Wednesday, September 14, 2016

The Road Home Row Along - New Milford, Connecticut

Welcome to the Seacoast Quilter! I am enjoying the row along so much. Thanks to Marian of Seams to Be Sew and Amy of Sew Incredibly Crazy for organizing this event. No small task, with 40 participating designers! I'm fairly new at blogging and I'm very grateful I was able to join the fun. I knew right away what I wanted to do. I started with a row that was just the Christmas trees. I decided last week to add the bandstand because it was just too plain. The templates were a challenge, but that's good for you, right?

New Milford, Connecticut
Download Row Here from Google Drive
or find it at Craftsy

My row depicts the town green at Christmas time. I didn't get a very good photo with my phone but will try to post a better one soon. As a typical New England small town, we have a green in the center. The bandstand is the only structure on the green itself. Trees are set up along the whole length as Christmas approaches.  It's a well known event in the Litchfield County region, and made the cover of Redbook magazine back in the sixties. 




The WWII era tank is another well known feature. 

I was born in, and grew up in New Milford, Connecticut. We had lots of Aunts and Uncles and cousins in town. Saturday nights usually found the whole family at one house or another. And a number of them played instruments so there was always music involved. New Milford was only about 8,000 people when I was a child. It's now about 28,000! I live in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire now.


I took some photos as I made the row. First I used printer friendly pieces of Steam-a-Seam 2 Lite for the applique shapes. Simply printing the pdf template pages is so easy. It has removable paper on both sides. When you remove the first layer it is tacky so you can place your pieces and they stay put. Once you are happy with the arrangement you fuse in place as usual.


I have two methods of joining the sky and the ground fabrics in the pattern. I ironed a fold at the top edge of the ground fabric and applied a fusible tape. This is by Clover to use with their bias tape makers. I then fused the ground to the sky and sewed it together with a blanket stitch.


The next step was to place the applique pieces. For the bandstand, I placed the pattern placement guide under an applique sheet (Bohin Non-Stick Ironing and Craft Sheet),


This allowed me to position all the pieces for the bandstand and fuse them together.


Now I can peel the completed unit off and place it on the background fabric. Adding the lamp posts and trees was simple from here. I usually tack down fusible applique when I quilt but I think I may do something on the bandstand to help define it. Maybe just black thread and "sketch" the details?


Now, to the fun part. Everyone has the opportunity to win one of lots and lots of prizes over the course of this blog hop. Thanks to all the sponsors. Please visit Seams to Be Sew to be entered in the drawing for the Calibre Art cutting mat, and lots of other goodies. To enter the drawing for 5 winners each day of an Anita Goodesign Machine Embroidery CD answer the question in the Rafllecopter widget here. Both of these are for U.S. entrants only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you've just found the Row Along today, no problem. You can visit any of the participants on or after their day to collect rows. Most will be available through the end of October. The schedule for The Road Home Row Along is:


September 6
Allie-Oops Sweet Happy Life creates Harrisville, MI Sunrise Coast
Cynthia’s Creating Ark creates Adelaide South Australia
Kissed Quilts creates Grand Coulee, Washington
Renee’s Quilting Addiction creates Alberta, Canada
September 8
Sew Incredibly Crazy creates Colorado
3 Patch Crafts creates Bulgaria
Just Let Me Quilt creates Las Vegas, Nevada
Quilt in Piece creates Amanzimtoti, South Africa
September 13
Tweety Loves Quilting creates Edinburgh, UK
Quiltscapes creates Heber City, Utah
Seams To Be Sew creates Idaho Falls, Idaho
Pine Valley creates New Zealand
September 15
bdieges designs creates Road to Tehachapi (CA)
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs creates Worcester County in Central Massachusetts
Patti’s Patchwork creates Toronto, Ontario Canada
Seacoast Quilter creates New Milford, Connecticut
September 20
Beaquilter creates Denmark
Heleen Pinkster creates Netherlands
MooseStash Quilting creates Alaska
Rebecca Mae Designs creates Northern Maine
September 22
Words & Stitches creates Beaches of California
Quilt Art creates Africa
I Can Quilt 2 creates Baltimore, MD
Any Pattern creates Port Angeles, Washington
Patchwork Breeze creates West Michigan Shoreline
September 27
Creatin’ in the Sticks creates Dodge City, Kansas
Sue Griffiths Featured At Just Let Me Quilt creates Northern Rivers Region, NSW, Australia
Seams To Be Sew And Batts In The Attic creates Hollywood/LA
(Dual Posting)
September 29
Quilted Fabric Art creates Burlington Vermont
Westend Quilter creates Manitoulin Island, Canada
Pamela Quilts creates Oregon
Quilt Fabrication creates Silicon Valley, CA
October 04
Patchouli Moon Studio creates Central New Mexico
Linda Robertus creates Netherlands
Elm Street Quilts creates North Carolina
Sarah Quinn Featured At Seams To Be Sew creates Outer Space
October 06
Cheryl LaPlant Featured At Quilt In Piece creates York, Maine
Miss Loreen’s Schoolhouse creates New Hampshire
Bumbleberry Stitches creates Oklahoma

Needle in a Hayes Stack creates Mojave Desert
Cloth and Paper Studio creates North Georgia Mountains
October 11
Show N Tell Day
TBA

Thanks for visiting. Please join me on Facebook or sign up for my new e-mail newsletter. I am doing a block a week honoring 101 Patchwork Patterns by Ruby Short McKim. We're only up to block 12 so there's plenty of time to join in.

Thanks,
Mary

74 comments:

  1. Your row is lovely! Thanks for showing photos as you were working as well as the photos at Christmas. I love Christmas! I'm thinking I might hang some Christmas lights on my bandstand. Thanks for sharing your row, great job!

    New follower ;-D

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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  2. Ooh I love this row - I can picture it with added Christmas bling, wouldn't that be fun! My friend that taught me to quilt has a house quilt that shows a home at Christmas, she adds things to it every year - orphan jewelry, miniatures, you name it. I think this would be a great row to do that with, thank you! Lovely little town!

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  3. Your row is delightful. Love the gazebo!

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  4. Lovely row, your little bandstand or rotunda as we call them, a winner.

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  5. Hi there NE neighbor! I've never been to that part of CT, but of course have been in the state many times. I love your town green row, especially the bandstand!

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  6. Love your block-that bandstand looks like quite the challenge! Thank you, Susan

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  7. Great job with your row. I love the bandstand or gazebo as we call it where I live. I saw one just like it in a movie a couple of months ago. They had it decorated for Christmas, too. Your pictures reminded me of that and what a charming place it was. Thank you for sharing your row.

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  8. LOVE your row!!! The Gazebo/Bandstand is grrrrreat! Details are Wow! :)

    Thank you for sharing the Super Christmas pictures...gazebo & lights...ahhhh...

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  9. Great row and thanks for the "close-up" of your work. akronne17@gmail.com

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  10. Love your row. I love the different size trees and the Gazebo

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  11. I like the bandstand. I am a musician too.

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  12. I am learning sooooo much about creating a landscape effect from this tour.

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  13. Adding the gazebo was just the sparkle this row needed. It is beautiful Mary. You've done yourself proud and I love this row. I liked it before, but the Gazebo really makes the row stand out. I'm so happy you participated in the Road Home Row Along, you've done an amazing row.

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  14. Nothing beats the holidays in a small town. Love your row. That gazebo is just too adorable.

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  15. Lovely row. I like the idea of using an applique placement sheet.

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  16. Thank you for the instructions too, it seems a little confusing at first, and your detailed instructions will help!

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  17. Visiting New England is on my bucket list. Though I usually think 'fall', it's nice to see your row featuring another season. Thank you for the row pattern.

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  18. this is a wonderful row. thanks for sharing.

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  19. This is such a pretty row...love it! I use an applique sheet, too. It makes it all go together so much easier than trying to put it directly on the fabric. Thanks for sharing your row!

