Vintage Valentine Centre Medallion

I am relatively new to quilting and patchwork but I have been sewing since I was 12

mainly clothing with the odd furnishing thrown in.

So when the opportunity became available for me to sew for fun,

my wonderful sister got me involved in quilting and patchwork.

 I have always admired her wonderful quilts over the walls and throughout her home

but never had the money or the time to indulge in a hobby.

 So over the past few years I slowly set up my  new sewing room

 with  new machines, equipment and of course started my stash cupboard.

I have taken a few courses with various local designers,

read lots,

practiced at lot,

 decided what I like

 &

 don't like.

But when I started on this wonderful journey I really wasn't sure what I wanted to sew,

 so

 I bought a lot of pre-package kits.

Each kit teaching me something new about this amazing craft,

 introducing me to a new designers

and

often new shop owners.

However,

I have mistakenly assumed that these kits include what is on  the pattern cover,

 and

 includes the fabrics displayed on its cover …

No No silly me to think the fabric would be the same.

Then the challenge begins for the beginner in this craft..

You have the pattern,

often supplied with a beautiful colour picture of what it will look like when finished 

 and

then you have  the fabric that was supplied in the kit !!!!!!!!

When you first look at your kit  you are all excited

&

 the fabrics look great

 and

 then you start on the learning journey

 of what fabric goes where..

what was the person thinking when they put this kit together….

 what was this fabric swapped for???

It really is a mystery tour…

sometimes fun

 sometimes so frustrating you give up,

  put it away

and

start another project.

This is what has happened as I work my way through the Vintage Valentine kit.

Some fabrics are the same

 or

very similar

 but

some fabrics I have no idea what they were supplied for….

so into my stash I go..

finding others that will go with what I  already have.

Having sorted  4 blocks in this quilt

 I decided I should do the centre block

before I  go too far

so I can get  the look I’m after with the main fabrics.

This is the photo I  have of the centre medallion sent with the kit

so

 off I go trying to match this with fabrics supplied…..

cant find vase fabric…..

flowers fabric nope….

bird fabric nope…mmm

ok

let the designer within come-out

 and

create with what I  have

Now, this is what I created,

 I have looked at this on my wall for 24 hours

 but it just didn't look right to me ..

so lucky I  had only fused the pieces down.

the vase is wrong…..

this is what I have changed it to 

so today it can stay on my wall,

  as I play with the other blocks.

The colours with the fabrics that I have been sent are a lot dark than the original kit

  but I am still loving the look.

This quilt is to go on my bedroom wall which is a dark burgundy in colour.

As I get a few more blocks done

I will audition them on my wall

 as I will have to change the layout as well as

 I have more width  than depth in the space I want to show it on,

  not a square space….

I will have to get creative  when piecing them together.

Do you use pre-package kits?

Are your kit fabrics different  to pictures supplied?

I would love to know your opinion of pre-package kits

Have fun sewing

Kim