Time to VOTE for Project QUILTING Road Trip Challenge – Another Great Public Prize!

I can’t wait to share with you the entries for this weeks challenge – a fantastic, creative job done by everyone! It was a difficult challenge for me and add a holiday weekend onto that – you can really get into crunch time!

For those of you just tuning in you can read more about Project Quilting Here: http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2010/04/project-quilting.html

and about the second challenge of Season 1 Here:

http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2010/05/season-1-challenge-2.html

CHALLENGE WINNERS: There will be two winners for this challenge – one for the public vote and one for the ‘judged vote’ – Diane, Pam, Barb and our Guest Judge, Shannon. The winner of the PUBLIC vote will receive 4 fat quarters (their choice) from FabricAlaCarte AND a $10 gift certificate from the FatQuarterShop! The winner of the JUDGES vote will receive 2 moda charm packs of their choice from FabricsNQuilts AND a $10 gift certificate from the FatQuarterShop!

OTHER BONUSES:

A RANDOMLY Drawn Participant will win a pdf pattern for this beautiful quilt by FabricsAndQuilts: http://www.etsy.com/listing/47561057/boutique-red-blue-wheelchair-lap-quilt and I'm going to do another yard of hand-dyed fabric (Capri really wants to pick a name too).

I will also be sending everyone their rank (somewhere between 1 and 10 – be sure you’ve emailed me {lapaceksorchard@gmail.com} your email address) and any critique’s the judges have about your creation. The top 3 will be posted on my blog this weekend.

PUBLIC WINNERS: I will also be giving out a prize to the public. You’ll find out how to WIN at the bottom of this post after you’ve checked out each of our challengers entries. I am personally excited about this weeks prize…you’ll have to get all the way to find out why!

And now here are all the entries – in no particular order…

***Please note – I have left the images smaller than I normally do as I’ve received some feedback that my blog was loading slowly – hopefully this will help that issue. I strongly URGE you to take closer looks at the project by checking out their submittals on the flickr group:http://www.flickr.com/groups/1401824@N21/

Quilter: StudioCherie

The Story:

Unhappy with my choice of foot wear for the photo shoot, Rory chose to hide my feet (and the bottom of the skirt that is finished to sweetly) with lupin and tall grass. I never needed cowgirl boots before. I never had such a kickin' patchwork skirt either.
The project quilting challenge for this week was "road trip." I thought - great! I'll make a duffle. Then I read, you must use12 fabrics on the top of your quilt. A patchwork duffle sounded great, but I didn't think I would have time to complete it. Then I received an email from one of my customers who had just completed a patchwork duffle from my pattern. It was gorgeous, but I still did not have time. I started the patchwork anyway, not sure what it was going to be. Then I thought how super a comfortable skirt would be for a road trip. I could look great and be comfy for hours on end. Thank you, Kim, for putting on the challenges. I am so glad I made this for myself. My daughter wants one too. It is reversible for a completely different look. The patchwork skirt started as 3 sets of strips, 13 different fabrics in all

Created in Spokane, Washington.

Quilter: SpringWaterDesigns

The Story:

I like to take a traditional quilt design and add a unique touch. For this theme I decided to make an Amish Trip Around the World quilt, and I used a thread painting technique to add a literary quote by J.R.R. Tolkien that reads "Not all those who wander are lost". (By thread painting I mean that I used a thicker thread - 12 wt Sulky - and quilted the words into the quilt using a free motion quilting technique). In keeping with the theme of the quilt I quilted it with an all over meander. The quilt measures 36" x 48" and I used 12 different fabrics. My quilt was created in Jessup Maryland USA

Quilter: PennyFabricArt

The Story:

For this week's Road Trip Challenge, I remembered one of my favorite road trips from my early 20's, when on a spur-of-the-moment a bunch of friends piled into a little Jetta in New Hampshire and hit the road for New York to go to the races at Belmont Park.
I'd never been to a horse race, and I was stunned at the power and speed and wild energy as the packs of horses flew around the track.
For this piece, I used many different cottons, silks, jacquard sateen's and a couple faux leathers. The piece is fused & satin stitched appliqué. The quilting highlights the contours of the muscles and clothing, and the wind as they fly past the crowd. The border is chocolate microfleece.
The piece is mounted on a stretched canvas frame, wired for hanging. Measures 36" x 24".
I'm now in Ridgefield, CT, so NYC is not so much of a road trip anymore.

