MQG fabric challenge

You know I am always up for a challenge!  The MQG is a great source of challenges, some of which even come with fabric - added bonus!

A few months back I responded to an email about the latest Riley Blake Fabric challenge - it was a good thing I responded quickly, as the fabric was gone in no time! 

The challenge was to use the provided fabric  - The Cottage Garden by Amanda Herring aka The Quilted Fish, and only that fabric, (plus you could add any Riley Blake Basics), to make something quilted, make something new and to challenge yourself.  Check out this video Amanda has put together that details the challenge and gives some background on the fabrics.

I love this quote that just appeared this morning - it is a great way to approach life!

What to make?  I've made quite a few things in my time, but one thing that I had not made, and which I've been intending to make, was a sewing machine cover.  Making it quilted was no problem!  Challenging myself - okay, work with no pattern, (okay so that's not really a challenge, I tend to do that a lot!) try some techniques you've not done before - I've never made a Dresden plate before, and I've not used the porthole technique before either, so lets include those.  Oh, and that cover has to actually fit my machine!

With my plan laid out, at least in my mind, it took some time before I could actually put it into place, but I finally managed to get started about a week ago, and this morning I finished it off.  Just in time for the Vancouver MQG meeting tonight.
I'm thrilled with how it has turned out!

it's got to have some matchstick quilting, right?

my appliqued Dresden plate with porthole

used all 6 fabrics

keeping my machine dust free!

Oh, and this one is on my Q3 list for the Finish a long!  Score!

Happy quilting!

Janet

WIP Wednesday - September 1, 2013

Well, I don't know about you, but I had a pretty productive Labour Day weekend - hope you had a good one as well.  I showed you the quilting on this last week, and this week I've finished it up.

This was made for a VMQG brown paper bag tote bag swap we're doing - I hope the recipient likes it!  Made from my scrap bags - that feels good, too!

I've also made great headway on my next Tangled Textiles challenge piece - the theme is "Open" and the reveal is September 12, and most unusual for me, I'm not doing it all at the last minute!  Here's a sneak peek:

and, I've made great progress on one more project, to be shown once it's completed. 

 Happy quilting!

Linking up to The Needle and Thread Network

 

and to Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Can I get a whoop whoop

Flowers in the Cathedral

I just got back from my LQS - The Needle and I Quilt Shop where I was picking up my entry from their annual quilt challenge.  In keeping with their third anniversary, it was a 3D challenge.  We were given a challenge fabric that had to appear in the quilt top, and there had to be 3D elements in the quilt.

the challenge fabric

I decided to do some faux cathedral window blocks, with 3D flowers in the centre, and a piped binding.

Of course, I then proceeded to quilt the c#%$# out of it, quilt it densely, as usual!

There was viewer's choice voting, and my little Flowers in the Cathedral placed second - so I was also picking up my prize - doesn't this look fun?

a book, charm pack, two spools of thread and a gift certificate which I've already spent :)

There were some wonderful entries, check out the other winners here.

In other news this week, I received my copy of The Canadian Quilter newsletter, put out quarterly by the Canadian Quilters' Association (CQA).  I was expecting to see my Flowers for Cynthia quilt in the National Juried Show program, I just wasn't expecting to see it in the newsletter, not just once, but twice!  That was a really nice surprise!

Happy quilting!