IS IT A BIRD? IS IT A PLANE?

No.

It is my amazing cousin Maureen, doing a wing walk!

Challenge completed

Challenge, What Challenge?

BUT CAN SHE COMPLETE A CHALLENGE?

We ALL know how fearless our Janice is:

Whether admitting she is lost again (ouch!)

Project Completed

Hopefully, Kim will feel that I have met the challenge she threw my way.

My "art" quilt measures 23" X 24 1/2". It is machine stitched with hand stitched binding (I know, I know, but since I hand quilt everything else, I am letting that stand). I attached 4 separate pieces to the top with top stitching. These had been stamped with black ink. The fabric itself is composed of archival tissue paper adhered to white cotton fabric by webbing and then water colored.

Sorry about the muddy colors, but like I said before, if you step too far out of the box, you either won't finish or you won't like it enough to even keep. I think I will be keeping this one. The left over fabric will be used as book covers for my binding class - coming up in a week. So Kim, I am working on your challenge. Chris, you are welcome to help on this - something very traditional with lots of pieces and

hand quilting. Kim, are you up for it?

I am ready for Kim to get home from her holiday and add to the blog. Carrying this alone for three weeks has not been fun. The pressure, the work, the need for Kim to be home!

Up to the Challenge

Kim gave me a challenge and I think I

will be able to say soon that I have successfully completed it. Looking to the right you will see how Janice goes creative - the mess moves from the kitchen to my office to my quilt room. I'm grateful Roger is still in Bangkok for a couple of weeks.

While looking through Quilting Arts for inspiration (I am not an artist like Kim) I ran across an article by Peggy Brown, who watered colored on tissue paper fused with webbing to a cotton fabric base. Her work is amazing and I immediately fell in love with it. It's muddy and free flowing, Everything Kim told me to stay away from. But then, you have to do what you like, or there is no sense in doing it - So I pulled together what I had (luckily most of the materials) and went for it. I haven't water colored for years, mainly because I wasn't very good at it. But this was fun. Moving the paint around, playing with it, exploring color combinations and then throwing away the evidence when I didn't like the results.

So I have gotten it this far and I am cleaning up for a few days. I took lessons for my new sewing

machine last night and have to get started on playing with that - which means practicing my free motion quilting. So much to do - so little time.

I have also cut nine four inch squares to lay out in a grid of 3X3. I'm not sure how I will sew them yet, but I'm pleased with the look of the sashing, so that will probably be the way I will go. With the fabric that was left over, I cut out small squares to stamp. Not sure what will become of them, but they may end up on cards, my bulletin board or in a book. So Kim, while not finished, thanks for the push. It has been fun.

Is Janice Woman Enough?

Many quilters I am sure will know this feeling.  You see the item, you love the look, you buy it and then never actually get around to using it.  I have some stuff like that, some of which falls under the 'what was I thinking?' banner.  During one of our email exchanges, I decided to 'help' Janice with her collection of unused stuff, whilst at the same time moving her out of her comfort zone.  So yesterday, I set her this challenge.  

THE QUILT CHALLENGE

• The name of you quilt will be WITHOUT A DOUBT
• You can interpret this however you want.
• This quilt should be interpreted as an art quilt
• It must include an object on the surface of the quilt
• At least part of the fabric should be coloured or distressed in some way by you.  Think crayons, pencils, fabric paint, bleach, burning, rusting, stamping.  You cannot use tea (you've done that before!) - give yourself permission to experiment
• There should be a mixture of both machine and hand stitching.
• You should TRY and work in a different colour palate than you would normally use.  The idea is to step out of your comfort zone
• The finished piece must include a technique that you have not previously used, no matter how small.  Think, using novelty threads, Angelina fibres, foiling, bias ribbon, crystals, free motion, reverse applique, thread work, photos  etc
• At least one side should measure at least 12"
• Every stage of the quilt making should be photo documented
• The finished quilt, should have it's own book, made by you, on how the quilt was made.  You can include mistakes, ideas, brainstorming notes, how you did or didn't enjoy the new techniques you used, inspirations - think creatively, this will be a journal
• To be completed by October 1st.  That gives you a good month plus.

So, are you woman enough to accept this challenge???  

Of course I knew the last line would provoke a reaction, and luckily for me, it was a simple, yes i am!  I can't wait to see what Janice comes up with.  We'll share the results on the blog (just to add a bit more pressure).  No doubt at some point, she'll get her own back with a challenge, though the incentive of some good chocolate is more likely to get me going!

That really was my last post until I get back.