Happy villages!

Today at Art Quilts Maine Sally Rowe showed us how to make a miniature village using this book by Karen Eckmeier. We all brought 5 inch squares of fabrics, including a sky piece and many textural fabrics. We also brought "tree" or foliage fabrics. Someone at my table, who had done this before, brought along some chicken fabric which was fun.


We started with a piece of batting cut 4 x 6 inches. Sally gave us a template to use for the building shapes. I started with the sky piece across the top, then filled in with house shapes across and down. Each house had to overlap so that no batting would show.


Carolee gave me an extra piece of batting and I started another little village at the same time. I had so many building pieces cut out that if one did not fit in one scene I could use it in the next piece.

The fun really began when we cut out the roofs. It is starting to look like a real village now. Next came windows, ooh there is life in this town! Of course some trees and vines help, too.

When I was happy with my arrangement, I added a dab of glue to hold everything in place. Actually, you glue the buildings first, then arrange the roofs and greenery, and then glue those in place.

Tulle is added on top and each piece is stitched down. If you have ever tried Susan Carlson's Free-Style Quilts, you know what I mean.


When I was done, I looked at my pieces and thought to shove them together. I like it! Sally showed me a piece she created where she added borders on all four sides with more embellishments. I might try that!

Isn't it exciting to try something new? No wonder we all have UFOs. The inspiration and playfulness when creating something new is awesome and what we humans are all about! Go out and create! (is that enough !!! for one post?)