Reveal Squeal! Part 2

This is the second post about our Madrona Road Challenge projects.  The first post with pictures and stories can be found here.


Debra's creativity and practicality were expressed by making these strip pieced placemats.  The week following our meeting, Debra and her husband, began what is supposed to be a year's long journey through the US in their RV.  

Obviously, Debra was drawn to the Memoir print too, as she chose it as her focus fabric.  Have Sewing Machine; Will Travel!  I'm looking forward to Debra's updates from the road.  Now to convince her to blog about her adventures.  The pictures of her condensed (and organized!) RV sewing space prove that it is possible for quilting to be portable.

  

Kristy and Kathleen decided to "pay it forward".  Free fabric.  A family at their church expecting a new baby.  Well, how about a quilt and a matching tote bag?  Kristy and Kathleen, once again, as in they've done six or seven times previously, collaborated and shared their love and talents.

It is so nice to have a bestie, a side kick, a partner in crime, to share creativity with, and then, enrich someone's life.  Well done ladies!  

Although a high school reunion kept her away from our meeting, Kelly shared her finish, and her inspiration, with us via Facebook...

and via Marcy at the meeting. 

In Kelly's words "My husband and I would like to have our own farm someday, so I was really drawn to this Farmstead print (with the truck).  I wasn't sure what to do, but I knew I wanted to feature that print, and turn the other prints into hexagons."

"But I got a little crazy with the hexagons, and just couldn't finish what I originally planned.  So yesterday, I came up with this idea...it's supposed to be a kitchen window looking out over our farm.  I've always wanted a kitchen window, but I've never had one, and I can't think of a more perfect view from the kitchen than our very own farm!"

"I used some of the hexagons I had already pieced, and made them into a curtain/shade.  Because, what quilter wouldn't want to have a hexagon shade?  And the text print is the window sill.  If that wasn't already cheesy enough, to add in a little more cheesiness, I'm calling this "A Window into the Future."

For those of you that know Kelly, this comes from the heart.  Her dream of having a farm "one day" really is "just a dream" at this time because as a military family, until retirement, dreams are put on hold.

Faye gave us an original design with her Bubbles Baby Quilt.  Her inspiration came from this quilt that she's been constructing off and on for several months, which includes appliqued circles as a final design element.

  

This was not a quilt that came together easily, even though she started  immediately after receiving her fat 8th bundle.  She played,  mulled over her design, asked for input, and played some more.  These colors were "just not me" she said on more than one occasion.

Faye's use of negative space highlights the print "bubbles" which are fused and appliqued circles.  Her templates were traced from everyday household objects - paper plates, cans, glasses, etc.  The binding is scrappy and pieced.  It was quilted with a random meandering stipple.

Marcy was another one who began her project almost as soon as she received that little fabric bundle.  Using white as her background and neutral fabric, she constructed Bow Tie blocks to make this table topper.

As always, Marcy's quilting is exquisite.  This time, she quilted her favorite swirly spiral around the perimeter, while the white centers where the four blocks meet is reminiscent of the petals of a zinnia or a chrysanthemum. 

Marcy chose to back her table topper with additional yardage of the blue Sprout print, and her binding is Sprout in graphite.

Madrona Road has now taken us on ten quilt journeys.  We have four more to go.  

Reveal Squeal!

Our Madrona Road Challenge items were revealed during our March meeting.  All I can say is "Wow!".  

For those of you who may not know, this challenge was presented by The Modern Quilt Guild using Michael Miller Fabrics Madrona Road line designed by Violet Craft.  We were tasked with creating something quilty.  Participating chapters of the MQG received the "boy" or blue colorway, and could then stipulate additional guidelines and dates.  Anyone who completed something quilty could include it in the Flicker pool by January 31st, when Violet would personally pick several winners whose items would be displayed in the Michael Miller booth.

We had so many projects and stories.  I'm going to split this post over several days because there is so much to share.  

I'll say it again, if you're not coming to our meetings, you are missing out.  The majority of these pictures do not do justice to the quilts.  There is nothing like seeing the details up close, or touching the fabric, or hearing someone's enthusiasm or frustrations as they present their quilting journey/story.

