I have read and reread about taking a photo, enlarging it and then somehow piecing fabric to the outline of say a church/bldg creating a block for a quilt. Over the years I have taken pictures of buildings and scenes that mean something to us. Now that I am retired, I want to make those memories into blocks for a quilt. I do not want to just transfer the photo to cloth--I want to actually piece together the structure. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I'm no artist, but the first thing I'd do is get a grayscale version of that photo.

Because then you can really see the value of the different colored pieces, and that would help with providing the right perspective.

Where the light is, distance from your viewpoint, shadows, etc.

But, like I said, I'm no artist.

It sounds like a fabulous project.

Now, do I just cut and applique....I really do not want to do that. I want to say take the side of barn and actually sew two piece of brown together and then go back with thread to create the worn look. Thank you everyone

Then make the picture the size you want, outline the different shapes, cut templates, cut the shapes from fabric, applique them.

Wouldn't that work?

I think you're missing my point. You can just take any 2 pieces of brown. If you put the darkest brown on the front on the barn and the lightest on the side, you have a different image. If you see the browns all around, you've got a glob of brown.

Oh MTS, that is an excellent idea for lighting. I can do that on my computer. Now how to I get all these pieces into a block? Is it sort of like strip piecing only little pieces for sides of barn, etc?

Wait, we're cross posting.

You DO want to do applique or you don't?

I see what you mean about showing light with grey scaling. The ice on the tree top really shows the sun light coming from the left side of photo.

Do you want to paper piece - a la Cynthia ENgland?
Let me find you a link. one sec

Duh! look at the title of the thread. <smacks head>

MTS - I do not want to applique. Hands and fingers cannot do that because of my aging. Machine stitching and quilting is how I want to accomplish this quilt. Thank you.

Got it give me a sec.

I've seen people trace the outline onto clear transparency so you can place it over the pattern as you go to check shapes and dimension. Hope that helps.

Got it give me a sec.
http://www.englanddesign.com/quilt-g.../Open%20Season

In case you hadn't heard of her, Cynthia did this amazing quilt (among others) - This one won at Houston. It's all paper pieced.
I think this is the method you want.

Check out her getting started page/videos for her method - she calls it Picture Piecing:
http://www.englanddesign.com/content/video-demos-0

You don't have to go as teeny tiny as she does, but you can still get a lot of detail and definition into the image.
And you can further embellish it with the quilting or embroidery or whatever method you want.

Also, when you're shaping the tree, most of the detail of the thinner branches can be done with thread - you don't have to actually pp those small parts.

I will second MTS. I have Cynthia England's book "Picture Piecing" and it has ideas and intrusctiins about how to accomplish what you want. Sorry, I am not ready to part with it yet, I am waiting until I grow up and use it,lol. I did make one of her patterns when I first started quilting and look forward to use many more. She is extremely talented and nice....I'd love to take one of her classes one day....

Here's a pathetic - repeat, PATHETIC - example of how you would do it.

But you can see the different sections that you would draw on the picture. The only rule is (if you're PP) you have to have straight lines.
And even that's bendable. haha. :roll:

You take it section by section by section. And you break down to as many as you - YOU - want to handle.

My computer Windows Media Player does not support these videos but yes, yes, yes--this is exactly what I am wanting to teach myself.

I will go to Amazon or someplace and get the book. While I had heard of England's name, I never took the time to see what she was doing and just remained in my own little world of making up patterns for charity quilts. Now that I believe I have bypassed that quarter inch requirement (LOL), I want to become a more seasoned quilter. It is an art and so relaxing to me. I hope others will join in this thread with their hints and experiences.

Thank you for your quick response. I will visit Cynthia's website now.

MTS, you have pointed out great detail. Now do I stitch those sections of barn side down to another piece of say muslin OR are these fused down to backing and then utilize art thread for lines, etc.? Maybe it does not make much difference as long as I would go back and heavily stitch the raw edges.

No, it will be on paper foundation.
It's really too bad you can't see those videos because she really pretty much lays out the process. Even if you just look at the pictures for each video, you can get a sense of the process.

Let me look around for some other videos of her work. I know they're out there.

Ah-h shucks, I tried downloading her free train pattern and site will not give me a link to it. Perhaps it has been taken down. In any event, this is the type of quilting I want to accomplish and after making more than one hundred quilts over five years, I think I can do it. Stay tuned quilters......maybe I will just give it a try this afternoon and have a laugh for you later this week.

Nothing like just taking my boots off and stepping into the ring of quilting fire. Afterall, like my dh says, do not be afraid of cutting up fabric because I am sure the store has plenty more. Love that understanding guy.....but then again, FOOTBALL season is upon us. I am laughing all the way to my LQS.

