Friday, August 13, 2010

Next Challenge?

You guys have made some absolutely awesome quilts. I am sooo very proud of you. I admit I've been neglecting to write a post because I'm embarrassed that I didn't finish a quilt top myself. eek. If you haven't finished either, keep working at it - I bet you'll make a great quilt.

I have to tell ya though, the letter tutorials are no longer at Quiltville. I had Bonnie take them down in anticipation of the book. (self-promotion: Word Play Quilts available December 7th) So if you still want to add letters to your quilt top, you can wing it and figure out your own great ways to make them. Or wait for the book.

If some of you want to keep playing, we can come up with another challenge. I figure we can just keep working in this blog. new folks can join in if they want.  I'm thinking of it as "One Step Beyond" Amish or maybe Improvisational Amish.

As in, I'd love to see you take another step, push yourself a bit further. I figure you're challenging yourself, so you can decide just how far you want to go with it. So depending where you are in the liberated spectrum, you could:

  • make your quilt actually wonky this time. 
  • piece crumbs together to make new "fabric"
  • don't make all the blocks the same size, change them up. 
  • use half blocks as well as whole blocks.
  • Go for a Gee's Bend meets Amish Improvisational Lollapalooza.    
  • Use leftover strips and pieces - but work from here on out only using scissors or tearing.
  • No rotary cutters or rulers used whatsoever.

"Rules" to this challenge:

  • use solid fabrics (or solidy, mottled, marbled, batiked, hand-dyed). this time you can add prints if you want.
  • state which quilt(s) from the Brown collection is going to be your inspiration OR be a rebel and pick an Amish quilt from a different source.
  • you don't have to use the same inspirational quilt that you did before, although it might just be fun to work in a series...
  • you do not have to use letters - just to make that clear.


What do you think? Anyone want to keep playing?

17 comments:

Marit said...

Sounds like fun, Tonya! I like the idea of mixing solids and a few prints. Have to start thinking about an inspiration quilt. I'll look through my Gee's Bend books...

; )

Yvonne said...

I'm in.....I had such fun with the first challenge. :)

Quiltdivajulie said...

I'm in ...

beth said...

thanks for another challenge!

Anonymous said...

I'm going to play too. Putting my thinking cap on...

Brenda said...

well it seems I've already started....

debbi d-w said...

Great - I'm in! A couple in the works already - and maybe I can finish my first plan!

Chris Daly said...

I love. My head is spinning with ideas. Now to finish my first challenge so I can get started on the next....

Kathy in FL said...

Count me in. I'm always up for a challenge.

Mary Keasler said...

Love it - count me in this time around. I discovered y'all too late to begin the first challenge, but can't wait to begin on the second one. Already got my "Brown" Amish quilt selected and think it might just have a Gee's Bend twist!

Rosalyn Manesse said...

Count me in! I'll have to study the rules in detail. I already make string quilts using scissors--but not with no rotary cutter at all! It will be like the old days before I owned one, and I made templates out of cereal boxes!

Linda said...

Count me in, Please......

Sharon said...

Great challenge, What timeline are we looking at for this one!

Wendy said...

I'll play, but you'll have to send me another invite. Somehow this group got deleted from "My blogs" that I can post to!

Wendy said...

ER, nevermind. I found it! Clevurrr, ain't I?

Nancy said...

Sounds like fun. I'm in. Is there going to be a time limit on this one?

Kim said...

Sounds good! I was just inspired by a museum show in Myrtle Beach, SC
called " A survey of Gee's Bend Quilts" It had 20 unique works dating from 1949 to 2006. Also one of the quilts that was copied onto postage stamps. Even my DH enjoyed the show! The Museum had a whole series of programs related to the quilts along with four of the Gee's Bend quilters coming to speak with the locals and take stitches in a community quilt...which I also quilted my initials into :0).

The show runs June 8 thru Oct. 3 if you are in the area I highly recommend it. " Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum". The museum staff
are just a great group of lovely Southern ladies who are so gracious and helpful.....I did some Christmas shopping while there.

Thanks Tonya I look forward to the new challenge.

Happy Sewing