In no particular order we have:

Wendi, who actually had yardage in the "girl" colorway because she hadn't joined our guild when we received our fabric bundles, made this beauty.  (Ok, this photo is not so good, but you can find prettier photos on her blog, prsd4tim2.)  She decided to participate anyway.  Her quilt is based on the Heximetry pattern from asquaredw.  

Kim works quick.  In fact, her little baby quilt was finished in time for the national deadline of January 31st and included in the Madrona Road Flickr Pool where Violet complimented Kim saying "I really love the negative space and the quilting - beautiful job!". 

It's the Pointed In The Right Direction Pillow tutorial.  (I like how Kim coordinated her sweater to her quilt.  That was planned, right?)  

When Kim made this, we had no idea of the connection because...Wendi was an EMail participant only.  She had never come to our meetings.  We, I, found her through a comment on her blog, and the rest is history.  Wendi posted about this interconnectedness, which you can read about here. 

Star light.  Star bright.  The first star I see tonight.  This is the prayer wish my children recite every night as I tuck them into bed, so Kira's quilt holds a special place in my heart.

Kira based her design on an older wonky star tutorial from Silly BooDilly.  The fact that Kira covered the corners of her center block and really ex-ten-ded her star points, makes it all her own.  

When she first posted photos to Flickr, one of the best comments was how this looks like "a big wonky mama star with her baby star nearby".  I totally agree.  Look at those mama's arms reaching out to snuggle and protect her baby.       

This improv pieced back is COMPLETELY out of Kira's comfort zone.  Simply because she ran out of white fabric.  What's a girl to do?  Improvise of course, with leftover scraps.  Love it!  That back is as beautiful as the front.  

My tote bag was completed the morning of our reveal.  Yeah, nothing like  procrastinating, and then sewing, until the last possible moment.  Even though Bobbi and I had purchased additional yardage from our LQS, The Sewing Center Around the Block, during the January Support Your LQS event, I didn't cut any fabric until two days before our meeting. 

No particular pattern was used.  I was inspired to make wonky, improv circles, because of the name of the fabric line  - Madrona Road - and because of my own experience that so many of our choices in life, while seemingly random, end up being connected.  My favorite print, Memoir, was omitted from the improv circles so that I could feature it. 

All of my wonky improv blocks were constructed with a stack-slice-swap method that I've absorbed from reading Jan Mullen's Cut Loose Quilts and Kathryn Schmidt's Rule-Breaking Quilts books so many times.

Gina's LOVe letters WIP.  We learned during this reveal, after she had pulled these from the display table because it wasn't a "completed project", the last time she'd been able to sew was during our February 9th meeting and sew day.  As the tour de force for the 2013 Emerald Coast Quilt Retreat & Show, we totally "get" why sewing didn't happen for her.  Next time Gina.   

Betty's tote bag was designed using her accuquilt GO! kitties die.  She used strip piecing and applique and quilted it with a random meander stipple. 

Early in her "playing with fabric" phase, she was unsure if this was going to be a pillow or a tote bag.  I hope she has enough fabric left for a pillow.  I have it on good authority that several people want one.  

I wonder if Betty knew that Violet is a kitty fan?  

Again, see what you're missing by not coming to the meeting and sew day?

March Meeting

I can hardly believe it's March.  But it is.  And we have a meeting and SEW-day right around the corner.  As in 4 days.  So how about a short (ha!) post with the details.

We expect a larger than normal turnout this month, which is extremely exciting! 

Thanks in part to last weekend's show where our quilts were so well received, as well as the Valentine's Day modern quilt presentations given by Marcy and Cindy to the Santa Rosa Quilters' Guild, and by Marcy to the Silver Threads Quilt Guild.  What a way to spend Valentine's Marcy!  Even though you weren't with your honey, you were talking about something you LOVE.

Name tags.

  
Please wear one.  If you don't, you'll be missing out.  It makes you eligible for door prizes and we all know, door prizes are good.  How about a fat quarter bundle of Kona solids courtesy of that GIGANTIC box we received from Robert Kaufman for our anniversary?  Just ask Wendi.  Nothing like attending your first meeting and winning!  Awesome.  
   

Madrona Road Challenge reveal.

