What I did on my (Christmas) Vacation (part 3)
We repainted the kitchen way back at the beginning of summer. It was the first room to be redecorated when we moved in almost fifteen years ago. The room was so hideous that we started on it the afternoon we signed the papers. It was orange and black. No kidding. Orange and black, with a weird wallpaper border of European style children carrying swords, and burnt orange indoor-outdoor carpet.
Back then we painted the walls and woodwork several shades of white, and decorated with blue stenciling just under the crown molding. The curtains were made from the Smithsonian reproduction fabrics from the Civil War era, perfect for this 1860 house.
The new wall color is a cheerful blue, almost periwinkle, pulled from my beloved Blue Willow dishes. The blue of the old curtains clashed with the new wall color and had to go. I found just the right fabrics several months ago. They’ve been stacked up next to my cutting table, just waiting their turn.
With the Christmas hub bub done it was finally time to get those curtains made. I’ve had the pattern forever, the copyright is 1992. I’ve used it again and again.
I like the new color. Blue always looks so clean and fresh, especially in light reflected by snow. I think I’m entering my blue phase. For years my favorite colors have been red and green. My dresser drawers are full of red clothes. My stash is dominated by red and green fabrics, even though they are usually the first pulled and used. (Clearly they are also the first purchased.)
But now that my hair is turning gray I find that red no longer suits me. I really like what pale aqua does for my skin tone. The cool tones of blue, turquoise and mint green are replacing fire engine red in my closet. I wonder how long it will be before it is also replaced in my quilts! I’ve noticed in classes that students often work with the same colors that they wear. What do you think? Do your closet and stash match?
January 7th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
The new kitchen looks nice. That blue certainly is calming. I had never thought before about the stash/clothing likeness, but i think you’re right! I think style comes into play too….those who wear more “classic” clothes are making the more traditional quilts and those who are a little more free with their clothing choices are also with their quilts…..hmmmm, great topic.
January 7th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
I’ve had to make a point of buying things that are not blue. It is my colour, I love and it looks good on me. I do go through phases as to what I like best…though rarely do I dislike something I was in love with, I think I just get tired of it.
January 7th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Absolutely!
I’m also noticing, though, that I’m slowly expanding my “repertoire” of colors. While I’ve always loved blues and cool tones (though not green so much), I’m branching out a bit into the warmer shades, too. Maybe we all need change now and then? 
January 7th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Thank God that doesn’t hold true for me. I wear black almost every single day and my stash is full of every other colour of the rainbow. Lots of brights. Not much in the brown tones but only because it’s such a hard colour to find. Maybe I should start wearing other colours but I never find anything I like. It’s either the wrong shade of red or it’s got a large loud print on it and that’s not my thing. The only thing about wearing black and being a quilter is that you always know when I’ve been sewing. Thread stuck all over me.
January 7th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Hi Beth! Love the wall color–decorating is also on the agenda at my house in 2010. I wear a lot of red and it dominates my stash too. I don’t see that changing anytime in the near (or far) future. Love it…
January 8th, 2010 at 7:31 am
I guess you could say that my stash matches my wardrobe but it’s not one color ~ more the fact that everything is BRIGHT. Bright clothes and bright stash… maybe someday my color choices will calm down but I doubt it.
Love the new blue.
January 8th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Please tell me that you took pictures of the black and orange kitchen!!!! Our house had a yellow and black kitchen when we moved in. I changed it to white and red with black trim - very cheerful.
My stash and wardrobe do not match at all. I look good in pinks and wines, so I have a lot of pink shirts. However, my stash is heavy on greens, blues, and purples. Go figure.
January 8th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
My kitchen is still orange and gold with fake wainscoting. I love the blue. It’s my favorite color-parochial school influence no doubt. I have to force myself to wear other colors all the time.