Fabric Challenge 2021

This quilt could be yours!

"Rosie Posies", 68" x 84" lap/twin size quilt
featuring Dots & Posies fabric by Poppie Cotton

This Quilt Could Be Yours!

U.Q.S.M. Fabric Challenge/Auction 2020:

"Spring in the Meadow"

This quilt features gorgeous "Painted Meadow" fabrics by Robin Pickens for Moda.  Mine is only one of twenty-seven quilts in this year's challenge.  And even though the Utah Quilting & Sewing Marketplace show has been canceled, the annual Fabric Challenge Auction is still happening!

This year's auction will send 100% of the proceeds to the amazing charity, Humanity Sews, formerly known as "Sew Much Hope".  Click the link below to view all of the quilts and place your bid or donate to this lovely cause.

MODA Virtual Charity Auction

Final bidding will end on Friday, May 1st at 7:00pm MST

UPDATE:  SOLD!  
The sale of this little quilt and a couple dozen other quilts helped to raise over $5000 for the charity, 

HUMANITY SEWS - Stitching Seams & Sewing Dreams.

Thanks to all those who contributed.  Your purchase will make a difference in people's lives!

~~~~~

I love to take part in this annual challenge and have been participating in one way or another since 2007.  This little quilt was really fun to piece (I have a thing for chickens), and the pattern, Free Range by Sandy Gervais seemed to suit the fabrics perfectly.  I used "Chicken Wire" quilting design, added little dimensional elements, and finished with a fun faux-piped binding. ♥♥

...still not sure if these look like bees or bugs... you decide.

UQSM Design Challenge 2019 "Flying Forward"

This quilt could be yours! 
UPDATE:  This quilt is now part of the Handi-Quilter UQSM 2019 Design Challenge Collection!!

See the full collection HERE<<

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!

This Quilt Could Be Yours!

Ready for a "Quilty Adventure"??

"Quilty Adventures" by Deonn Stott, 43" x 53" Lap Quilt/Wall Hanging

made by Deonn Stott & Debbie Proctor

Joining forces...

 

Last week our local High School FFA ("Future Farmers of America") kids held their annual "Service Week".  Their goal was to tie 25 twin-size quilts and donate them to a homeless shelter, The Road Home.   

 

This is the third year that the FFA has asked our local quilt guild to assist them in preparing quilts for the kids to tie.  These quilts are usually pre-bound with an "Envelope" Finish (<< instructions here), so all the kids have to do is quilt them together with yarn ties, and they're done in no time!

 

Here's how the Heber Valley Quilters and Wasatch County High School

joined forces to "GITTERDONE"

 

Gather a bunch of kids together, and decide on a worthwhile service project.

Have the kids collect supplies: fabric or quilt tops, batting, backing, yarn or crochet thread for tying, long needles, and maybe some rubber balloons to help grip the needles, and set up 3 to 6 quilt frames.  

Pass out quilt kits to local guild members to put together and envelope-finish to prepare for tying.

Have the kids tack the pre-bound/envelope finished quilts to the frames, then stitch through the layers with the yarn, tie into knots, and clip the threads.  Pull the tacks out, and the quilt is done!

When the kids run out of projects on the first day (!!), scramble and gather more fabric, quilt tops (UFOs), backing, batting, and supplies for more twin-size quilts! 

Now when these other quilts are tied, they'll still need to be bound! And sometimes... you just need to gitterdone. 

Here's how I Self-Bind a quilt:

Step 1)  Trim the batting even with the quilt top, and trim the backing so it's at least 1-1/4" wider. 

Step 2)  Double-fold the backing over the front of the quilt and stitch (I use a serpentine or mending stitch); miter the corners. 

I don't use this technique very often - I prefer a double-fold French binding for better durability - but there are times when a self-binding is just the ticket.

The FFA kids ended up with around 35 finished quilts to donate to the homeless shelter.  Making a difference, one stitch at a time. 

Tag, You're It!!

Reveal Day!

"Tag, You're It!!" ~ A Scannable Quilt

HMQS Design Challenge 2012, Sponsored by Riley Blake Designs

made by "The Midnight Quilters"

Amy, Debbie and Deonn

This quilt was designed using "Microsoft Tags" that can be scanned with your smart phone, ipad, or any mobile device with a camera on it.   The triangles were die-cut using AccuQuilt's Equilateral Triangles die (also the 2-1/2" Strips die), which made it a snap to put together!

The quilt is one of 2 dozen quilts made for the design challenge, which will be on display for the duration of the Home Machine Quilting Show in Salt Lake City, Utah May 10th through 12th, 2012.  The challenge quilts will then be sold in a LIVE AUCTION, and proceeds will benefit the Quilts of Valor Foundation (see more details in my previous post). 

Try it! 
1)  Download the free app here: 

http://gettag.mobi/

2)  Scan this tag with your mobile device.  Be sure there's plenty of white space around the tag.

Did you find us?  ÜÜÜ
I don't actually have a smart phone, but my friend Frannie tried it, and it worked!  She even scanned the 5 tags in a PICTURE of the quilt and it worked too!! Does it work for you?? 

