I don't see why navy wouldn't work.

midnight navy or very deep purple are better than flat blacks (IMHO) but there are some not quite solid blacks, like "Stonehedge" by Northcroft or Michael Millers "Crystal" that are very dark without being a flat, solid black.

I agree... Just move those fabrics to your "neutrals" pile.

Your colors are spot on, Nanny's dollface! If I use my stash, I will not quite capture that Grand Hotel feel. My yellow is not as orange, my blues are not as green.

I've never done a mystery quilt either, and this sounds like such fun!

Thank you for the information, think I will try to do that right now. Thanks again.

I noticed that so far from the photos of selected fabrics that no one has included batiks. I am torn between using batiks or regular cotton. I don't have enough of either so that doesn't help me decide. It seems like most of the BH quilts I've seen are rarely done in batik. Is there a practical reason for this?

I think I will need to see the quilt block more developed than individual pieces to decide on fabric selection. Can't wait for it to get started!!

for me....and I am only talking about my piecing and quilting.....there is such a difference in the way batiks and quilting cottons "behave" while piecing that I prefer either all batiks or no batiks..... have to admit I feel the same way about mixing flannel in with quilting cottons while piecing.......as for use as the backing fabric - that has never been any problem. just my experience tossed into the mix here.

Its funny how different we can be. I always mix batiks and cottons in my scrappies. I like the variety. One of the great things about quilting is that unless you're entering your work in a contest or making a custom order quilt, whatever makes you happy is best!

To the person who noted the "view first unread" option: Thank you! Been here for years and didn't know about it!

I mix batiks and cotton, but the batiks tend to be in smaller amounts only b/c I've less scraps of them. There are a lot in my Cathedral Stars, though.

That "view first unread" icon (tiny blue button) is also on the pages that list all the topics in any particular forum. Look just to the left of the title of the thread, you click that blue button and voila! go straight to the spot where you left off!

http://www.quiltingboard.com/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by JeanieGhttp://www.quiltingboard.com/images/...post-right.pngSusan, I would take out the very light greens in the middle of your stack, they will read white in the quilt, the same with the real light blue color. Also you might have trouble with the striped fabric (love it), it will also show up as white in some cuts.
wOW!! i NEVER THOUGHT OF THEM AS NEUTRAL! oOPS= caps locked... I think of white/ beige/ grey/ tan as neutrals. I put those lighter greens back in my big plastic scraps box. At least now I can close the cover. :)

If the background colors are neutrals, the fabric works as neutrals.

A good way to judge your fabric's color value is to squint at it. Then you will clearly see which are dark and which are light. You can also see which ones in the group don't belong with the others.

I'm not sure about this one yet! It looks like fun!! My friend is wanting me to do this one with her. Maybe I will give it a whirl!

Hello ladies! I haven't been on the board in a really long time, but when I was picking out my colors I was thinking about how I came on here last year to ask your opinions. I decided to totally change the colors and make it more of a camo quilt so that my boys can have options too lol. Poor things always love the design but hate the colors (as I tend to make them with girly one) :) I have my colors picked by how much I have of each one. I am 2" short on one, but usually have some left so I hope I will be ok. Totally doing this from stash and was surprised I had enough for this to begin with. Please let me know what you guys think.

Oh yeah, I have looked at everyone else's fabrics and I LOVE them! Can't wait to do this mystery this year. This is my 5th mystery with Bonnie and have never been disapointed.

I am sure everyone knows this......but just in case........if you click on the little black down arrow triangle that is just before the word 'page' you get a drop-down box where you can key in the number of any page you want to skip over to. Key number in and then click on 'go'

http://www.quiltingboard.com/attachm...d=496756&stc=1http://www.quiltingboard.com/attachm...d=496757&stc=1http://www.quiltingboard.com/attachm...d=496759&stc=1http://www.quiltingboard.com/attachm...d=496760&stc=1http://www.quiltingboard.com/attachm...d=496762&stc=1http://www.quiltingboard.com/attachm...d=496763&stc=1

Well, never posted a picture in the new format so I'll see what happens but I so want to preview and I know I can't!
I went looking in my mountain of scraps and got over welmed so will do a modified scrappy and make each color only one fabric. Here's what I think I have come up from the cotton loft (having a closing sale and they might all be out of stock). I know I would agonize over each fabric next to another fabric for an hour each so true scrappy will just not work for me. If they are out of stock might just go solids which I probably could pull from my stash.

Well, what do you know! That worked! :D

Brooke: I think that would make a perfect for boys camo quilt!

