Project QUILTING - Season 12 - Challenge 3

Virtual Vacation

Welcome to Challenge 3!!  And... Welcome to the wonderful world of Project QUILTING hosted by Kim Lapacek @ Persimon Dreams!!  This is my 2nd year of participation in the Challenge.  Trish Frankland @ QuiltChicken is the creator of the crazy challenges that participants will face during the next 12 weeks.

Sassy @ Farm Quilter got me started at the beginning of Season 11 by inviting her readers to join in the fun.  Will you come alongside me in this creative journey?  It's a wild ride, but oh SEW rewarding!  I'm dragging my friend LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color along this season.  She ROCKED the second challenge!  You can see it HERE.

Challenges are given and start to finish you have ONE WEEK to complete your project.  PQ 12.3 can be found at this LINK.

Step One...

Read the instructions to see what is required of the first challenge.  Here's what Trish had to say:

Are you dreaming of a trip? Or poignantly remembering one from the past? Let’s quilt it out this week. Whether you’re a camper or a jet-setter, a perfectionist with an itinerary or a free-spirit that follows the wind – I want to see it in your quilts this week.

Sew a scene from your dreams, whip up a “wish you were here” postcard, make a project with colors inspired by a sunset with your sweetie, or build a bag to pack for your next adventure – the project is your choice, and you can take it any direction you wish. But somehow tie your project to the vacation you’re not on.

Step Two...

Panic!!  This sounds like it needs to be an "art-y" challenge.  After the panic, I re-read the rules for the challenge and sighed with relief.

Why, Joyful???

Well, I just happen to have BEEN on vacation once!  (A very, VERY long time ago!)  I remember the trip like it was yesterday and I think I know what I want to do for this week's challenge project.  :o))

Step Three...

Gather supplies:

Step Four...

Review the rules:

RULE 1:

Project must be inspired by the theme of vacation.

RULE 2:

You have one week to meet the challenge. Every challenge piece must be a FINISHED project seen through from INCEPTION to COMPLETION during the challenge timeline – that is, started on or after January 31, 2021, and posted by noon Central February 7th, 2021. Please only link up ONE completed project. It’s awesome if you make more than one but choose just ONE to link up below.

RULE 3:

Each piece must stand alone as DONE to count toward prizes.

RULE 4:

Your project does not need to be a traditional quilt, but must meet at least one of these requirements: include patchwork, include appliqué, have 3 layers stitched together by hand or machine.

RULE 5:

Incomplete or unfinished does not qualify. Every challenge piece must be a FINISHED project seen through from INCEPTION to COMPLETION during the challenge timeline.

RULE 6:

To qualify to win prizes, link up at the bottom of THIS PAGE by Sunday, February 7th at noon CST (here’s a link to time zone converter to calculate for Central Standard Time: www.thetimezoneconverter.com)

• Add to the linky the URL of your project’s blog post, public instagram picture, or public facebook posting.  This post – How to Link Up a Link Up may help  you. Please only link up ONE time!
• Alternately, by 11:45 am on Sunday, February 7th you may email a picture and description to {lapaceksorchard@gmail.com} with PROJECT QUILTING in the subject line. Yes – that deadline is earlier because it requires more work for Kim.

Good luck, and remember to HAVE FUN! Don’t forget to post progress pictures because that’s part of the fun.

Step Five... PLAY!!!

My inspiration was this T-shirt...

Here is an in-depth look at the construction process...

(Scroll down to the bottom of the post NOW, if you don't have time to basically watch me make my quilt.)

Our trip to the Bahamas was QUITE an adventure, but it's time to cut the shirt for this project:

After the deed was done, it was time to test some border options, straight out of my T-Quilt scrap drawer filled with off-cuts from years of commission quilts:

Ultimately...

I ended up with this quilt top, paired with a piece of scrap batting (almost) the exact size of this little quilt:

In an effort to be as efficient as possible...

The backing for this quilt was loaded and the thread choice was basic white:

The top was done, loaded, and quilted before I knew it:

 

With 13.5 hours remaining until the deadline, I applied and stitched down the binding (made moments after the piece was quilted.)  Just less than 30 minutes until the deadline, I present my completed entry for PQ 12.3, displayed on the studio floor:

~ 13" tall x 16" wide

There is usually a reason that I participate in these challenges...

... And this time, it was a glimmer of a memory.  I have wanted to try out this technique to have a sample on-hand for future commission clients to see what the results might be like on their own T-shirt Quilt.  No stabilizer was used on the featured shirt.

While I was at it, I tried using T-shirt material for the binding sewn down with a zig zag stitch, as well, but probably won't be repeating either of those methods in the future:

There you have it...

Process, product, and the REAL reason for accepting this Challenge.

Follow THIS LINK to the Season 12 overview.  Check back on the Challenge release days (or sign-up to be notified automatically) and there may be one that YOU just can't resist.

It's a SHORT turnaround time!

Depending on the size and complexity of your project, that doesn't HAVE to be insurmountable.  With a little creativity and a few evenings, you really CAN do this!

Until next time...

Challenge accepted!!!

Remember:  If I can do this, YOU can do it, too!

(Plus, there's a spot to post your completed Project QUILTING inspired projects AFTER the deadline for any of the challenges.)

And, if you are curious about our vacation...

Think Chevy Chase's VACATION movies.  That was us.  Picture it - a long weekend getaway, delayed flight (6 hours), nearly lost luggage (on a "puddle jumper" connecting flight which we almost missed), we were then delivered to the wrong hotel and the right one was overbooked!  Yes, it was QUITE the adventure, but it ultimately turned out fine.  Even better than we planned it - FREE limo ride from the wrong hotel to the right one, FREE lobster dinner at the overbooked hotel, upgraded accommodations at a nearby hotel.  Yep!  Things sometimes have a way of working out.