Feb
22
Nuttin! Orange and silver are two words for which there is no exact rhyme in the English language. A fabric company should put out an orange fabric with metallic silver highlights and call it “Nothing Rhymes.”
Today I’m ruminating about the color orange as part of Pat Sloan’s Virtual Weekend Retreat and OP Challenge. What’s an OP you might ask? Orange Pile! Your pile of orange fabrics from your stash! There’s a blog hop going on with prize giveaways, a free block pattern, photos of work in progress, and a tutorial. Click the OP logo in the left-hand sidebar and you’ll find out all about it.
What’s orange in nature? Lots of things. Oranges. Tangerines. Papayas. Pumpkins. Carrots. All of these grow with green leaves, so it seems that green goes with orange. However, to me, an orange and green combo just always has a “food” connotation, like food-service industry.
California poppies. Chrysanthemums. Nasturtiums. Still with the green leaves, but commonly pictured against a blue sky. Orange and blue… a nice combination.
Ginger tabby cats. Parts of calico cats. Pomeranians. Monarch Butterflies.
My calico cat Maikai.
Orange and black, besides being two colors in the classic calico triad, just means Halloween. Orange and brown occur often together in the coats of animals. A touch of orange is fantastic for depicting critters. Go see the giraffes on the home page of appliqué artist Nancy Brown’s website.
I happen to like orange, and when I say that I mean in my stash and in my quilts. Supposedly I can’t wear true orange, me being a ‘classic winter’ and all. But when I really think about it, orangey-red is really one of my favorite colors! Witness the color scheme for this blog (which I designed myself). My car is ‘red-orange metallic.’ I’m far more drawn to the orange side of red than the purple side.
I try to pull a splash of orange into my appliqué whenever I can. Here’s my improvisational, scissor-cut wall quilt Free Flowers. It just wouldn’t be the same without the orange and the pink.
When I pulled fabrics for the blocks in my book Growing Hearts to Appliqué, I mixed orange into the reds.
One of my very favorite color combinations is orangey-red and tealy blue. Can you see it in this quilt block? They’re opposite each other on the color wheel, so they’re complimentary, and they look fabulous together.
Last year I stopped by In Stitches, an exceedingly cute quilt shop in Red Buff, California. The owner, Erda Fleming, told me that they had a program whereby the first fabric purchased by a customer would become the Bolt of the Day. I was the first one in the door so I got to proclaim the Bolt of the Day. Here’s what I chose.
Pat Sloan fabric!
Note the orangey-red and tealy blue. No wonder it was my favorite!
When I designed the cover for Growing Hearts I used this color combo too.
Have you guessed it? This book is my giveaway for the OP Challenge! Leave a comment on this post to enter the drawing for Growing Hearts to Appliqué. The winner will be drawn this evening, California time.
Don’t forget to visit Pat Sloan’s blog for the rest of her virtual weekend retreat on all quilty things orange!
Until next time,
Kay
Quilt Puppy Publications & Designs
Comments
62 Responses to “What rhymes with orange?”
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I am a fan of orange as well. One of my favorite quilts I’ve made was orange and blue!
PS What an adorable cat!
Love orange, it is my favorite color!!
That is a gorgoeus applique quilt, please enter me into your drawing for the book!
I think we should make up words to rhyme with orange LOL and I love the fabric line idea. Have had a great time wandering around and looking at all the applique, it is my favorite part of quilting.
margi
Hi Kay, Glad you joined the OP. I would love a copy of your book. I’ve been catching up on your blog for awhile now reading about getting your book published. And jumping from your links to find some great applique quilters. Thanks for the generosity. Marked your ‘blog around’ on my calendar too!
Love your orange stash! So vibrant! I also love applique! ;-)
I would love to win the book. Tips on applique are my fav!!
As everyone said–I would love to win the book. But, I’m not usually that lucky. Thank you for all you do. Take care.
PS It is a very pretty cat.
OMG, appique. . . I’m hooked! I so wish I could sign up for an RSS feed to your blog. . . I just love it and your work! I’m so dang busy. I hope I can make it back again! Need to make a folder in my favorites: Must stop by. . . . yep, I’ll do that now! Thanks for joining in on Pat’s OP. So glad I’ve found you! Look forward to purusing your work! amy R
I am so glad I found your blog-I have the teapot applique book and I love it. I also love calico cats. Please enter me in the drawing-I had fun making Pat Sloan’s OP block.