Quilter: Karen’s Crafty World

The Story:

Here's my entry for challenge #2 in Project Quilting. I really had a hard time coming up with an idea for this one most likely because I haven't really taken any road trips. I like to fly instead of drive ;) However, I do spend quite a bit of time in the car driving to see patients who might live anywhere from 15 mins to 1 1/2 hours away from me. If my visits fall on a weekend day, Chuck will drive with me and I can ride shot gun and do some handwork. So, here's the idea behind this quilt. I've wanted a quilt for the car and this one will serve two purposes. 1.) Car Quilt. 2) The white squares, which feature SunBonnet Sue and Sam, all will be hand-quilted with red thread. This should keep me busy for quite some time as there are 28 six inch squares on this quilt. Perfect busy work for short road trips! This quilt measures 60"x 50" and was made in Elgin, IL but will travel often.

Quilter: QuiltingDiva

The Story:

The minute I saw the challenge I knew it would be a great time to stitch out my "classic cars" that I purchased from Embroidery Library. My machine was running for 9 hours to stitch all 6 of these!! I chose 6 different solids for the cars and made 6 four patch blocks with 6 different car prints. I live in Brandon Florida.

Quilter: MoranArtandQuilts

The Story:

I wanted this quilt to look like a collage of things that remind the viewer of all the trips they’ve taken over the years. Route 66 is kind of the icon of travel so I wanted that to be the main focal point. My husband thought of using the sign and I thought “what if I make it so you can see what’s behind it or through it?”
I didn’t actually count the fabrics once I got to 12 so I know it’s more than that. I combined traditional machine appliqué with raw edge appliqué. I’m happy with how it turned out and I like how it’s busy with many different elements. Some are realistic, some are cartoony; I like the mixture.
You wanted to know where we’re from this time. I’m from Columbus, Ohio.

Quilter: LoveBugStudios

The Story:

This piece, titled "Ebby & Augi Drive to Pensacola" is a 6-panel scale version of a 35mm film canister, complete with "film" - which is actually a quilt.
I used to live in Hopkinsville, KY which is a really small town in the lower part of the state. My friend Augi & I shared office space, and very frequently on Friday afternoons, we would get a wild hair and decide to leave work at that very moment & drive to the beach (9 hours away.) We'd taken several trips to various beach destinations, and Pensacola was one of our favorites. Augi would always drive, and I would always sleep on the way.
When rolled up, the outside reads "Quilt 2010 - 6 exp." This is actually a fully-removable sleeve with a velcro closure.
When unrolled, the quilt features select images and pieces inspired by the trip, and measures 12" x 79".
The rules of the project were to use 12 fabrics in the front of the quilt, which will be detailed in each panel, but you can see the complete list here:lovebugstudios.blogspot.com/2010/05/road-trip-fabrics-pro....
Made in Hainesville, IL.

To read more about each panel and LoveBug’s process check out her blog: http://www.lovebugstudios.blogspot.com/search?q=Road+Trip&submit=Go

Quilter – Kathleen’s Quilts

The Story:

Years ago, when horses were a big part of our lives, my husband and I drove to Columbus Ohio to attend a large equine trade show and exposition. An unexpected perk of the trip was finding a beautiful garden early one morning. Light misty fog added to the scene... it was simply lovely. This is my loose interpretation of the garden, it's paths and a fountain in the center.
If you count the bit of silver used for the sun's reflection on the water, thirteen fabrics were used. Several different fabrics for the grass and for the flowers but only one fabric was used for the stone path to keep it uniform.
Meander quilting in green in the grass and in pink in the flower areas.
32" square; stitched in Cissna Park, IL

Quilter – Quilties

The Story:

This quilted tote bag is symbolic of a very special, old, red, metal cooler that my parents always had when they took our family on road trips. It had fascinating souvenir stickers all over from trips they took together and we added stickers on many of our family trips. I loved looking at that cooler and remembering all our good times.
I used transfer paper to transfer some patch images I chose that were special to me in some way. The places I've gone when I was a kid, my honeymoon, with my family now and states I've lived in, etc.... The top border is to satisfy the challenge requirement of more than 12 fabrics. There 22 scraps, chosen to look like the landscapes we've seen and set up to look like a road with the yellow dotted line down the center.
I wanted this to be a nice tote bag to use for future road trips, so I quilted the sides, lined it, made a gusset in the bottom so it's really roomy and added nice thick handles, so it's a really functional bag.
My mom doesn't know where that old cooler is anymore...but the memory of it will live on in this project!
-Emma Thomas-McGinnis of Quilties
Near Des Moines, IA

Quilter: KimsCraftyApple

The Story:

I actually had a completely different project started for this challenge at the beginning of the week - I wasn't happy with it. Yesterday I finally decided to put it aside (it's still cool - just not Project QUILTING worthy) and start over.
I snagged my husband's State of Wisconsin Map, and cut out squares of the map which I then sandwiched between lamination paper. I backed each of these squares with a fun purple fabric that just peaks around the edges.
Since I have no idea how my new laminate fabric will hold up I decided this project would be one I would keep - so I had to make it into something I would like and use. Since I'm going on a 'Road Trip' I decided a bag would be fitting - a Really BIG Bag - a 21" wide by 14" deep with two 32" patchwork handles and a really nice three compartment interior pocket.
I also picked out a bunch (12-14) other fabrics that I really liked to go along with my new 'map' fabric. I windowed each of the map blocks with strips from these fabrics. I then continued to sew pieces of all the different fabrics together to create this fantastic scrappy look.
I did an angular 'swirl' pattern with the quilting and boxed off each of the map blocks. The handles are made from a patchwork of the same fabric as the bag and the lining is a fun 'riverbed scene' with quotes on it.
A button from UrbanTurn is used to keep the bag closed.
This bag was created in Poynette, WI.

PUBLIC WINNERS: The winner from the Random Generator will receive a $20 gift certificate to spend on whatever you choose at TheApple!

Wrap Around Glass Pearl Cluster Ring – Size 7.5

A wide selection of fun, crazy, colorful and whimsical jewelry from earrings to necklaces to bracelets to rings can be found at theApple. Use your gift certificate to treat yourself or find the perfect gift for someone you love!

Daisy Earrings – Jewel Toned with Glass Pearls

SIX Chances to WIN!

Entry 1: REQUIRED! Leave a comment on your favorite entry and vote for your favorite on the poll on the upper left hand side of the blog. - ***MUST DO***

Optional/Additional Entries – please note – if you want to qualify for these additional entries you must leave a SEPERATE comment for each – if you already follow or are a fan, etc just leave comments saying each. If you write everything in ONE comment you only will have ONE entry…

Entry 2: Follow my blog.

Entry 3: Tweet about this fantastic contest with hashtag #PQRectangles (important or I won’t know you did it)

Entry 4: Become a Fan of Project QUILTING on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ProjectQUILTING

Entry 5: add my Project Quilting ‘Grab my Blinkie’ to your blog or blog about my giveaway (link your blog or post in your comment, please)

Entry 6: Head on over to theApple and let me know what you would get if you won this weeks prize!

***Participants in project quilting ARE allowed to enter in the public poll/contest as well.***

This means you have SIX chances to win! I need you to write each of these entries as different comments in order to qualify you for all five entries and include your email address. If you don’t include your email address I won’t be able to contact you when you win and I will have to choose a new winner. I will be picking the winner at 7pm on Friday, June 4th.

Blogger Quilt Festival

Yeah!  It’s time for the third annual Blogger Quilt Festival!  I’m so excited – I love it when Amy’s Creative Side Posts these!  It’s so much fun to spend time looking at everyone’s link and seeing what they’ve created. 

I have decided for this Festival to show off my Shoofly Quilt.  This was my first Project Quilting Challenge Piece.  I had to use the traditional shoofly block and then incorporate stripes into the quilt. I used three fabrics to create this quilt – the water-colorish white fabric, the brown branch printed fabric, and a beautiful yard of hand-dyed fabric (I dyed myself).   

To create my ‘stripe’ I actually embellished part of the hand-dyed fabric with fibers – some hand-dyed, some commercial, even a few ribbons!  It was a bit of challenge when having to iron the piecing together but I think the overall effect turned out just stunning! To read more about my process and to see what other’s have completed for the challenge check out the flickr site:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/1401824@N21/

To read more about what Project QUILTING is:  http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2010/04/project-quilting.html

To read about what’s going on in Season 1:

http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2010/05/project-quilting-season-one.html

The newest challenge projects are due this Sunday at Noon so be sure to stop back!

 

To see the other quilts in this Quilt Festival go to:  http://www.amyscreativeside.com/2010/05/bloggers-quilt-festival-spring-2010.html

Smartest Kid Ever

I just had to post this quickly.  There was a sock hanging over my closet door (no, I have no idea why it was there) but it was stopping the girls from being able to shut the door.  Cedi decided to see if she could jump high enough to reach it – oddly enough, she couldn’t.  So, I asked Capri if she could jump that high to get the sock and she looked at me and ran out of the room.  Soon, I heard the pitter patter of her little feet running back – she had grabbed her step stool!  How smart is that!?  Of course, the step stool was still not high enough but I just thought it was great she thought of it!