THIS QUILT COULD BE YOURS!!

  

~ LIVE AUCTION ~

Saturday, May 12th

12:30 to 1:30 pm

HMQS—Sandy Expo Center

9575 S. State, Salt Lake City, UT

**TAGS MAY BE CUSTOMIZED

TO THE WINNER’S SPECIFICATIONS!**

Did you see that??  ↑↑  TAGS CAN BE CUSTOMIZED!!  Wouldn't you love this quilt hanging in your office or studio?  We own the rights to these generated tags, which can be transferred to the new owner, who will be able to CHANGE any of the quilt's five tags to be directed to any website, video, picture... anything that can generate a url code to be found on the world wide web. So, if you are in the area, be sure to drop by the Home Machine Quilting Show and bid to buy this quilt at auction! 

Here's even more fun:  For the duration of the show, attendees will be able to scan the quilt, follow the instructions to visit certain booths or like certain companies on Facebook, then enter a drawing for stacks of fat quarters generously donated by Riley Blake Designs. (I know!)  Stay tuned next week to find out how my followers can also participate and win!

Meanwhile, it's back to the sewing machine to finish preparing for the classes I'll be teaching at the show!  Oh, I can hardly wait!

A Sneak Peek. . .

Getting excited for the Home Machine Quilting Show coming up in a couple of weeks...

I'm participating once again in the annual HMQS Design Challenge, sponsored by Riley Blake Designs.  They supply the fabric - this year it's the Tuxedo Collection by Doodlebug Designs for Riley Blake.  And up to 30 participants/groups proceed to design and make quilts which are sold in a live auction at the end of the show raise money for charity. 

Here's a sneak peek of this year's entry made by the "Midnight Quilters": 

What would you make with these lovelies??

The "Midnight Quilters" (Comprising of myself, my friend Debbie, with whom I've taught quilting and sewing classes for about 12 years, and at least one other guillable soul person) have enjoyed participating in the annual HMQS Design Challenge (← click to see our previous designs) for the past six years!

There's a reason we call ourselves the Midnight Quilters... we're usually sewing until the wee hours to get the project done.  One year, we didn't even start the quilt until 3 days prior to the show... bound it in the car on the way down the canyon and finished in the parking lot in time to turn it in before the judges arrived... (Debbie every year: "Now WHY are we doing this again??") Well, because we always seem to end up with fantastic results!  And for some reason, our quilts always raise a bunch of $$ for the HMQS charity of choice.  

  

This year's charity,  Quilts of Valor, is one that's close to my heart as well.  The QOV mission is to "cover ALL combat servicemembers and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor."  And though my son was not wounded during his deployment to Afghanistan last year, there were plenty of incidents where he could have been.  I am just so grateful that he is safe at home now.

So, guess what?  We all cheerfully, excitedly finished this quilt; sewing, ripping, trimming, re-sewing about half a dozen times, trying new ideas, accucutting, screen printing, getting it just right, hoping that it will raise lots of money for QOV.  And I NEVER heard Debbie say once, "Now WHY are we doing this again??" Ü

 

Midnight Quilters 2012:  Amy (Debbie's daughter), Debbie and Deonn  {teehee}

We anticipate that CROWDS of people will gather around the quilt, talk about it, come back every day to see it... {{giggles}} then pay lots of $$ to buy it in the live auction.

Charlie is excited about it, too!

THIS QUILT COULD BE YOURS!!!



But I'll have to wait to show it to you until after the folks at Riley Blake Designs have finished judging all the quilts in the competition.  Just. Can't. Wait!!!

I'm on pins and needles... Ü

Isabella's Bonnets - HMQS Design Challenge

"Isabella's Bonnets"

I may have said this before, but I ♥ Riley Blake Designs.  Recently voted the 2011 FabShop Rising Star, the folks at Riley Blake and their incredible team of designers are making a difference in the quilting world.  Their company sponsored the 2011 Home Machine Quilting Show Design Challenge, supplying this year's fabric, "Isabella", designed by Lila Tueller.

Warning: Curves Ahead!





The "Midnight Quilters" have been at it again!  My friends Debbie and Tricia and I haven't been getting much sleep for the past couple weeks working on this year's version of the HMQS Design Challenge. (Debbie: "Now, how did I get roped in to this again??)  This will be the fifth year participating in the challenge, once again sponsored by my favorite folks at Riley Blake.  They supply the fabric, and participating groups come up with their own design.  Such fun fabrics--"Isabella" designed by Lila Tueller. What would you do with these pretties? 

Can't wait to see everyone's quilts, on display during the Home Machine Quilting Show, coming up May 5th through 7th at the Sandy Expo Center in SLC.  The quilts will be auctioned at noon that Saturday, and all the proceeds will benefit the HMQS 2011 charity, Lifting Liberia.

Just One Star

