I have to say that I had a lot of fun with this weeks challenge.  I had a hard time coming up with my concept at first but once I figured it out I was ready to go at it.  I can see that everyone else had a good time by the amazing creativity and quality in each of the projects submitted.  Nice work once again!

For those of you just tuning in you can read more about Project Quilting Here: http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2010/04/project-quilting.html

and about the sixth challenge of Season 1 Here:

http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2010/06/season-1-challenge-6.html

CHALLENGE WINNERS: There will be two winners for this challenge – one for the public vote and one for the ‘judged vote’ – Diane, Barb, Pam, and guest judge Lauren. 

The winner of the PUBLIC vote will receive 4 fat quarters (their choice) from FabricAlaCarte AND a $10 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop!

The winner of the JUDGES Choice will receive $15 to FabricFascination AND a $10 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop!

Voting closes at 7pm CDT on Friday, July 30th.

OTHER BONUSES:

One RANDOMLY drawn participant will receive $9.99 to

FabricNQuilts, a second randomly drawn participant will receive a copy of the book Pretty Little Mini Quilts published by Lark Books from PennyFabricArt, and a third randomly drawn participant will receive 1 cup of needle sharpener emery sand for pincushions from Nakpunar.

Don't forget! Everyone that enters can decide if they want their name entered in a drawing for $50 off the 2010 Quilts by Barb Quilt - Papercraft - Scrapbooking Getaway Weekend!

I will also be sending everyone their rank (somewhere between 1 and 10 – be sure you’ve emailed me {lapaceksorchard@gmail.com} your email address) and any critique’s the judges have about your creation. The top 3 scoring projects will be posted on my blog this weekend.

PUBLIC WINNERS: YES, you can win a prize too! You’ll find out how to WIN at the bottom of this post after you’ve checked out each of our challengers entries.

And now here are all the entries – in no particular order…

***Please note – I have left the images smaller than I normally do as I’ve received some feedback that my blog was loading slowly – hopefully this will help that issue. I strongly URGE you to take closer looks at the projects before voting by checking out their submittals on the flickr group:http://www.flickr.com/groups/1401824@N21/

Quilter:  PamelaQuilts

The Story of Pamela’s ATC Organizer:

My inspiration: Not knowing what I wanted to make I wandered a bit. The first thing I picked up was the file folder, loved the color and the circles. When I spotted the card holders I knew in an instant what my project would be, just had to find a notebook to complete my mission.

As inspired by this gorgeous file folder - this quilted cover beautifies an ordinary 1" three ring binder into a lovely holder for my ATC collection. Inside are plastic sheets to keep them clean and neat, but easily enjoyed!

The cover measures 12 1/2 x 25 inches, and was made in beautiful (and windy) Coos Bay, OR

Quilter:  Gayle B

The Story Behind ‘Easy Button’:

As you might be able to tell, I went to Staples for my office supply inspiration. I have always loved their easy button, and as a result, it made designing this quilt easy. I bought crayon fabric for the quilt, but as you can see, it played a very small role - the binding and little crayons in the paper clips were an afterthought. The rest of the quilt is from my stash.
What amazes me about Staples is all the choices of common items, like paper clips and tape. Since making decisions is sometimes difficult, I put the easy button in the middle of the several choices of paper clips, crayons, and tape dispensers and added a hand to push the easy button.
The crayons and tape dispensers are iron-on applique. The paper clips are satin stitched. The easy button has machine embroidery for the word (the font was perfect!). I used plain red fabric but added the shading with paint. The button is also slightly padded. The hand also had shading and details added with india ink. The finished size is 22 1/2" x 23".
I am quite pleased with the outcome. I'm thinking about giving it to the Staples store I visited.

Created in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Quilter:  Karen’s Crafty World

The Story Behind ‘Flower Power Dolly Blanket’:

The inspiration for my dolly blanket was all the bright colors of the new school supplies, a folder, white poster board, and a quilted backpack.

I started with 2 pieces of cotton fabric I had gotten awhile back at Walmart. They are supposed to be big dish towels, but I loved the texture and knew i could do something with them someday. They came in a big package of 5. After ironing them out, they looked and were about the size of white poster board.

I cut one piece in half, sandwiched it with some batting and quilted it. I quilted in a diagonal manner like the way the backpack I saw was quilted. I really like how it looks as I usually stipple everything.

I then heat bonded a bunch of solid colored fabrics, traced out my flowers, cut them out and ironed them onto my quilted surface. The butterfly wasn't on the folder, but I thought it would blend in nicely. I then free-handed the remaining flowers that were going to be just stitched.

After adhering all the flowers I matched thread and sewed over the flowers. I stitched several times around not going over the same line of stitching as I wanted it to look like doodling.

