Chicago MQG "Modern in the City" Challenge

My guild (and the other local MQG, Naperville Modern Quilt Guild) is having a challenge. The theme chosen is "Modern in the City," and some of the quilts will be chosen to hang in the show at the International Quilt Fest in Schaumberg this summer.

Clearly I would love to have my quilt included... but I'm running out of time! Last week my family was taken unexpectedly by illness (double ear infections on a five year old who wears hearing aids - ouch!!). We also had the unexpected trip back home for a funeral. Funerals are always fairly unexpected, but we had some heads up, Grandpa had been sick for a while.... At least Allie was well enough to travel, and she was so well behaved. I really can't believe how well she handled it all. She was so supportive of Grandma too!

Given the situation, I don't know if I'll be able to finish my challenge quilt. It only has to be 36" square - that's pretty small for a quilt. I have a solid idea though, and I'm going to give it a try. I might not get it completely done, but it's worth a shot.

My quilt will be an abstraction of the Chicago map. It's main focus will be a dense area of free piecing which will be surrounded by more free piecing. The city is dense and unexpected, it's harsh angles and smooth curves. My color palate is cool and blue, a nod to Lake Michigan, with bits of Chicago's aqua blue. The addition of the grey variations are a subliminal mention of the parts of the city we'd rather not think of, the shadows. The poor, the dirt, the smog. It's something I don't immediately associate with Chicago, but that is definitely there. The ultimate feel I am going for with this quilt is one of hope. Hope in the good, hope for the bad, creative growth, and community sharing. 

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Well now I know what to write when I'm asked to "describe your quilt." If only I get it done in time!

I have approximately two days off before this quilt is due. That's a mere 6 hours of piecing. If I can get the quilt top pieced by then then I'll push through to get it quilted too! Here's hoping!!

Chicago MQG Calendar Challenge

Remember that post from last week - the one about finishing my guild challenge quilt. 

It didn't work out how I planned. It became Wednesday and I hadn't finished piecing the top. I knew at that point that I had to change gears if I wanted to finish in time - otherwise my quilting would be compromised and that's not what I wanted for that quilt. I didn't want to rush it. 

So...

I grabbed the closest bit of unfinished patchwork on my table and went with it. 

(ok, ok, in truth I had this one on the back burner for about a month... no time here).

So I pulled this bit of free-pieced patchwork - chopped the overwhelming white borders (which apparently I hand't snapped a picture of), and added a bit more.

I decided to do a bit of free motion quilted flowers, with lines radiating out from the flowers. It makes me remember how much I love free motion quilting! I have some quilt tops that are nearly ready - soon! 

Anyway I really enjoyed making this little mini. In true Emily fashion I finished at about 1am late into the night, the night before it was due. It's a very "me" quilt - free and fun. I love it. 

I have to say I'm a bit in love with it and sad to that I won't see it again for a year! 

That's right, our guild challenge quilts have been accepted to travel in the quilt show with The Original Sewing & Quilt Expo for the next year! Stop by the show in your city to see them!

CMQG Challenge Update

It's crunch time. I've had very little sewing time in the recent weeks - but I've had this quilt designed for months. It's for our Chicago MQG guild challenge. My assigned month is Summer - these fabrics are calling to me... I'm about 1/3 of the way through the piecing... and it's due Sunday!! Eek! I've got to get moving on this one!!

I'm not sure why I have procrastinated so much on this quilt!

Please excuse the grainy instagram pic! 

Chicago MQG Calender Challenge

I love that Fabric.com tags their fabrics - it's so helpful for the solids!

My guild is putting together a calender full of quilts - and to fill up all those pretty spots we're having a challenge. Each person participating was assigned a season to inspire their quilt. At the end we'll have a judge to help us decide who get's the "main" picture for each month. We'll have them professionally photographed for the calender, which is pretty cool.

As it is I have two and a half weeks until the quilt is due! Way to leave it to the last minute! Luckily I've had the quilt planned for a couple months. I used the Threadbias.com design tool to draw it all out.

I finally got around to ordering the fabrics a couple weeks ago. My assigned season is Summer, and I'm shooting for a rainbow sherbet color scheme!

Today I had a few hours to test out a block, and cut all my fabrics. I usually don't make quilts like this - I typically cut as I go. My hope for this project is to offer the pattern for sale - so I figured it would be best to do all the cutting at once. (Man cutting takes time doesn't it?!)

My pattern is made up of various drunkard's path blocks. I didn't have a small size rotary cutter to work with my circle cutter acrylic ruler - so I made a template and did it the old fashioned way. I did cut four pieces at once though - to speed up the process a bit. 

Chocolate is necessary for a big fabric cutting session!

I'm happy to say I had enough time to piece about a third of the blocks today too - they turned out so nicely!! I'm loving the colors!!!

Here's hoping I can get this one done in time!!