Mastering the illusion of transparency…when I look through the pages of Transparency Quilts by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr, I do indeed feel the magic! Certain areas of each quilt seem to be floating above the rest, and my eyes rest quite happily on the smooth lines, calm patterns, and perfect color combinations.
Here’s some of what Weeks and Bill have to say about their newest book…
We love color, but we love the visual relationships among colors even more…our hope is that with this collection of quilts, you will begin to see color in a new way and grow in your understanding and appreciation of color in the process.
We have always had a different method of designing. We focus less on the individual blocks than on the relationships among all the pieces of the quilt. You’ll notice that some of the quilts in the book use block construction and others don’t. Going back and forth between design, color theory, and construction is endlessly fascinating to us. It was through this interest that we began creating designs with pieces that, when viewed as a whole, give the illusion that one color is overlaid on another. We refer to these quilts collectively as transparency quilts.
In architecture, interior design, and product design in the past half century, there has been a focus on making materials seem lighter and more airy. Houses that used to be constructed from stone and wood can now be built as glass boxes that appear to float on the landscape. Televisions that used to be massive pieces of furniture are now thin enough to hold in the palm of your hand.
Similarly, the color options for quilting textiles were extremely limited until the mid-twentieth century. Advances in printing technology and textile production have given twenty-first-century quilters color choices unimaginable to previous generations of quiltmakers. Without such wide varieties of fabric available, we would never have been able to conceive of transparency quilts.
We hope this book will help you refine your understanding of color theory and give you a new perspective on how some of your favorite fabrics might be used in a new way. We also hope that you might rethink some of your assumptions about fabrics that may appear to lack potential, but in fact can play an essential role in achieving the effect of transparency.
Visit our Flickr gallery to see more lovely images from this book!
So here we go…one lucky person will win a copy of Transparency Quilts.
To enter, just leave a comment on this post telling us something about your own success or challenges with color.
Deadline to enter is 6:00 pm PST on Sunday, December 11, 2011. One comment will be drawn at random to win…the winner will be contacted via email and posted here on the blog next week.
Increase your chances to win! Enter an extra comment for each of the actions you take below. Tell us what you did and thanks in advance for spreading the word!
- Sign in to your Amazon account and hit the “like” button for this book
- Sign up for the PatternSpot.com Shopper eNewsletter
- Follow PatternSpot.com on Twitter
- Join our Creative Troupe
Congrats to Hannele, whose name was drawn at random from the comments on last week’s post. She won a package of Visi-GRID Quilter’s Template Sheets.
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176 Comments
Nice Modern Quilts! I’d love to win this Book.
I definitely need this book because I’m at the “I know what I like, but I can’t explain it…” level. I’m particularly interested in learning how color affects mood, which I’ve been experimenting with a bit in my interior design choices.
i had never thought about building transparency into a quilt design. Very inventive and lovely results.
Love this!! I have always enjoyed playing with special effects on my quilt, but have never succeeded in making something look transparent. Would love to learn this..thanks!
One of the first quilt books I bought had a lot of transparency ideas in it that I found really good to work with. Would love to have this new book to try some more.
thanks!
I would love to win this book!
I have been having some trouble with color lately. I am an independent fabric designer on spoonflower.com (you can see my fabrics here http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/shannonmac), and I’m trying to get a one-yard skirt I designed, called Rainbow Hibiscus, perfected. The problem is that the colors I am picking seem to be so close that they’re just printing as the same color, even though they’re very different on screen! I’m hoping my next revision will have it all perfect. I’ve also had problems in my monkey fabrics, where the color looks red on screen but prints orange!
Color work is a journey…always a new way to look at colors, combinations. I’m ready for the challenge of incorporating transparency in quilts…makes them so much more exciting and interesting.
I liked this on Amazon.
I want this book REAL bad!!!! Please draw my name so I don’t have to spend any more of my quilting fund on another books. I love books!
PS: I signed up for the Pattern Spot newsletters and liked this book on Amazon.
I have used the concept of transparency in some of the latest quilts I have designed some of which are yet to be sewn. Weeks and Bill always have such fabulous quilts that I really look forward to this latest book from them. I’m sure it will be a great resource in helping to choose fabrics for these quilts. Thanks for the giveaway.
I just “cleaned out my sewing room, donating boxes of fabrics to clean my pallette. This book looks like a perfect complement to my current aestetic
Constant struggle with color..but improving.
This looks like a very interesting book for quilting. I’m thinking that the principles would be the same when designing fabric which I also do.