My son is serving in Afghanistan.  "Route Clearance" is his official mission.   Roadside bomb detection. 

What can I do besides pray for the boys? 

I can quilt.  And it could possibly make a difference to a wounded soldier somewhere who needs a hug from home. 

Moda has issued a challenge to piece, quilt and bind 100 quilts in 100 days.  1800 little star blocks are needed by May 1st to reach their quilt deadline by flag day, June 14th, 2011. 
I can do that!  Just one little star.  Like this one.  I made it in just a few minutes.  For a soldier.

Want to join the challenge?  Click here for the pattern, details and where to send your finished block:  JUST ONE STAR

Thanks from this Soldier's Mom.

See what quilters across the nation are doing HERE.

Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative

I watched with interest today's installment of an the online broadcast of "The Quilt Show", featuring Ami Simms.  http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php/blog_id/3316

Ami's mother died of Alzheimers, and for her, quilting is coping.  For the past five years, she has used quilting as a way to promote awareness and raise money for research to cure Alzheimer's disease.  She collects "Priority Quilts", little 9" x 12" quilts made by quilters around the globe, and sells them either by auction on her website or at the International Quilt Market in Houston every year.  She has helped to raise over $412,000 for this cause.

Right now, there is also a traveling quilt show of 180 quilts with the names of people who have suffered this disease.  I was privileged to be able to quilt one of these special 6" x 80" quilts, and to add a few names to it as well.  At the end of today's Quilt Show episode they showed one of my blocks that contains the name of my husband's three uncles, Elden, Ben and Laural, who died with Alzheimer's.  My father-in-law's wife has just been diagnosed with the disease.

These other names are relatives of a few of my friends.

What can you do?  Make a quilt, buy a quilt, support this cause.  Ami's website gives a list of 35 ways that you can help to raise awareness and fight this disease.  www.alzquilts.org

P.S.  In a follow-up note, Ami Simms announced that one of the research grants the AAQI funded has yielded positive results!  See the story here:

http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php/blog_id/3344

Stott Family, You've Just Made Half a Dozen Charity Quilts! What are you going to do next?!?

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!! We got our quilts done and turned in to the "Project Linus" chairperson, and sure enough, HandsOn Network emailed vouchers for each of us to spend a free day at Disneyland.  And six more children in our local hospital will have a warm hug from each of us.

They want to inspire one million people to give a day of service in their communities.  According to their website today http://www.disneyparks.com/, there are still 130 volunteer opportunities in our area ranging from painting a sidewalk to collecting water bottles for Haiti to helping shelve cans for the Utah Charities Co-op to helping with Bingo Wednesdays at a Hospice Center.  Some great opportunities for families or youth groups. 

Then comes the feeling...um... isn't the idea for charity work to do it anonymously?  The reward is in the doing, right?....... We can always donate our vouchers to a designated charity organization.......  Ah, heck!  Disneyland is going to be great!

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day

My girls thought this would be fun to do with our family.  We signed up with http://www.giveadaygetadisneyday.com/ to make six charity quilts for "Project Linus" in our area, and in turn, we will receive six vouchers for a free day at Disneyland!  How fun is that?  We are always making charity quilts anyway, so why not reward ourselves?  The offer is good through Dec 15th 2010, and we will need to get our quilts done by March 1st.  Evan and Jordan will each make one also.  Better get busy - I'm ready for some fun in the California sun! 

The mission of "Project Linus" http://www.projectlinus.org/ is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.” They have distributed over three million blankets to children in need since 1995.

The quilts we make will go to local hospitals.

More Quilts for China

Midway Heritage Quilters enjoyed a day of quilting together!

Quilts for China

A plea for charity quilts has been issued by a guild in St. George, who are collecting quilts for an orphanage for disabled girls in China. Girls in this orphanage sleep on a 2-foot wide board, and a St. George company is busy making foam mattresses for them. 400 quilts are needed to send with the gentleman when he goes to China at the end of July. My girls and I have pieced and tied five of these quilts in the past week. Actually, Chelsea has tied most of the quilts herself. Fabrics are from my stash and from a collection of Michael Miller samples - bright batik flannels and soft corduroys. These were fabrics sent from the manufacturer last year specifically to be used for charity quilts. Perfect!  We have several more quilt tops ready to go. Anyone who would like to come help tie quilts, feel free to drop in any time!