Spring Cotton Couture Fabric Challenge

I love entering challenges, and one of these days I aim to win one ... perhaps.  My Mmm PotPie quilt was one of the many QuiltCon rejects this year.  Naturally when I arrived at QuiltCon last week, I had to check out the quilts that were accepted to display in the Spring Cotton Couture Fabric Challenge that Michael Miller held earlier in the year. 

Aren't these solid pastels lovely?   The challenge was to use these pastels and any other solids in the Cotton Couture line by Michael Miller fabrics.  I must confess - Some marvelous quilts were chosen (over mine) for this challenge exhibit.  Here are some of my favorites:

Fractured Churndash by Erin Davis

Evanston, Illinois

Chicago MQG

I love this colorful quilt that is a spin-off of the classic Churn Dash block (one of my favorites).  Erin put a modern spin on the classic block by piecing the center in an improvisational manner.  She actually posted on social media that she was looking for any solid scraps in any color from the Michael Miller Cotton Couture line (as the challenge rules mandated that the quilt top must be made entirely from the Cotton Couture solids). 

detail view of Fractured Churndash

This quilt uses modern techniques in a new fashion and also keeps the iconic look of the classic Churn Dash block.  I love the wash of color across the quilt as well as the randomly set-in darker strips in the setting/framing sashes.  As Erin states, she has "put an effective modern spin on a traditional block with pastels as the primary focus, making this quilt a vibrant example that pastels CAN be modern.  This quilt is an original design by Erin Davis.  Erin writes a blog called Sew at Home Mummy; check it out here: http://www.sewathomemummy.com/

Totally Spring by Dora Cary

Paso Robles, California

Dora explains that her inspiration came from the dandelion blossom.  Her idea was to have smaller dandelions create a larger one and to use gradations of color and size to suggest the spherical shape, slightly drawing inspiration from the style of Romanian quilter Geta Grama. 

detail of Totally Spring by Dora Cary

Dora fused the dandelion petals on the quilt, then slightly stitched them.  Her variety of circular and spiral quilting also enhance the finished look.  This quilt feels like Spring, totally!  In searching for Dora on the web, I discovered that she is the 2015-16 President of the Almond County Quilt Guild (ACQG) in California!

 detail of Pastels Aren't My Favorite by Janet McWorkman

Starting with a peak of the quilting in this lively little quilt.  The name of the quilt lets us know that Janet is not a big fan of pastels.  Perhaps the success of this sweet quilt will change her mind?  

Pastels Aren't My Favorite by Janet McWorkman

Anchorage, Alaska

Janet states"I never sew with pastels.  But this challenge was so much fun and I am happy with the result.  The quilt looks fresh, clean and interesting." [she's exactly right on that!] "I was inspired by the personality the pastels have with the simplicity of the square.  Little shots of dark gray emphasize the coolness of the pastels."  Janet used Electric Quilt software to design her quilt top which is machine pieced and machine quilted.

 Retro Dots and Dashes by Kay Simard

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Vancouver MQG

Kay states that her quilt was "inspired by 'Retro lines of black and white' by artist Wen Wen".  Her personal challenge was "to maximize what was provided in order to fulfill the design inspiration".  Her techniques included applique, paper piecing, machine piecing and machine quilting.

detail of Retro Dots and Dashes by Kay Simard

Kay quilted long fluid lines to contrast with the non-organic face design.  These long curved lines provide contrast and yet also adds balance to the overall quilt.

A few more favorites:

Lucky Day by Cynthia Frenette

Mission, British Columbia, Canada

Fraser Valley MQG

Cynthia was inspired by candy colored rainbows, happy rain and or course, candy!  It looks like a fun new board game to me. Let's play.... Fun to discover that Cynthia is a designer for Robert Kaufman fabrics, among other amazing talents!  Click here for her website or here for her blog.

Slashed by Dana Szucs Hayden

Burleson, Texas

Fort Worth MQG

Dana says this is an original design inspired by the Twisted Spokes carpet squares from FLOR.  Click here or here to see a few images of the carpet squares.  Lovely quilt, even more so after seeing the inspiration blocks of carpet.  Dana also has a blog, http://sea-sew.blogspot.com/, with links to her Pinterest and InstaGram.

 Swan in the Water (Justin Nozuka) by Kristyn McCoy

Ilderton, Ontario, Canada

London (Canada) MQG

Listening to Swan in the Water provided the inspiration for this colorful quilt.  Kristyn arranged her colors to resemble the rainbow reflection as the setting sun hits the water, with the tiny white swan caught in the midst of it all.  Be sure to check out Kristyn's blog, Melon Patch Quilts, at http://melonpatchquilts.com/.

The Light of May by Krista Hennebury

North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Vancouver MQG

Krista explains that "in Vancouver, the May sun rises with a warm pink and yellow glow.  In the evening it sets over Vancouver Island, casting a grey light over my spring garden.  This quilt represents that morning and evening light."  She pieced this quilt using her "Improv Under the Influence" technique.  It is an original design.  Be sure to check out her blog PoppyPrint at  http://poppyprintcreates.blogspot.com/ and she's a published author, too.  Her book Make it, Take it is available here.

The New New by Amy Anderson

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville MQG

Amy says "What always strikes me most about spring are the vivid and varying greens from the new leaves, grass, and plants emerging.  Sky, sun, leaves, flowers, and a chance for new beginnings.  Semi-improvisational piecing stitched into this original design."

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Third place winner of the Spring Cotton Couture Fabric Challenge is:

Passages by Patty Simmons  

Lee's Summit, Missouri

Kansas City MQG

Patty says her inspiration for her quilt is both the beauty of the Gee's Bend quilts and the work of Lisa Call.  "Passages reflects the soft movement throughout a structure and the boundaries that we oftentimes self-impose" states Patty, who "enjoyed the improvisational piecing and quilting, moving through and running into boundaries."  This is her original design.

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Second place winner of the Spring Cotton Couture Fabric Challenge is:

 After Dinner Mints by Paige Alexander

Picken, South Carolina

This is an original design that Paige created while working within the size restraints of the Spring Couture charm squares and jelly roll strips.  She used the Quick Curve Ruler by Sew Kind of Wonderful.  The curved squares and pastel colors reminded Paige of after-dinner mints, hence the name. 

First place winner of the Spring Cotton Couture Fabric Challenge is:

7 Up by Debra Jalbert

Clermont, Florida

Orlando MQG

This quilt won the honor of First Place in the Michael Miller Spring Cotton Couture Fabric Challenge for the Modern Quilt Guild.  It is an original design created by Debra using her own pattern which she calls "2 of 2".  The diagonal curve of the quilting is a lovely addition to this quilt.  Be sure to check out Debra's blog Made of Honor Quilts at http://www.madeofhonorquilts.com/