Hi and welcome 😀 It's the last Saturday in June. That means that we're having a linking party to show off the latest additions to Quilter's Cove. The colour for this month was pastel, something that I don't play much with as you'll see by my house 😂. Click here if you're looking for the I Quilted This! linking party.
A Pastel (Fairy) House
If you've been following my blog for a while, you know that I love colour, the brighter, the better. So it wasn't easy to make a pastel house. When I think pastel, I think soft and dull colours. So how to use pastel colours without the block looking dull? I'm thinking that the solution might the contrast. What do you think?
This is my first attempt at the pastel house. I made the background and the house using quiet, pastel colours. However I just couldn't help adding some bright elements around it.
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| First attempt at the pastel fairy house |
After taking photos of this block, I just had to ask myself....is the block about the house? If so, then I really overshadowed the pastel house with the addition of bright colours around it.
So I made a second block. Thank goodness I had only glued on the additional elements. In this second block the additional elements are more in keeping with the house's colour palette. But is it too dull?
So I made a second block. Thank goodness I had only glued on the additional elements. In this second block the additional elements are more in keeping with the house's colour palette. But is it too dull?
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| Second version of the pastel house |
I wasn't going to even show you my first attempt but when I show my block to JJ, we wondered if the block needs to be about the house? If not, then we like the second block best. So is the block about the house or not? I'd really like your opinion.
This is how the pastel house block looks like with two other blocks.
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| Three of the houses - does the pastel house look too dull? |
To learn more about the Quilter's Cove QAL, go to the QAL's main page on Kat's blog - see Related links below.
I'll add July's colour as soon as I find out what it is!
What I learned
- The pastel house does look a little dull but I will be using contrasting thread for the windows and door when I quilt it. That should brighten it up a little.
- If I hadn't stitched the purplish flower on I would probably have removed it but unless I cover it up, it's staying put!
- The second version of the house doesn't include the pink bird but the final one will - is just need to cut another one out - I managed to remove his tail feather when I un-glued him.
- I don't think this house is any straighter than the others.... oh well 😁
- I'm still hoping to quilt-as-you-go these blocks but I don't want to spend too much time on it since the Rainbow Neighbourhood needs to get done by the end of July!
Related links
- A Quilter's Cove QAL, main page on Kat's blog
- An Orange House in Quilter's Cove QAL, May 30, 2026
- A Pink House in Quilter's Cove QAL, April 27, 2026
A Fun Red House for A Quilter's Cove QAL, March 28, 2026
- A Quilter's Cove QAL for February, February 28, 2026
- A Quilter's Cove QAL Link-up and SAHRR, January 31, 2026
Linking parties
I'll be linking up to some fun linking parties. You may want to check some out! Sew & Tell, Put your foot down, Patchwork & Quilts, Beauties Pageant, TGIFF, Oh Scrap!, Monday Musings,
I think the first version of your pastel house would blend in with the others - it has that brighter area on the bottom left to play like it belongs in the grouping. JMO tho.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kat, that was my thinking also. If I spruce up the house with some bright trim when I FMQ it, it will hopefully stand out more.
DeleteI always love seeing the cute fussy cut things you put around your houses, Andree! I had a hard time with the pastel blocks this month, too - my house also seems very pale compared to the others I've made.. I like both your versions of your house, but in the second one, I miss the pink bird!
ReplyDeleteThanks Diann, I'm sure that our pastel houses will fit in. I'm going to find another bird to add - he lost his tail feathers :-( I've kept the second one and converted it to a quilt-as-you-go block and I'll use the thread to create contrast. Thanks so much for playing along!
DeleteCould you make the house part blue (not too light a blue)? I think that would provide more contrast to the background. I can see that doing an all pastel block for RSC would be a challenge as most months the colors included are medium and dark. I haven't participated in RSC for a few years now. Still have unfinished ones from prior years.
ReplyDeletePat
Thanks Pat for your idea. I started converting my blocks into quilt-as-you-go. I ended up keeping the last design of the pastel house but will use thread (blue, yellow or pink) to highlight the house and create contrast. Hopefully it will be enough. It'll be interesting to see what works. Take care.
DeleteTa petite maison au bord de l'eau est adorable,. C'est vrai qu'elle disparaît un peu à côté des autres, peut-être en lui ajoutant quelque chose comme un contour, ou une ombre, elle ressortirait davantage ? Tes éléments ajoutés sont toujours mignons !
ReplyDeleteMerci beaucoup Frédérique. J'ai converti mes blocs on quilt-as-you-go. Lorsque je ferai le quilting, je vais commencer par utiliser du fils plus vif pour les fenêtres et les autres détails. Ça va faire une bonne expérimentation. Si ce n'est pas assez, j'essairai d'autres choses. Le FMQ peut aussi aider comme un contour. Merci.
DeleteThe houses are the unifier for the quilt. So, my opinion is to make the houses stand out. Bold and bright will always catch the eye more than light and muted. One solution is to make the windows bright with a bold yellow, similar to what you did with roof. No need to make a new block. Just something to file away for the future. Personally, I am enjoying the whimsy of all the activities and landscaping you and others are adding to the house blocks.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gwyned, I've converted the blocks to quilt-as-you-go and when quilting will use your idea of bright bold yellow around the door and windows. Thanks for the idea. :-)
DeleteIn some neighborhoods the gardens stand out more than the house does, so I think it depends on what you want to build. Go with the block that makes you happiest.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Kate. I'm now converting the blocks to quilt-as-you-go which means that I'll be able to add fun FMQ. The thread colours will help bring out stuff also :-)
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