Mountain Village Houses Fabric Mini-Quilt/Ornament by Anne Thompson

More new dies from Memory Box!  I'm so excited!!!  Some of them are new DEEP EDGE dies which will cut up to six (yes, 6!) layers of fabric at once!  I knew when I saw the MOUNTAIN VILLAGE HOUSES 30106 that I would create a mini-quilt that could also be used as a tree ornament.

The finished project:

Materials used:

• batik fabrics (I cut from 5" charm squares) for the sky background and all of the die cuts (I chose batiks for this project because they cut crisply and don't fray easily and the fabric glue works well to secure the fabrics together.)
• SewLine fabric glue pen
• sewing machine; blanket stitch and straight stitch (I used white thread because that's what was already threaded in my machine.  Another time I'll try a variegated one or a color that blends better with the fabrics for a different look.)
• felt for the final backing; ribbon for the hanger
• STITCHED MOUNTAINS die 99890 NEW!
• EVERGREEN HILLSIDE SLOPE die 99888 NEW!
• GENTLE STITCHED LANDSCAPES set of three dies 99896 NEW!
• MOUNTAIN VILLAGE HOUSES set of eight dies No. 30106 NEW!

Steps:

• Choose a batik square for the background sky.  Die cut the Stitched Mountains from a green batik and the snow caps from white.  Glue the snow caps onto the mountains with fabric glue and glue the base of the mountains to the sky fabric.
• Die cut the Evergreen Hillside Slope from a darker green batik.  Glue it to the mountains.
• Die cut one of the Gentle Stitched Landscapes from a large piece of snowy batik fabric and glue it over the bottom of the Evergreen Hillside Slope.  This piece has to be large enough for all of the houses you will use.
• Die cut a bunch of houses and their roofs from a variety of batiks.  Place them where you'd like them. (I even flipped some of my houses.)  Use a little fabric glue to hold them in place. (I decided not to add all of the little windows and doors for this project.)
• Even up the edges of your panel and place it on a piece of felt a little bit larger all around.  Use your sewing machine to quilt it.  I used a blanket stitch all the way around the outside edges first and then went back and used a straight stitch to make all of the vertical lines.  Then I sewed all of the horizontal lines.  This stitching really secures all of the small pieces.
• To finish, add a ribbon to serve as the hanger.
• The final dimensions of my piece:  5 1/4" W X 7 1/4" L.

This second one is actually the prototype I started first.

The base is gray felt with mountains, snow (which is almost completely covered by the houses) and trees also from felt.  The green trees really shredded because I used an inexpensive craft felt instead of a good quality felt.  The houses and roofs are cut from a variety of cottons and homespun. I used fabric glue to put it together and then set it aside to work on the other one.  I think I like it better now that it is quilted even though the green trees are wonky.  

Because I cut so many houses and roofs at once, I have lots more to mix and match for another fabric project!  All of these new dies can also be used with paper and I can't wait to craft some cards using these same dies to make more mountain villages.

Want a chance to win your own deep edge die?  Leave a comment to this post as well as the other designer posts through Friday, November 17th.  Three people at random will be chosen from all the comments to win the deep edge die of their choice.  The more days you leave a comment, the more chances you have to win! (Limit one comment per person per day).  Good luck!

and ... Happy Crafting!

Supplies

30106 Mountain Village Houses craft die

99890 Stitched Mountains craft die

99888 Evergreen Hillside Slope craft die

99896 Gentle Stitched Landscapes craft die

Comments

[Renee Logan]

wow! thanks for sharing your art.

[stampnk]

These quilted ornaments are so beautiful and would be treasured for years!

[Jan D., FL]

I've never done any quilting, but I just might could do it with these type dies....very cool

[Cynthia D]

This is interesting and I like the small size. I am wondering how long it takes to put all this together?

