Saturday, May 10, 2008

Villages

Yesterday my friend Mrs. Ochiai came over and the two of us made some village collages. I made one earlier this year which Mrs. Ochiai really liked so she asked me to teach her. It is not so much teaching/learning as just doing! I also had wanted to make another village collage and try putting sky and some trees into my picture and I also wanted to see how the finished product looked with borders so yesterday with those goals in mind, Mrs. Ochiai and I went to work.

The two of us cut and placed fabric randomly with very little said between us. Lots of concentration! Occasionally, Mrs. Ochiai would look up and say,

"Tanya, this doesn't look anything like a village."

but I assured her that it would once she got to the roof and window stage. And what do you think? That's a pretty good village isn't it!? By early afternoon (time out for lunch) both of us had our villages sandwiched and Mrs. Ochiai took hers home to quilt. She's probably working away at her sewing machine right now!

After Mrs. Ochiai left, I just couldn't stop and by 7:00 last night I'd finished the machine quilting and started playing around with borders. Then this morning I got my borders on and my village is completed!

That was fast and easy and a LOT of FUN!!

15 comments:

anne bebbington said...

Tanya - this is such a clever way to play with fabric - I love both results. It's almost magical the way the village landscape appears out of all those shapes

Amanda said...

Brilliant! Is this all your own idea - if so you should put a tutorial on your blog, because I'd love to have a go at making something like this.

Clare said...

I can't remember. Is this based on Tonya's houses? The completed top looks like an oil painting.

Hedgehog said...

Fantastic, Tanya! I wish I could come by for a lesson, too!

Shelina said...

It is absolutely gorgeous! I love the sky, and how you made it look like it was on a hill or mountain, and the triangular roofs make me think of castles. I would love a lesson too! What is the name of the book with the directions?

I would love to live there.

QuiltingFitzy said...

I also think you should do a tutorial. You really have a magic way with these!

mamaspark said...

I *need* to learn how to do this. Did you use fusible or did you just stitch it once it was all in place? I agree with all the others, you need to do a tutorial! I have North Pole Village in my head and this may be a way for me to actually get it into fabric!

Nancy said...

Splendid villages, Tanya! I wish you could teach a class on this and that I could attend.

nancy

Elaine Adair said...

Delightful project! Very interesting use of scraps to end up with an original idea.

dee said...

Oh my gosh Tanya...now can you teach the rest of us?? It's wonderful and reminds me of my own village waterfront. Are the houses all just pieces sewn down on a background fabric? Wonderful and inspiring. Would you mind if I link to you for my blog? Love, love, love it!

janet said...

I love the village! I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains and would love to make a quilt using your idea as a springboard. A tutorial would be fantastic. You are so talented.

I thoroughly enjoy your blog. I am learning so much about Japan. Thank you for taking the time to share your life with us!

Janet

artfilstitch said...

Tanya,
Your village is just too cute! I love the one that you made earlier also. I finished mine in March but can't get the camera to work properly to get them downloaded to the blog. Hopefully, I can get the kinks worked out.You are the most productive person that I know of. Do you have some tips on being more productive? :>) I could surely use some...
Have a Blessed Day,
Liz

marisa said...

Lovely.

andsewitis Holly said...

I'm amazed you did all that in one day! It would take me forever. I love the stair steps.

Denise (Nour) said...

It's beautiful! Makes me want to get the book!