...sigh. I'm "slumpy". But I dearly love vintage illustration.

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  14. Ooooh -- I love the picture books! Hardly any of the leaves here have turned. It'll happen, but not in time for the blog hop.

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