I know I’m the mom so I’m biased about my kids amazing-ness – but isn’t that what I’m supposed to do!?

Introducing Project QUILTING’s Third Judge – Barb Raisbeck of QuiltsbyBarb

Our third steady judge for Project QUILTING is going to be someone I’ve talked about a lot – Barb Raisbeck of QuiltsbyBarb. Barb is Diane’s sister, my aunt-in-law and an extremely talented long arm quilter. (oh and trust me – neither Diane or Barb will be ‘easy on me’ for scoring – if anything they are even more critical of my work!)

Flower Power Quilt

She has participated in a few of the challenges but any challenges she feels like working on will just be for ‘show’ and not eligible for any of the prizes.

Checkers Anyone?

Here’s Barb’s ‘About Me’ that I snagged from her website:

Let me tell you how I got started quilting.

Around 1990, Mom made a quilt top for my son, Cory. I was very excited when I went to WalMart and picked out a black,purple, green and gold print fabric. Then I went and selected all these plain colored polyester fabric for poor Mom to make the quilt. She didn't complain; thank goodness I selected the Rail Fence pattern, and she made Cory's quilt top.

Now it was time for me to hand quilt it. Mom was going to come to my home in Bloomington, Wisconsin, to get me started and teach me how to hand quilt. Before we got to do this, Mom suffered a massive heart attack and we lost our wonderful Mother just ten days later.

Bargello Trip Around the World

The quilt top sat in the closet until I saw a quilt that had been machine quilted. I thought, now that is what I can do with Cory's quilt and it will get finished. I sent the quilt top out and had it quilted with a polyester batting with the cloud pattern. I brought it home and put about a 4 inch wide binding on the edge, all done by machine. I think Cory still has the quilt.

My daughter, Katrina, then thought she needed a quilt. I was already a lot wiser. Katrina and I went to a local quilt shop and selected four blue fabrics of 100% cotton. I made my first quilt top, a Sunshine and Shadows quilt, all in blues. I sent it off to the machine quilter and it was quilted with a pantograph pattern. I was hooked on quilting!!

Purple Heat Resistant Mini Quilt

I continued making quilt tops and sending them out to a local machine quilter. She specialized in pantographs only and I was ready for more. It was time for me to purchase my own long arm quilting machine. My husband was very skeptical as I threatened to put the machine in our living room unless we built on to our house. I threatened for about a year and eventually we built a wonderful two story addition to our home for my new quilting studio.

Fast forward a few years to 2001 and I decided this quilting stuff was alright. I quit my full time job working for the US government and Quilts by Barb became my full time passion. It has been nothing but uphill every since!

Quilts by Barb has evolved to include Quilt Retreat Getaway Weekends and Hand Dyeing Workshops. We celebrated our fifth year anniversary of fall retreats in 2007. I have taught over 300 students in Beginning Quilting 101 and a large number of other quilt classes at local quilt shops in the area and in my studio. In 2007, I had my first opportunity to teach at the Wisconsin Quilt Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, and will be back again in 2010.

Where’s the Point – Quilt PATTERN

Around Christmas time in 2006, I decided it was time to trade up from my Gammill Classic with an IntelliStitch attachment to a Gammill Optimum with a Statler Stitcher. The Statler Stitcher is a top of the line quilting system and it helps me to continue to provide the best in custom machine quilting for my quilting customers.

There are many days when I am working on a quilt for myself or a custom quilt for a customer and I think just how much my Mother would have enjoyed helping me in my quilting business. Unfortunately, I didn't get started quilting until after I lost her but I am guessing she is watching me from above and is really glad I know better than to head to WalMart for polyester fabric as I continue to add to my quilting stash!

Check out this post to see the THREE Quilts that Barb had in the International Quilt Festival in Chicago this past April!

Barb is also the host and teacher of the Quilts By Barb Quilt Retreats each fall. 2011 looks to be just as amazing as all the past one – if not more so! Check out http://www.quiltsbybarb.com/2011quiltretreat.htm for more information on what’s going on.

I know that I’m really excited to have three permanent judges along witha fourth guest judge when possible. I love getting feedback on my work – it can only make me a stronger quilter. Thank you to my judges for helping make Project Quilting just that much more special.

Themed Thursday – Out of TIME!

I’m 90 percent sure that I’ve done a ‘Themed Thursday’ post about lack of time but it just really felt fitting this week.  I have been working on my Project QUILTING challenge piece for this week and I hadn’t been feeling it.  I finally decided to set aside what I had been working on and start something new – I only have less than THREE days to complete the project, photo it and get it on the flickr site!  AHHH!!!  Oh and I have no more sitter time lined up for the girls so somehow I’m going to have to convince them that sewing downstairs with mommy is fun – wish me luck!