Finally got my fabrics together
 

I've finally pulled my Grand Illusion fabrics - following Bonnie's colors. I've always admired folks that have done up their quilts in other colors, and found a combination I think would also look nice - don't know if I'll try a few blocks in this color way yet....

Pj, I love that color combo. I'm sure it will look awesome when done.

I can't wait to get started. Just saw on her Blog that the instructions were up (I've been out of town so missed her actual post). Now to see if I have fabric in stash for this.

Like both of your choices. Where did you find that Motion of the Ocean colour scheme? I found a website a couple of years ago that had hundreds of those images, but I lost all my favourites in a computer change and can't find it again. Thanks!

Your fabric choices definitely will come out more manly! I might change which colors I'm subbing for, based on the values of the colors. For instance, she told us to use the darkest pink and green, but the lighter two aquas... and I think the middle value yellow. If you sub a dark color, exchange it for a dark/bold paint color. And sub your lighter colors for the lighter paint colors, like the aqua and yellow. That's the only thing I would do different with your choices. Otherwise, the design may not come out as dynamic, if the "values" aren't working similar to Bonnie's.

I've got plenty of batiks in my pink, green and teal colors. Like Bonnie I am using a single yellow constant. I've not pulled my neutrals yet but I'm certain at least a few batik scraps will make their way into that category, and I know I've got at least one black batik in my scrap bin.

I do mix batiks and regular fabrics, but because the weight of each is so different ... if the pieces are small I will re-adjust my seam allowance to a very scant 1/4" then trim down if necessary. It's usually only necessary when I'm working with small cuts though.

I think it is helpful although I don't always get exactly the size I'm going for. I just need a little more practice. I waited for a coupon for Joanne's and got it about 40% off so it was well worth the price. I've used it in Bonnie's Jamestown Landing and am excited about using it again.

I have all my fabrics if anyone is having trouble getting the paint chips I can mail mine to you. Just PM me.

Is the Bonnie Hunter style mainly small scale one-two color prints which blend? I have never done a BH quilt. when I saw her color chips all I could think was KAFFE KAFFE KAFFE!!!

I saw a Kaffe log cabin on the internet and it struck me it looked really good, so I thought maybe...

You think Kaffe would work?

Thanks folks

Just signed up for the email alerts. Just my luck I would forget.

I haven't done a BH quilt either. My impression, from what's been said, is that her pieces are small. Since Kaffe tends to be large scale, you might have to do some fussy cutting in order to get the right colors for particular pieces. Just guessing, though!

I just spotted this thread and was so thrilled to see it! I have been collecting my fabrics and even purchased some fat quarters to fill in. Am enjoying seeing the posted fabric and looking forward to reading each and everyone's comments. Thank you so much for starting this Podunk Princess!

Can't believe we still have a month to wait before we can start this quilt~ (whine, whine, whiiiiiiiinnnnee......)

For those interested in playing with color, Color Capture is an app available for iPads. It is a color selection tool for BenMoore paints. You use the app to take a picture from nature...like a beach at sunset or that flowering cactus. Then the app grabs the colors and gives you a palet to play with. Nature doesn't get it wrong!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/colo...318034543?mt=8

Better get all that whining out before the mystery. Remember Bonnie's rule, "No whining." ;)

I'm thinking of trying this MQ. I've never done an MQ and am not sure I'm going to be good at not seeing the final product to choose my colors but that's another post. :) I like bright colors but the chosen colors are just too much for me so I need an opinion. I'm thinking of using the yellow, pink and turquoise, but making yellow one of the scrap colors and using gray as the constant. It would have to be a deep enough gray that it contrasts with the neutrals and not so dark that it fights the black but removing the green and substituting something that feels a little less overwhelming really appeals to me. Feedback please.

Choosing a different colorway without a pattern to go by is an adventure in itself! Irish, there's quite a bit of black, and the thought of all that black plus all that gray seems to me like it might be overly somber. I wonder if you could replace the black with a different neutral? I don't naturally gravitate to such a bright color palette, but I find I'm loving this one!

sewbizgirl, the anticipation is half the fun! :D I'm actually kind of glad we have this interlude, because I have a top and a backing that I'd love to finish up before we start, so my wall is all clear for the mystery!

That is cool that there is an app for that. That is how I have always chosen a color scheme, taking a picture that really speaks to me (either a photo, or painting, sometimes even an advertising) and pulling colors from that. Or taking a piece a fabric that I am drawn to and using the colors in the selvedge for the color scheme even if I don't use that fabric (like if it is upholstery or other non appropriate fabrics)

I did not know that! Thanks soooooooo much!