[Anne Thompson]

I didn't really time this but I think it was probably less than half an hour from die cutting to final stitching...I made another one last evening using just felt which I cut in single layers and did not glue first. The felt sticks to felt enough that I could just coax the tiny roof pieces into place as I stitched. I made this third one small enough to fit into an A2 envelope and will mail it (with extra postage) as both a holiday card and gift. Before I did anything else I cut a piece of gray felt to the final size of the project, then cut and layered on the mountains with the snowy caps, the trees, snowy hill, all trimmed to fit width-wise and added the houses and roofs last. These are so much fun to do that I know I'll make more. Anne

[Vinita Jain]

Such fabulous creation, love the quilted houses with real stitching! Amazing!

[Debbie Kaste]

Very cute, Anne! Love the sweet houses die. There are endless things that could be created with them.

[Christine Smith]

I adore this and the mountain village houses die set is awesome! xxx

[KT Fit Kitty]

Absolutely amazing! I love what you've made with these dies! They turned out beautifully!

[Cynthia D]

Only a half an hour!
Love the idea of cutting down the size so it can be mailed.

[Juanita in OH]

You did an EXCELLENT job! TFS.

[Sue LD]

Very pretty. I like your choice of fabrics.

[Maureen Reiss]

Super Sweet!!!

[Denise Bryant]

Beautiful mini quilts! What extra special ornaments!

[Colorado Crafter]

Really loving these new dies!!! Wonderful project!!!

[karenladd]

This is gorgeous and would make a great holiday coaster as well. So many great possibilities with these new dies.

[Anne Thompson]

I guess if I were to make one to use as a coaster or "mug rug" I'd make it in all washable fabrics rather than using felt. I'd hate to get anything spilled on it! I can also imagine making a series of blocks using these dies to create a small wallhanging (a group of four or six) or even a table runner. You've really gotten me thinking about other possibilities, Karen. I've been experimenting lately with repurposing clothing so I may make one to use as a pocket or just as a decorative patch on a jacket, sweater, or jumper. So many ideas!!! Thanks for your comment. Anne

[Greta H]

Amazing project! Would so love to win one of these new dies!

[Jacquelene L]

Anne, your quilted ornaments are gorgeous! The striped house looks like a log cabin, very inspiring use for striped fabric, great idea! I love that we can cut fabric with the deep edge dies, this is fantastic, I have so many scrap fabrics and quilting fabrics. I stopped making quilts because it got to be too expensive and I didn't like the cutting, now I can make all kinds of projects with my scraps with the new deep edge dies, happy dance! Fabric cards, oh the creative ideas swirling in my head. The other best part, I don't have to go out and buy a fabric cutting machine, I can use my sizzix big shot, that makes me super happy!
Jacquelene L
Canada

[donna mikasa]

Love your project that doubles as an ornament!

[Anne Thompson]

Try some of your other dies with fabric, too. Even the thinner dies will usually cut a single layer of fabric if you use a metal plate as a shim on top of the die and fabric. On my Sizzix machine, I use
this sandwich: Tab book folded over thick so that Tab 2 is on top, a cutting plate, the fabric, the die, the other cutting plate, and the metal shim. If you don't have a metal shim, use layers of cardstock to create the extra pressure. You could also stabilize your fabrics with a double-sided fusible interfacing and then just iron them onto your background fabric much like you would do raw-edge applique. Or use freezer paper applique techniques. These mountain villages have gotten me inspired to cut a bunch of different shapes and make more fabric-based projects...trees, flowers, cats, clouds, fences, other houses...seasonal scenes, birthday wishes, and more! Thanks for your comment! Anne

[Vivian C.]

Wonderful homespun ornament! I can see how it would be fun playing with all the possible lay outs. A great project for fabric scraps.

[Chrissie]

What a fabulous bag! Love the houses dies!

[Amante del Papel]

this is an amazing job!

[Tracy Steinbach]

I am really in awe of how you used those dies to make the bags very cool idea the bags are awsome. And the dies are very neat my head is spinning with ideas