Usually people apologize for a picture heavy post but i'll apologize in advance for this wordy one.
What a great day! Everyone was in the spirit of the
challenge. When I saw the fabulous black
and white food arriving, I knew it was going to be a great show and tell (food
and quilts)!
We had a strong turnout for this
challenge! Congrats to us! I asked many of you for input why it was
successful for you so that, hopefully, we could build those ideas into the next
challenge. Fran said that it was because
we had more time to complete it. Jan
thought it was because she was able to use the hexagon retreat to work on
it. Kathy thought it was because many of
us have a stash that works well with the rules and had been working with black
and white when the challenge started.
Perhaps it was the opportunity for a themed lunch and coordinating
outfits? I wonder.
I really enjoyed the challenge
because I had just bought a new book: Ready, Set … and it had a lot of projects
that already fit the bill. I figured I only had limited time for Brady to still
be into the “slashes” on road signs. In
addition to the new book, I had never used fusible on pieced fabric. I think that technique opens up a lot of
options but it is always challenging to deal with the fraying on the bias
edges, even if you handle it delicately.
I read something online about a liquid that seals the edges and
fuses. If only I could remember where I
read that and what it was called. I have
the fusible traced and the fabric cut out for the One Way sign. It is done with reverse applique and would be
a good application of the liquid.
We brainstormed ideas for our
next challenge. Here are some that were
discussed. If I missed any ideas, please
chalk it up to the chaos.
JeanWells Art Quilt or VictoriaFindlay Wolfe’s 15 Minutes play book: Work through the skill building exercises as a
group as we did with Quilters Playtime.
Loralie hula panel: I showed an
inspiring panel that I picked up in Cincinnati.
We could number the panels and then draw numbers so that we each
received a randomly selected inspiration motif to create a quilt. Many liked the previous constraint of having
a book or technique to narrow the focus of the pieces (such as the Beyond the
Block style we used for the first Diva panel).
Teach a technique: All of us have unique skills and techniques
that we have perfected. The suggestion is to each present that technique to the
group. Possible examples are Ruth’s
QAYG, Laura’s photo transfer quilt designs, Jan’s piping hot binding, Dianne’s
mysterious cut-at-2-inches-but-it-doesn’t-look-narrow binding, etc. Dianne tried to get credit for this one by allowing
some to stand behind her as she lounged on the chaise doing the binding on a
quilt.
Round robin: We all enjoyed the round robin that we did
with Mary years ago. We could also
combine this with the hula idea, using the panel as round 1, for example.
UFO:
Choose one of our UFOs and think of a new way to finish it or reinvent
it.
Orphan blocks: Bring in orphan blocks and design quilt(s)
from them.
We decided to pursue a couple of
these ideas for the May meeting:
1. Bring
a UFO that you’d like to finish over the next few months (hmmm, perhaps your
2014 Farm Park entry?). We can each talk through our plans for
finishing and/or get constructive advice from the group. We will work on these independently between
meetings but talking about them as a group and taking some photos will add some
accountability and/or give us a nudge that we might need to get the wheels
turning again. Obviously, if that nudge feels like punishment, then skip it. If you think it might help, by all means, do it.
2. Bring
scraps and your machine to the next meeting.
We’ll do a working session to create some “made” fabric ala the 15
minutes book. Victoria also has tutorials for this
technique on her site.. Look for an email from me in the next few days with
more specifics on what to bring. Generally,
we will each bring scraps, combine them into a working pile then you can choose
if you want to do the random (paper bag) technique or careful planning to start
making pieces that you can cut from.
Where we go with this made fabric will be TBD based on how much we are
enjoying it and what kind of inspiration strikes in the process. If we are having fun making the fabric as a
group, we can keep going with that. We
could also fill our shoeboxes again with the group pile, continue making the
fabric at home, and use the meetings for design. We will see how it goes.
Our next meeting is May 18. Thank you for your continued enthusiasm.
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