Friday 21 September 2012

The value of low volume

these are addictive! by Emily Levey

these are addictive!, a photo by Emily Levey on Flickr.


I am in a new bee, Bee a Brit Stingy, along with some amazing bloggy friends new and old. It doesn't start until January. The problem with that is we are sharing ideas and pictures of current projects to keep the interest going until then. Karen posted some new + and x blocks in the bee pool and I just loved them. I tried to resist but it only took 2 days before I was making my own!

The thing is, I was aiming for low volume, I love the fresh look it gives, almost calm and uncluttered whilst seeming to be able to contain a lot of different prints. I love that combination. However, I don't seem to be unable to do low volume! I haven't many suitable fabrics in my stash but I was sure I had enough for a few blocks to start with. But the colour sneakily crept in!

It got me thinking, as much as I love low volume, how would it work in our house, with a potty training toddler, a messy 7 year old, clumsy husband and a grubby dark haired dog?!

One day I will have a low volume quilt, I will also most likely be retired, have no children at home and a lot more money spare to buy the right fabric! Until then I will have scrappy busy quilts that can hide stains well (no-one is to mention the insane amount of white in my just finished Aneela Sample Quilt, OK?!)

I'm going to be spending the weekend hoping I can hunt out more suitable scraps to make into blocks :-)

16 comments:

Gertie Pye said...

Lovely! I have just made these same blocks in our Bee, but with rather loud Oakshotts in the middle. But I do like this lower volume version x

Karen Lewis Textiles said...

ha ha! glad to be such a bad influence! your blocks are gorgeous, Emily ;-)

Fiona @ Poppy Makes said...

Very pretty! I love low volume too but like you, I can't stop I wee bit of colour jumping in :)

Charlotte said...

never mind the low volume thing - those are gorgeous just as they are!

Sarah said...

The blocks look lovely with the colour!

Sarah Lou said...

Well, you might not think that they're low volume, but I think that they're gorgeous!

Trudi said...

These blocks are just so damn pretty!

Jessie Fincham said...

love these !! They look so great, I really like the low volume look too :)
Jessie, xo

Di said...

Gorgeous blocks. Di x

Annabella said...

Your blocks are gorgeous - low volume or no low volume. I admit I didn't really get the low volume thing as I love me a bit of colour so I'm looking forward to seeing all the low volume quilts come out. Meanwhile I shall buck the trend ;-)

Katy Cameron said...

Bwhahaha, good to see you're leading each other astray in advance of the actual event :oD Love these blocks :o)

Celtic Thistle said...

Love your blocks, can't do without a bit of colour I am afraid so low-volume is never going to work for me!

Canadian Abroad said...

The blocks are gorgeous!

Lucy | Charm About You said...

They look great!

Leanne said...

I really love those blocks just as they are.

Nicky said...

Mid volume ! Love them and I may get sucked into this too! Drat the pair of you!