As I was finishing all the doodling, my machine decided she had had enough and i spent about an hour trying to figure out what was wrong. Before taking a sledge hammer to her, I got out my baby Janome (which is like a kids sewing machine) and sewed on the ribbon border. I wanted it to be nicely couched onto the quilt but my janome only does a simple zig-zag.

This piece measures 22 x 16 and was fitfully made in water-logged Elgin, IL.

Quilter:  PennyFabricArt

The Story Behind the Rat eRace:

In my trip to the office supply store I got to thinking about years ago when I worked in a cubicle. I always felt like cubicle office spaces are like mazes, which is in some context appropriate for the term "rat race."

Since I like making labyrinth quilts, it seemed the perfect fit. I created a miniature design of 1 inch blocks, 22 per side (484 total little squares). I mixed up black and gray squares to give a sense of different spaces within the office. The quilting is simple ditch stitching around the white path walls.

At the office supply store, I bought several black felt erasers (dry-erase), and several packs of white rubber erasers (for battery-powered erasers), plus a pack of cork tiles. I cut the felt to create cubicle walls, and used Fabri-Tac to adhere them and the rubber erasers to the quilt. The rubber erasers serve kind of a dual purpose as windows or counters/partial walls.

The lady at the store looked at my 4 felt erasers and 120 rubber erasers and said "You planning on making a lot of mistakes?"

I used Fabri-Tac to adhere the cork borders, then adhered strips of wood lattice on the back, to give it a hanging structure and protect the cork from breaking.

The final piece is 27 1/2" square. The fabrics were from stash, so the total cost with erasers, cork and wood came to just under $30. Created in the heart of cubicle country, Fairfield County CT.

Quilter:  QuiltingDiva

The Story: 

My inspiration came from a composition book with a "recycle" theme, some envelopes and some fun pens. I thought this quilt is perfect to keep your letter writing supplies all together and would be great to send to college with your student as a "hint" to write home!

There's a spot for the notebook, this will fit a regular spiral bound notebook or a composition book. A spot for your envelopes, a pen, stamps and one extra spot (checkbook sized) for your address labels.
Made in Tampa, Fl.

Measurements:
Closed - 10" x 13"
Open - 20" x 13"
Pocket is 6" deep
Stacy Edell

Quilter:  MoranArtandQuilts

The Story Behind “Just a Few Drips”:

After strolling through the office supply store I remembered they do have art supplies, too! Having been an artist long before I ever became a quilter I thought I would take that route.

I chose to use paint, paper, a paint brush and masking tape in my project. However, everything you see is either fabric or paint, nothing else. The "fabric" paper is 3D and is only held down by the "fabric" masking tape on 3 sides. I painted on the fabric and did everything else in raw edge appliqué. I found a great fabric for the background that looks like a wood table so I quilted it in a similar design to make that stand out.

It measures 17.5"x21"
My daughter loves this one and has already claimed it.
Made by: Catherine in Columbus, Ohio

Quilter:  LoveBugStudios

The Story Behind ‘Quilting TO DO’:

I had quite a challenge this week, as both of my main sewing machines were out for service, and my remaining machine is deployed to a quilting frame. So I decided to see what I could accomplish sans machine.

My inspiration was colorful reams of paper, post-it notes, and paper clips.

I decided to lay out 4 sheets of colorful paper to determine the finished size (17" x 22") & used a background fabric that reminded me of the vibrant colors. I then "stitched" and "taped" the sheets together using a silver rayon thread and "cellophane tape" that I made from sheer drapery fabric & cut with my pinking shears.

I then used a buttery yellow fabric & fusible to make 1.5" x 2" "post-it notes". From the fabric post-it notes, I created some post-it art that spells out "to do", then I scattered handwritten notes around the letters for all the quilting tasks that need to get done.

I used colorful paper clips (those are real) and hand stitched those into the border and the center of the quilt.

Once the quilting and embellishing was done, I mounted the quilt to foam core, backed with felt so it can be used as a mini design wall. Then I used a matching trim and hand-stitched it to form the binding (through all 7 layers - top, batting, backing, foam, felt, plus 2 layers of the trim!) with a heavy-duty needle. Phew!

I think technically it's still a quilt, although a rather stiff one! Everything was from stash, including the foam core, and the quilt was made in Hainesville, IL.

Quilter:  SpringWaterDesigns

 The Story Behind ‘Elise’s Growth Chart’:

From my visit to the office supply store I bought Key tags, funky shaped paper clips, plastic page protectors, plastic photo protectors, a dry erase board, a composition notebook, colored pencils and stickers.