So, with that being said – here are the featured items for this weeks theme – TIME!

Geometric by MantaWave 

 

Really Big Drip Modern Wall Clock 22in from pilotdesign 

Nautilus Steampunk Cuff from kodashii88 

Blowing Bubbles Childrens Chic Wall Clock from KonaInteriors

Red Bird Retro Alarm Clock by Spirit Lala from DesignSpirit 

Time Flies 8x10 Reproduction Print from MicheleMaule

 

and in my defense form my Themed THURSDAY being posted on Friday – I did start it on Thursday – the day just changed while I was typing…

Meet this Weeks Guest Judge – Shannon from Fabrics ‘N’ Quilts

One of this weeks prize sponsors, Shannon, of Fabrics ‘N’ Quilts, has agreed to be a guest judge for this weeks challenge!

Boutique Red Blue Wheelchair Lap Quilt

Here’s a little info about herself she would like to share:

I started quilting in 2003, inspired & encouraged by my (then) boss.  She was an excellent appliqué quilter and really encouraged me.  When life took me in a new direction in 2005, she sent me on my way with 2 quilting reference books, a new rotary cutter, and a quilting tote bag; all things necessary for keeping me on task.  By this point, though, I was already hooked!

Bright and Modern Wall Hanging 

I remember my grandmother doing all her quilting by hand, and this is how I started.  Using books, the internet, and a lot of determination, I taught myself to quilt.  About half way into my second project, my mom offered the sewing machine I learned to sew on as a child.  That old Singer still sewed like a charm.  Soon I was turning out tops and repurposed rag quilts like no one's business. 

Coffee Theme Lap Quilt and Pattern

Though we have been carrying quilt shop fabrics in our antique store for years, on January 1st of this year, we made the leap to a full time quilt shop.   I love the ability to focus all my efforts on my passion and share what I have learned with others.  I travel to 6-8 guild quilt shows a year, mainly in Tennessee and Kentucky, sharing stories, doing demonstrations and showing my latest quilts.

Thread

My main focus is piecing and I gravitate toward scrappy quilts.  I have renewed my love for hand piecing this spring and am coordinating a hand pieced & hand quilted group project for our county & state fair.  To keep myself challenged by the art of quilting, I only do projects now that incorporate a skill, gadget, or process that I have never tried.  This keeps me challenged & motivated. 

12 month Block of the Month Club 

(I just signed up for this and am super excited!)

 

Thanks Shannon for agreeing to do this AND for your support of Project QUILTING!  The more feedback we, as quilters receive the better our creations can become! 

 

Website:  www.fabricsnquilts.com

Etsy Sites:  www.fabricsnquilts.etsy.com and www.fabricsandquilts.etsy.com

Blog:  www.fabricsnquilts.blogspot.com

Introducing ONE of our New Judges…Pam Geisel aka ForQuiltsSake!

After our bittersweet goodbye to Rose Mary Huber Pauls last week, I put out a SOS call for new judge volunteers. Pam Geisel, aka For Quilts Sake stepped up immediately. Once I read her credentials and discussed things with Diane I knew she would be a perfect fit!

Checkers and Pickup Sticks

Here’s a little about her and her quilting experience:

I grew up in a suburb of southwestern Ohio where there was a corn fields across the street. My husband and I currently live in a small, artsy town in southwestern Ohio with a different corn field at the end of our street. I make and sell quilts and quilt-related art on-line and at art shows and festivals. I also co-ordinate an arts and (fine) craft show as a fund-raiser for the local nature preserve.

Threaded Feather

I made my first quilt 10 years ago. I didn't know how to sew but I love fabric and quilts so I took a class and learned how to piece and quilt by hand. I enjoyed the results but thought the process of hand piecing and quilting took too long, so I taught myself how to use a sewing machine. It wasn't long before I was making my own designs and I just can't stop making more quilts. I think I have enough ideas to last 10 years or more and they still keep coming.

Watercolor Swirl

There's so much that I love about quilting: the warmth and tactile nature of the fabrics, the way certain colors (and tones) react when next to a different color, and how secondary patterns are created (specifically in more traditional designs).

Cyan and Chocolate Floral Journal Cover

My professional background is in graphic design, so I am able to take the principles that I'd learned and apply them to designing a quilt: color theory, balance, composition and more. I also taught graphic design for 10 years and along with teaching the basics of design, I also had to grade and critique my students work: ranking them by assigning letter grades, providing positive feedback and offering constructive criticism.