OOOOOOh… beautiful! The colors and pattern ideas—- would love to play with this book! I have been working with very subtle color changes in my last quilt and find it a fun challenge.
Kat
I SO need this book for a quilt I’m making right now! THANK YOU!
I am following PatternSpot on twitter. I am a fabric designer at Spoonflower (khowardquilts).
Would be a nice one to win and create quilts with!
I am so excited for this book to come out. What I’ve seen so far is so beautiful and inspiring!! I “liked” it. : )
I am not good at colors at all….No matter what I try….I swear at times I am color disfuntional……would love to have this book to help me…..
Like it on my amazon.com!
adoro as transparencias, porem como estou no Brasil tenho que ficar sonhando com o livro leva “muito tempo”para chegar aqui. sigo semple o blog.
I would LOVE to win this! I love that look of transparency!
love to win this book. I am very challenge when it comes to color
I’ve traditionally been afraid of color — wall paint, quilt fabrics, you name it. I’m getting both more courageous and more educated about color. whew.
Thanks for the giveaway. Color and I have been at odds for many years now, but we are slowly making friends. The Modern Quilt Shop has been most helpful. I am certain Transparency Quilts can only continue me in the right direction….
LOVE this! I’m always struggling for just the right color combination, but that is also my favorite part of the creative process. This book might help me get it right once in a while! ;-)
I have been doing patchwork for over 30 years, each new quilt I anguished over colours, but seem to always go back to the first few bolts of fabric I picked up. I now just trust my first judgement with colour – and have not been unhappy (so far).
I need more ideas for how to use various shades of color.
Beautiful!
I like using lots and lots of color because it’s so freeing. One often sees multiple colors in a flower garden, so why not in a quilt?
I like using lots and lots of color because it’s so freeing. One often sees multiple colors in a flower garden, so why not in a quilt? Would love to win this.
I am fascinated with color, and how the same color changes depending on its position within a design. Color selection is one of my two favorite parts of quilting (the other is just plain piecing)! Would love to have this book!
I was working on a quilt and asked for help from a friend and she told me to add mustard/gold fabric and suddenly the quilt came alive! She knew exactly what was missing.
Liked on Amazon.
Also following patternspot.
My challenge is getting enough contrast in values in a quilt. This book looks FABULOUS!
I “liked” this on Amazon.
I love working with primaries and jewel tones, but subtle shades of reproduction fabrics, taupes, and earth tones baffle me. I love how they work in others’ work, but have yet to find a good system for selecting and designing my own creations with the softer shades.
I love working with jewel tones and primaries, but subtle shades baffle me. I love seeing others’ works that include the taupes, earth tones, and reproduction fabrics, but I have yet to find a way to incorporate them effectively in my own creative process.
Color is a mood, a visual of a thought, and depending on how it is combined it can mean joy, sadness, exuberance….color can be simple or madly complex…it can be passionate or shy….and when fabrics collide in just the right way, as in a special quilt, color takes on a dimension that warms the body and soul.
I would love to try a transparency quilt!!!!
Not being tempted to add yet another lovely colour, that’s the main problem!
I’ve done some shadow effects, but it would be cool to learn something about transparency before trying it. All the quilts I’ve seen look so amazing :)
I would love to win this book, I am so color challenged that I can only make Scrappy Quilts, cause they work as long as you add, black or white….
I liked the book on Amazon
When in doubt my daughters and I choose pink!
What a refreshing look to quilts. This method is sure to be a winner. Thanks for the opportunity to add this book to my library.
Color — how can I pick just one? or even 3-4? They’re all beautiful, and I want to use them all. I guess I’ll just have to work faster!
Great concept. Great addition to the library.
Oh, what a great book … I love working with color – and have been lucky enough to have a really good eye for what goes with what…
I love picking fabrics – I’m not afraid of color! LOL!
This books reminds me of watercolor glazes…….Looks beautiful and inspirational. Please include me in the draw.
There seemed to be some problems with this link…….glad it is fixed!
I liked it on Amazon.
Looks like another amazing book from Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr! This year I made a quilt where I pieced a gingham pattern. I loved the effect, but the overall quilt was kind of boring. My challenge is how to marry effective color use with an interesting composition.
I joined the troupe.
I signed up for PatternSpot news.
You have great books and I know I could make great use of this one! Thanks for the chance to win it. =))
I really like the looks of this book.
I liked this book on Amazon.
I am always inspired by color play, and this transparent quilt idea is very appealing to me. I must say I have yet to try this technique as I tend to pull my colors from the dots on the selvedge of my focus fabric.
