Judy's Fabric Challenge Reveal!

Judy's Fabric Challenge took some people longer to complete than others. I thought it was time (since so many people have asked) to share the completed quilts. I apologize to all of you have have been waiting for the reveal. For those of you who are new. This is the second fabric challenge that I have done on my blog. You can read all the details on "Judy's Fabric Challenge" posts. Flo London lost her job of 11 years in May so her focus shifted from being creative to finding a job.

This one was completed by Louise Baldel. Louise worked at warp speed and was the first one to finish. There is nothing like a move to get one motivated!

Diane Dunder's quilt is titled "Tunami" and you can read more about her quilt on her blog's April 5th posting. One of the things that I love about this quilt is its shape. Way to go Diana!

Sara Kelly created a table runner (33" x 72") which she titled "Kaikoura." Kaikoura is a beach in New Zealand. I love the movement in her border! You can read more about her piece on her blog's April 20th posting.

Vivian Helena Aumond-Capone also created a table runner and posted it on her blog also on April 20th. Great creators must think alike.  Too much fun. I love the colors she chose and her one-sided border with her multi-colored binding. Vivian also made a pillow and posted it on her blog on April 26th.

On May 9th, Sue Andrus posted on my Facebook page (she was having Internet problems) her quilt. While I've been in touch with Sue, I have not heard if she ever finished it. Sue is known for her great gardens which inspires so much of her work.

Kathryn Schmidt's quilt "Bubbler" (love the title) was posted on her blog on May 24th. It's 16" x 30," but it's not a table runner! I do find it interesting that this challenge had so many long and skinny quilts created. Kathy used one of my favorite batiks. While Kathy loves to bead, she did not add any to this quilt. I think it is great that even though she loves to bead, she chose not to add any because she felt the piece did not need them. 

"Connections" (47" x 27") was posted on Kathy Brigg's blog on July 8th. Kathy could not decide which way she liked it best to hang so she attached two sleeves! I love this option. This was a real challenge for Kathy and I think she knocked it out of the park!

I love all the works produced in this challenge and I know Judy would be too! Enjoy!

Awakening from Winter's Darkness

Spring is one of my favorite seasons because, in part, it means the end of the unusually long Chicago winters.  The sun, longer days, and being able to play again in the dirt, all of these things make me feel alive. I am like a bear coming out of hibernation hungry for all that spring has to offer.

Since Marie's Art in the Cards  Revisioned theme for  for this month was "A Prayer Flag for Spring," I wanted to honor the theme by having my piece have a spiritual feel. I also love the idea of revisiting past ATCs and recreating them in fabric, but I also love that Marie gives us the freedom to do what we want! Who could ask for anything more? The quilts are 8.5" by 11" which also makes them easy to complete.

Anyway, I chose to recreate my "opposites" challenge ATC which I painted with fluid acrylic paints (second photo). I used both commercial and printed fabrics. The fabric dividing night (winter) from day (spring) is actually a photograph of heavy rain (our ATC challenge for this month) turned sideways. I created this piece using hand appliqued, machine piecing  and machine quilting.

Now I really must stop procrastinating and get busy creating Judy's Fabric Challenge quilt especially since so many people are creating incredible pieces of art! Wow! If you don't want to wait until May 1 when they are all revealed, check out Diane Dunder's truly amazing piece. You can see Kathy Schmidt's progress (she is using one of my favorite batiks) and Sara Kelly is looking for input. I can't wait to see what she does next! Hopefully the others will check in soon.

Tonight I spent the evening getting my studio back into order. It was really out of control. It gets that way when I'm focused and working. I don't want to take the time to put things away. So are you messy or tidy when you work? I know that the older I get the more I seem to need order. How about you?

Work vs Play

My friend bonnie called me the other day and shared that after looking through the quilts on my blog that her definition of play was very different than mine. There was no judgement in her comment. It was simply an observation. This got me to thinking which I'll admit can at times be a dangerous thing. I often start by looking things up in the dictionary. The definition of play is "occupying or amuse oneself pleasantly with some recreation, game, exercise, etc." While the definition of work is "the application of mental or physical effort to a purpose: a task to be undertaken: the means for earning income." I know which one I would choose.  I'm not sure when I decided that I was going to approach life more playfully. I can tell you that I am happier.

I was out the other day fixing (clearing out leaves and putting the spoons pushed up by the frozen ground) Spoon River (photo) when my neighbor peeked over the fence and said, "That looks like too much work for me." Fixing Spoon River and "working" in my yard never feels like work to me. Yes, it's physical labor and yet, I love it. I even love mowing my lawn. For my husband, mowing the lawn is something that puts him in a foul mood. There is no joy in it for him and nothing I can say to him changes his mind so I mow and we're both happy. Personally I'd rather have the attitude of play with as many things in my life as I can. So what do you consider play and what do you consider work?

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I hate that so much of what I am creating I cannot share because of entry rules. Also my dad had another heart attack. We are waiting to hear what will happen next--more surgery or a pacemaker. He'll be 80 on May 5 and I'm throwing him a party.

I am so impressed with what Kathy Schmidt has done so far with Judy's Fabric Challenge. She used one of my favorite batiks and I love circles so be sure to check it out and leave a comment. She thought she wasn't playing by my rules and I think she is doing just fine. I am much more interested in people pushing themselves out of their comfort zone than anything with these challenges. And yes, I'll host another challenge when this one is completed on May 1 so check back.

