Sunday, January 17, 2010

at last!

I just finished up piecing my Countryside Cottage quilt from JoAnn Fabrics. This was a BOM from 2004. :-) Yeah, it's been around my house for a while. As I was purchasing them (and never paying more than $5.00 or so dollars per month due to a good use of the 50% off coupons and JoAnn's sales) I knew I hated the center block so I purchased several fat quarters in the fabrics that were used. I designed a block that I thought would look nice. And it does! I'm very happy with how it turned out. So happy that I might not give it away as was the plan. :-)

Here is a photo of how the quilt was designed - I hated that center applique block. I think mine is much nicer and I can't believe how much my new center blocked changed the look. :-) Last night I found another JoAnn's BOM quilt also from 2004 that is almost finished. I think I'm going to work on that and try to get it totally pieced by tomorrow afternoon. That way I can almost justify my purchase this yesterday:
It's the Rouenneries Quilt Kit by French General - I saw this fabric line in person last month and fell in love with it. Reds, grays and taupe. What's not to love?

I also am almost finished with House #8! Yeah - so far it's been a great weekend and I still have one more day to go!

It's a near perfect day in Gurne, it's sunny outside (if a bit cold), I'm quilting, I plan to stitch in a couple of hours and I'm grilling a turkey outside on the rotisserie and dinner is going to be super. Nummy!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, changing the center block definitely made a huge improvememt. I keep saying I'm going to try a BOM, but chicken out! LOL

Terri

Unknown said...

Your center design is far superior to the one shown. Congratulations! I would never be able to give that one away. I have lots of FABRICS for quilts, but no actual quilts or even quilt tops. I would have to make a dozen or more before I would bear to give one away. (OK, except the one baby quilt I did make and give away.) I guess I feel differently about stitching. Some of what I stitch is definitely for others and not me. But maybe that is because I HAVE stitched dozens of patterns and know that I will stitch more. I don't know if I will ever finish a large quilt.

Theresa said...

Your quilt turned out really pretty~~ I love your center piece!!! It goes nicely with the rest of the quilt.
I love the fabrics from Frech General, too!!! They are so beautiful!!! Can't wait to see you piece yours together!!

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

Oh yeah! I love your redesigned center block - much better! And, what's not to love about the FG fabrics - they're fabulous. Can't wait to see your big finish on HRH!

Lisa said...

I like your center block much better as well - adds a whole new (and better) look

Deb said...

I think that your redesigned center block is absolutely perfect!! What an improvement! And aren't those FG fabrics wonderful? I just purchased a whole bundle of them and can't wait to get to cutting them out. The colors are fantastic.

Daffycat said...

Holy cow, Margie I'm amazed how much your awesome center block changed the look of that quilt. I'm afraid I would have passed on the quilt because of the cheesy house block. Great job!

Siobhán said...

WOW! Margie, that is beautiful!

Melody said...

Lovely finish on your quilt! I agree I like your center block much better than the one in the kit picture.

BrendaS said...

Beautiful quilt. It certainly looks better the way you designed it than the original one. I hope you get a lot accomplished on this long weekend.

Brenda

Margaret said...

Wow, I love your quilt! The center medallion is so much better than what was in the pattern. Gorgeous! Congratulations on such a great finish! And congrats on purchasing the French General kit -- I just love those fabrics, don't you? Great that block 8 is almost done on HoHRH!

Anonymous said...

The change you made is great. It fits in perfectly and I agree it is a much better center. You should keep this one.

staci said...

Congrats on finishing your quilt! Your center block is so much more beautiful than the original!!!

agent99 said...

Mom is pretty jealous that you actually finished a project! She's got a lot of fabric around here, and quilty-things in various stages of completion. We like to bark at her sewing machine and step on that pedal too. Guess that's why nothing ever gets done.... I guess we better lt her sew more....Nice save on the ugly center medallion too!


Gen & the Foo

Julie M said...

I love the change you made to your quilt! I'm with you, I do not like it as it was meant to be. Good job!

NoahStitcher said...

I have the same BOM in my stash and I love the idea of changing the center block! Too bad I didn't buy up extra fat quarters.

Michelle said...

Your quilt is spectacular! What were they thinking with that center block. I love love love the one you designed - it really changes the whole look of the quilt. Congrats on getting it finished up. I love that Rouenneries quilt too - must have!

omashee aka Barb said...

Oh, you can redesign a center block for me anyday! That is sooo beautiful! I would never give it away! I'm totally in love with the Rouenneries fabric too! That quilt will be fabulous. I even like the traditionally set 'Mystic Blues'.
Hawk Run Hollow is stunning! How do you do it all and three pugs too? Amazing!

Anonymous said...

I'd have to say I agree with you - your centre block on this quilt is soooooo much nicer than the original one on the design - it looks awesome! And how lucky finding a replacement fabric for Mystic Blue, that's amazing! And I personally ADORE that quilt, 'cos I'm a blue girl and therefore utterly biased :P Congrats too on your HOHRH finish (yes, I'm waaaay behind on blog reading) - all-in-all a lovely catch up on all your crafty goodness :D