Sunday, February 22, 2009

Pat Sloan's OP Challenge

Welcome everyone to Pat Sloan's OP Challenge. I don't know Pat personally but in some ways I feel I do. I found Pat via YouTube.com. I eventually found her again through various facebook groups we both belong to. So now I also follow her blog. When she proposed the OP Challenge I thought what fun. I have always wanted to go on the quilt retreat, so now I can!

I am using one of my DH's pictures of the Blue Ridge Mountains during fall...do you notice all that orange?

During the challenge I will be working on several lap quilts or crib size quilts for the grandchildren using the block pattern. I will be revealing my progress with them as the day goes on so I hope you will stop back or sign on to follow my blog to see how it all comes together.

Here is my starting pile of oranges. As I started pulling oranges for the challenge I discovered I had a LOT more orange than I thought. This doesn't include the "Fall" colors that are less bright.



I wonder what all this orange says about me? So I googled meaning of colors orange.

Did you know...?

The Meaning of the color Orange during the Elizabethan Era?
"The color and material used in Elizabethan Clothing was extremely important. People who could wear the color Orange was dictated by English Law! These were called the Sumptuary Laws. The colors of Elizabethan clothes, including the color Orange, provided information about the status of the man or woman wearing them. This was not just dictated by the wealth of the person, it also reflected their social standing. The meaning of colors during the Elizabethan era represented many aspects of their life - the social, religious, biblical and Christian symbolism was reflected in the color Orange!"

or

About.com says Orange is "Flamboyant and Energetic : Orange is vibrant. It's a combination of red and yellow so it shares some common attributes with those colors. It denotes energy, warmth, and the sun. But orange has a bit less intensity or aggression than red, calmed by the cheerfulness of yellow."
Follow the link for more info.

or

Emily Gems says
"Orange is a power color. It is one of the healing colors. It is said to increase the craving for food. It also stimulates enthusiasm and creativity. Orange means vitality with endurance. People who like orange are usually thoughtful and sincere. Lady luck's color is orange. I have been told that if a change of any kind is need in life, just burn an orange candle for 7 nights.

Orange Energy
While red is associated with fiery heat, orange is associated with the benign warmth of the sun. A dynamic color to be sure, orange offers a more thoughtful control than explosive red. Curiosity is a driving characteristic of orange, and with it comes exploration of new things.

Put some orange in your life when you want:

* to spice things up when you feel time is dragging
* to become more involved in something
* to increase creativity
* relief from things becoming too serious

Orange gem stone properties
Orange gemstones contain some of the fiery energies of red, but are gentler with a more creative spirit. They are used to promote personal power and are useful for people who could use more self esteem. Carry or place orange gemstones around your home or office to stimulate creativity, mental quickness, ability to adjust to changes.

Wearing Orange
Wearing orange during times of stress, or shock can help to balance your emotions. It can bring about the willingness to embrace new ideas with enjoyment and a sense of exploration and creative play.
Chakra associated with Orange:

Orange is the color associated with the Sacral Hara Chakra (sexuality and reproduction)." Please follow her link for more info on colors and gemstones.

Now back to the important stuff...

I had planned on showing the colorways I chose but the camera decided it was time for the batteries to die a rather quick death. I will have to fore go those pictures.

I can show you what one lucky winner will get in my give away. 5 ORANGE Fat quarters. The are more "orangey" than shows in the picture. If there are lots of comments the quilt fairy may arrive during the day and bring more surprises. So...please leave a comment. I will chose the lucky recipient using a random number generator around 8 pm EST Sunday evening. I will notify you via email and will also post about the winner. If you post anonymously please leave me a way to contact you. Good luck to all and happy sewing! You are doing wonderful work.

46 comments:

Chris Daly said...

Hi Jan, I love your post about the color orange. My sewing room is painted this color and it is such a wonderful frame to the colors out my window. I never thought thought I'd own fabric this color but I use it in so many of my projects now. Funny the things you learn as you go along. Wishing you well from Wisconsin.

Debbie said...

