Monday, April 25, 2011

Aged White


For the last year I've wanted to make some quilts based on the color pallet of the local old barns. I just couldn't find the right fabric to accurately represent the colors I see. Some areas are painted different from other areas. Paint peels away in this section, but not as much in that. And many areas are stained by organic matter or altered by the grain of the wood showing through.


A true solid wouldn't fit the bill, and mono-colored fabrics with a mottled look just weren't right either. Finally I found the perfect fabric at my local fabric shop, which turned out to be Moda's Grunge series. I'd seen it on some of the on-line shops, but it wasn't until I saw it in person that I knew it was what I had been searching for.


These fabrics, which at first read as a solid, actually have bits of color though out, similar to streaks of paint in some areas or peeling/faded paint in others.


Can you see bits of spotted areas in the finished quilt above? I know it's hard, as the neutrals are truly neutral, with very subtle bits of grey and cream added to the white, and subtle bits of grey and white added to the cream.... but they are there!


For this first attempt at using old barn colors as inspiration, I decided to also let the vertical and horizontal lines of the old barn siding also be a source of inspiration.


Currently I'm working on another piece inspired by some colors found in old red barns. I'll show that next post. Till then have a great week! xo

72 comments:

Dawn S. said...

How beautiful! Great job on interpreting your inspiration into quilted fabric yumminess!!

yahaira said...

that is the perfect use of moda grunge! just gorgeous!

Mary said...

Amazing! It is exactly like the paint on an old barn. I love the red lines between (almost) all of them. Just perfect!

Mara said...

Your work is so inspirational. Thank you for sharing it with all of us!

Dan R said...

really lovely. the way the dark sashing fades in and out is perfect.

Wacky Woman said...

This a wonderful. I love it!

Linda at Roscoe's Ma said...

This is an awesome quilt. Love it! Love how you showed your inspiration!

denise said...

Great idea, simple and lovely. Reminds me of a peeling little house that I love to look at, might have to use this idea to 'represent' it. Very nice. Can't wait to see the red one.

MariQuilts said...

So beautiful....you really captured the spirit of that old barn. I love it.

Linda B. said...

Very effective - I can't wait to see the next piece!

Rachel at Stitched in Color said...

This is one of my favorites from you! I think you captured it very well. Looking forward to seeing the red one!

Abby and Stephanie said...

What a perfect representation. I love Grunge. I have a little stack with a project in progress. I love it's weathered look. Your piece is so striking against the cool blue wall and you always manage to capture the little details.

Jan said...

Love it, and you couldn't have chosen better fabric!

dutchcomfort said...

Stunning result Victoria!
The dense quilting and the small dark stripes are so superb!
It also reminds me of houses in Normandie with lattice work.

patty a. said...

WOW! Incredible! I don't know what else to say.

Angela said...

I really like the Moda Grunge as well. There is a hint of color to it that makes it a more interesting blender than most.

Your quilt is stunning. You make me wish I had thought to do that.

Nifty Quilts said...

Wonderful! So thoughtful and sensitive to your original inspiration. Truly worth waiting for.

Amy said...

Absolutely love this! I've been wondering what that grunge fabric looked like in person. I think it looks so yucky when I see it for sale online, but LOVE it here!

Kristin L said...

Lovely. I'm looking forward to more in this series. :-)

mjb said...

Oh yeah. This is why I make quilts.

Candied Fabrics said...

Lovely lovely LOVELY!

Anonymous said...

gorgeous.

And yes, I see the creams and greys in the white!

{Leila}Where the Orchids Grow said...

This is stunning!!
I love the subtle changes in colour, it gives just the right effect and looks so much like the paint streaks.

Lorraine said...

I love this quilt ... perfect restraint.
the grunge works so well !!

Mary said...

I love Moda Grunge...nothing else like it on the market!

Anonymous said...

I have been going through some blogs on Google Reader this morning, and thinking how everything is beginning to look the same - eco dyeing, scraps, uneven hand stitching unfinished edges, jelly roll quilts, etc etc as folk do classes and do their version of something taught. Then I came here - to these simple and very beautiful pieces - Different, Unique ....fresh, light and lovely. What a breath of fresh air. Love them.

Glen QuiltSwissy said...

boy is this one to lust after! Amazing. I just adore it. You are such a talented designer. glen

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I think you got this one just right!! I used to live on a dairy farm with the faded and peeling white paint. I love the use of black (or dk. gray) for the separations of the boards too.

tusen said...

