I was familiar with paper piecing, but my method uses much more fabric than anyone else's, so I never seemed to have enough fabric to complete each block. Right from the get-go, I started substituting some of their fabrics with mine.
The pattern called for ribbon embroidery and lots of birds, but I passed on those and also eliminated the flag pole. For some reason, my green "Towne Centre" was a tad smaller than it was supposed to be, so I added another border and then everything fit perfectly.
The quilt top is about 60" x 60" so I should be able to quilt it myself, maybe doing an edge to edge cross-hatch design. But that is for another day...
Today I am working on another UFO taken from my quilting closet. I had made Kathy Schmitz' A Cottage Year a few years back. You may recall seeing it on a previous blog post. You can read about it HERE.
About a year ago, I started to embroider another set of cottages. Embroidery projects are handy to have as I sit in my quilting chair and watch my favorite TV shows. If I take it easy, and don't do too much at any one time, my wrist/arm issues don't flare up. Long story short, I have had the 12 blocks sitting in my closet for awhile. When I finished Quilted Village, I decided to work on A Cottage Year. I am now building log cabin blocks around each embroidered cottage. The quilt will be a little different that the original pattern but I think it will work.
I always love to do scrappy, so I am using a variety of creams and reds/rusts that I have in my stash for the logs.
It's a great day for quilting!
I love your quilted village and your next project will also be Stunning, love log cabin blocks and they will be perfect for your little embroidered cottages .
ReplyDeleteGreat finish! The Quilted Village is darling! The buildings are adorable. Your piecing (regular and paper) and fabric selection are great. I also use extra fabric for paper piecing; I always want to be sure I have a large enough piece. Is this your month for working on UFOs?! ~Jeanne
ReplyDeleteOh, Lesley, your quilted village is so AWESOME! I just love it! You must feel quite a wonderful sense of accomplishment. I love that all the buildings are so different and the trees are marvelous. Enjoy finishing your little cottages and log cabins.
ReplyDeleteI love how you improvised and made that BOM your own way. Those houses are so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLeslie,I love them all! Have always loved The Quilted Village but haven't done it myself. I have a pattern for a miniature that is very similar, will likely do it instead. Great work!!
ReplyDeleteI've always thought about making that Quilted Village quilt. Yours is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteYea--for you in working at finishing up some 'mature' projects--I think we are all on the same page this year--
ReplyDeletelove your village--and can't wait to see the cottage log cabin blocks finished--so keep at it--
enjoy the moments-di
I did the Quilted Village a couple of years ago and hang it in my quilt room every spring. Love the quilt.
ReplyDeleteLike how you are doing the log cabin around the embroidery blocks.
Great finish - congrats!!! It feels so good to finish up one of those long-timers, doesn't it? Yours looks so cozy, I wouldn't mind living there :*)
ReplyDeleteYour quilted village is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI have to tell you that when I first read the title A Cottage Year, I thought it said A Cottage A Year--like it was some sort of Block of the Year program. LOL Wouldn't that be a slow moving project? I like what you are doing with the cottage blocks. They are both very comfy, cozy looking projects.
Love all your projects and I too have the Quilted Village pattern that I've never made!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty house quilt. I like that you made it your own, and your little house stitcheries are so cute. They will make a great quilt too.
ReplyDeleteI love your Quilted Village. You are on a roll. The next embroidery project you pulled from the closet will be just as pretty. I love log cabin blocks and they look perfect around your little embroidery. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteYour quilted village is awesome. You're making great progress on your UFO's.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Your quilted village is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful village top Lesley, what an interesting design and your cottage quilt is going to be gorgeous too. xx
ReplyDeleteJanuary does seem to be the perfect time to catch up on UFOs. Lovely work on your village. You are always very creative with your changes and how you sort out problems.
ReplyDeleteThe cottages are delightful. The log cabin surrounds are looking good.
Your village is wonderful!! Love those fabric choices!
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day!
It is a stunning quilt, so unusual. Can't wait to see it finished. Hugs, Susie x
ReplyDeleteI too love your house quilt!!
ReplyDeleteLove your Quilted Village, I still have those patterns in my someday pile :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute quilt with all the little houses!!
ReplyDeleteI love your Quilted Village Lesley - well done on persisting through the hiccups and reaching a flimsy finish! Lovely stitchery blocks, too.
ReplyDeleteI think your Quilted Village top looks great. Yeah to you for getting it done.
ReplyDeleteYour Village is spectacular~ a treasure!!!
ReplyDeleteYay for another top finished! And a UFO at that! Bet it felt good! Good luck finishing ACottage Year next! XO
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