Finished: One Quilt Square for Competition

Friday, October 14, 2016
For the past three days, I have been working with Emma Jean Cook on creating a quilt square for a competition that is being held by our Winnebago State organization - Florida Winniegators.  A challenge was put out to all members to create a 10 1/2" quilt square that would be judged based on a best use of material, creativity, best use of color, etc.  The theme has to be recreation of some form.  I decided I wanted to try creating an applique picture but didn't know how.  Emma Jean taught me how to do the machine stitching and methods for applying the appliques to a backing.  She had a huge collection of scrap pieces of material that she loaned me to search through and come up with what I would need.  It has taken a good part of the last three days, but I finished it this afternoon.  What a challenge, but what fun too.  And to think this is made strictly from scrap material.

The week has included a trip to JoAnn's to pick up some varigated threads for stitching around each of the various pieces.  Of course we also had to make other stops so it turned into just a shopping and lunch out day.  What fun we had doing that.  Lucy Visscher joined us and we all found things we wanted including from the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Brandon.  

Then there was a day for coming up with a picture idea and finding the scraps of materials that would best represent the various parts like reds and golds for flames and material that looked like stones to shape a circle for the fire.  I looked at loads of blues and then found what I thought was a perfect piece of with ripples in it.  I loved the piece of black material I found for the sky with loads of white dots that could be stars and the camoflage material was perfect for a tent.  

Arranging all of the pieces and figuring out sizes and proportions was the next challenge.  I'm no good at making people so came up with the idea of just putting in two arms holding sticks with marshmellows on them that just into the picture giving the feel that people are just out of range of view.

It took me two days to cut pieces after putting on fusion paper with an iron and then attaching the pieces using the machine and a variety of threads to fit each of the colors and pieces.  While I was doing this, Emma Jean was busy making several casserole carriers and helping me create a pattern for a potluck carry all bag to put dishes, silverware, napkins and cups into.  While shopping I picked up fabric to make my own matching casserole carrier

and potluck bag to be put in one of the rally baskets for the February State Rally in Florida.  So when frustration would set in I'd take a break and do some cutting and stitching of those items too. Tomorrow I hope to complete the potluck bag but the casserole carrier is already done.  NOTE: Here is a picture of both of then once they were completed.

Ken and I drove over to Frank and Bette's so I could show them the completed square and afterward enjoyed a pizza at our favorite pizza place - Sergios.  From there we headed back home stopping at Dollar Tree to pick up some blue paper plates, napkins and cups to put in the potluck bag when I finish it for the rally basket.  I already have some silverware for it.  I'm hoping to take it to our gathering next weekend to show our club and get some feed back from them on whether I should make more for those baskets.  Meanwhile I'll be turning in the quilt square for the judging that will take place over the weekend.  Then all the pieces that are contributed will be pieced into a quilt that will be raffled off to raise funds for the organization.

It has been a real successful and fun week thanks to all the guidance I got from Emma Jean and the fun of sewing together at the table in her kitchen.