Oh how interesting, I’ve not seen this book before. thanks for sharing the newest in quilting adventures! Will have to check this book out. Even if I don’t win it, I’ll be sure to buy one for myself.
Despite having taken classes and many years of experience, I continue to be challenged by color choices at times. I’d love to win this book!
Playing w/color is a journey for many of us….We tend to evolve thru the years and become more comfortable mixing different colors together. This book seems very educational!
Love these Modern Quilts! I’d love to win this Book.
I would love to have a better understanding of how to make my quilts use color better. It is very hit or miss for me most times and it frustrates me when the idea I have in my head doesn’t translate into the quilt.
sometimes color and I get along and sometimes we don’t
Looks like an interesting book and concept — thanks for the chance to win!
I need help in this department. I tend to be too conservative in my color choices so my quilts are not interesting enough. A new book to show me the way would be nice!
Success: quilt with 2″ black and white checkerboard pattern, with ‘pop’ of color on back
Fail: quilt with vibrant red, yellow, green, blue, purple colors scattered randomly everywhere…
Hi, it would be nice to win that book, i´m just a beginner, here in Spain I can´t find those lovely kinds of books
I do a lot of scrappy quilts to avoid having to make a lot color decisions!
Hi…it would be wonderful to win this book…..I always struggle with colour selection and ponder over it for hours…days ….weeeks…before I start a project…so a book to help with this would be lovely to have…thanks for the chance to win…LindaB
I have to say that since I started actually using a color wheel, things are a lot easier. I do like the ideas and tips that Weeks and Bill have in their books regarding color. Very helpful. I think the trickiest thing I run into is trying to match a different fabric to a line of fabrics. I always wonder if a shade/tone or so off matters a lot?
Love the quilts featured in this book! Would love to read the book.
I liked the book on amazon
Sent a request to join Creative Troupe
I’ve used the color suggestions from Weeks and Bill’s other books and it’s worked well for me – would love to win this book!
I have trouble with color because I am so afraid of creating something ugly that I stick with safe tried and true color palettes. Learning more about color selection would be wonderful. Thanks for the opportunity.
I love making quilts but am always unsure of colors that go together. I think everything should match so then end up with an uninteresting quilt.
I love the work of Week Ringle and Bill Kerr! Would love to win their book!!
To put it plainly I SUCK at color. I can use all the help I can get.
Thanks and congrats to the winner.
This book looks beautiful! Want!
Honestly, I still have a lot to learn about color, but what a wonderful journey I am on!
I liked Transparency Quilts on Amazon
I’m following Patternspot on Twitter
Stitchingart
I signed up for the patternspot newsletter
I would LOVE to win a copy of Transparency Quilts! I have made one of their quilts at the moment. I need to learn more about color! The more help, the prettier my quilts will be!!!
I’ve been following Weeks and Bill for a long time. I’d love to have a copy of their new book.
And finally I also sent in all the necessary info to join creative troupe. Hope I win the book too!
I have gotten more adventurous with color over time. Playing with color is the most enjoyable part of the process for me, with design a close second.
I think my problem with transparency is that I use too much contrast in the value. I could use this book.
I’m new to quilting so I’m still challenged by colors. I never know what goes together… and then I see all these beautiful quilts and wish I could make them look this beautiful. This book would be a great help to me. Thanks for a chance to win! :)
I liked this book on Amazon.
I’m already signed up for the Patternspot.com eNewsletter.
I need this book, I am self taught patchworker and quilter and would never of though of this. What a great idea.
thanks for giving me a chance to win this book.
My challenges are that i just started quilting and sewing all together as a hobby. I need to learn about color. this book would be an awesome help
Would love to win this book. Weeks & Bill never disappoint, and their last 2 books were great. I’ve been trying to learn more about color this year and have been doing some monochromatic blocks.
I have their Quilts Made Modern book and really love it. Looking forward to seeing this one. I enjoy using colour in gradations and have had some success with it (ie I really like the way the quilts have turned out), which is why I think I’ll love this new book. Thanks for the chance to win.
I liked the book
I signed up for the newsletter
I followed you on twitter
I could really use this book to broaden my horizens in quilting. I am making a 4 seasons tree quilt along the lines of landscape and this transparency quilts book would help me immensely.I signed up for the newsletter for PattenSpot,liked the book on Amazon, and even signed up to follow on twitter(which I have NEVER signed up for before.. .lol) and signed up for creative troupe! Thank you for the chance to win!
i signed up to join
This has to be a very interesting technique to learn! I have a lot of problems with color. But I just call my husband in, and wham, done. He is great with it. Will have to introduce him to transparency!