Love the orange blocks…I am having fun with Pat’s OP blocks this weekend. Enjoyed visiting your blog! I have what I call an “orange” cat….but he’s really a kind of tannish/pink color…he’s my buddy when I’m on my computer. Please enter me into the drawing for the OP.
What pretty heart blocks!!!This may just be the gentle push I need to do more brights…ha! Sweet pose on that kitty cat! We have 2 calico kitties, one light and one dark.
Great orange-y post! Would love the book!!
Your work is beautiful and inspiring!
Love your blog! Applique is a favorite of mine!
Lovely blog, and so orange friendly too :o)
I absolutely love applique. Your book is beautiful! Thanks for playing in the OP retreat.
Would love to win your book! Looks awesome!
Kay here, saying thank you to one and all who’ve commented so far for your wonderful words. I’m off now to my quilt guild’s annual show for the day and I’ll be back this evening.
Cheers,
Kay
I’m really drawn to your “Growing hearts to Applique” and would LOVE to win the drawing! Linda lcarhill@cox.net
I love applique! and I agree–orange and teal-y blue are awesome together. Thanks for the giveaway!
That book is amazing. So glad you went back and pointed out how you have used orange in so many places to brighten up a wall hanging.
Actually chilver rhymes with silver and is an old English word meaning a female lamb.
And Blorenge is a Welsh mountain. Another common one is that nothing rhymes with purple – again untrue as there is a Scottish word hirple meaning unsteady on your feet or limping.
Anyway back to quilty stuff – your orange and turqoise applique is just making my mouth water!
Cute OP giveaway! The kitty is adorable as well!
I am “new” to the applique obsession…it is a wonderful thing.:)
Can’t wait to go all thru your blog.
I love the book! Orange was a new color for me in quilting until I did Bonnie Hunter’s Orange Crush. Now it’s one of my favorites!
Would LOVE that book. I enjoyed your little “discussion” about the merits of orangey red and teal blue, too. :) Will be checking back to read more of your blog. One of the nicest things about giveaways like this is the chance to find new blogs. (Oh, yes…I also think purple has no rhyming word for it!!! LOL)
Great giveaway! Thanks for the chance.
Gosh, my blocks ended up with the orange and tealy-blue colors too.
Off to find a sashing
I love the idea of orange & silver! A whole nothing rhymes collection! Great site, and wow, glad you are part of the OP challenge! Great inspiration! Loved the link to the giraffes, too! Hope to get that good someday!
I love your site, and your orange stash. The colors are vibrant and the fabrics are delicious.
And I love how you even celebrate the orange in your kitty! (I have a tortie with lots of oranges in her fur…poor dear is quite ill right now though.) :(
I’d love to have your book someday. It looks really nice!
Thanks!
Kim
I’m a new quilter so I haven’t tackled applique yet but it’s on my list of things to do!
Your cat is beautiful and reminds me so much of my much beloved late Nosey, so named because a black patch split her nose exactly in half. I miss her muchly…
Applique is one of my favorite things–glad I found you through Pat’s OP and will be stopping back frequently!
I realy try to visit a few new blogs every day (almost) but there are so many! The internet it HUGE! So I’m happy to have a peek at yours. You’re an aplique lover as I am I see:) But I don’t have one piece of orange in my stash. Maybe I should have? This OP challenge looks like a fun thing. Amybe it will be blue next time? Hmmmm….wouldn’t mind winning that book either :)
Oh, my goodness! Maikai is just gorgeous. I have a calico too, she’s got odd markings — orange down her back, black on her “butt cheeks,” a few black spots on her sides, black over one ear, orange on the top of her head, but with a tabby “M” on her forehead and a ring-striped tabby tail. But, I think she’s beautiful too. Ahem, but I digress. Sorry, I’m owned by four cats, so they do tend to get my attention. I also love your applique work, and would be very happy to add your book to my collection. Off to play OP some more, it’s calling me! –Lydia
I’m not sure I could do that pattern justice, but boy would I sure like to try! It’s beautiful. :D
Dunno what changed, but now I can get your blog via RSS feeds! Yipppee! Glad I stopped back again! amy R
i love orange. my daughter’s favorite color has always been orange, ever since she was about 2 and at 22 she still chooses it over any other color–always!! we got her an orange pea coat from J Crew for Christmas and she loves it!! I love your applique flowers! they are so charming and beautiful.
