I've been admiring Sylvia Schaefer's work for a couple years, so when she invited me to participate in this blog hop to help launch her new book, The Quilter's Negative Space Handbook, I was excited for the opportunity.
Sylvia's book is a wealth of information. It contains eight full patterns which illustrate the different design techniques in each of her eight chapters. These are vibrant, modern quilts in bold colors. They utilize negative space in different, interesting ways. Below are a couple of my favorites from the book. In addition to these patterns, Sylvia walks you through the process to design in each of her techniques, with step by step diagrams, commentary on what works and what doesn't work, and multiple examples for each technique. These techniques can be used whether you design on a computer or with paper and pencil.
River of Fire by Sylvia Schaefer
This quilt illustrates Sylvia's technique of Making Shapes. I love the bold color, the use of one simple block construction in multiple sizes, and of how it makes me think of a fractal.
Every Which Way by Sylvia Schaefer
This quilt illustrates Sylvia's technique of Scattering. I love the randomness of this design as well as her choice to have soft grey for some of the arrows. I especially love the arrows that are so faint you can barely see them.
My Project
Sometimes when you see or experience something it affects you without you realizing it. When I received my copy of the book I flipped through it immediately. But I didn't take it all in. Then I designed my Island Batik project for this month. Our theme this month for the Island Batik Ambassador challenge is Vintage Reimagined. I like working from a traditional block and adapting it to a new design. When I came back to read The Quilter's Negative Space Handbook cover to cover, I realized that my designs fit right in with Sylvia's Extending Lines chapter. Surely, skimming through the book earlier had already influenced me.
I work in Illustrator to mock up design ideas. For this project I chose the Antique Tile quilt block.
My next step was to recolor it in four colors since I had chosen four fabrics in my initial fabric pull. Generally I work in random (and often obnoxious) contrasting colors until I settle on a layout I like. These are not indicative of my fabric choices.
From there I used three blocks on the quilt top and extended the light blue from the block above to the edges of the quilt. I tried with different background colors.
01
02
Then I adjusted the scale of the blocks and plugged in the colors of my fabrics.
03
I realized that I didn't have enough of the dark teal fabric for the size project I was creating, so I replaced the orange in my palette with red and rearranged by color placement.
04
05
I tried these colors with my original scale.
06
One other design option that came about didn't feature the Extending Lines technique, but rather another of Sylvia's techniques, Standing Alone.
07
I've settled on which quilt I'm making this month, though I could see myself making another version, or further iterating on the design. I'd love to hear which of these designs catches your eye, or how you would adjust the design. (I've numbered the quilts 01-07 to make it easier to reference them in the comments.)
Buckles by Sylvia Schaefer
This is Sylvia's example of Extending Lines. The intersecting lines remind me of Celtic knots. I like her choice of straight line quilting and enjoy the color palette.
Giveaway
Sylvia and C&T Publishing have offered one digital (PDF) version of The Quilter’s Negative Space Handbook. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter below. By entering, you agree that you are 18 years of age or older. International participants are welcome. The giveaway is open through Wednesday, March 27th, at Midnight PDT. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed to be notified. Good luck!
Blog Hop Schedule
March 11 – C&T Publishing – blog tour kickoff
March 12 – Nicole Neblett – Mama Love Quilts
March 13 – Christa Watson – Christa Quilts
March 14 – Jessica Caldwell – Desert Bloom Quilting
March 15 – Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill – Whole Circle Studio
March 18 – Cassandra Ireland Beaver – The (Not So) Dramatic Life
March 19 – Yvonne Fuchs – Quilting Jetgirl
March 20 – Sarah Ruiz – Saroy
March 21 – Sarah Goer – Sarah Goer Quilts (you’re here!)
March 22 – Sylvia Schaefer – Flying Parrot Quilts – tour wrap-up
Marla Varner
It was so interesting to see all of your design ideas. I was most intrigued by no. 2 where the inner block is the same color as the background. I also like the way the dark blue connects into a rectangle rather than reading as separate blocks. There are so many possibilities to explore!
sarah
Post authorThank you for your thoughts, Marla.
Anne
The idea of negative space has always intimidated me! Your quilt (and the others I have seen in the hop) make me feel like I can take on negative space successfully and have fun doing it - thank you for that!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Anne. I'm so glad that this helps you see it as attainable. The book would be a fabulous resource that I think you'd go back to again and again.
