My head is spinning these days because I have an opportunity to design for a "modern" quilt magazine.
If I had to describe myself as a quilter it would be "traditional with a twist." I love scrappy quilts with traditional piecing and maybe a bit of wool appliqué thrown into the mix. My favorite quilt blocks are sawtooth stars and flying geese. I cut my teeth on Kansas Troubles fabrics and I still favor muted, darker colors - especially red. I love red. And I own all of Kim Diehl's books -- even though I become absolutely green with envy every time I open one of them.
So why would I even think of attempting to design a modern quilt?
Because I just can't help myself.
After I got over the initial surge of fear at the thought of attempting modern design, my juices started flowing. I spent hours on EQ 7 playing with the ideas pouring out of me; countless color and block combinations spinning in my head. Now this may have been due to the fact that I accidentally drank a pot of full strength coffee rather than the decaf I thought I'd made -- a hypothesis I plan to test when I'm feeling brave enough to withstand the accompanying racing heartbeat and shaking hands. But I really think I was reinvigorated by the challenge of designing something totally different.
Bright, clear colors. High contrast. Simple, graphic patterns. Negative space. It's like learning a new language.
Maybe I'll work with solids. Maybe I'll explore asymmetry -- shudder. Perhaps, dare I say it, I'll even try some improvisational piecing. Even the word "improvisational" gives me a thrill!
I don't know if I'll be successful and my designs may be a disaster. But I do know, that right now, quilting feels like play again. And that's good enough for me.