I ‘liked’ this book on Amazon. I think I’m number 25. Sure would like to get this before Christmas!
I’m a big fan of Weeks’ and Bill’s designs!
My problem with colors is needing color adventure! I have a hard time deviating from traditional color patterns and sequences, this is not just in quilting and sewing, but even what color to paint my walls! LOL
I “liked” the amazon page!
I signed up for the newsletter!
Color work is a journey…always a new way to look at colors, combinations. I’m ready for the challenge of incorporating transparency in quilts…makes them so much more exciting and interesting.
I love strong, bright colors but sometimes my quilts look too “kindergardenish”. Would love to win this book so I can better understand how to use color/value in my quilts to get the look I want.
Building transparency in a quilt is a fantastic concept that I have never considered or even seen! I would love to win a copy of this book for inspiration. Thanks!
Oh my! This would be so beautiful, what a wonderful idea and this looks to be an amazing book too!
I love to Quilt, and this book looks superb and I would love to win it. Thanks for this giveaway, Merry Christmas.
Beautiful quilts. I’ve always wanted to try a 2-color quilt, Now maybe I can try a 2-color quilt with transparent sections. Wouldn’t that be fun. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book!
Just started quilting, would love more quilt ideas, this looks great.
Color can be tricky. Any help this book offers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.
I can match cool colors quite well, but tend to blend warm colors together too much.
I seem to have trouble matching similar colors and adding variety to my projects. I tend to stay within the same color and there’s not enough contrast but choosing complimenting colors is a struggle for me.
Liked the book on Amazon (shel704)
Subscribed to the PatternSpot Shopper newsletter
Following on Twitter @auntiethesis
Fantastic book, my children want modern quilts. This fits the bill!
I have found that I have the most success with color when I add in the unexpected. Matchy-matchy gets a little dull, but when I throw in a fabric that seems like I pulled it from left field I find that most of the time it works and adds the zing I was looking for.
Thank you for the chance to win this great book!
I signed into my Amazon account and “liked” this book.
Thank you for the extra entry.
This is a great subject for a quilting book. I would like to have it badly. I usually mix pattern and color together to get effect I don’t get from solid. Thank you.
My design group played with this concept a couple of years ago. Now I would like to get back to it and play — this book looks like the perfect inspiration!
Steak Sauce! Come to mama!!
I have a terrible time with color. I can take a focus piece and add to that, but the ways in which Weeks & Bill use color just blows me away. And really, can you find a sweeter pair of love birds? I ‘ve talked to both of them separately and they always compliment the other for his or her knowledge, expertise, and thoughtfulness as a spouse. I envy their color sense and their love of life and family!! Thanks for highlighting their new book today! Hope I win it!!
I “liked’ the book on Amazon–didn’t’ know I could do that! neato!
I receive the patternspot.com newsletter!
It takes me longer to pick out the color scheme and overall pattern than to do the quilting. This book looks interesting. I would love to learn new techniques.
I have to use a color wheel to get the colors right. I try to do it myself but to me they don’t look right even though others tell me they look really good. maybe this would help me be more comfortable with color. Thank you for the giveaway and Happy Holiday to You and Yours.
I’ve always had luck with color. I might start a project with a color combo that I’m not sure about, but when I finish the project I just love how it turns out!
I think Bill and Weeks are so fabulous! I always pick colors pretty well, but I don’t know why. I have always liked the illusion of transparency, but I would need a lot of instruction to understand how to go about achieving it.
I have always wanted to work on trnasparency..one of those things on the Bucket list ofr quilters, which I never seem to get around to…this book may be just the spurring on I need. Thanks
Oops…do not see my comments in the list above so I will try again…must have hit the wrong button. Anyway, I have always wanted to work on transparency…one of the things on my quilter’s Bucket list, that I never seem to get done. This book may be just the thing to spur me on. Thank you
Hi, I’m from Buenos Aires, Argentina and it’s very difficult for us to match the colors since we don’t have a lot of fabric not even talk about collections. Thanks for the opportunity.
This book looks great! I end up not using lighter colors/pastels – they don’t jump out at me at the store…
I love transparency quilts. I find, though, that my biggest challenge is visualizing it ahead of time. My past attempts have not been as stunning as the ones featured in this blog post.