I made a Quilted Growth Chart for my granddaughter, that doubles as an art center. I made it out of leftover fabric from a bunk bed tent that I made for her, so they will coordinate in her bedroom. It measures 20" x 40"
I started with the main focus fabric that has castles and good fairies on it, and lots of pink (she's 3 and that's her favorite color). I added a pocket on the bottom that can hold her coloring supplies. I sewed a plastic photo protector to the front of the pocket to display a favorite photo. I added elastic bands to the center of the main panel to hold the removable dry erase/magnet board. On top I attached some funky shaped paper clips that can hold a page protector that has her artwork in it.
To embellish it, I fused together some Angelena fibers to make little sheets of new "material" that I then cut into heart and star shapes with my Accuquilt Go to attach for some fun, sparkles. And I sewed on some fabric flowers and added button centers.
The key tags are used to mark the child's age and height on the measuring tape. I made this quilt in Jessup MD
~ Spring Water Designs
springwaterdesigns.blogspot.com

Quilter:  Kathleen Quilts

The Story Behind ‘Today Is…’:

My inspiration items were a small box of crayons - the basic colors - colorful envelopes and colorful stationary.

I used the colors found in a small box of crayons and added pink (cuz I can!). The first step was the background. I doodle with yellow thread for a hint of color. I made envelopes. For the dates I made papers with numbers. The months are hung with clips.

Created in Cissna Park IL 24" x 29" (and sometimes 24" x 31.5")

Quilter:  Sarah b

The Story Behind ‘Doodle Quilt’: 

This whole cloth quilt measures approximately 15 1/4" x 21" after quilting.

It's based on a doodle I often draw in the margins of my paper. Some of my favorite office supplies are graph paper, colored pencils and binder clips! I thought the binder clips would be a handy way to display small pieces that you'd like to switch out frequently or somewhere like a cubicle that wouldn't allow a permanent hanger attached to the wall.

First I created a double sized piece of graph paper by quilting a 1/2" grid with light blue thread on a piece of 16"x22" white solid cotton (with batting and the same fabric for the back). I triple stitched the outer border so it would appear darker as on typical graph paper. Then I used grey thread as my initial pencil shape outlines, then "colored" those in with a variety of colored threads. For the appearance of extra dimension, segments going from top left to bottom right are "colored in" about 2 stitch lengths apart but just 1 stitch length apart for segments from top right to bottom left.

I bound the quilt with the same white fabric and slightly rounded the corners for a softer appearance.

I like to use the Project Quilting challenges as a chance to try something I haven't ever done before! This is my first whole cloth quilt and my first time doing any sort of thread painting.

I create in Colorado.

Quilter:  KimsCraftyApple

 The Story Behind Rows of Circles:

My trip to the office supply store inspired me by the rows of binders and notebooks, the circles seen in the ends of the sharpies and pencils, great patterns and designs seen on folders and notebooks, the amazing colors seen in the markers and crayons.

From that I started out making a rainbow from various sized strips of fabrics. Then I fused on circles in those same colors in random spots all over the top. I quilted this piece with fun swirly circles - I really love the feel of close quilting. Then, I wanted to pull out the geometric feel of the circles as part of this piece so I added in some silver grommets.

The next thing I did, to mimic the spiral of a notebook was to weave through ring memory wire down the quilt. I loved how this looked but the quilt wasn't holding it's shape well as the memory wire wanted to scrunch back together. So, I found a curtain rod and put it through the back of the memory wire. Holes were drilled through the rod and I used wire to hold the memory wire at the right stretch to keep the quilt square. I really love how the rod shows up on each side of the quilt - adding another fun dimensional element.

Measures Approximately 19" x 15"

Created in Poynette, WI
by Kim Lapacek

Public Prize!

This weeks randomly drawn public prize will win a triple strand cuff bracelet in retro ruler fabric shown below from PonderandStitch! Read below on how you have seven chances to win!

SEVEN Chances to WIN!

Entry 1: REQUIRED! Leave a comment on your favorite entry (or at least that you voted) and vote for your favorite on the poll on the upper left hand side of the blog. - ***MUST DO***

Optional/Additional Entries – please note – if you want to qualify for these additional entries you must leave a SEPERATE comment for each – if you already follow or are a fan, etc just leave comments saying each. If you write everything in ONE comment you only will have ONE entry…

Entry 2: Follow my blog.

Entry 3: Tweet about this fantastic contest with hashtag #PQoffice(important or I won’t know you did it)

Entry 4: Become a Fan of Project QUILTING on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/ProjectQUILTING

Entry 5: add my Project Quilting ‘Grab my Blinkie’ to your blog or blog about my giveaway (link your blog or post in your comment, please)

Entry 6: Head on over to PonderandStitch and let me know your favorite item in the store!

Entry 7: Sign up for my newsletter in the upper right corner of this page!

***Participants in project quilting ARE allowed to enter in the public poll/contest as well.***

***Only open to those in the US***

This means you have SEVEN chances to win! I need you to write each of these entries as different comments in order to qualify you for all seven entries and include your email address. If you don’t include your email address I won’t be able to contact you when you win and I will have to choose a new winner. I will be picking the winner on Saturday, July 31st.