Deep darks

A number of years ago I attended a seminar on color theory taught by Jinny Beyer, an internationally known and respected quilter. Her approach to color included three elements for a quilt color palette. The first element involves shading the colors in your quilt, using fabrics that bridge the gaps in the color wheel between them. A primarily blue and pink quilt, then, may have colors ranging from medium blue to darkest blue, then dark purple shading down through violet into pink. The range of shades provides more visual interest and movement.

The second element is an accent color. The accent color is simply a visibly brighter shade of one of the values already in the chosen palette. It adds sparkle to the quilt, giving it that something that makes it pop.

The third element is called the deep dark. This fabric is the deepest, darkest of all the colors in your chosen palette. If you are working with a darker palette to begin with, the deep dark can easily read as black. On its own, it is not visually exciting, and it is tempting to leave it out. But without the deep dark, there is no depth, no contrast to the quilt. That contrast helps you to take better notice of the other colors, to enjoy the interplay between light and shadow.

Too much of it, however, can be overwhelming.

This has been a week of deep darks. While nothing in my own life directly falls into that shading, all week long I've heard of friends whose lives have taken turns into the darker places of life. One friend had a serious stroke; another's mother had a TIA; yet another friend discovered her mother has possibly terminal cancer; a co-worker is going to be out for six months in order to have a complete bone marrow transplant; a friend's father has been admitted to the hospital for what may be the final time.

God is in control, and holds all things in His hands, including these.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)