Color Play: Easy Steps to Imaginative Color in Quilts

Nothing is more disappointing than to see a beautifully sewn quilt that is ugly. All those hours and material invested to produce, hmm, well, something that will keep someone warm.While nothing can replace a quilter's own developing sense of color relationships for creating a stunning quilt, Joen's Color Play is a great self-teaching tool. Information many people learned years ago in school, for example that blue and orange are complementary colors, is not true in fabrics. Joen presents the Ives Color Wheel, and promises her readers that using magenta, yellow and turquoise as the primary colors instead of red, yellow and blue will 'create the most powerfully beautiful colors in the world.' The Ives Color Wheel is presented as the only element on page 11 so it is large enough to be very useful when selecting fabrics.Joen also discusses the colors that correspond with various seasons and moods, helping any quilter who wants to convey a particular feeling or time of year.Although much of the book consists of color drawings of quilts to illustrate color partnerships, dozens of pictures of real quilts are included and referred to as examples. A bonus chapter at the end explain how to created special effects such as a sense of depth, luminosity, luster, transparency, shadows and highlights - very inspiring!A great reference book!

This book is very helpful in understanding color. I learned sooooo much. The second half has some examples that might be considered a little dated, but the beginning totally makes up for it. Buy this book if you are interested in learning more about color in any area ie quilting, home decor, painting etc

Published in 2000, this book is timeless for learning about color in nature. Joen will teach you how to use color in your quilts that will bring them to new heights. I have other books on color but this one shines. It stands out because she teaches in a way that is workable for any project you are currently engaged. If your desire is to 'go to the next level with color', this is a great choice. It will remain in my quilting library for as long as I quilt.Thank you Joen for producing this wonderful work of art. (The newer book is probably better but this is all I need, as I'd rather spend money on fabric than on more books!) ;)

This is a great book; the author explains her color concepts/theories with excellent examples. You learn how colors are grouped naturally, how colors work together, and how you can create great designs through changes in intensity, value, and temperature. Her Ultimate 3-In-1 Color Tool (24 Color Cards with Numbered Swatches: 5 Color Plans for Each Color) readily demonstrates all the colors, shades, tints, etc she talks about--what's really handy is this fits into your purse to take to the store!My only complaint is that the Post Office, in their infinite wisdom, folded the package (padded envelope)in half to fit it into my box--instead of putting it into a larger keyed box. No fault of the sender or Amazon.

This book is excellent for learning how colors work together making it very useful for quilters but it is also useful to scrapbookers, artists and anyone who works with color. It works very well with Joen Wolfrom's Ultimate 3-in-1 Color Tool. I found using the book and the Color Tool together helped me understand how colors and their variations work together.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in colors and their relationship to each other. This is NOT a book just for quilters, it is full of information that any artistic person will find useful including a great introduction to the Ives color wheel. I am a fiber artist who creates wool sculpture and was introduced to Joen's book by a bead artist friend so you can see this book has many uses...your imagination will swirl when you see the colors and ideas in this book!

Great book on helping one who has only been quilting for a short 4 years! This book gives me the information to try my own fabric combo's instead of relying on quilt kits.....Great developing tool for any quilter on any level. My Mom is a master quilter and found this book (I sent her a copy) as a great adjunct to her quilting designs and colors.

Lots of ideas with color

I liked this book, suggested to me by a group of experienced quilters. It takes basic colour theory and expands it through all aspects if colour relationships.

This has to be the best colour books I have come across. It is so well written that it can be used by a beginner or someone who has been doing patchwork for a long time. Even if you thought you knew about colour, this is a step further. Cannot recommend it highly enough.

Very useful, to help me choosing colours before I choose my materials for quilting.I wish I had seen the book before, it was recommended by a friend.

I lack a natural colour sense. This is a good book for helping to overcome this.

A1