I actually have made lots of quilts in the last year so it was difficult for me to figure out exactly which one to share.  I finally decided on my quilt, ‘Owl Be Yours’ that I created for the ‘Be My Valentine’ Project QUILTING Challenge.   As I’m looking back on these post’s Amy was actually the guest judge for this challenge too – I hadn’t realized that when I decided that this would be my quilt for the festival!

The Story Behind the Quilt:

The day before this challenge was posted I had taken a class called  - 'How to Paint an Owl' with Juliette Crane which turned out to be the perfect inspiration!

My piece is called 'Owl Be Yours'.  Here’s a quick and dirty breakdown on how it all came together.

Step 1: Pieced the main background fabric AND the border strips.

Step 2: Fusing, Fusing Fusing! I fused all the branches and each separate piece of the owl onto the fabric.

Step 3: I then took a piece of fusible fleece and did the outline quilting of the owl. I cut it out for the 'trapunto' technique. ***FIRST time doing trapunto***

Step 4:  Free Motion Quilting. I did LOTS and LOTS of free motion quilting on this piece. To create more texture in the branches, throughout the owl, I did an awkward, not perfect outline of the branches with variegated purple thread to create a 'windy' look, fun whimsical half circles all around the owl, feathers on the owls head and wings, hearts, the word's 'Love' and 'Amore' in the wind...the more you look...the more details you would see.

Step 5:  What's a project without a little fiber? I appliquéd fun fiber onto the branches and the owl. The owl fiber was meant to give you the feeling of feathers and to create some distinction between the tree and the owl.

Step 6:  Oil Pastels, I used some of my oil pastels to create some shine on the beak and the feathers. I also used some bronzer to give the owl some flushed cheeks.

Step 7:  Three small white dots were painted in each pupil - to help make them look more realistic.

Did I mention - of course my owl is pregnant! (We just welcomed our new baby girl, Persimoni Mae, into this world about 3 weeks ago so it was fitting to have a prego owl in February)

Approximate Dimensions: 22.5" x 24"

There are a lot of ‘step by step’ photo’s on my flickr site.

Don’t miss out on all the rest of the fun and amazing quilt entries in the Spring 2011 Blogger’s Quilt Festival!

 

If you love a challenge there’s an ‘off season’ Project QUILTING challenge going on right now.  (Not a contest – just for fun)

Happy Sunday everyone!  I wanted to start out today with an interview with an amazing creative person that I’ve become friends with as a result of Project QUILTING – Jennifer of AllThingsBelle!

What made you decide to join Project QUILTING?

I really love craft challenges in general. I have been sewing for over 2 decades, but only in the last couple years have entered quilting. I thought this would be a fabulous way to learn more, to meet likeminded quilters, and expand my ideas of what “quilting” could be.

What was your favorite part about Project QUILTING?

I love to see the other quilts. I never enter with the desire to win per se. I do it for myself, so I truly enjoy seeing everyone’s work and interpretation.

Which Challenge in Season 2  was your favorite? and why…

My favorite project was probably the valentine related one. I reached out and made my first quilt that spoke from my heart; I quilted about the loss of a pregnancy. It was both therapeutic and I loved my work all the more because it meant something personal to me.

Which Challenge in Season 2 was your least favorite? and why…

I don’t have a least favorite challenge to be honest. There are some I struggled with more than others, but the struggles come from juggling my schedule and not having time to execute the quilt I imagined.

Which Challenges did you come up with your idea immediately and which took some marinating?

My valentine/loss quilt I had imagined as a painting in my head for months. I immediately knew that I wanted to make this a quilt once I saw the challenge.

 

The flying geese took me awhile. I was only able to do a fraction of what I had imagined. Originally I wanted to do a very large piece, but time was an issue. In the end I had to change my vision at the last minute.

Did you try any new techniques for your projects during these challenges and if so, what were they?

Surprisingly I finally chain pieced. I was scared it would throw my machine off, but it worked great and I use that technique quite a bit now.

I had visible seams for my hardware challenge. That was a new thing for me.

How has Project QUILTING made you a better Quilter?

Absolutely. The judges never let my beginning binding skills slide, so I’m working hard at improving it. I also fell in love with batiks; I don’t know if that makes me *better*, but it did broaden my horizons.

What didn’t you like about Project QUILTING?

I could do without the competition. I do like constructive feedback, but I don’t need to place higher than my friends to enjoy the process.

Did you find the judges comments beneficial, annoying, or inconsequential?  Why?

I appreciated all constructive criticism. However there were some notes I thought were just opinion and not helpful. We don’t all love the same type of art. It doesn’t make that art wrong, it just isn’t what you like.

Do you think the judging format should be more structured, less structured, stay the same?  and why?

