The Bella Collection by Lotta Jansdotter for Windham Fabrics is a favorite of mine. I designed a few things with these modern prints over the years. Let's see the stack of fabrics:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46SnfPhYizmDge6qQiU2eEV1wE4j-TZSDOjdq3u-F9zhE1XHGFPYfT5tdtnI5wLjrIhR2M6wltRWivfw7qAmCTImyoQN7sDTu3_nzeI3rmnkEbv0w1fNLAcjnbMMSKY6xAsySXYBwqMsb/s400/Bella+Stash2.jpg) |
Stack of Bella Fabrics from 2013 |
And to see some of the prints even better:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimB0cbWmhNA1eDpVU9-h3rzBkzKby5QXc_CdLfdbUmgm-uEvrJLBnySbTBYAhk-DlU-mBz73M4qPjvCnid_qnxAV8nA8Eek61OS4IXU_bd9yf_AhM3GErSQI5TjIFP5iXTOXSIGTX_mtWT/s400/Bella+Stash3.jpg) |
Trees and little birdies - my favorites! |
I first designed what I call Bella's House. I had it longarm quilted by Kathy Gray of Manassas. She did a lovely job and I really thought a magazine would pick it up. Nope! Not a one. This hangs in my foyer for all to see.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrCOmy7_ootkcXaYtWplp_pYMr_Gv51sWxLedjfvEKHtR6s9V3vPYIrpWu2fLfByl9vgA6qsHAkx6sIWe7wcInzeOlQ4TxR56Ath7igIO3lM7NSAJRPGDtKmZNpOOz7kbnvhCcNkUCGsm/s640/Bella+House3.jpg) |
Bella's House, 2013 |
Then I put a LOT of EPP hexagons together
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPIIyBLR6GtL-rAHd37SL7crXljXV0lPxmSjm4l6kz-1R8pVr_qwt5X2IyIb5QTib74MHM21qFpRAQqzOdKZn8zAA0QoPbN3UTJbO8nAadkF1qcO2j9pnSEVcDFLbn0e8aNafexIQBJrt/s400/Bella+Hexagons.jpg) |
Dozens of 2" Hexagons |
. . . and made this. I call it my Zig and Zag of Hexies:
How did I do that?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUEUJ2y0jUR9090cVk_bUi4sNpkIT6pvHUy67hYKtdzuijn9NzDFhvKlbaZ4eYE_2G2H_X6CBf0I4RiPHnpwlJws5iiVJdMjyk2aRcaUPI3xmaaBVPQPaZWfka77QSglqMVRbbMVdmxm-/s400/Hexie+String+Front.jpg) |
Stitched together in long string |
What does it look like from the back?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4n_N1jCy5FzeYR0QzCkYLZEMx-sw_fZll4rQoAmIqWebSUUZrSxr9QCXXLT9qDGCiPrV56qbT-alVD2yrl0BNYeHgMNjJPMJI_TYcgBCD6jnzh6fEq8kgNk4LPQrEkoiZf7_yZc9dTO86/s400/Hexie+String+Back.jpg) |
Hexies trimmed and ready to stitch to background fabric |
This
pattern is available in my Craftsy store. And something else? Of course! This appeared in Modern Quilts sometime in 2014.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GFDM4us__CJWxnKfqLQjfwAXH0aQHaXN4dN-J4bZLG2KDP5yXAsN9Guoalnt0XRw2AESWO-Q_M_FIRiHdMtZRccYxw7EEPG1dhIKzwQZo1Z7RbYOTomZ5LgTCFgwCfxz9YnL87N6PVd7/s400/Turning+60_2.jpg) |
Hexagon table topper |
Now for what I've done with all the leftovers (ok, maybe not with ALL of them). I had 4 prototype window blocks which were too big for my final Bella's House. They sat patiently for 5 years.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePHkoGO0EEO6_35It3BPqAaeJlE3_yWT3fbW2kQBoZEJiWo1rQpKn3y8XDF_IWlGT1vlkCrrzMDygobH_0WbeC6XtVUoRPvTZsd5ehaZo_fJAomVNAzP3MlH8Zjk1WThWr2fVW9vuy43g/s400/BirdBlock1.jpg) |
First window prototype for my Bella's House above: too big |
And another. These finish to 11".
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfMvEFxsKR1Apl5I9zh3dH04J4yqlD1YI6AXF_tVn9WHXp2ZXxxpOn4YRSY8Qj33Sg2Xq3To-feoVTOrNji4mnpFElR-CfL69dFWjo26nUiE_-TbKERtwfrn13-Hm-zyGPWLKdEArgmEi/s400/BirdBlock2.jpg) |
But I made another one . . . |
And I made two more and they've been sitting in a box with the leftover fabric since 2013. I pulled them out and made 12 more blocks yesterday afternoon. What do you think?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24bcmRbyZYm-WJxPEQ2G_v81OAKk3dGQVNtRpaVu_3lvRn0EJ6mqW-Ti2RyOtcHJf4iMwYtmq7LkxjgkFX_2itW54wBgy97nnK1RwSGv8mmgUsiuJR8pvT7t7uHHAWTTu56RRMYHw4YuO/s400/Bella+Cobblestone+Quilt.jpg) |
Cobblestones, Windows and Trees |
And those extra hexies up at the top of this post? I have 59. I'm going to put a white border on this and scatter those hexies all over the white border. I'll keep you posted!
I can't believe no one picked up you Bella's House. I love it! Like what you did with the left over window blocks also.
ReplyDeleteFor 26 years I've never known what an editor will be interested in! They have a plan and sometimes my things don't fit in. I've always wanted to do something with those windows! thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI think it's adorable. I like the use of the left over blocks and fabric.
ReplyDeleteI love leftovers, but my husband doesn't (ha ha). I get more creative with scraps and orphan blocks than a pile of new fabrics.
DeleteVery Nice !! Love the House. All so happy and pleasant.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your inspiration.