I don't let other people's dislikes determine what I do. Seems like an easy way to make your self crazy if you do.

Mine is pitiful and I have an art background!!!

When auditioning fabrics, I take the bolt off of the shelf, try to find a window with natural light and check it out there... What looks fine to my eye in a vertical position or under those fluorescent lights, is totally different "up close and personal". And trying to match a color?? ... a rose by any other name... even with the "dots" on the selvage of a focus fabric...YIKES!

Also... for color comobs, I pour over tons of magazines, in the library, or those given to our guild, or others' quilt color-combos as well as the covers of patterns, tho' I have only bought 1 or 2 quilt patterns in my lifetime! There's so many freebies out there.

Quilt Police? oh, they're real, but I do not associate with them or let them come anywhere near me! LOL

I have been told that I have a great color sense and I agree, it's something that has been second nature to me since I began sewing. Although I once made a Twister quilt and used a print that I didn't think worked well after it was put together, although many people commented on that choice for giving the quilt zing. I like getting compliments on my color choices, but their opinion is not paramount to making a quilt. The one time I feel I have a problem is with Mystery Quilts, as I prefer knowing what the blocks will look like to choose colors, so I often cheat and wait until all the directions have been posted before making the Mystery.

I'm pretty confident with my color sense. But I did read several books on quilting and color and art books on color. One I highly recommend is Jinny Beyer's about color--really puts into perspective the need to have different values in the quilt to make the design jump out. Check out Quiltmaker's website--under one of the pull down menus is a feature that shows the same quilt pattern made with different color combos--very interesting to see how it can change the whole design.

I am usually satisfied with my color choices. I know what I like and dislike. At this point in my life, satisfaction is my goal. The color police can go somewhere. I do recognize and admire those that are masters.

I make a quick sample block of fabrics I like, and "interview" it under different lighting. It's amazing to see the difference between each room of the house and outside. I do the same to check paint colors. This might help you if you're wanting to get just the right color to be used a particular place.

An example is the bright celery green I painted a bedroom. Wonderfully cheery and clean look in window daylight - at night, with artificial light, it turns into a soft sage green, very soothing and restful. Isn't colorsight a wonderful gift!

I am an 8+. When I get stumped I get my DH to help me. He is a 10 on those occasions.

This is a great article concerning the use of the color wheel when selecting fabrics for quilting. Janet Wickell writes great about.com articles about quilting and designs quilting patterns. Her patterns are well written and easy to follow. http://quilting.about.com/od/colorfa...m#step-heading

I go along with you. Everyone says they can tell which quilt I do by just looking at the colors. I still don't know what I do, but if I like it and give it as a gift, it's good! And I still don't know what I do. I have bits and pieces of this or that and if I want to use it I do and that's it. I would love to do a kit sometime, but it would never be mine. My quilts are not in my head, they're in my heart and what comes out of my heart has to be love, because if it came out of my head there wouldn't be anything there - Edie

(Only kidding - I still have some of the grey matter up there!!!!!)

I seem to have a decent color sense when choosing fabrics for quilts. However, when it comes to colors and dressing myself....please! There are days my family probably shouldn't let me leave the house. :o