Be Inspired to Create by Project Quilting

You know that I think about quilting 24/7.  I see quilts everywhere!  I even dream about quilts. I arrange my food on my plate like a quilt. I see quilts in building designs, in landscapes, and on the streets.  Four years ago, I found out about Project Quilting and it has changed my life in a very very positive way.  I still think about quilts 24/7 but now I create with the inspiration of the challenges.  In the beginning, I struggled with what to create for the challenges.  I was thinking too concrete or literally.  I was stuck in my box of how a quilt should be, but the challenges inspired me to create.  
The challenge that sticks out in my mind is one from a couple years ago.  It was an Off Season Challenge in July of 2011. I created quilted "Floating Lilies".  The link takes you  to a couple post where I share a tutorial on how to make the lilies and a video of me quilting the lilies.

The challenge was FLORA - July 2011.
"The theme of of the third off season challenge is "Flora". Size, Color, method and techniques are the participants choice. However the piece should be a quilt." 

Yesterday the final challenge for the 5th Season of Project Quilting was posted.  If you have thought about taking the challenge before or you just never did one -- this it the time to try it.  Let yourself be inspired by the challenge. It's all about Triangles this time! As Kim says the possibilities are endless! 

It made me think about the Wordless Wednesday Post I did in November 2011 about Triangles quilted on to cardstock for greeting cards. 

But I am not going to make greeting cards, I am going to make something for my Grandbaby.  My first thoughts are something like a bib in triangular shape to absorb the drool, as he is teething.  I may stitch on little triangles like I did on this greeting card using the raw edge applique technique. 

Still thinking.... I am going out today to run some errands ... maybe something else will inspire me.

Yes --- you can use my ideas -- they are for you to help with your inspiration to create.

Take the challenge and create.  Let's set a record of the most entries this week. 

Project Quilting Challenge #6 

Enjoy and be inspired to create!
Marcia

Wisconsin Cotton Candy for Show and Tell Saturday!

I like "Wisconsin Cotton Candy" for name of my little fluffy quilt, but I thought about "Cotton Candy on the Farm" or just "Cotton Candy Blankie".

I had to switch my project this week.  I completed the chevron or zig zag blue and cream quilt top, but the fabric I selected for the back of it was not big enough.  I placed an order for more fabric.  I thought there was a chance it might arrive by Friday or Saturday and I could still quilt and bind it before Sunday at noon, but the fabric did not arrive. I will quilt it next week and share later.

It is ready for a good press, before I quilt it.

I grabbed the scraps and started creating a little fluffy blankie!

This week I was multi-tasking by creating for a customer and doing the challenge at the same time.  My customer ordered a baby quilt in blues and creams.  He also asked if somewhere we could add a cow for Wisconsin. (or something to represent Wisconsin).  I originally thought maybe on the back with a label, but I also knew, I would have scraps to work with to make a taggie quilt to go along with the quilt. So when I did not have a backing for the baby quilt, I decided it was time to create a fluffy quilt for the Sweet Treats Challenge.

Sharing the photos step by step with a few words.

I cut the squares 3" from flannels, cottons, and minkie fabric scraps.  All in soft colors.

I laid them out, but as I stitched it together, I changed them around.

Note that I am not trying to match the seams.  The minkie fabrics stretch and shift too much.

I added poly batting to the taggie quilt this time.  The others had no batting.  I love it with the poly batting. Really adds a nice fluff!

Lots of pins! 

I stitched around the outside edges twice leaving an opening about 5-6 inches in the center of one side.

I topstitched the edge all the way around. At the same time it closed the opening.
I quilted it with straight lines, somewhat following the squares, but I did not line up the squares. You can see on the back where I stitched.

I will add a photo of my Wisconsin Cotton Candy Quilt to the Project Quilting flicker site for the Sweet Treats Project Quilting Challenge.  

Check out the completed projects!

www.persimondreams.com

Thanks again for following along!
Enjoy!
Marcia

String Along with Me --- Project Quilting Season Five Challenge ONE

The first Project Quilting Challenge is posted.  I have until Jan. 12th, Sunday at Noon to completed a quilted project based on the challenge.  But I tell myself I have until Friday night to complete the project. Click here for the details of the Quilt Challenge. 

Here's how I make it happen - 15 minutes at a time:

I read the Challenge at Noon on Sunday Jan. 5th.  I think, I brainstorm, and I sometimes sketch out a design. But most importantly, I dream....

Later on Sunday or Monday, I gather fabrics.  

When I take breaks from my customer's quilting, I press/iron and starch the fabric and cut it. All the strips are assorted sizes from 1 inch to 1 1/4 inch to 1 1/2 inch to 1 3/4 inch to 2 inches.

I am used phone book paper for my base to stitch on the strips.

Next, I started stitching the strips diagonally onto the paper.

I chose to place the solid green on the left side on all of the blocks and any light print on the right.

Press/Iron so the strips lay nice and flat.

I stitched a striped strip on the side next to the light strip and any light print next to the solid green strip.  I want it to be scrappy, but have somewhat of a pattern using the solid and striped print to do this.

Press/Iron the blocks again.

Add more light print strips (Then Press/Iron) and then I added solid green for the last strip on the corners. Press/ Iron again.

Press/Iron and then the blocks are ready to be rotary cut into 6 1/2 inch squares or whatever size you would like.

At this point, I tear off the paper. I like to take is off and give it a good press/iron and square them up if necessary. Some quilters wait until all the blocks are stitched together.

See how the striped print strip and the solid green create a pattern. Not sure if I will stitch them together like this.  I have a couple ideas that might look really cool!

That is it for today... more tomorrow  --- only 15 minutes at a time. It takes me longer to write this post! 

I am saving the scraps in a jar and I will label it "PQS5CH1 Strings".

Hop over and check out Project Quilting and join in the fun!

Enjoy!

Marcia

String Along with Me PQ CH ONE