Thanks again MTS. I am off to the sewing room now and will check back this evening. This board is too addictive, isn't it? Later and happy stitching everyone.

Pooh, HGTV took down her appearance on Simply Quilts.

Her episode on The Quilt Show is still available - although for members only.

I remember it featured her studio (they went to her house), and then there was, like, 20 minutes of her demonstrating her technique. Exactly what you want.

I have some gift certificates for one free episode that I never used - I'm not sure if they're still valid. I get them whenever I renew my subscription. You do have to sign up (free basic member) just to take advantage of the coupon.
If you want it, I can send you the code. It might still work.

Alex Anderson has a paper piecing book too that is very easy to follow.

that would be sensational infact it inspired me to look at a peice of fabric I have, I think it would be perfect for your barn although you may have what you want. this was a fat quarter I used some of and am now done with its LQS fabric if your interested I would be happy to send it to you. just send me an addy. I do have a smoker in the house a dog and cat.
wishing you great success.
Sandra

plesae post it , when u have it done.it will be beautiful.

Quilt University,com is offering a course named Art for Quilters starting this Friday.You may have a look at it, I' ve been taking 8 courses with them and always learned something new,

I think that EQ programs 6and 7 have features that will let you do this. Import the photo, trace it and with a few more steps.....paper pieced maps.

wow,not something I will try but I sure respect MTS for taking her time to give you so much info. With all the input from so many lovely ladies you should be able to get lots of ideas. I've always said some quilts take more hours than some of the worlds prized art. Be looking for final pic.

She is very nice and talented. Our guild had her couple years ago for 2 classes. She was lots of fun and very helpful. If you get a chance take a class from her.

http://www.cosman.nl/software
Quilt Assistant - a free software for paper piecing from photos and images

I was wondering if it would be a lot easier if you reverse printed the pattern onto the freeezer paper and attached it to the reverse side of the fabric. That way you could stitch along the paper to get an accurate stitching line. Seems like a lot of extra chance of getting it wrong not being able to see the paper.
JeanneZ

Thanks for this amazing link!

Look for one of Ruth McDowell's books. She's the best at doing this, I think, and can give you some. Probably the best for what you're doing would be the Piecing workshop or the Design Workshop. She guides you through all the right steps.

Very interesting. Would love to learn this also.

An absolutely beautiful project. I am trying to do one also from a postcard I got in South Dakota. I love old buildings like that so I wish you all the luck in the world, Thanx to all the rest of you who posted a reply, it helped me also. This board is the best place to learn new ideas and techniques

I do this all by machine not by hand anymore (I do machine applique with a satin stitch). I enlarge the photo and trace the photo with all the color changes onto plastic then enlarge to final stage. Trace the pattern pieces onto fusible (like Wonder Under) and rough cut around the pieces. Match up the pieces with right fabrics. Fuse the pieces to the fabric, cut out on the traced lines. Fuse pieces onto parchment paper placed over the pattern, tucking under where necessary just like you would with hand applique then put onto a background to stitch. I have done Cynthia England's lighthouse as an applique rather than paper piecing! Going the other way.

Sorry, no help here, don't do paperpiecing, but beautiful photo, can't wait to see finished project!

You might look at the following sites:

a photo editing free software program gofree.com/download/windows-software/graphic-Design/gimp.php

or vam.ac.uk/microsites/quilts/patchwork

both have been recommended by others on this board.

WOW - look what I started and the many replies posted. Thank you one and all. I got home this afternoon, disciplined myself to vacuum first and then hit the computer to check this Board. What helpful people quilters are. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

As promised last night, I did make an uneducated guess at how these barn blocks could be made. Needless to say, I need a book or video and I shall get one shortly.

Anyway my barn has a lot of problems, especially on the haymow side and the perspective is all wrong on that side too. I tried red thread button hole stitch for roofline but that does not look right at all so will go around again with black to highlight it. I want to straightline stitch within the wood fabric and the posts need to be darker too.

Then I have some great rock fabric which I will either make a rock wall or a stone base to building all around. Of course there will be a fence, some animals and sunflowers. Not sure what block will end up being (maybe just a reminder that I do not know what I am doing--lol) but I sure am having fun and that is the main purpose of quilting.

Thanks again for all the links provided. Here is my first-step in photo. I will follow-up with another picture when I get it finished.

Miss Sandra. Thank you for your generous offer. I will PM you.

I have quite a bit of barn fabric if you would like some.

that is awsome. love it.