Milt

Yesterday was Quilt Guild day. I got to solicit, appeal, whine, wheedle and cajole members to participate in the annual CHALLENGE! I wanted to make a "Big Book" and read it to the ladies as if they were in Kindergarten (because that's how some of them behaved last month!) But I lacked the resources to craft such a thing - large paper (a trip to Hobby Lobby would have solved that) and the art skills (no amount of practice would've helped me out there!) 

Sew.....what's a gal to do? This self-proclaimed PowerPoint Queen of yesteryear stepped up to the plate and opened Apple's equivalent, Keynote, and turned my Big Book idea into a slide show. 

This was the beginning of my Keynote presentation:

Here's the text of the "book":

I am Milt, I am built!

I am Milt and I like to quilt.   

I like to quilt while wearing a kilt,

And I buy fabric and have no guilt.

 

I can make quilts here and there,

I can make them in my underwear!

I can sew blocks as singles, or pairs,

But how ‘bout you? 

Do you dare?

Step up to the plate, take this challenge to heart.

Show us your talent, show us your art. 

Draw a state’s name from out of the hat,

And make some sort of quilt about that.

Showcase that particular state,

And make a quilt that can’t equate.

A quilt like no-one else will sew,

A quilt that makes folks gawk and say, “Whoa”!

A quilt that such extraordinary emotions evoke,

A quilt that is worthy of any show!

Oh, come on now, and join the fun!

Your joy in this challenge has just begun.

Pull a slip from out of the hat,

And make a quilt using that. 

How can you miss this chance for some fun?

This is the State Challenge….and the fun has just begun!

I used images from the Internet to illustrate the presentation, and doctored a few of them to fit my needs!

I closed the presentation with the rules for the challenge, and included this slide:

That is a real quilt covering a minivan. A friend from my the quilt guild I belonged to before I moved made this 'quilt' to advertise that guild's quilt show. She asked members to bring in 'orphan blocks' and she put them together, with some help from other guild members, and made this cover. The quilt would adorn her car whenever guild members were selling tickets for the show. 

The women enjoyed the presentation, and a few more signed up to participate. I know not everyone will do it. Some folks don't care for challenges of any sort (definitely not me!) Others have a lot on their plates already. 

I have picked the state for my challenge quilt. I won't say what it is here, just in case any of the guild members stumble on my post. I have my plan for what I'm going to do. I worked on designs using EQ8 to play with options, and think I've settled on one that I like. I've collected some fabrics; I picked up some in Berkeley on my recent trip. I found another piece I might use in a town just north of where I live. I ordered something on eBay, too. And, a blog reader, Barbara, suggested some fabrics and is sending me one. How exciting is that?!

Can you tell that I love challenges?! Here's a little secret: If you want me to accomplish anything....just present it as a challenge. Just say, "I bet you can't....." and fill in the blank!!

 

Problems with a Purse

My new quilt guild offers monthly workshops/lessons taught by members. The upcoming October lesson is making a cross body purse. The pattern is called "Charade". It's by a company called "Sallie Tomato".  I have only made some simple rectangular, quilted bags for hauling stuff, I've never messed with a purse, and pockets, and zippers. I thought they were a bit fussy - well, actually, I wasn't sure I could do it. 

But I like the instructor, she's become a good friend. The price is reasonable. So.... I signed up for the class. And, oh my....I might actually learn something!

Then I realized I wouldn't be here for the class! The instructor insured me that the pattern comes with great instructions, and with my sewing background I would have no trouble. She also said that she was only a phone call away. And then, she even offered a pre-class get together for several of us to cut the various fabrics, backing and foundations. 

Our instructor provided a kit that included the black "pleather" for the purse corners and straps. We had to provide the fabric. I looked through my stash and found this great mushroom fabric. It was only when I got to the cutting session that I realized what I had was truly a bunch of scraps. I had to pick and choose pieces to get enough for the pieces of the purse. 

I snipped, and cut, and turned, and laid out the pattern to snip and cut some more. 

When I got home, and got back to working on the purse, I realized, Oh Horrors! I had cut the front and the back the wrong way. Yikes! Somehow in all of the maneuvering of fabric to get it all cut out of my scraps, I mis-cut the "cut on fold" piece. I had two pieces that ought to be one. Oops.

This is where my years of experience in sewing supported me. OK...I cut the fabric in the middle....therefore, what if I covered that cut with another piece of fabric?

What if I put some interesting embroidery, that I can do with one of my machines,  on that "inset"? 

Folks would think I purposely placed the embroidered pieces on my purse! 

Ta da! The panels look great! 

Following the great instructions in the pattern, the zippered pockets were created with ease.

The purse came together....

and I think it looks great! 

I love it!

I'm not as reluctant to try another pattern.