I am so color challenged it’s not funny. I can stand in a room and unless it’s obvious what naturally goes with what, I am at a loss for picking colors that complement each other. I know of a color wheel, but the concept eludes me. Thanks!
I “liked” this book at amazon.com. Thanks again!
When I first began quilting, I made blue quilts because blue is my fav. I wanted to break away from blue so I bought an orange fat quarter and built on that to choose the colors for my quilt. It made me look at color another way. I would love a copy of this book. Thanks for the great give away.
Love the quilts, the colors look so refreshing.
I like the quilts and the book looks awesome
I struggle with color a lot. I’d love a chance to win this book. I really enjoy the transparency factor in the photos you showed.
I love new themes: currently I’m experimenting with folded fabric techniques but this is totally getting my interest! I love the idea of making the color more than the pattern be the main focus of my planning.
This book looks amazing!
I clicked “like” on Amazon, which is true! I pre-ordered this book a few months ago, but would love to win a copy too and share it with a friend.
If the cover is like the contents of this book it’s amazing, these quilts are stunning
Looks like a great book -it’s going on my wish list!
Love it! Would be interesting to see how this is done!
Thanks for sharing it!
I love working with color. I can use more ideas and information about color to teach about color to my quilting students.
I NEED this book! I am good at the sewing and quilting but I am not good at design. I NEED HELP!!!!
Absolutely stunning quilts!
Early projects where very boring, color-wise. I was afraid to be bold. Now? With the help of some classes and a wonderful group of art quilting friends, I am less afraid of color and I am creating more bold looking quilting art pieces. I am still a WIP on this though. ;-)
Way cool idea
This book sounds so interesting. The quilts look so wonderful. I have a hard time picking colors.
I’m not a big fan of warm colors, but I wanted to make a Christmas/Bday lap quilt for my brother to match his living room. It actually turned out really nice and it opened my eyes to warm tones! Actually it was a Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr pattern from the Modern Quilt workshop! Would love to win their new book…it is on my wish list!
I’ve never attempted anything this wonderful before. I love the colors in this transparency quilt!
I liked the book on Amazon
I love their books and quilts. Color the best part of any quilting project.
I remember agonizing over fabrics for my first quilt – and torturing the ladies at the quilt shop, I’m sure. :) It seemed SO challenging back then….now, my eye has gotten so much better, and I’ve definitely broken out of my safety zone. No more “Play it safe” for me – I figure the more colors, the better! :) It also helps in my beading and scrapbooking…I trust my eye now and spend less time fretting. I’ve become enamored with “art quilts” as well…I’m not very traditional. The colors and effects in what little I’ve seen of this book have me salivating!! Perhaps I’ll quilt myself a “transparent” drool bib. :) Thanks for the chance to win! Happy, healthy holidays, everybody.
Oh these are adorable. When I first started, I would ask everyone’s opinion about the color choices I should use for my quilts. Now, I have developed confidence in my own color choices and can generally do okay picking out my own colors – although I still need to ask for confirmation from time to time.
I am a member of the Creative Troupe.
Color is fascinating. It can make or break a quilt. Transparency is a wonderful tool for creating a quilt. I love selecting my fabrics.
Color selection truly scares me. I’ve been trying to not be afraid of it and work to improve, but I know I have big area of growth opportunity in this area. Still, I can recognize a blue-red now vs true blue. I’m a bit better going with my gut, but still not comfortable planning a quilt that I think could have stunning colors. Need all help in learning how to build this skill.
SewCalGal
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
I am still struggling with using real darks/lights in my projects specially win working with my brights. it seems i always default to black/white and bright. Which works, but I would like to get better at working with pastel and deep jewel tones with them.
this book looks wonderful! i’ve never thought of building transparency into any quilt i’ve made. what a neat idea. i have lots of ideas as far as colors/quilts go, but have a really hard time verbalizing what is in my head. this book looks like pure inspiration. :)
Love the intricate quilting on these quilts! Would love to have the book!!
this would be a new technique for me to try to use color as transparency I so often depend on complementary colors in my designs. I hope I am lucky and win. Thank you.
Thank you for the opportunity to win this awesome book!
I love their books! They always give great instructions and go into depth on reasons why you choose color and design. I would love to win this book!
Ohhh – I need this book!
I’ve had some epic successes with color selection….and a few epic fails *grin* Thanks for the chance to win a great book!
They’ve inspired me from the beginning…and this book will continue to inspire me. Love this dynamic duo! Can’t wait to read this next book
Would really love to win this book. Thanks for the opportunity to try.
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