Diane Dunder is done! But she is teasing us by not revealing it yet. You can see hints on her blog. Louise Baldel is also done but she doesn't have a blog and is moving so you'll have to wait until the reveal.

Now go play! I am.

Challenge Updates Plus

I have given myself "quilter's elbow," as my husband is calling it. My doctor calls it elbow tendonitis. It's nothing serious but it is limiting me on the computer and sewing machine. I have exercises to do and I'm suppose to rest. The resting part is not easy for me.

I am happy to share that Gail Pierce has finished her 1950s challenge piece (shown here)! To learn more and see more images, please visit her blog. Thanks Gail!

With Judy's Fabric Challenge, Diane Dunder has been busy. I was a little worried that I was in her head too much with my rules, but she assured me that she is remembering the one that says, "Have fun!" I love that she is just giving us a hint of what she is doing. Can't wait to see more.

Sara Kelly has also made some great progress. I also think it is good that she is letting it rest because she's not sure what to do next. It took me a while to learn how to let things rest but not to forget them and then simply create a UFO. I love all the movement is Sara's piece and can't wait to see what comes next.

On the subject of UFOs, I don't feel that we should feel guilty about having them or feel bad about giving them away. I'm a process person so the end product is always the less important part. The interesting part of me is that I have very few UFOs. So often there is both joy and sadness when finishing a piece. So how do you feel about UFOs?

More on the Mystery Fabric

Not sure I am getting any closer to an answer. Susan in San Jose shared, "I have this fabric in 2 colorways-----lol I think I bought it when I lived in L.A. so that would be around 15-16 yrs. ago. I'm fairly sure when I bought it that it was brand new at the time.  I think I bought it at a fabric store in Burbank which doesn't exist anymore. I knew the Kaufman brothers, classy, wonderful guys, I loved working with them and I've always loved their fabrics."

Then Delores Hamilton shared, "I can tell you that I bought some of it (the purple/green colorway) around 2004 (and still have some left--less than a fat quarter--in case you need more).  I know this because I made a quilt based on Reynola Pakusch's Circle Play, which was published in 2004, the book below, and I used that fabric for one of the circles. I can't tell you if I bought the fabric much before buying the book or not.  But, I don't think I bought it in the 90s because it has metallic gold in it, and I didn't quilt with those kinds of materials until later...or at least I don't think I did.  (I'm not very helpful, am I?  LOL.)"

The Mystery Continues

I decided I really wanted to know more about the Judy's Challenge fabric so I emailed Kaufman. The first email I received informed me that it wasn't Robert Kaufman's fabric. Well I knew that wasn't true because it has "Robert Kaufman Co., Inc." on the salvage so I scanned it and sent it back telling Sandie Mccann, Customer Service Manager, that she was wrong and attached the photo of the salvage. This is what I got back,

"Well Karen, you got me!  This is so old that it pre-dates the majority of the staff in customer service, and we range from the newest at 7 yrs to 20 plus years!  The selvage marking has not been used for years.  I believe the only way you will find some now is to post a picture of the fabric on some of the fabric search sites or blogs.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news … good luck to you!
Kind regards,
Sandie"

So the mystery continues and I'm hoping someone can shred some light.

Everyone has the fabric for this challenge and most are thinking. Sara Kelly is the first one out of the gate. Guess this means, I better get busy!

Challenges

Kathy Schmidt is in a finishing mode. Here's her 1950's Garden from my 1950's challenge. You an view details by visiting her blog. Love her quilt especially how she added the organza!

The fabric for the next challenge is landing in the hands of those who accepted my second challenge which I'm calling Judy's Fabric Challenge. Some people love the fabric and others are unsure. I must admit that some days I think it is interesting and other days I wonder what the heck I am going to do with it. I am excited to see what everyone does with it. I'll keep you posted.

1. Diane Dunder
2. Kathy Schmidt
3. Sara Kelly
4. Kristin McNamara Freeman
5. Louise Baldel
6. Vivian Helena
7. Sue Andrus
8. Flo London
9. Kathie Briggs

Da Rules for Next Challenge

For me, a challenge is all about stretching yourself/moving outside your comfort zone. By accepting this next challenge, you are agreeing to stretch and do something that you have not done before. Now for the rules:

1. Have fun!
2. The quilt must be free-form/free spirited.
3. The challenge fabric must be used and visible in the quilt.
4. You are encouraged to share your process and finished quilt on your blog.
5. You will need to share how you stretched yourself and moved out of your comfort zone.
6. Deadline to finish is May 1. (Please send me a photo so I can post them all together.)
7. Have fun!

Due to the amount of fabric I have this challenge will be limited to 12 people (I count as one of the 12). Participants will not be able to choose which colorway. It will just have to be a surprise.

Deadline to sign up is Wednesday, March 7. Fabric will be mailed on March 8. Can't wait for the fun to begin!

So far the following people have accepted the challenge (Life has been a little crazy so if I missed you, just let me know):

1. Diane Dunder
2. Kathy Schmidt
3. Sara Kelly
4. Kristin McNamara Freeman
5. Louise Baldel
6. Vivian Helena
7. Sue Andrus
8. Flo London
9. Kathie Briggs