Falling/Floating

To see more of her work and keep up with Pam’s Going-Ons Here are her ‘links’:

website: www.ForQuiltsSake.com

Blog: www.ForQuiltsSake.blogspot.com

Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/ForQuiltsSake

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ForQuiltsSake

Flickr (photos): www.flickr.com/photos/ForQuiltsSake

Etsy site: forquiltssake.etsy.com

Thanks again to Pam for volunteering to help out with the judging for the challenges this season.

As I stated in the title Pam is just ONE of our new judges – yup, we’ll have THREE permanent judges and then I will be supplementing with guest judges when I find people. I think the more opinions the better and it really helps give everyone participating some valuable feedback with a variety of tastes and opinions.

I’ll be announcing the third judge later this week and this weeks Guest Judge soon!

Tuesday Question

At what age to kids understand that something ‘special’ means not all the time and please just try to enjoy it while it’s happening?

Season 1, Challenge 2

Frank and I are in Virginia visiting our daughter, Karma. We're having a great trip. Beautiful weather and no car trouble.....

I'll start by letting you all know what the winners of this challenge will receive!

The winner of the PUBLIC vote will receive 4 fat quarters (their choice) from FabricAlaCarte AND a $10 gift certificate from the FatQuarterShop!

The winner of the JUDGES vote will receive 2 moda charm packs of their choice from FabricsNQuilts AND a $10 gift certificate from the FatQuarterShop!

A RANDOMLY Drawn Participant will win a pdf pattern for this beautiful quilt by FabricsAndQuilts: http://www.etsy.com/listing/47561057/boutique-red-blue-wheelchair-lap-quilt and I'm going to do another yard of hand-dyed fabric (Capri really wants to pick a name too).

So, for the next challenge:

1. The theme is Road Trip. I'm sure you've all been on one, so pull out your memories and see where they take you.
2. You must use at least 12 different fabrics on the front of your quilt.
3. POST your entries with a description of your creative process, including where you are (ie, I create in Madison, WI) by Sunday, May 30, at noon, CDT, to this flickr group – Project QUILTING with KimsCraftyApple: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1401824@N21/ OR email a picture/description of your completed project to lapaceksorchard@gmail.com with PROJECT QUILTING in the subject line.

4. If this is the first Project Quilting challenge you've participated in, please email Kim at lapaceksorchard@gmail.com with PROJECT QUILTING in the subject line so that Kim can send you feedback from the judges and keep you updated on the behind the scenes going-ons.

Now, Kim is going to quickly summarize all the amazing prizes for the Season 1 of Project Quilting GRAND PRIZE Package:

FatQuarterShop - $50 Gift Certificate

FabricsNQuilts - $50 Gift Certificate

FabricFascination – Bali Pop

TessaAnn – A Set of Handmade Buttons

FabricAlaCarte - $20 Gift Certificate and copy of the book ‘ROLLING Along’ by Nancy Martin

StashedCache – Spider Web Quilt Starter Kit

QuiltsbyBarb - $30 Gift Certificate to Long Arm QUILTING and a potentially 8 chances to be entered into a drawing for $50 off the 2010 QuiltsbyBarb Quilt Retreat Weekend.

Kim & Diane – A selection of original patterns and yardage of hand-dyed fabric

This prize package is OVER TWO-HUNDRED DOLLARS worth of amazing items! I can’t wait to see what happens this season! Thanks to all these great sponsors for their generosity and support!

I have also begun to put together a RANDOM prize package for the end of the season. These are all awards that will be chosen (out of a hat, first Cedi will pick, then Capri and repeat - as shown here: http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2010/05/project-quilting-rectangle-winners.html) Every time you complete a challenge for Project Quilting your name will be entered in the drawing for RANDOM prizes (this will exclude the Grand Prize Winner as he/or she will already have AMAZING things!)

Sponsors for the Random Prizes:

Karol from FabricCandy is donating a set of Five Fat Quarters of the Ava Rose Collection.

RainbowFabrics is Donating $25 to her etsy shop.

Thanks to ALL Sponsors for Project QUILTING for your generosity and support!

Good luck with this weeks challenge!

Don't forget...

It's Time to Think Outside the Square!

Let’s Go Fly A Kite – My Rectangle Challenge Creation Creation Process & Critique

1. Cut 50 3" x 5" rectangles. You may use less rectangles, but no more. They may be from all one fabric or 50 different fabrics or anywhere in between.I started my project by fusing my hand-dyed fabric to some Heat N Bond Lite.  I didn’t do all of them – just some so I could see where my fingers and mind took me.  To keep track of how many I had used I did it in groups of 5.  I also wanted to incorporate a few commercial prints just because I think they add an extra pop to the hand-dyes AND the brown tree branch fabric has been used in every challenge I’ve done so far.  It’s become a sort of a challenge to myself to find a way to incorporate it into all my project quilting challenges – we’ll see how long it lasts!

