And now I’m going to announce the top three place takes in the Black and White Project QUILTING Challenge.

In third place with an average score of 8.38, is…

LoveBugStudios!

Here’s what the judges had to say: 

Judge 1: I love to visit Chicago and this is a great mini model. Yes, it is populated but that is a lot of the fun for me. I suggest you try to contact and SELL this to Donald Trump to put in the lobby of his tower building. Great piece of art.

Judge 2:  I wish I could see this in person, too. This is very creative…definitely Outside the Square. You did a great job with adding the extra details. I love the towers of buttons, the slope to the land, the ribbon streets and the geometric “land” it all sits on.

Judge 3: There are so many things to like about this project…the colors…the playfulness…the message.

The ribbon you chose for the roads is perfect. It looks like you had fun not only making this project, but also photographing it. This is really thinking outside the box, which is something that I’ve come to expect from you.

Judge 4:  This piece shows such imagination! It seems like a very large undertaking and was executed so nicely! You were really thinking outside “the box” here. I love how you really made an effort to replicate certain buildings in Chicago. I like how you use different materials to add texture and interest.

I hope you find a place around Chicago that will display your work, really….maybe a library or the lobby of a large building.

Second place, with an average score of 8.70 is…

Gayle B! 

Here’s what the judges thought…

Judge 1: I give you an absolute A for originality in this project. Love the red and black, my favorite colors. Love the originality of the teapot and the flowers. Great job on the origami flowers. I do wish we could have seen more pictures of this fun, original creation.

Judge 2: This is very cute. I like the pattern of the teapot and the poppies are very festive. Love the wilted one.

Judge 3: Pretty! I like the alternating black and white on the hourglass pieces and also the black buttons on the flowers.

Judge 4: This is so great! To me, this seems very original. I love the teapot and how you made it stiff so it can stand up. I love how you used an origami technique to fold the fabric flowers. Quilting the teapot with red thread is a great idea and must look great (yes, it is hard to see!). It is a wonderful piece and I would love to have it displayed in my own home. It is so novel and attractive! I think it’s three dimensional aspect really sets it apart from other quilting projects.

And…the winner who will take hope the fantastic prize of 4 fat quarters (their choice) from FabricAlaCarte AND a $10 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop, with an average score of 9.00  and it is…

MoranArtandQuilts!

Judge 1:  This piece is just so pretty. I love the addition of the buttons. Your blending of fabrics is wonderful. Just a great all around job.

Judge 2: This is really well done. The light and dark black and white prints flow really well and do look like night and day. I like the way the hair is done to let part of the background show through.

Many quilters would have made this a solid piece and tried to add details with thread or paint. I like this better. The buttons add a wonderful finishing touch. I like that they are not all the same shape.

Judge 3: So beautiful, I love the peaceful, reflective mood this piece evokes. The fading of the white squares to back works well and I like that there is only one turquoise fabric use as it ties the hair part to the binding. The hair is very nice and I like the way you can see through it, but I’d also like to see some quilting in the hair. I like the different shaped buttons, the fact that they are turquoise, and the placement near her face.

Judge 4: Well, this is my favorite. It is so fantastic, I think it should be entered in all types of quilting shows so it can rise to the top!! The subjects face is so dreamy and serene. Her hair is gorgeous and flowing and the curve it takes moves beautifully with the circular shape of the piece. I love the way the white background melds into the black. The color choice seems perfect, I don’t know why. It reminds me of a cameo. This is just fabulous and I do hope you enter it in a show to be judged.

Congratulations to all the winners!