NOW THIS IS A CHALLENGE

My biggest challenge is keeping up with my blog posts.

I save my pics to a draft post...then I get side tracked.

I hope you don't mind my flakieness!

February, 2020 attended Airing of The Quilts

Venice, Florida, sponsored by SWMGQ.

That day...it rained but I still enjoyed looking

at what we could see under the Gazebo.

I found their challenge quilts very interesting.

Each participant had yardage of one fabric.

A fabric that looked like an improv quilt!

It was very busy, some might say ugly,

but definitely had a modern spin to it. 

I jotted down the name of the fabric and found it

 on-line so I could provide some details.

I am sure there were guidelines or rules for

entering this challenge, but I don't have those.

What I do have are some photos of the

creativity these makers used with this fabric.

Sorry I don't have the makers names

or credit would be mentioned.

Look closely at the way they used the fabric,

the colors they added, the quilting.

It is amazing to see such creativity.  

Have you ever participated in a quilt challenge?

I enjoy them.  They make you think outside

the normal sewing box!

CENTRAL OH MQG CHALLENGES

I am a member of the Central Ohio MQG.  
A very busy group of wonderful quilters, sewists 
and creative spirits.

I am wintering at the beach, but wanted to be involved in our

2018 Color Challenge and the 2018 Charity event.

No problem, they mailed me the two color swatches...

Pantone Ultra Violet and Kona Tiger Lily.  

After a quick stop at a LQS I found these coordinating fabrics!

I really wasn't sure what I wanted to make...

sew as usual, I waited.

THEN

COMQG announced the Charity effort for 2018

Place mats for "Meals on Wheels" charity

My own mother received meals from this group

for many years...into her 90s so she could maintain

her independence and dignity! Needless to say
a very special place in my heart for this effort.

I had an ahh-haaaa moment!

Use the color challenge fabrics for the place mat.

I began buy making some HST using the technique

to make 8 HST at once.

Just google it.  There are many videos and tutorials!

Sew it starts like this...

The Tiger Lilly and Ultra Violet 6" squares
are placed RST, mark diagonal lines, and sew 1/4" 
on each sides of those diagonal lines. 

and they end like this...

squared them up using my BlocLoc Ruler

I made a pinwheel, using 4 of the HST
  added fabric to the top and bottom of that unit to make
the first strip for the place mat.

The orange and white would be the back of the place mat

Pieced together some batting, that was on hand.
(remember I am at the beach with limited supplies)
And then the fun began for a Quilt as You Go (QAYG) place mat.

My QAYG tutorial is here for a fun wonky place mat.

I added the first pieced strip, right side up (RSU)

Keep placing strips right sides together (RST) and sew 1/4" seams




I like to press each seam as it is sewn.
You can see here I am alternating my prints.




When all strips are sewn...
it's time to trim and square it up.




Still needs a little more squaring up.
When one does not have a larger surface to trim...
it can be a challenge to square up.




Here's a close up of the back..
the piece is quilted because of the QAYG technique



and now its all completed



Sew this was fun!
I met the requirements for two challenges with one project!
And the best part...I can, once again, pay it forward!

FLORENCE IS A DIRTY BIRD!

Well maybe that is a bit extreme, but creating her 

in fabric did cause some dirty words to fly outa my mouth!

She began with Elizabeth Hartman's pattern

Florence Flamingo

and pulled some fabrics from my stash!

First thought was the gray as the background...

The Central Ohio Modern Quilt Guild 

Challenge was introduced in March!

Use the two Colors of the Year, 

Kona (Flamingo) and Pantone (Greenery)

Two dirty birds, One stone?

The only greenery I could find was this one.

hmmmm...I will let it simmer for a while

I began by cutting out Florence fabrics and labeling them.

Cutting a 3/4" square started the sailor talk.

This is gonna be waaaaay outa my comfort zone!

I finally got her on the design wall all pieced!

The piecing for this bird...is not for sissies!

tiny, tiny, tiny pieces!

As you can see...I decided against the darker gray background

and used a very light gray almost white GRUNGE fabric

Also decided the "greenery" would be a bunting

Florence is carrying in her beak!

I found a charm square and cut it into triangles.

I quilted her with an organic wave...spaced a bit apart. 

Then decided the binding should be the KONA Flamingo!

A dark charcoal thread for Hand Embroidery

connected the bunting flags...LOVE IT!

Florence the Dirty Bird, ends up being quite cute!

I used a fun bicyclye print from my stash for the backing.

Very similar color to the KONA Flamingo!

I have to say...it was a challenge, but I am so happy she is done!

PIDDLING ...A GREAT RETIREMENT TOOL!

RETIREMENT
the best piddling job I have ever had!
Sew..how do I piddle?

For instance...the All People Quilt UFO challenge 
My project for JUNE was a Sewing Machine Cover
that I finished last February...

I decided to use more of my COMMA fabric 

to make a Teflon lined travel bag for my small iron.

My UFO challenge for JULY

was to finish some zippy pouches

They were done in May!

This one is a donation for a friend's fund raiser!

Another UFO challenge completed
This could be a Halloween swap extra?
Its reversible!

With plenty of piddly time on my hands.. 

I used a charm pack to make coaster for two

4th of July parties I was attending.

This month I'm sewing for swaps and making holiday gifts. 

and some piddly crafts...like these needle minders

Found some kitchen towels laying around,

added some stash scraps and they will be

future swap extras or hostess gifts. 

 YUP those are some Christmas Ghastlies on the right!

Staying ahead of my own sewing game as I...

what fun projects are you working on this summer?

SPLENDID?

I am a MAKER...but

I'm not a big fan of BOMs or BEEs or RULEs

and I'm definitely not gonna MAKE 100 blocks of anything!

ESPECIALLY 6" finished blocks!

I had this bundle of Ink Blossoms, Sue Marsh, RJR
Added some solids from my stash...
yup...I drank the water.

 very soon...I figured out the tiny pieces in these blocks

were way to fussy for me...and a bit too traditional!

 I gulped down these blocks!

Block 1 - Hearts A Flutter

Not a fan of applique...so my heart fluttered off! 

Block 2 - Wings

I only did 4 sets of wings and no embroidered antennas!

 Block 5 - Simple Simon

Simple enough!

Block 6 - Focal Point

My point is...I stayed focused on this one!

 

Block 8 - Friends Around the Square

Does this represent my "square" friends?

Block 10 - Iowa

What can you say about Iowa?

Block 11 - Crocheted Thoughts

I don't crochet and my thoughts were to

forget the embroidered flower in the center 

and fussy cut one!

 

Block 12 - Checkerboard

Always ready for a fun game of checkers

Block 13 - Scrap Stars

 A star catches my eye now and again!

Block 16 - Pieces of Friendship

Block 17 - Family Stars

57 teeny weeny pieces that took me 3 hours to piece!

 A gaggle of geese that just about goosed me

to the next county!

I will add more fabric, impromptu piecing

build out the blocks to a size I like

 and hopefully make it feel modern.

Final project..to be determined!

That being said...

my Splendor ends here and 

I'm ready to drink again but this time...WINE!