Winter in northern climes: crisp, cold sunny days; big, thick flakes creating a wonderland on tree branches and yards; frozen lakes and rivers; gray, cold, dark; raw, damp chill; short, gray sky days. For weeks I think of winter in black and white. Dramatic, crisp, sharp, sometimes depressing.
And then comes the day when winter turns to blues. It is still winter. Still dark, but getting brighter longer. Sunshine seems cheerier. Winter weather is still very much present, but somehow, even if temperatures are still well below freezing, I move into the winter blues. It’s definitely a step towards adding color back into the days, from stark black and white to winter blues.
Many years ago, I took a photo of our backyard right at that switch from black and white to blue. I designed and stitched this small wall hanging based on that photo. It’s called Winter’s Hope; hope for spring, hope for sunshine, hope for more color, hope for easier smiles and brighter outlooks.
Winter’s Hope (c) Heidi Edwards Dunn
Winter blues are dark, deep blues and light, crisp, white-tinted blues. Winter blues are just off from black and white – just enough off that they have color, but still exhibit strong value statements.
Blue surrounds us, from sky and water to fashion and interior design. It is considered the most “trustworthy” color, so many companies use it in their logos to engender a sense of trust.
Blue fabrics appear in many, if not most, quilts. If blue isn’t the main color or the most prominent color, it is often a strong supporting color in the background keeping the quilt calm and highlighting other colors simultaneously.
The darkest dark blues are strong and a great platform for showcasing design.
Walker’s quilt (c) Heidi Edwards Dunn 2014
The lightest light blues are also strong, even as lights. Their value gives them the spotlight, or aids in highlighting any fabric darker than they are.
How can you use the darkest and lightest of blues in your stash to brighten your day? Use the winter blues to warm your heart and mind even as winter is still upon us.
Today is brighter. It’s not all black and white out there. Winter blues are appearing!
P.S. Where does your inspiration come from? Part of the inspiration for this blog post came from watching a video about dark blue nail polishes on my daughter’s YouTube channel, Olive Ave Nails!
P.P.S. More about lights and darks - check out my recently published book Conquering Color and Fabric and download the pdf template the Dynamic Color and Fabric Plan™.