Michael James, a world-renowned quilt artist, has a well-honed sense of color that is expressed in each of his quilts.
Examples of his quilts are included in the collections of the Smithsonian Institute, the American Craft Museum, and the International Quilt Study Center.
Michael left painting behind to pursue artistic expression through quilt-making. A bold move into a medium that wasn’t, at that point, considered art and was traditionally thought to be a female pursuit.
Following his passion paid off, as Michael has not only produced an amazing body of work, but has also been credited with almost singlehandedly moving quilts from home craft into the world of fine art.
The quilt pictured here is an example of the style that he is most recognized for.
Many years ago, as a students in one of his workshops, I had what I consider to be one of my great “color moments.”
Each student had painted a color wheel that included twelve colors that resonated with themselves, personally. Michael picked my palette out from a wall full of wheels and commented that whoever painted it had a “sophistocated sense of color.”
What unexpected and wonderful recognition from the master himself! A fascinating artist that has often ruffled the feathers of fellow artists and quilters with his views, Michael continues to push himself and his art beyond accepted boundaries.
In the last few years, his art has undergone a radical shift, and you can view his current work on his website.
If you’re interested in learning more about Michael and his art, there is a book that includes a look at many of the earlier quilts that I recommend: Michael James: Art and Inspiration
Photos from the Smithsonian Institutes’s Renwick Gallery website.
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When I buy a gourmet cookbook, I know I may never cook a recipe that has multiple steps and takes hours to complete. But I still enjoy reading the recipes and taking away the inspiration to create a fabulous meal for my family and friends.
Like a gourmet cookbook, Elaine Eskesen’s Dyeing to Knit is thoroughly enjoyable, even if you are not sure you are ready to dye your own yarn. The book is filled with beautiful photos, wonderful color combinations, design ideas, and fun techniques that you can pour over for hours.
In the opening chapter, Elaine shares her love of color and the sources of her inspiration for the colors she chooses. She then takes her readers through an easy-to- follow understanding of color, their relationships, and provides knitted samples to show the interaction between colors when knitted together.
Elaine’s style is so charming that she may lure even the most reluctant knitter to try creating their own color scheme.
If you do decide to try your hand at dyeing, you will be pleased to find clear instructions and recommended tools and dyes that are easily accessible, plus fun ideas for mixing colors to produce unique effects.
In the chapter on design, Elaine tells us how she thinks about designing the pieces she knits and reveals that she doesn’t “do complicated knitting” but rather projects that she can “pick up at any moment.”
In addition, six knitting designers share their inspiration and Elaine talks about specific artists and how they have influenced some of her designs.
Patterns for items that easily incorporate color and texture are included, but by the time you reach the last chapter, you may already be putting together an idea for your own design.
Visit Elaine’s Shop, Pine Tree Yarn
See Dyeing to Knit at Amazon.com
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“The possibilities are endless” was a phrase often used by one of my favorite professors in college to encourage me to expand my exploration of art and design.
It was that same phrase that popped into my head when I discovered the delicious tiles whipped up at the Color Bakery.
The intense color and texture baked into each piece created by the husband and wife team of Glen and Mindy Sommers certainly prove that the possibilities are endless when it comes to 
creating tiles.
Their tiles will satisfy your hunger for color when incorporated into murals, back-splashes, room borders, or decorative items such as mirrors and table tops.
But if all you have room for right now is a little taste, that’s okay, because Color Bakery offers smaller bites of color in their fresh baked keepsake boxes, coffee mugs, decorative plates, shelves, frames, and many other imaginative items.
Simply yummy- and best of all, these are baked goods with zero calories!
Photos from the Color Bakery.
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In my never-ending quest for color and creative ideas, I found this website that I think is simply wonderful, and I wanted to share it with you.
Etsy is a marketplace for arts and crafts filled with beautiful handmade items like the polka dot wristband from fresh popcorn. I love the brightly colored dots and it reminded me of Etsy’s awesome “Shop By Color” section.
I stopped back at the site again this evening and had so much fun playing with the colors, looking at all of the imaginative products available, and reading the artist bios, that I have ended up doing more browsing and buying than writing.
Check it out - but if an hour from now you’re still there, you can’t say I didn’t warn you!
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