1. Shabby Ruffled Log Cabin - Kim's Crafty Apple Challenge, 2. Log Cabin Quilt, 3. StarsOverAmerica, 4. Finished Project - Angela Otte's Piece for Project QUILTING, 5. Close up of Emily's Table Runner, 6. Jungle Fun Quilt, 7. DSC06389-1, 8. The_Monkey_Who_Fell_Off_the_Bed, 9. Quilties - Batik Windmills 1, 10. Diamond Shaped Candle Mat, 11. Project Quilt , 12. QuiltingDiva's Project QUILTING Entry, 13. Easy Button - Project QUILTING Office Supply Challenge, 14. Project Quilting, Season 1, Project 1, 15. 023, 16. Happy Birthday America , 17. Karen's Crafty World sign, 18. eco7, 19. Tropical Rainbow b, 20. Checkers anyone?, 21. Eyes, 22. Log Cabin Cube (Season 1, Challenge 4), 23. patchwork side, 24. Tote Bag, 25. Today Is... Created with fd's Flickr Toys

I just had to make this – the above collage is one entry from each of the different TWENTY-FIVE participants for the first season of Project QUILTING. 

Diane Lapacek’s INTERVIEW:

What made you decide to join Project QUILTING?

Well, Kim is my daughter-in-law and she came up with this really awesome idea. She asked me to come up with the challenges and also be a judge.  What could I say?????  She's the mother of my granddaughters!!!!!

What is your favorite part about Project QUILTING?  

Seeing the wide variety of projects everyone comes up with and reading the stories behind each.  I consider the story an important part of each entry.  It tells the meaning of the piece and points out special details to look for.

What are you looking for when people complete the challenges?   CREATIVITY.  "It's Time to Think Outside the Square" is what Project Quilting is all about to me.  I like a project that doesn't interpret the challenge too literally, but uses the inspiration to create something unexpected.

Since we can't see the finished pieces except through your photos, it's important that close ups of special details are included.  Workmanship is really difficult to judge from a photo, but I still want to see a quilt that hangs flat and straight.  I look for quilting that complements the design of your finished piece.

How has Project QUILTING made you a better Quilter?  

It's made me realize that it's possible to create amazing projects in little time.  Sometimes you have to just BEGIN and see where the project takes you.

Just how difficult is it to critique someone's work?  Be honest.  

Very difficult.  I think the critique is very important to help everyone grow as a quilter.  My instinct is to find all the positives and none of the negatives so no one gets discouraged.  I'm going to make a conscious effort to add more constructive criticism in Season 2.

The quality of the entries in Season 1 was amazing.  I would go back over the pictures multiple times trying to decide how I wanted to score them.  Everyone should be very proud of their efforts.

What was your top three favorite pieces that someone else created for the Season 1 Project QUILTING challenges?

KimsCraftyApple Rows of Circles.  I love the way Kim used her visit to the office supply store and made a quilt that reminded her of the way items looked on the shelf.  Definitely not a literal translation of the theme.

Kathleen Quilts God's Grace  Although Kathleen did a very literal translation of Stars over America, it was still a very unexpected project and very creative in the way she made it flip-able.

Love Bug Studios Thailand   Beautiful. Love the way she cut up the good stuff, tried new techniques and let the project develop step by step.

Is there anything you’d like to add or comments you’d like to share with me and my readers?  

I hope we gets lots of quilters playing along with us this season.  Remember, you receive a critique of every entry and there are lots of random prizes AND Project Quilting will make you a better quilter.  Besides that, it's just plain fun.

Project Quilting - It's Time to Think Outside the Square.