I would like to have the judging be public. I think it would be good to have it be in a Flickr group. It would allow there to be dialogue between artist and reviewer.

What was your favorite piece that you created for the Project QUILTING challenge?

I love my Valentine piece and my final large print piece.

What were your top three favorite pieces that someone else created for the Project QUILTING challenge?

I loved Kathleen’s Froggy flowers

Quiltie's Mum Burst

and Dashasel's  Valentine ABC's

What changes would you make to future Project QUILTING Seasons? More time for this busy mom would be fabulous! Maybe 2 weeks instead of 1?

Question from participants:

how does everyone find the time to make such beautiful pieces!?!?

LOL! I don't! That is why my pieces are much smaller and less intricate. I have a 6 mo & 3 year old, an Etsy shop, a blog I update daily, and tons of personal projects in the works.

I maybe get 3-4 hours to work on a PQ piece. I wish I had more time,but I do this for me and it provides great inspiration and I get to meet fabulous people!

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

JOIN! Even if you are brand spankin' new (like I was when it first started)...join! You will have fun and become a better  quilter.. What more could you ask for?

 

To check out the latest Project QUILTING Off-Season Challenge check out:  http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2011/05/off-season-project-quilting-challenge.html

And to see my beautiful new baby in one of AllThingsBelle’s hand knit cocoons click HERE. 

Hello everyone!  This second off-season challenge is actually coming from yours truly. 

To read more about Project Quilting Here:http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2010/04/project-quilting.html and join the facebook group:  www.facebook.com/projectquilting

Second Chance by WeirdGirlPhotography

For this challenge I’m giving you a ‘second chance’ at any of the challenges from the first and second season.  I know many of you have said that if only you had more time you could have done something amazing – well, I’m giving you that. (and if you didn’t get a chance to do any of them – now you get to pick which challenge was most inspiring!). 

Here are the challenges you can pick from:

• Shoofly
• Apple Blossoms
• Rectangles
• Road Trip
• Recycled!
• Log Cabin
• Stars Over America
• Office Supplies
• Black and White
• Nursery Rhymes
• Primary Colors
• What's In A Name?
• Be My Valentine
• Hardware Store
• Flying Geese
• Large Scale Print

THE RULES:

1. Whatever the rules are in the challenge you choose to ‘re-do’ apply to how you should complete it for this challenge – EXCEPT you will get a month to complete your project.
2. Have FUN!  I’m doing this so you can really explore what you wanted to do in the past.  Pick one that you really struggle with or one that completely inspired you.  I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
3. Please remember that these projects need to be created during the time frame of the challenge.
4. If you need advice/tips/help (or you just want to give us all a sneak peak) with your project as you work on it feel free to post pictures to the flickr group: Project QUILTING WIP: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1430386@N24/
5. POST your entries with a description of your creative process, including where you are (ie, I create in Madison, WI) and the size of your project by Sunday, June 12th, 2011, at noon, CDT, to this flickr group – Project QUILTING with KimsCraftyApple: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1401824@N21/ OR email a picture/description of your completed project to {lapaceksorchard at gmail dot com} with PROJECT QUILTING in the subject line (Yes, this time you have ONE MONTH!)
6. Since we’re in ‘off season’ we aren’t having prizes/judges etc BUT if you do want people to truly critique (the good and the bad) your project post it to the Flickr Group: Project QUILTING – Critiques.

I just couldn’t resist sharing with you some of the pictures I took of the blossoms around my orchard.

Beautiful pink plum blossoms.The first of our apple blossoms – I believe this is on a Zestar! tree. Stunning snowy white pear blossoms. Plum blossoms (from last weekend).

And I realize this is not a apple blossom but I’m super excited that our very first tulips are blooming!

I’ll admit – I think Pip’s a bit more time consuming than my other two babes.  Don’t get me wrong – she’s a really good baby but she doesn’t like to be put down – she either wants to be fed or held.  It’s making sewing a bit difficult to fit in.  When she is sleeping, I’ve been trying to rest myself.  My husband goes back to work next Monday and I figure I need to keep my energy built up for when I’m alone with three little kiddo’s.  But, that being said, I’m still trying to at least finish the blocks for the Patchwork Squared Modern Solids Quilt Along.  I should be able to finish one block in a week – right!?Here’s the 7th block:  Stacked.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the look of this block.  I do think there has to be an easier way to put these together quickly but I haven’t figured out what it is yet… And here’s a photo of the blocks I have so far – just three left (and the sashing)!

A look back:

• Block 1: My Choice - Constellation
• Block 2: Center Aisle
• Block 3: Biggest Fan
• Block 4: Diamond Mine
• Block 5: Fourth Inning
• Block 6: Tail Spin