My happy village journey

So, I stepped WAY outside my comfort zone to try this technique from Karen Eckmeier. When I lived in NY, she used to teach but I never seemed to be able to get into her classes since they were and still are very popular. I got the book, Happy Villages, at a second time around sale at my guild. It sat on my night table and I would keep looking and thinking about it. In January 2023, I took the plunge at my modern guild retreat. I really wanted to make a Christmas themed village but decided to follow the pattern she created in order to familiarize myself better with the technique. The above photo shows my completed village. 

I decided to add some extra embellishments to my village that Karen did not add. I did it mostly because I do like to add something to make it more mine. Buttons and bells to add a small touch. I covered it in royal blue tulle after auditioning some other colors such as grey and cream. The blue adds a bit of shimmer that the camera does not allow the viewer to see. I used a variegated thread in primary colors to stitch on top of the tulle.

The pictures below show my process for the project. I loved being able to set my machine aside for a bit and concentrate on scissors and fabric only with a spot of glue. Karen gives you a blueprint to follow for cutting and if you wish to make a template for it, you may. Or just cut with measured abandon. It became more and more liberating as I went along. I did start by trying a makeshift template, but then I just used the picture to roughly cut the pieces. I did use more colors and squares to begin because I wanted more variety in the piece. I also cut pieces to my own liking as I added them.

The pictures below show the process that I used from left to right on both rows.
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I could have gone on and on adding, subtracting and changing pieces of fabrics. It is similar to a collage type of quilting. I experimented with different shapes and colors in different places. I learned a lot from this experiment too. The next time, I would add a sky. I added stars but my husband asked why they were on the buildings. Fair question, I had to admit. I think that some skinny rick rack would be a great addition under some of the rooflines. Perhaps some other kinds of trim in small quantities around the quilt. What would you add?

I am very excited because I have the opportunity to finally take that class with Karen this summer at the Mid-Appalachian Quilt retreat in July in Gettysburg, PA. This is a wonderful place to take classes from what I have heard and this will be my first time attending. If you are interested, there may some classes still open for you. Click the link here.

There are so many amazing teachers out there and I was able to meet one of my favorites in person at QUILTCON this February in Atlanta. I was able to spend a few minutes speaking with Sarah Goer as we were crossing paths in the Westin hotel attached to the Atlanta Conference Center. She gave a Zoom class during COVID on her design All About Angles. What a fun idea and a great class. She is one of the best Zoom teachers that I have come across. As a teacher myself, I know firsthand how difficult it is to be remote from your students. Sarah was just one of the many talented people teaching at QUILTCON this year. I love how her hair matches her top!

iIf you would like to see the wonderful quilts at the show, there will be a magazine released with some of the quilts that were displayed. There will also be a book made of all of the quilts. If you are Modern Quilt Guild member, there is a digital link for all of the quilts. If you are not a member, I highly recommend it even if you are not particularly a modern quilter. So many resources, class opportunities, connections to be made, etc. 

I will leave you with a photograph taken of some members of our modern guild where I live. We are standing in front of the community quilt made by our guild members. We had a choice of cool or warm colors and the challenge was color shift. We chose the warm pink ranges. It was designed by a member in her computer quilt program and then many hands took part in the cutting, sewing, sandwiching, quilting and binding. Sadly, there is no photo of the back of the quilt, but one member pieced it from the leftovers. It is as beautiful as the front. 

Well, that is all for now. I hope that you are enjoying whatever you are working on right now. I am working on a modern rose quilt for a class that I will be teaching in June. Enjoy the time change and the promise of spring around the corner!

Piecefully,
Trisha