Elizabeth Bolton
This is such an enjoyable blog hop, seeing all these possibilities with negative space. Thanks so much for your contribution to it!
sarah
Post authorThanks for visiting, Elizabeth! I'll enjoy working through other chapters in the book. so much inspiration!
Danette Stankovich
I am definitely not good at quilting in the "negative space" because I really just do straight-line quilting. So this book would be very informative, for sure. Thank you.
sarah
Post authorSylvia's finished projects show a variety of options for quilting in the negative space. Thanks for visiting, Danette.
Gail Sheppard
Thank you Sarah for showing us your thought / design process! Buckles is my favourite! Can't wait to see which one you make!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Gail. Sylvia did a great job with her Buckles quilt. I love how I can easily see how this could apply to so many different starting blocks.
Sharon Aurora
I like 03 best I think.
sarah
Post authorI loved 03 until I realized that I didn't have enough of the teal. Sometimes I just have to make it work with what I have, but I may come back to that palette in the future. Thanks for visiting, Sharon!
Allison
i really love this book - the designs look like something I could accomplish and the use of negative space is truly dramatic! Number 7 and number 1 are my favs - maybe because they are such opposites but certainly gives me lots of ideas for my own designs! Thanks for sharing!
sarah
Post authorI'm glad you enjoyed the post, Allison. The book has so much good stuff in it!
Pat A
Your variations are stunning
sarah
Post authorThank you, Pat.
bea
cool designs
sarah
Post authorThank you, Bea.
Anja @ Anja Quilts
This looks like an amazing book. I love all your layouts -- too hard to choose ☺ Have fun.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Anja! There are at least three that I'd like to make.
Kathleen McCormick
1 and 6 are my favorites although I do like the standalone block too. They are all great choices - can’t wait to see it. I can think of anything I would add/or take away
sarah
Post authorThanks you, Kathleen.
Christi
I love the quilting on your Buckles quilt. The colors you have chosen are perfect.
sarah
Post authorSylvia's Buckles quilt is a great example of her system and the color palette she used works well. Thanks for visiting, Christi.
Nancy
I liked option #1 the best.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Nancy!
Lisa Marie
I like how you have shown so many options for a quilt layout. It seems like this book provides great instruction and inspiration!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Lisa Marie.
Karen A
I have been enjoying this blog hop and am intrigued by the design concepts Sylvia shares.
sarah
Post authorIt's been real fun to see what everyone created. Thanks for visiting, Karen.
Jayne
It's been so much fun and quite enlightening following along with this book hop! I need to explore negative space in my own designs! You make it hard to pick just one, so I'm going with 2 or 3! Can't wait to see which one you do make!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Jayne. I may need to make multiple. :-)
Laura M
Thanks for sharing your process on working through the how to of using Sylvia's techniques for negative space. I like number 6 on your set of quilts.
sarah
Post authorThank you for visiting, Laura.
Kathy h
I have enjoyed seeing all the negative space quilts. I haven’t made any modern quilts yet but this hop was very inspiring.
sarah
Post authorThank you for visiting, Kathy. Is there a particular post/style that intrigues you the most?
Kathy h
I liked #1 and #6, I think the colors of the first appealed to me and the design of #6.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Kathy.
Deborah B.
Thank you for sharing your design process. This looks like an interesting book. I haven't made anything using negative space like this. Maybe it is time to give it a try. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
sarah
Post authorThe book is a fabulous resource. Thanks for visiting, Deborah.
Marie
I like the simplicity of the 07 or maybe 01, which probably means it is my favourite color sheme!
Negative space frightens me when it comes to quilting... I am never sure how to make it interesting.
sarah
Post authorThe book shows a variety of ways to deal with the negative space. Thank you for visiting, Marie. :-)
Donna Cutting
I like your #1 version and I am loving the look of modern quilts. I have been trying Straight line quilting and am amazed how stunning it looks.
Thanks for giveaway.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Donna. I plan to combine some walking foot quilting with free motion on this one.
Gene Black
I am surprised that I like #2 the best. I didn't realize why until I read someone's comment about the the inner part of the block matching the background.
The lime green is surprisingly effective also.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Gene. Not the one I chose, but I do see the appeal. (Deciding was hard.)
Deborah Beckman
Oh, if I were only brave enough to give it a try!
sarah
Post authorThe book has a lot of great inspiration. Be brave! Thanks for visiting, Deborah.