Orange is my favorite color, Jan! I'm sorry that I don't have the time to join the challenge. http://debbiesfiberwork.blogspot.com

jabeybaby said...

That banner pic is beautiful!

Anonymous said...

I love your photo on your blog. That is fabulous, I'm a VA girl. And I love the Blue Ridge in all its glory. Monica
ment1234@aol.com

Margi said...

WOWSER, that is a lot of info about Orange, how kewl is that! Also love your blog header image,,,all the wonderful colors.
margi

Sarah Vanderburgh said...

Thanks for the write up on orange, Jan. I have the chakra colors hanging down to meet my cutting table. I am an orange lover- clothes, fabric, paint, anything! Your fat quarters look great. hOPing you get lots of comments and that fairy comes...then pulls my name!

Anonymous said...

I love orange, it is my favorite color-may explain increase in appetite (do you know the color to decrease it!?):-))
Very pretty orange fabrics, love to be in your drawing!
miniaturequilter.blogspot.com

Sandy said...

Wow, who would have thought orange could be linked with all of those facts and ideas! Thanks for enlightening us...count me in for your great giveaway!

Nicole said...

Now that was fantastically interesting! Thank you for the research!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the information on "Orange", and the chance to win the fat quarters. I can't say it's my favorite color, but it sure has potential! Take care.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the info on "orange"...I've been doing the OP and have had fun with it. You have a wonderful photo on your blog...our world in Wisconsin is "white" right now, so that lovely Fall scene is refreshing. Also love your quilt photo for the day.

Ruth B said...

Your orange piles are gorgeous! I am building an orange stash too but mine cannot compare to yours. The fall picture is wonderful too.

Unknown said...

Your post about the color orange was very interesting and informative! Love Orange!

lesthook said...

Wow! Never knew so much about orange except that it is a fun color!

andsewon said...

My what a lot of info on 'orange'..never knew all that!
We have loads of wonderful views here in Virginia from the mts to the sea for sure!!!Lovely fats!
I reckon I really need to increase my orange stash!!
Lola

Rita said...

Your have a terrific assortment of orange. Thanks for offering the giveaway!

Carrie ~ Cricketwood Prims said...

Wow....wonderful insights into the color orange....
Your header picture is one of the most beautiful Autumn shots I have ever seen, I will come back often, just to gaze upon it.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Thank you for telling us about your header photo. It demonstrates so well the many faces of orange. Love to see how your baby blankets turn out with a touch of orange.

Darla said...

I had no idea of all the things orange and what they meant...very interesting. The giveaway looks very nice.
The BlueRidge Pkwy is wonderful, I am spoiled I live 2 hrs away from it.

Anonymous said...

The Elizabethan orange law was most interesting! Thanks for the research, I really enjoyed reading it. My stash could really use more orange!

Carla said...

What a great informative post!! I will think differently about the color now. I'd love to be included in the giveaway. Thanks!

Pat said...

Love the photo at the top of your blog page!!! Living in southern DE now and being retired, I guess we should aim to see that beautiful are in person sometime soon! Would love to win your orange FQ's, so please enter me in the giveaway. Thanks!

BigEeh said...

Thanks for the interesting history of the color orange. I have no orange anything...because orange looks AWFUL on me! Still, I love the warmth of the color, and this OP Challenge is showing me how wonderful orange can be in a quilt...without looking like Halloween! Julie in WA

Anya said...

Such a colorful giveaway! Thanks for the chance.

Jan said...

Gosh, I'm a Jan too, but from Iowa.
And guess what, I'm going to be in your neck of the woods in just a couple of weeks. We're going to Bristol for the NASCAR race but before that plan to visit in NC.
Never knew all that about ORANGE!!

Mad Hatter's Ex said...

Love your the Blue Ridge Mountain picture! There's plenty of orange and other colors there for inspiration! Good luck sewing for the grandchildren! That's my favorite thing to do!

Donna Joy said...

H Jan, thanks for filling us in on all the orange info. I have a new appreciation for orange. Orange definitely livens up scrap and applique projects. That being said I would really love to win the giveaway to add to my applique stash.This has been so much fun meeting new bloggers and finding new quilting friends.

71square said...

Wow, your background picture is stunning. You say you are getting more interested in landscape quilting, you must be working on a version of that picture. I'd love to see it someday.

Anonymous said...

I love you pictue on the top of the blog is that the view from your sewing room would that not be the best hope you can count me in on the give away love the color
thanks happy stitching
ter
anmlvr13(at)yahoo(dot)com

kc said...

Hi Jan - Thanks for the lesson on the meaning of orange. Who knew?!? I was never a big fan of orange until I started quilting. I still don't have a lot of it, but I'm working on that.

Amy R said...

Thanks for joining in on Pat's OP challenge. LOVE the smokey mountains pictures. . . I went to school at Virginia Tech. I so miss the colors! And, I love the infor on ORANGE on your blog! I need to keep this thought with me: relief from things becoming too serious
I really need to add orange to my world. I'm a data person, math person, engineer by education, income tax person, computer programmer. . . I really need to lighten up. More orange! That will help! Thanks! amy r

Anonymous said...

Wow, Jan, your DH took a fabulous picture. Autumn is my favorite season, and the leaves are one of my favorite parts of autumn. I love that you did so much research -- isn't it fun to get led on from one source to another and learn all kinds of fun (but not really useful) info! I really like orange, though I don't have a lot of it in my stash for whatever reason. I think I don't tend to buy it "on spec" so much. I could certainly stand to win some FQs of beautiful oranges in your giveaway ;-) Happy OP! --Lydia (thepoch[at]aol[dot]com)

Becky said...

Great blog post on all things orange! Many thanks!

Lindabee said...

I so love orange. Even the bridesmaids dresses in my wedding were orange. I'm coveting your orange stash. Thanks for participating.

Quilted Bear said...

Hi Jan!
Thank you so much for that education on the color orange! It's my son's favorite color. :) I love the bundles of orange fabrics you have also! I think you have more that what I have at the shop! LOL!
Happy Sewing!
~Jenny

Unknown said...

I found your website for the first time today, and will be back. I did not know all that information about orange. shades of orange to me mean autumn leaves so your banner called out to me. Please count me in for the giveaway

Bfun1 said...

Good read! I bookmarked your site! I am loving this! Love your banner too - I am in North Idaho and when I have traveled to Utah in the fall the trees are outstanding up Cottonwood Canyon - I just love your banner!

Anonymous said...

What great infomation about the color orange. Makes me appreciate even more the color of my family room walls (you can check them out at my blog:) And oh how I love that Blue Ridge mountain scene; something I really miss, so thank you for sharing that. I think I will just have to bookmark your site!

Myra said...

Thanks for all the interesting bits about orange. I love the picture in your header, wish it were fall again!

Stitched With Prayer said...

I love your picture of you orange stack of fabrics. I kept saying I didn't have any but when I got through searching, I covered my 6 foot sewing table...it was kind of embarassing,LOL. I don't have a blog but I did sent Pat a picture. Thanks for the great OP post and a chance to see another person with huge OP.

Lisalou said...

Those fabrics would be perfect for the halloween/fall quilt I've always meant to get around to making. Thanks for the chance! I enjoyed reading your blog.

Cloudmom said...

Thank you for all the interesting information on the color orange!

Carrie P. said...

What great info to read about orange. It looks like you really like the color. As you can see I am from NC too. Don't live in the mountains but I love them.

Kwiltsfl said...

Beautiful shot of the mountains - and that mountain of orange fabric is lovely too! Glad to get to know your blog!
Karen

Kelly L. said...

What a beautifully decorated blog you have!

Kelly
Quilter in Quakertown

Anonymous said...

Hope I'm not to late to post, I would love to be part of your draw!

I am really enjoying all the wonderful blocks made with orange, a color I have not worked with near enough.

Sue Cahill (sbonetsue at yahoo dot com)