As I started thinking about ideas for my block, I was playing with turning the ornament design from Flip Flop Ornaments into a garland—”paper-doll” style.
It worked out well if you want to give that a try with any of the Flip Flop designs from 2010. But then as I was cutting out paper-doll style designs, I came up with a tree and a snowman and really liked what was happening.
Originally I thought I’d try to cut the fused fabric that way, but there were too many layers of fabric to cut through. So I cut tree and snowman patterns from paper and traced them onto the fusible to make the rows of trees and snowmen.
Then with my rows of trees and snowmen I started auditioning backgrounds to see which one I liked best. See the pictures I took below of five different backgrounds.
Snowman Farm background auditions: bright blue, light blue
Snowman Farm background auditions: dark blue, green
Snowman Farm background auditions: dark blue with "snow"
When you’ve got a variety of colors and values going on, it’s always a good idea to audition fabrics to see what works best. Also, notice how the row of snowmen can fit into different positions among the trees—lots of fun ways to play with this block!
Here’s the final version with the snowy background and brighter green trees:
Snowman Farm, final version
Leave a comment by 10 am Wednesday 11/10 and tell me what other designs you think might work well “paper-doll” style. I’ll select a winner of QM’s 100 Blocks, Volume 2!
Update 11/10: Thanks for your comments. I’ve been thinking about whether my next block should be in the same style or maybe a full pattern for a regular issue. You all had great suggestions!
And the winner is #3 Barbara. Watch for an email from me so you can send your mailing address. Congratulations!
I really like the final product but also like the blue green backgrounds
It reminds me of the Baltimor Album (simpler) designs that I worked on when learning the techniques of applique. Similar to cutting paperdolls – of a sorts.
I think a big sassy daisy would make a great chain !
I’ve got a chain of little people in the WISP pile…was planning to applique dresses, overalls (boys and girls) and hair on each one and use them as the main feature of a strip quilt…hmmm, might have to go dig that out and have a play!
I think leaves would be nice. Or bats for Halloween.
It is so fun to see the process of your block. I think hearts would be cute.
I think I like the dark blue the best. It also gives the feeling of snow (yuk – I hate cold and snow.) but more abstract. The other blue with the snow is ok but not subtle enough. Really though, it would be lovely no matter which one you choose!
How adorable. I think hearts or children might work. Great idea.
Paper dolls in different themes would be cute. Love the Snowmen and trees!
Love the positive/negative quilt. I think a repetition of – for instance, hearts – but then put a shadow repetition behind them to give depth. Would love to see this.
Lovely idea for a garland.
Of course my mind goes blank under pressure. The only other thing I could think of would be snowflakes.
I like the one you’ve chosen, but also love the bright turquoise as well. I love the quilts done with the international women and their embroidered and appliqued outfits in many quilts I’ve seen. I think a basic woman silhouette with the wide long dress and shoes to play with. Also would like simple houses, and the shape of a cooking pan. Both would be fun to play with.
Love the snowmen and think your options are endless for this. I think snowflakes would be cute.
I like the final project. I also liked the snowmen “tilted” a little. I would love to see something similar done with deer. Love you site and this is my first comment ever on a blog. i hope you receive it.
I love houses so I’d like to try this to make a town!
Gill
I like what you have done. Also, thought about putting them in a kalaidescope format and, then, put the squares together. Also, thought about cutting words in paperdoll format —- like “peace”, “joy”, “hope” — would work for a garland on a tree or mantel.
I saw the Snowflake pattern and the Ornament one above yesterday and fell in love with this look. Such a great visual appear to me. I would love to see a type design which would be a year-round pattern so it could be seen all year long. I cannot come up with a design idea right this minute what that might be however. I will think and post later if I come up with a great idea.
Great patterns and snowman farm I love snowmen but not the real snow
I like the last block, the contrasts are great.
love it cant wait to makr it thanks
I just appliqued a snowman on ice skates – on one foot. A chain of them holding hands skating on one foot would be cool. Took me all day to do one though!
I have been playing around with how to do paper chain trucks for a quilt for my grandson to go around the border.
For the holidays how about candy canes tipped at an angle?
That is a fun idea. I have an old scherenschnitte Christmas book, a lot of the designs in that, would be fun to do like this.
Debbie
How about a chain of umbrellas for April showers? They would be on an angle connected at the handle and tops. I’d love to win!!
what about stars? or dachshunds?
How about gingerbread men? (or women? lol) Ducks? Bears? Moose? Cats? Owls? Definitely owls. Stars. Bows.
Snowflakes and the standard girl or boy paper cut dolls
Hearts are always cute as a garland.
I love the snowmen and trees block….I also think hearts and clover/daisy flowers would be great. BTW I do not have a blog/facebook etc…to enter those giveaways.
I hope I win this one!
I would love to see howling coyotes or wolves and they would work perfectly with your trees and the snow!
Butterflies would make a beautiful garland made from pastels for spring decorating. Right now, I’d go with Snowflakes… tis soon the season!!!
Christmas ornament bulbs, would be interesting.
I love the snowman and trees block.
cool Idea! Please select me for more of those great ideas!
Love everything I am seeing here. The snowman and trees block is just too cute. Would make a gret mini wall hanging . Can’t wait to see what else is coming.
How about gingerbread boys or girls or both. I can see a country theme in a holiday fabric.
I put a chain of children around the border of a quilt for DD when she was small. She loved them. I think there are so many ways to use a chain other than on a quilt~ decorate a towel, around a child’s shirt, across a window valance, around a pillowcase… fun!
How versatile! I like each of the different placings. I can see doing this with other elements for the different seasons.
