Love Apples 2009 Quilt Challenges

Well, the quilt show that consumed all of our time and energy for the past two years has come to a successful conclusion. Back to laundry, dusting, vacuuming and cooking! We had over 200 quilts, twenty-one vendors, Civil War reproduction gowns, kids' quilts, charity quilt auction and challenge quilts. A little something for everyone!

The challenge this year was just that--the fabric did not speak to me at all. Could only come up with one reasonable design and tweaked it over and over. Did a modified "stack and whack" quilt, lining up the fabric repeats and cutting 60 degree triangles from the strips. There are 358 triangles, 132 are challenge fabrics, but the angles at which they are cut drastically changes their appearance.

Thankfully, my travelling design team, better known as my parents, came over and offered some excellent advice. Their suggestions added a much needed spark to the quilt.

After the quilt was done, noticed that the scraps might work together to make another quilted item. Used Pink Chalk Designs pattern to make a large folio. Added a quilted cover and pieced many of the pockets.

Now is the time to bask in the glow of a job well-done, but not for too long. We will begin planning the 2011 show in a couple of months and the exciting roller-coaster ride will start all over again.