Ok, reveal may not be the correct word, as many of us have already shared photos of our projects on Facebook and Flickr.  However, we'll do the BIG show & tell as a group.   I am looking forward to seeing everyone's projects!!

We might will have a short presentation on Project Linus as their "call to blankets" for Camp Corral caught the attention of member Kim Godwin.  Camp Corral actually has two locations in Florida, one of which is the 4-H Camp Timpoochee, in Niceville.  Our backyard.  

At present, Kim hasn't made blankets for Project Linus, although she has a couple that are "almost" ready to go.  She regularly receives their EMails and says "I don't think there is anything better than to give a child a wonderful handmade keepsake. Plus, my son received a small fleece blanket from the hospital when he was born.  I don't know for sure if it is a Project Linus blanket, but I think it might be.  He just turned four and he still loves it!"  

I think, like Kim, several of us might have a quilt top or two in the "almost" stage that would be perfect for donating.

We'll be finalizing the details of our April road trip to Pensacola.  A&E here we come!  This trip will be the perfect time to pick up a fat quarter or two for the May Blind FQ swap.  

Borrowing a page from the LAMQG, Kelly gave us the details last month.  Choose up to three FQs and individually wrap them in brown paper - no peeking.  For every FQ you contribute, you withdraw one, taking turns, until each wrapped bundle is gone.  Unwrapping is the exciting part, because as we all know, good things come in small packages.  Just remember to keep your fabric selection modern.  No solids allowed. 

Of course we'll recap our quilt show experiences.

Don't forget about show & tell.  Finished projects, WIPs, fabric - we enjoy seeing and hearing all about them.

  

  
We have a couple of demonstration and skill building lessons for you.  Wendi's on tap for wonky blocks and hexagons.  Both of which she prepared as a brief demo for last weekend's quilt show.  Marcy's going to show us the ins and outs of making a little lined zippered pouch.  

If you'd like to learn, or practice, please bring a couple of fat quarters, 1/4 yard of fusible fleece or interfacing, a 7" zipper, and your sewing machine's zipper foot.  Double, or, triple these amounts if you're staying for the SEW-day.  I have a feeling these are addicting.  I know wonky blocks are.  I think the same can be said about hexagons and zippered pouches too. 

And speaking of skill building.   What about those Craftsy BOM blocks?  If anyone is participating, bring in your block(s).  They just might earn another ticket for a door prize.

Food, as in snacks to share, is always a good thing and greatly appreciated.  We are informal and do not have a food sign-up list or committee like some of the larger guilds.

SEW-day supplies should include your project(s) and anything you might need, including an iron, a pressing surface, and possibly, an extension cord.    There are several LQS in Crestview - A Quilter's Place and Margie's, just in case.

See you Saturday!

Dates, Challenges, and Quilt Shows

There are several dates to keep in mind this weekend and next week.

The Winter Fabric Challenge featuring Madrona Road by Violet Craft ends Thursday, January 31st because projects that are posted to the MQG Madrona Road Challenge Flickr Pool will be considered for the Michael Miller booth at QuiltCon.  Hey, we might not be able to attend, but how cool would that be to have one of our projects chosen?  Additionally, Violet will also select, from that same Flickr pool, someone to receive a care package.

For OUR guild though, your project has to be completed by the March meeting - Saturday, March 9th.  Something quilted.  You can use as many solids as you like, but any additional prints have to be Madrona Road.  Locally, The Sewing Center Around the Block has the "boy" colorway.  

This is Kelly's WIP.  And this is Kim's.  (And this is where their pictures are supposed to be, but that's a skill/lesson I have to figure out another day.)   Anybody else?  Pictures?  Upload them to our Flickr Pool.

The other major date is the entry deadline for quilt submissions for the 2013 Emerald Coast Quilt Retreat & Show.

That date is Saturday, Feb 9th.  Also the date of our next meeting and SEW-day.  Gina Curtis, ECMQG member and Flying Needles QG member, challenged all of us to submit at least one quilt as the modern quilting aesthetic has not been well represented.  Forms and information can be found here.  As a guild, we are submitting the Children in Crisis charity quilt.  

What gem do you have sitting at home that could be entered?  Think about it.  Then take the plunge.  Let 2013 be the year you step outside of your comfort zone.