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  20. I really, really love your row! I love the simplicity of it, a clean design that speaks volumes and makes me want to visit! :)

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  21. Thanks for sharing your row with us. Love those streetlights.

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  22. The row is lovely! It's great how you combined elements from the different photos.

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  23. Mary this is so sweet - love that you added the bandstand. I've never tried Steam-a-Seam II, but the more I learn about it, the better it sounds. Fun row - thanks for the pattern!

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  24. I love the detail you added. I can truly see your home in the row. Thank you for sharing.

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  25. Love your row. It's so reminiscent of small towns back east. You have such a great gazebo. Thanks for your row!

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  26. The gazebo is a great addition to your row.

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  27. Beautiful. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

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  28. Beautiful. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

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  29. We're almost neighbors-I'm from norther New Jersey. Your row is lovely!

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  30. I love this design, thank you for the applique tips too. crystalbluern at tds dot net

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  31. You make me want to visit Connecticut at Christmas! How beautiful...the green, the white, the lights, and the Christmas cheer!

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  32. A New England Christmas, can imagine it a lovely site. Thank you for the block. I can see the use of embellishments on it.

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  33. love your row. nice job thanks for sharing

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  34. Very cool could be just about anyones home town love it..... happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  35. Your row is quite nice. Like the bandstand!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  36. I can hear the band playing! Nice row.

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  37. Thank you for showing the process by which you put together your row. It's so helpful to see how you created your scene--which is beautiful!

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  38. Love your row. And thanks so much for sharing your process.

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  39. This is a great row and it depicts perfectly the pictures of your town. Thank you for including pics of the process you used to create the row. I'm going to check out previous posts too. Thanks for joining the hop!
    Carol

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  40. I love your gazebo and think I will use it in a Christmas runner, like the photo you showed. Thanks for the tips, Lauren

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  41. Thanks for your pretty row! It reminds me of the bandstand in Halifax Public Gardens in Nova Scotia, which is also very pretty with Christmas decorations.

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  42. I love your row, there is nothing like a New England Christmas. I grew up in neighboring RI.

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  43. What lovely memories of Christmas and Family. Thanks for the row. raydeer@memlane.com

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  44. Great row, thanks for sharing!
    cork@pa.rr.com

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  45. Thanks for the cute row by row block.

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  46. This is such a pretty row with the trees and the bandstand. Great representation of your home!

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  47. Great row, like the little band stand! Thanks!

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  48. I love the depth in your row...so gotta hop over to Craftsy!

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  49. Your row's bandstand reminds me of the ones that are in the movies.
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  50. I love how you constructed your bandstand/gazebo! Worthy of a true builder! (lynnstck[at]yahoo.com)

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  51. Christmas is my favorite time of the year. Thank you so much for this row.
    Warm hugs, Ruthie
    ruthie.peterburg@gmail.com

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  52. What a terrific row! Love the bandstand, you can almost hear a band playing for a summer in the park. Thank's so much for sharing your talents.

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  53. I haven't used fusible tape yet. Thanks for the hint.
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  54. Such a creative process. The designers in the row hop are so talented. I am so glad I got a chance to visit your blog during this hope.

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  55. I love that you chose to show the green from your hometown. It looks like a lovely place to have grown up. I mainly enjoy patchwork but all these wonderful rows are making me want to try my hand at a landscape.

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  56. I would love to visit your community at Christmas

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  57. Signed up for your newsletter!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  58. I love your delightful gazebo! Thanks for sharing your techniques.

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  59. What a lovely row!! Thanks for sharing some tips for the assembly process too!!

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  60. I am the Church Secretary at New Milford United Methodist Church. Our men's club puts these trees up every year. This is our 50th year!!! I was on Google looking for the Redbook cover and found your row. It's lovely. Our Men's Club will be THRILLED to see this. I am an avid quilter and will definitely be making the row to hang in the church. I cannot thank you enough!

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