I could see using hearts in the same way for a Valentine’s block or wall hanging.
I can see chains of black cats and pumpkins for halloween
Leaves, raindrops, snowflakes…
I would love to see a chain of horses running. Love the design!
Such a cute design – I would love to see some dogs – maybe hounds dogs or dachshunds!
I love the ornament quilt. It’s a pretty and subtle design. And I like the second snowman and forest setup. I wonder if the snowmen can be separated and scattered within the tree lines.
So many possibilities! I love snowflakes, flowers, cats, but since I live on the coast I’m thinking dolphins in the waves! Love the look.
Endless possibilities. I think Angels would work well:)
These are great -what about holly leaves, flying birds, gingerbread men…even pumpkins? Lots of options.
Like the first picture and last one-but need litle snow sprinkles on top some of trees-love suggestions of children chain in the snow-might have to try that.
Love your ornaments, trees, and snowmen. How about gingerbread boys and girls, with an option to embellish? Thank you.
I think candy canes would work well for this!
Hmmmmm, I already tried the flip flop technique, absolutely LOVE the ornies quilt you have here, I definitely will give a try to the snowmen because I have a crush on them!!!
I think it would be cute to do little triangles to make a “bunting” block. But the possibilities are endless!
I think different flowers would work well to make a whole garden.
I’ve never tried this technique. So…I’d have to ponder the possibilities. I like the comment above. Roses would be pretty.
How about snowflakes? Thanks for the giveaway.
Most y-axis symmetrical designs will work for the paper dolls effect. For Christmas, could also pick Santa, angel, snowflake, poinsettia or holly leaf. If use the trees motif too, then a more vertical shape might look the best – Santa or angel. Thanks for the giveaway.
that reminded me of pop up books!
I’d like to see Snowflakes used!
Thanks so for sharing!
I love the snowmen! I’d love to see it done with snowflakes (6 sided of course) and with hearts. Both are special to me.
Butterflies and daisies or maybe dragonflies and lilypads with an occasional frog thrown in for interest?
Hmm… good question! I think I’d look at a continuous line quilting book and envision the continuous line as the connector. The possibilities are endless!
I love those trees. I think also birds would make a great paper chain.
This looks fun, it could work for many shapes…hummmm…..
Cookies – and they could each be decorated differently after they’re on the fabric. Can’t you just see sprinkles, chocolate chips, m&m’s? Who cares how they’re decorated …just give me cookies! blessings, marlene
Ornaments would work, so would snowflakes. I think it could be fun to do cars, motorcycles or even dinosaurs for a little boy quilt. Ohh, what about elephants, trunk to trunk and tail to tail? That could be really cute too!
A ring, a ring o’ roses, A pocket full of posies;
Children holding hands , roses and posies!
That would be fun!
Oh wow. I have never seen this style before. Very neat! I think it would be fun to do little people with a world in the background (not original at all but still fun!
I think the standard dollies would be good. Or how about Gingerbread men?
I was thinking about a Santa, sleigh and all of the raindeers. Wouldn’t that be neat with the trees and a winter snow with twinkling stars and a moon.
I live in Texas and have always liked a western theme for our Christmas decoration. I would like cactus, howling coyotes and a garland of chili peppers!
Gosh, your question just opened up my mind to alot of possibilities…..using this same paperdoll applique idea, but in borders. Like cats strung nose-to-tail; geese flying beak to tail, and so forth. In a single block, how about fish; or clouds; or for boys cut out varied tractors, earth movers, etc. Okay, I’m overdosing in the ol’ noggin’ with ideas
Please enter me into your great magazine giveaway.
Love the snowmen! I bet a chain of Easter eggs would be cute, esp with different applique designs and/or embroidery to ‘decorate’ the eggs!
I love the the old tradition Rose of Sharon design – that would be wonderful as a paperdoll cut out.
bells, hearts, snowflakes, simply shaped animals… they all would be great.
What a cute idea! I think it could be done with rabbits, eggs, and flowers for Easter as well.
This is a great idea! Maybe houses with fences chaining them together?
Love that!!! Thanks for showing us the ‘auditioning backgrounds” process, love seeing how something so wonderful worked its way into being! This brought visions of gingerbread men and Christmas wreaths dancing to mind!!! Very awesome idea!
Other designs that would work well with paper doll method: dolls (of course), hearts, ornaments (old fashioned shapes), candy canes, pine cones, candles in old tin holders….endless and priceless!
Love the snowmen and trees.
snuginmyden@yahoo.com
How about Tea Cups/ Buckets.
Oh angels, gingerbread men, flowerpots, hearts…oh you could do so much. So many ideas!!
Love this! How about snowflakes? Or flowers?
Great block! I’d love to see leaves or snowflakes… or even cats! Wow – the possibilities! Too fun!
I have boys who love dinosaurs, so my suggestion is T-Rex. He can be connected by his tail on one side and his mouth on the the other side with his stubby little arms sticking out of his belly.
Stars, hearts, daisies, and snowflakes would all work very well paper doll style.
Oh, my! I don’t have the creative gene, I believe. But the suggestion for flowers, that’ll work for me!
I think Gingerbread Men would be cute. Also reindeer but I don’t know how you would get reindeer to work paper doll style. Thank you. Take care and God bless, Cory
leaves, flowers, trees, people…just about anything
This is way cool. All I have to do is leave a comment where ever I visit. I am at a loss for words.
I loved looking at the different patterns.Especially the teapot one. I collect teapots. Also, I love to hand piece, hand quilt quilts. I love to create new ones from old patterns.
Good luck with this site.
A quilt lover,
Judith Turner