2. Each rectangle can be manipulated in any way you choose...cut them, sew them, throw parts of them away, but you need to start with these rectangles.

The engineer in me started to try to organize these rectangles on my pfd base in an orderly fashion.  Then the artist in me took over and this was completely scrapped!  I just took them and randomly fused them onto the pfd to create a ‘base’ for my design.  Once that was done I started cutting up some more fused fabric – I wove some peices, I randomly placed others, I put some batting under some to create a trapunto feel – I just let the pieces do what they want.  Then, I squared the sides so none of the white pfd fabric was showing – it had turned itself into a kite!

Well…a kite needs a tail doesn’t it?  I decided to make my tail by doing a four strand weave with various ribbons and fibers around a piece of wire.  The wire would enable the tail to be manipulated in any way desired.  I used some of last rectangles to create fun ties for the end of the woven tail. 

3. You may add up to 2 half-yard cuts of fabric to your project. These may be used however you wish, but no other fabrics may be used to complete the front, back and binding of your quilt.I almost forgot (ie ignored) these last instructions!  I realized it the night before I was about to finish off the kite.  I had already used a 1/8 yard of pfd for the base of front of the kite – I didn’t want to use that for the back too – hmmm…I know… I’ll just PAINT some pfd to create a fun back.  Then I still have many options for the binding!  Not only was it fun to do this but it opened my eyes to painting fabric and I have five pieces drying downstairs that I painted yesterday.  Now I just have to set the paint and I’ll be able to use them for more projects! I bound the quilt with a fun striped print from Camelot Cottons (my new favorite line).You can see in this picture the star burst is missing.  I had finished the kite - but it wasn’t quite right and I still had one rectangle left!  Now, I can’t have that – I have to use ALL the rectangles for me to feel that it was complete.

I ended up cutting a rectangle out of the hand-painted fabric, cutting it into wavy strips and a few curlies and fusing them to the kite with the ULTRA Heat and Bond.       It was just what the piece needed.  NOW it was done.

Now, I’ll share with you what the judges thought:

Judge 1: Great imagination and “dream”.

Judge 2: Really neat project.  Beautiful hand-painted fabric.  It really sets off the kite and makes it into a work of art.

Judge 3: I almost wish the entries were blind so that I didn’t know who made them until after the judging. Either way though, I have to be honest and say this is by far my favorite entry, and I have awarded it the highest score.  I love everything about it, from the fabrics you used to the rough rope tail with the fabric bows and the starburst added at the last.  It is innovative, original, gorgeous, highly textural, and totally “Kim”.  I would think any child would be thrilled to have this hanging on the wall of their room. ***This one makes me blush, and no, Judge 3 is not my MIL***

 

I am looking forward to finding out what the next challenge is – it will be posted in just a few hours – NOON CDT!

Thank You

I am writing this as a bittersweet post.  I have found out that Rose Mary Huber Pauls is going to have to drop out of judging further Project Quilting Challenges.  I am going to miss her and her expertise but I am happy that she is doing what she loves!

She is currently helping a new Sewing Center open in Madison and it is taking more time than she imagined when she first signed on.  Here are some details on what’s going on:

Quintessential Quilts Sewing Center

to open soon.

Things are progressing with the new Pfaff and Husqvarna Viking Dealership opening on Madison's East side. Products are starting to arrive. We don't have an exact opening date yet, but because of the product and shipping times we are now looking at early June for our opening.

We want to be totally ready to serve you the best that we can, so we are pushing the opening date into June.

Here is a little more info for you.

We have a great start on the staff that will be joining us. You will see some familiar faces as well as new ones.

We will be open 7 days a week

I have received e-mails from many of you with questions and letting me know how excited you are to know our new store is coming to Madison's East side. Thanks you for such a great response. Decisions are still being made regarding the store, but here is more information for you.

1. Will there be repair service? YES!! We will be doing sewing machine and serger service. We will be able to service all makes and models of sewing machines and sergers. I know many of you have been waiting for service for your Pfaff and Husqvarna Viking machines. Please be patient as we get our service department set up.

2. Will the store have fabric? Linda will continue to have fabrics at the Reedsburg store, but at this time we will be concentrating on the Pfaff and Husqvarna Viking machines at the Madison location. Who knows what the future will hold as far as fabrics in the Madison store.

