Wednesday, May 2, 2018

These Quilts Can Be Yours!!


Spring is in the air!  Well, actually Spring is still battling it out with Winter, who showed up with a little snow yesterday, but anyway. Springtime means it's also time for Utah's Quilting & Sewing Marketplace (UQSM for short) and once again it's time to party!


I always love to participate in the show's Design Challenges. Participants follow certain rules to make a quilt with the fabric provided, maybe even win a prize in the competition.  The quilts will be on display during the show then sold at a live auction at the end of the show to benefit charity, which is the best part!

This year, I entered three Design Challenges.  First, the Moda challenge.  In the past, I've usually been able to rope one or two guild friends into collaborating with me.  This time, my friend Debbie and I each made one. The line of fabric is Thrive, designed by Natalia and Kathleen.  I had to sign up!  These gals are a mother-daughter team from right here in Heber City!


Cool, modern colors and prints -  it was fun to test out a pattern I've been wanting to try for several years.  The line also comes with panels, which fit my design scheme perfectly.  I went with white minky on the back because I wanted a warm, snuggly casual cuddle quilt.  So this is not a quilt to display my mad longarm skills, just a fun, furry, functional, wrap-up-in-a-big-hug kind of a quilt.  "Live, Laugh, Love":


And I have to show a picture of the quilt that Debbie made for this challenge, too; "Modern Geese".   Another friend, Kayedawn, quilted it for her.  This one is a gem - I'm sure it's a prize-winner!  
UPDATE:  Debbie's quilt won 2nd place in the contest!  YEAH!  


Last year's Design Challenge raised $10,000 to benefit the charity Sew Much Hope! With over two dozen quilts in the Moda challenge, we hope they do as well.  Come and bid on these quilts at the auction and take one home!
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The second Design Challenge is sponsored by ADORNit.  These kits used their Burnished fabrics and a fun newsprint background, Text Chatter.  Finished quilts measure approx. 24" x 24".  I used my AccuQuilt die cutter to cut the parts: fantasy flowers, hexagons to make a little hexagami flower center, and even a ribbon swirl which turned into a little birdie.  My little "Wall Flowers":

UPDATE:  This quilt won 3rd place in the ADORNit contest! 


And here is Debbie's.  She used my Bloomin' Blossoms pattern.


These small "Wall Bouquet" ADORNit challenge quilts will be sold at silent auction so one would need to attend the show to bid on these little sweeties.  
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For the third design challenge, I haven't actually made the quilt yet - that is the challenge!  It's the UQSM's first-ever "Stitching Showdown"!
I signed up to participate in this sew-off, then I told Debbie what we were doing! She has been a great sport to go along with my "Quiltscapades", especially during this past year since she lost her husband to cancer.  I have to say that quilting has the power to heal souls.  I hope it has been a good thing for her.  Quilting has certainly kept her busy, at the very least.

So, about this showdown:  Each of the four teams will receive a bag of precut fabrics, then we'll have four hours to design and make a quilt with whatever's in the bag.  Debbie and I are calling ourselves the D & D Quilting Divas, haha!  Her daughter made us some T-shirts and even a little banner.  Hilarious - I love it!


The competition will be broadcast live on Facebook this coming Friday, May 4th starting at 10:30 am.  If you can't attend the show, you will be able to check the UQSM Facebook site on and off during the day for the livestream.  At the end of the competition, the tops will be quilted and bound, then also sold at auction to benefit Sew Much Hope.  Can we do it?  I'm kinda excited. Wish us luck!


Having served on the board for this show for the past 10 years (formerly HMQS), it has been my privilege to witness the passion and amazing, jaw-dropping creativity and originality of the quiltmakers from around the world as displayed in their quilts submitted to this show.  Just when you think you've seen everything... well.  I know there's something special when a quilt catches my breath, makes my heart race, and even brings tears to my eyes.

If you are in the area, I hope you come and see those quilts.  Details are here:  UQSM.  Classes began yesterday, and the show officially opens on Thursday, May 3rd at 10:00 am. and runs through Saturday, May 5th at 4:00 pm.
Mountain America Expo Center
9575 South State Street, Sandy, Utah

3 comments:

  1. Lovely quilts dear. Happy Sprng and Happy May...<3

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  2. Those quilts are wonderful. I love the snuggly one with the minky and houndstooth pattern.

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  3. Is there a pattern to share for the Live Laugh Love quilt?

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So happy you stopped by for a visit! Thank you!