I thrilled to have found your blog. One of my goals this year is to improve my hand applique. Would love to have your book in my quilt library.
Take care!
Applique is my favorite technique, and your book looks terrific!
Love your creations and the orange that goes in them. I love the color combinations! Happy, happy, Happy!
Beautiful quilts, just beautiful, I really do have to start learning applique’. I’m a pretty new quilter but there are so many wonderful things to do and applique is going on the top of my list now. The picture of your cat really brought back memories. I had a calico 25 years ago that could have been her twin. Her name was ‘Snooklefritz’, Snookie for short and she was a real love. Maikai looks so much like her, Snookie even had the white leg with one orange spot on it. Wow, so much alike. Thanks for sharing her picture and your wonderful quilts.
So happy to have found you via Pat Sloan. I am an orange lover too but lean toward the traditional quilts. Your book and patterns offer an excellent combination of both.Keep up the good work. I will be watching !!!
Wow! That applique book looks wonderful! Thanks for the chance!
I didn’t know there weren’t any words that rhymed with orange. I guess that is my trivia for today. I would love to win your book. Thanks for participating.
Enjoyed reading your blog today. Fun and interesting stuff. I would love to win your book. Thanks for entering me.
I already had you on my list of favorites because I looooove applique! Great give-away!
Karen
I love your free form flowers! Very bright & cute!
Kelly
Quilter in Quakertown
OH My Gosh! Thank you Pat Sloan for introducing me to you! I have got to win, I love the book!!!!!! Thank you for the opportunity to win. Sure hope that I do.
I learn so much from your blog. Thank you for keeping it active and interesting. we have a calico cat too. Every quilter needs a calico cat!
I’m a new orange convert! This challenge has really made me think differently about using orange in my quilts. Thanks for the great giveaway!
I am a long, long time reader of your blog and fan of your work. Actually, I found out about Pat’s OP Retreat from reading your blog. Thank you!! I do not have the book you are offering as a give-away. Hint – Hint!! :-)
I love applique and I love your site! Thanks for offering a give-away to add to the fun of the OP weekend!
Enjoy!
Those fabrics are yummy
To be honest, orange isn’t my favorite color, but I have thoroughly enjoyed working with orange for this challenge! My blocks are looking good. I enjoyed visiting and thank you for the giveaway!
I posted earlier but forgot to leave my email addy and would love to be in on the giveaway it’s teenietaters@msn.com Thanks so much.
What a talented crafter you are! I am hoping to learn to applique’. You are an inspiration. What a cutie you have for a kittie. Thank you for tossing my name into the giveaway contest!
Love the kitty, and the book is a great prize!
I love your site and your applique work. Thank you for sharing. The OP has been a blast. I have 8 blocks finished and I am working on 10 more, I think…
Love your idea for a Nothing Rhymes line of fabrics in orange and silver! Way cool!
Your OP giveaway is too cool, too. Please sign me up!
I’m delighted with the Halloween wall hanging I have to show for my participation. What fun this 1st virtual retreat has been for me and I thank you one and all!!
Silver and orange…now I will be trying to find something that rhymes…..:O) Love the book…it has been fun finding new blogs with Pat’s OP challenge. Denniele
I love your “Free FLowers” applique! IT’s absolutely gorgeous!
hm
I even have an orange car :) It’s a 1979 MGB…but I also love hearts so would love to be the winner of your book!
My heartfelt thanks to all you blog hoppers who hopped by and left such warm and wonderful comments. So many appliqué enthusiasts! Yay! I hope you’ll come back often. I’m now drawing for the prize and if you’re the winner, I’ll be in your in-box soon!
Very best regards,
Kay
hi Kay, your blog is worth to stop by, thank you. I would love to win the Growing Hearts to Appliqué book – looks great!
quilty hugs from Brigitte, German living in Poland
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