I want to cry
02-08-2011, 12:12 PM
#11
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Originally Posted by QBeth
SO disappointing when best laid plans fall flat, isn't it?!! Sorry you couldn't find what you wanted at a store, no less, that everyone raves about.
One suggestion... have you looked at the Robert Kaufman fusions line? It's all the same (subtle) tone-on-tone pattern but comes in a great many colors. I use them all the time, especially for borders where I'm trying to blend with several other colors. Here's a link... scroll down...
http://www.robertkaufman.com/fabrics/fusions_5573/
Good luck!
One suggestion... have you looked at the Robert Kaufman fusions line? It's all the same (subtle) tone-on-tone pattern but comes in a great many colors. I use them all the time, especially for borders where I'm trying to blend with several other colors. Here's a link... scroll down...
http://www.robertkaufman.com/fabrics/fusions_5573/
Good luck!
However, I did look on that website and discovered their Artisan Batik Prisma Dye line and I really like those. And they list the specific color name as well as the color number! If only I could find a place that sold the whole line I'd be in business. HOP didn't seem to have the whole line on their website.
Originally Posted by PatriceJ
you are correct. trying to match colors exactly is exhausting and frustrating. that's true even if you're lucky enough to have an in-person place to shop for them.
consider changing your strategy a bit. remember that works of art inspired by other works of art are nearly always "interpretive". that is to say that they don't have to be exactly correct in order to be beautiful and appreciated.
as long as the colors you use create the appropriate look, it won't matter if they aren't super-precisely accurate. cross my heart. ;-)
is there a place near you that sells paint? they might not mind if you collected paint sample strips that show the colors you need. then, contact HOP to see if you can mail them the chips so they can go through their bolts to match those colors for you. if they can't, try contacting Mary Jo's. i don't think they carry moda, but they have a huge selection of tonals from a number of designers. (i'll bet it's the same at HOP.) it's possible that drawing your fabrics from different collections will add interest to the quilt you hadn't expected. :-)
you might also consider buying a supply of fabric paints and some nice plain white muslin. you can mix and paint your own. i could be wrong, but considering the price of the fabs you've been considering, i believe painting your own will save you piles of money in the long run.
when you've made what you need for your project, you can also experiment with faric painting for its own sake. there's a huge market for hand painted fabs. if you find you have a talent for producing beautiful fabs, you will most likely be able to sell them. :-)
consider changing your strategy a bit. remember that works of art inspired by other works of art are nearly always "interpretive". that is to say that they don't have to be exactly correct in order to be beautiful and appreciated.
as long as the colors you use create the appropriate look, it won't matter if they aren't super-precisely accurate. cross my heart. ;-)
is there a place near you that sells paint? they might not mind if you collected paint sample strips that show the colors you need. then, contact HOP to see if you can mail them the chips so they can go through their bolts to match those colors for you. if they can't, try contacting Mary Jo's. i don't think they carry moda, but they have a huge selection of tonals from a number of designers. (i'll bet it's the same at HOP.) it's possible that drawing your fabrics from different collections will add interest to the quilt you hadn't expected. :-)
you might also consider buying a supply of fabric paints and some nice plain white muslin. you can mix and paint your own. i could be wrong, but considering the price of the fabs you've been considering, i believe painting your own will save you piles of money in the long run.
when you've made what you need for your project, you can also experiment with faric painting for its own sake. there's a huge market for hand painted fabs. if you find you have a talent for producing beautiful fabs, you will most likely be able to sell them. :-)
And oh how I have tried the paint chip thing and then some. When I was working overnights each day when I'd pass by the paint station I'd grab a few paint chips until I literally had all the Kilz paint samples. But I discovered I couldn't put the paint chip up to the TV screen to see if the color matched because unlike a wall or paper its lit in the back. And for whatever reason my printer isn't printing the colors out right. I thought maybe my computer's calibration was off and thus the colors I was seeing were totally off. But the images I pulled off ZeldaWiki and the video I took with my video capture card were both the same. Even turned on the game and went to the windows are and sure enough the colors on the TV screen matched to what I was seeing on my computer screen. So I can't print off a picture and match chips that way. I even went on a website where you can match paint chips and it won't let me find a color by putting in the color the computer gives me (ex. #000000=black). Ugh...I just can't win.
To tell the truth, dying isn't all that cost effective either between the dye, soda ash, the gallons of water I'd have to buy since we have rusty water, Retayne, that stuff that helps keep red dye from making your fabric looking spotty, and the fabric itself. I figure either I'm going to buy every color of dye under the sun or buy large quanities of red, yellow, blue, and black or have to experiment a lot or do quite a bit of research and hope for the best. Going to cost a whole lot more if I end up with something that I can't use.
02-08-2011, 12:16 PM
#13
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Just another thought if you want to look at a different fabric. Hoffman 1895 batiks (expensive though) are gorgeous and there's a website where you can get a snippet of their entire line. If you are interested in something like that I will be happy to find the website for you.
Susan
Susan
02-08-2011, 12:25 PM
#14
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Originally Posted by SuzyQ
Just another thought if you want to look at a different fabric. Hoffman 1895 batiks (expensive though) are gorgeous and there's a website where you can get a snippet of their entire line. If you are interested in something like that I will be happy to find the website for you.
Susan
Susan
02-08-2011, 12:28 PM
#15
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Originally Posted by Flying_V_Goddess
I'd definatly be interested. I don't mind going for different lines. Moda Marbles had been the main one because a lot of places carry them (but apparently not the colors I need. lol) and they have a wide range of colors. It kept me from having to jump around from fabric line to fabric line to find the 77+ colors I need.
You go girl! No wonder you're stressed out. :-)
02-08-2011, 12:49 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by QBeth
Originally Posted by Flying_V_Goddess
I'd definatly be interested. I don't mind going for different lines. Moda Marbles had been the main one because a lot of places carry them (but apparently not the colors I need. lol) and they have a wide range of colors. It kept me from having to jump around from fabric line to fabric line to find the 77+ colors I need.
You go girl! No wonder you're stressed out. :-)
02-08-2011, 01:44 PM
#17
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Location: Ohio
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I hope this works. This is the link to the "color fan"
http://www.batiksplus.com/SuperStore...ProductID=5042
The main website is batiksplus.com. I've ordered from them several times and always had great service. You can also get free shipping and sales from time to time as well. Good luck!
Susan
http://www.batiksplus.com/SuperStore...ProductID=5042
The main website is batiksplus.com. I've ordered from them several times and always had great service. You can also get free shipping and sales from time to time as well. Good luck!
Susan
02-08-2011, 03:20 PM
#18
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Nashua, NH
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Originally Posted by Flying_V_Goddess
But yeah, there's at least 75 colors. See why I was so upset when I couldn't find the fabrics I picked out for sale?
02-08-2011, 03:40 PM
#19
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Location: Perth, Western Australia
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From reading your posts I know you are a purist, especially with your Zelda project. With such a vast colour range needed, and the fact it is a stained glass window effect, perhaps you might consider using fabrics other than 100% cotton. Depending on what you choose, it may add an extra luminosity to your work. Now I'm off to hide from the QP!
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