3. Is there a classroom? YES!! I will be teaching the current clubs and classes that I have been doing as well as adding a variety of other classes and instructors.

4. What products will be carried? We will have Pfaff and Husqvarna Viking machines, sergers, quilt frame, parts, embroidery designs, software, Dakota Collectible Designs, Robison Anton thread and many other parts and notions. We are still working on the list of products that we will be bringing into the store.

5. When will the store be open? Our exact opening date is still undecided, but I will send an e-mail as soon as we know.

Not only is she helping get the store started she’s continuing to teach her Embroidery Classes and Retreats along with a Creative Sewing Club at Stitcher’s Crossing in Madison.  If you want to keep updated on what’s happening with Rose Mary’s Classes and the new store opening send her an email rmpsew@hotmail.com to be added onto her weekly newsletter list.

Thanks again for helping me get this started and I wish you the best of luck in the future.  I hope once things calm down you may be able to hop in as a guest judge here and there.

 

What does this mean for Project QUILTING? Well…it means I’m looking for another permanent judge.  The guest judges are great but I have to ensure that I’ll always have two judges so we get a variety of eyes, opinions, and preferences.  I’m the only one that sees all the critiques and scores and it’s so amazing to see how different the judges can be – which I think is what is making this great. 

 

If you have anyone in mind or would like to apply to be a judge (takes about 1 – 2 hours every two weeks) please email me at lapaceksorchard@gmail.com.  I am willing to fill one to two spots (I think three permanent judges would be great and still average in guest judge scores when I can find them). 

What does it mean to be a Permanent Guest Judge? I would blog about you, your experience, anything you want to promote in one main blog post with a permanent side link to you.  You would also be mentioned frequently in my blog for the next 14 weeks.

 

Thanks so much for your help and best of luck Rose Mary!

Project Quilting – the Judges Winners for the Rectangle Challenge!

Alright – here’s the next set of winners for the Rectangle Challenge – the Judges Winners.

I’ll start with third place – with an average score of 8.25, MoranArtandQuilts takes home the bronze.

Here’s what the judges had to say:

Judge 1: Great job with the geometric design and quilting. It’s can be hard to pull of solid fabric and you’ve done it.

Judge 2: Very nicely done.  Perfect choice for the quilting.  Like the geometrics and the movement of color.

Judge 3: This wall hanging is very musical to me.  I love the way the geometric shapes flow in and out of each other at random.  The crisp white background makes the colors sing, and I love the different sized rectangular blocks you bordered it with.  Really fun and thoroughly modern, but with a bit of a retro feel too.

With a score of 8.33, PennyFabricArt took home second place this week:

Here’s what the judges thought:

Judge 1: Great geometric design. Love the variety in the stars and great color choices.

Judge 2: Gorgeous.  Love everything about it right down to those little blue squares along the edge.

Judge 3: Looking at this quilt, I can tell a lot of work and thought went into it.  The execution is wonderful.  I like that you challenged yourself to use all the scraps completely and that you exploded your stars outside the base.  It was interesting seeing your blocks come together in the extra pictures, and hear your description of the process.

And FIRST place with an average score of 9.17, who wins 2 yards of fabric (your choice in 1/2 yard cuts) from FabricFascination’s etsy shop AND $10 to the FatQuarterShop is… LoveBugStudios!

Here’s what the judges thought:

Judge 1: Wonderful use of rectangles. Love the abstract.

Judge 2: Congratulations on trying 5 new techniques/tools.  It’s what Project Quilting is all about.  A gorgeous piece of art.  Colors are wonderful.  The layered shapes add depth and the beads add texture.  The serging is an interesting finish that works well for an art quilt such as this.

Judge 3: So unique and lovely.  The colors really do say Thailand to me.  It is great that you were able to use the Thai silk taffeta along with the Kona, they look wonderful together.  Embellishment is definitely a strong suit of yours, as displayed in your entry for the apple blossom challenge as well.  I really like the asymmetrical design of your wall hanging, and that you chose a bamboo hanger.

Congratulations to ALL the winners this week – in my mind, everyone that entered is a winner.  It’ s not easy to take a challenge with very few rules/guidelines and create something AMAZING (yes, I feel that every entry was amazing) in just a WEEK!  Thanks to everyone – the participants, the sponsors, the supporters who have commented and tweeted about this ‘challenge’ that I have begun.  I am absolutely blown away by all the support I’ve had – thank you.

 

With that said, the next challenge will be posted THIS Sunday, May 23rd at NOON CDT – It’s Time to Think Outside the Square…