Best of Stitched in Color {February}

On My Mind

Experimenting:: with contrasting colors. In Amsterdam I very much enjoyed the Van Gogh Museum. It was fascinating to read and see Van Gogh’s growth as an artist. He started with a dark, traditional painting style until he was exposed to the wider art world and began experimenting with the techniques that he saw around him. Over time he developed his own style, but not before trying out the style of many of those he admired. Isn’t that so like us as quilters!

The below painting is simply titled Apples. It’s a great example of Van Gogh’s tendency to paint contrasting colors beside each other, without mixing them, in order to increase the overal perceived brightness of the painting. The museum placard pointed out that he highlighted his green/blue background with oranges, pinks and yellows. Conversely (though it doesn’t show up in this picture) he highlighted the red/gold apples with touches of blue and green. I found this painting so inspiring! With my next quilt I shall experiment with setting contrasting colors together..

Reading:: I’m super excited to report on my reading this month! I read Sorry Dat ik je Wakker Bel by Marlies Koers. It was my second Dutch language novel, but the first one which I really enjoyed. I finished the 275 page novel in two weeks, a great improvement in my speed! This memoir is written by a Dutch midwife, and full of short stories of her practice and lifestyle. It was also the perfect way to broaden my vocabulary regarding childbirth. Wholly satisfying!

Well, for good measure, let’s throw in an English language book recommendation as well. While I sew, I am listening to Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian. It is definitely a page turner, and has surprised me more the once. It’s set in Boston during the late 1600’s in a community that terrorized women by accusations of witchcraft. I’ve not quite finished it actually - - - I’m still hoping for the best for the protaganist.

Celebrating:: I was excited to come across a perfectly delightful Pas de Deux work in progress by @QuiltKat this morning. She’s completely broken the mold! First take a good look at her February blocks (left). She’s sewn each corner of this patchwork group in a different color: yellow, aqua, green and purple. Dark navy grounds the center. She’s used a lot of diverse Liberty scraps, which set a happy, yet soft tone.

The second photo shows her February blocks situated with those from January. Wow! Can you see what she’s doing? It appears that the sections of the quilt will blend with each other color-wise, making the groups appear more interwoven and intricate than ever. Fantastic.

Anticipating:: Spring! Yesterday was a clear, sunny day. I took a walk by myself into the countryside to enjoy the crisp, wintry scenery. On my way out of the residential area, I stopped still and stared when I found a few gardens full to the brim with triumphant, purple crocuses!

In our garden we also have some early daffodils abloom. Last fall I planted So Many Bulbs. I can’t wait to watch them all emerge this spring!

Of course the developing emergency in Ukraine has also been on my mind this February. My husband and I had been following the news with concern these last months. Now that what we had feared would happen has come to pass, we wonder what comes next.

Yes, we do feel closer by the conflict than we would have in the states. But, actually, the whole world is in this. That feeling of safety via distance is really a charade in our modern times. As covid has made painfully clear, we are so very connected nowadays. Beyond the ties of NATO and the shared economic pain, lie the broader nuclear fears.

Mostly I feel helpless in the face of these threats, as probably do you. The situation impresses on me how important it is to have leaders in place who make thoughtful, measured decisions with consideration for others. We really are entrusting our elected leaders with our safety and the lives of our loved ones and even the continued existence of our beautiful planet. May the people who represent us be mature, wise and pure-hearted for the task.

p.s. You can donate funds to these worthy charities to mitigate the suffering in Ukraine: