Recently I have decided to feature more of my hand-dyed velvet fabric panels alongside my bows. According to the Etsy reviews, my velvet brings so much joy to crafters and makers. That inspires me to put my creative process out there. How do I come up with color combinations? Some palettes start with a walk through my neighborhood of Maple Valley, Washington. Others are inspired by a weathered piece of pottery, flowers in my garden, or even a scroll through Pinterest.
When I thought of this earthy palette, I wanted to imagine a rainbow in earth colors. How would an earthy rainbow look? I used terra cotta instead of red or pink, a pagoda red instead of orange, and marigold instead of yellow. The rainbow is always a good place to start.
Working with silk-blend velvet is both creative and technical. Each batch is dyed by hand, allowing me to explore subtle shifts in tone, depth, and texture until a palette feels balanced. Some colors stand confidently on their own, while others only come alive when placed beside another. *The earthy rainbow velvet panel I hand-dyed is top left on the collage.
Anything can inspire a color palette. Nature is usually my go-to source. But Pinterest isn't a bad idea, either.
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