Beautiful. It's yours (I mean your style) but at the same time I can clearly see the inspiration.
I especially love the part were the dark line disappears before it reaches the bottom of the quilt.

Venus de Hilo said...

Beautiful and inspiring, as usual!

Pinkadot Quilts said...

Just lovely! I love the contrast and subtlety of it.

Cheryl Arkison said...

Just stunning!

Walden said...

Very nifty! Love it!

Deborah said...

Perfect depiction of old barns (which I love). Incredible stitching.

Amy said...

Beautiful work, as always. The interpretation comes through perfectly. I just picked up that same pitcher last weekend in a pale blue-green.

novembergrass said...

It is truly wonderful when your inspirations can come together to create something completely new. -Sue

Michelle Engel Bencsko said...

Oh. My. Word. I truly love this, Victoria. Everything about it.

Diane J. Evans said...

Your perseverance paid off -- this is a stunner. I love the way you bring your visions to life.

Diane

Peppermint Pinwheels said...

Amazing fabric choice. Grunge IS cool again!

Arita said...

Great work. I totally see the barn colours.

Vicki W said...

This is a really beautiful piece. The subtle shading in the neutral fabric is perfect.

Corinnea said...

so. very. cool.

Jenny said...

Oh Wow!! LOVE!!

Kathryn said...

Oh my, I think this is my favorite piece of yours yet!! I'm always on the search for just the right somewhat opaque textured white. I will certainly check this one out ... Now I have to go see if this is for sale!

maryandpatch.blogspot.com said...

VERY pretty!

Victoria said...

Many thanks to each of you!

Kathryn, I will be posting this for sale, either sometime later today or tomorrow. Sorry for the delay... multi-tasking right now, which I am dismally slow at. :0)

picciolo said...

That fabric looks perfect, worth waiting for I think!
: )

Karin på Ösäter said...

I LOVE this quilt! You are a true inspiration for me, thanks for sharing.

mandi said...

Oh wow! This is perfect. so beautiful and subtle. WOnderful work!

Tracy said...

Wonderful! Fabulous! Spectacular! LOVE IT!

Esch House Quilts said...

So beautiful!

Anonymous said...

...Your work inspires me every time I visit your site, and this barn quilt is my favorite of all. Just beautiful. Plus, your vignettes are enchanting.

Fer said...

Beautiful! Looking forward to seeing the red one too. ♥

Jude said...

Loving these pieces...Looking forward to the red ones..
Take care

connie said...

Victoria, you continue to Inspire!!! Your piece is spectacular, I think you have truly captured the weathered barn look and feel. Hope all is well with you.

Colleen MacDonald said...

It's incredible, and I love the inspiration.

Lauren said...

LOVE this quilt!! I have a thing for old barns and this quilt captures their beauty perfectly. Thanks for sharing!

Jacque. said...

This is wonderful! I love all of your work, but this one is exceptional. The Moda Grunge is the perfect fabric! YAY for you!!!

Mavi. said...

Creo que está totalmente conseguido. El efecto es genial. El resultando sorprendente.
Me gusta mucho.
Saludos.

Mavi.

Victoria Bennett Beyer said...

This is a really great interpretation! Talented girl.

Catherine Fowler said...

Perfect. I love your work.

Leslie said...

You truly are an artist. I love your unique projects!

Karen said...

be still my beating heart....

Anonymous said...

Absolutely amazing and inspiring! I love the quilting and the simplicity of the two colors.

Lauren The Artist said...

What a great quilt! I love the inspiration.

Hey Harriet said...

I LOVE this one Vic! I can see why you're so inspired by those old barns. They're just gorgeous. I wish I lived in an area with so many charming old barns :)

Jackie said...

Just wonderful I love it.It evokes the feeling of the old barn so perfectly.

Kim said...

Oh my..... oh my, oh my. That is really wonderful.... I keep scrolling back up to look, I may have to print off a pic for inspiration. I am working on a similar color piece but in circles.... I am in the handstitching phase now. Your piece will lead me on, I think!

Margo said...

soooo beautiful and evocative of the barns! Is this fabric at JoAnn's?

Victoria said...

Thanks again to each of you!

Margo, not sure if it is or isn't available at JoAnn's, however I know that you can find it at Pink Chalk Fabrics on line.

Victoria said...

Thank you everyone!

Margo, not sure if JoAnn'e carry the Grunge line or not. However I know you can order them on line from Pink Chalk Fabrics.

Mary Keasler said...

Love that Grunge in all colors. Perfect choice. Brilliant piece!