Monday, January 2, 2012

DESIGNING NEW COLLECTIONS PART I

 We are always on the lookout for new subject matter, it could be on a road trip spotting something in nature or just sitting in my dining room and discovering we like the look of a center piece on my table. It reminded us of the sun shining on the different grasses and reeds on the pond behind my house. We loved the look and feel of it. It was like we were both on the same page in that minute and the creativity started to flow from there. We try to include something live from nature in every line we do,  and that is where all of your comments came into play. We listened to what some of the things were that you liked best in our previous lines. From those comments we came up with what we wanted the line to look like and what we wanted to use for subject matter. ( But we can't divulge to much. Moda likes to keep secrets until the lines are shown by the reps. at Market.)
  Next we start working on a color pallet. We have files of every line we have ever done, so we check back threw a lot of those to see what colors we have used in the past, looking for the most successful ones you have chosen to use in your quilts. For this line we are selecting some colors that are a little different. It could be just a little more blue tone to a purple or a slightly more yellow tone to green.We have also found color pallets we love in the fashion magazines and just changed them to fit our North woods designs. Over the years we have collected hundreds paint chips from designer paint studios. They are really helpful when we are putting the pallet together but it actually comes down to mixing our paints to exactly what we want. 
These are the colors we will start with. There is also a beautiful soft brown .
Time to start mixing and testing it on paper in a few designs.

Watch for part II in the coming weeks. Let us know your comments on whether or not you enjoy hearing about designing.
Until next time,  Eileen & Lynn

5 comments:

  1. YES, it's so interesting to see the process from design idea, to colors, to fabric, to patterns, that then become our cherished quilts, tablerunners, and wallhangings.

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  2. Yes, please keep telling us! I like to know the origin of the fabric I'm working with. I attempted to ask questions about manufacturing fabric at a quilt shop once and was met with blank stares. I quit asking questions, but am still inquisitive.

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  3. I do wonder how designers decide on color palette. I think it's quite interesting and hope you share more. Nature is the best inspiration!

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  4. Love it! Thanks for sharing. There is so much that goes into designing. It's a good thing that I don't design fabric it would just have stick people on it and other preschool type pictures. Somehow, I am not artistic when it comes to drawing or painting.

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