Vista Toscana

It was oh so timely that I happened to cut into the Tuscany View fat-quarter bundle I'd purchased from Fabric Bubb when I did. Because one year ago last week we were in Tuscany, Reggello in fact, in the Tuscan countryside. Though we were fortunate to take a daytrip to Florence, Tuscany's capital, it was in Reggello itself the we experienced THE most breathtaking sunset. And it was that sunset that came to mind when I purchased the fabric.

The colors, all Cotton Couture from Michael Miller, weren't exact, but were reminiscent enough. 

I separated the fabrics in 5 groupings, each with 2-3 key fabrics. And from there I started piecing blocks of improv curves. For most of the sections, I pieced slabs that were 18-22" x 13-14" and then used my 6" square ruler to cut out six blocks. Now and then I made one or two blocks at a time, or inserted another piece into one of the 'slab' blocks.... whatever felt good at the time.

As I worked from one color grouping to the next, I intentionally used some overlap with the colors to create some interrelatedness, just like in nature. I briefly considered rearranging the blocks from the arrangement I'd fashioned on my design wall, but after plenty of affirmation on my progress post, I decided to continue on with what was originally in my mind's eye. 

Wanting to save what little fabric I had left for (hopefully) binding, I found a stash fabric just the right size, and though the palette wasn't spot on, its design definitely was, for the quilting I had planned. 

For quilting, organic straight-line [link to tutorial] felt the obvious choice. Though my original plan involved just three threads, basically one for the top, middle, and bottom sections of the quilt, once I got going I switched it up, and used quite the variety - nine in total. I used two or three for each of the five sections. 

Gotta say, this kind of quilting is something I really enjoy. Between the variety of thread, the improv stitching, and the smallness of the quilt (28" x 34"), it was alot of fun.

And then, of course, for the binding, another obvious choice - some straight matched binding [link to tutorial]. I had a limited supply of the fabrics left, so I kind of used what I had to create a combination I enjoyed.

Considering I purchased this fabric purely on a whim due to the bundle's name, I'm super pleased with the final result.

And boy did it evoke some extraordinary Tuscan memories.

Linking up with Meadow Mist Designs' Favorite Finish Linky!