Paint Chip Challenge

Remember a couple of months ago when I told you about the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild Paint Chip Challenge? Well we were on vacation during the beginning of the exhibit at Seattle's Drygoods Design, and though I really meant to get there once we got home, it just didn't happen. Thanks to my guild-buddy Louise/I'm Feelin' Crafty for letting me share her photos with you!

Exhibit photos courtesy of I'm Feelin' Crafty
 

Each person was given a paint chip with one of 4 palettes - darker blues, teals, light blue-greys, or white-greys. A small number of members randomly received a bonus paint chip with yellows that they had to incorporate into their quilt. All finished quilts needed to be 18" square. In case you missed my post about it, here's my entry, Through the Looking Glass.  

There were 2 display areas in the exhibit, a 9-patch table quilt and a 49-patch wall quilt.

Aren't they cool? Here's another glance at all the quilts with their makers. I was so amazed at the variety of designs and as usual, the workmanship was exquisite. Must say, I feel pretty fortunate to be among them.

All the Paint Chips

A few weeks ago, I posted Through the Looking Glass, my Seattle Modern Quilt Guild Paint Chip Challenge quilt. At our monthly meeting last night, we all turned our quilts in, and of course, had a bit of a sew and tell by color group. Next time I share them, it will be when all of our 18" quilts hang together as one display at Drygoods Design in Seattle. So until then . . .

Through the Looking Glass

It's not that often that a final quilting project turns out exactly as I saw in my mind's eye when I began. In fact, I often have no vision whatsoever, but approach my cutting board with fabric and rotary cutter and just see where it takes me. But with my SMQG Paint Chip Challenge quilt, what I see now completed is as close to what I imagined as I could hope for. I call it "Through the Looking Glass," a glance into the mind of a modern quilter, where traditional and modern blocks live happily together.

The whole paint chip challenge was introduced to the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild by Arajane/you know what I love?, and I think everyone immediately thought it would be a great challenge! We were all given paint chips with shades of gray and blue, and some {lucky} folks got an extra little chip of citrine. The added limitation was that our creation was to be exactly 18" square.

As you can see, I was assigned to #teamgray, and I admit I wasn't disappointed one bit, though fabrics to actually match my chip weren't as easy to find as I would have expected. Here's what I finally settled down to work with:

• light gray "Scratch" from Bethany Shackelford of Quilting Treasures
• Northcott Colorworks in Pearl (9000-90)
• three shades of the ombre graphite grey from Vanessa Christenson's Simply Color

What I started with was a faced inset oval. Then I just started making small blocks to fill up the space. (And yes, the center of that log cabin was removed and replaced!)

Eventually came the time to piece them all together, a little wonky at that.

As you can see, I made blocks that were very traditional, as well as some that were more improv - from a maple leaf that in my state of focus was made incorrectly and even a little "bacon" block as a nod to my Sizzling. I just made what struck my fancy at the time.

For quilting, I used Aurifil 50wt #2600 (light gray) and just echo-stitched the oval both inside and out. A simple "Pearl" frame was the finishing touch.

This challenge was really captivating. And as pleased as I am with the conclusion I came to, I'm equally excited to see all our guild quilts hung side by side at Seattle's Drygoods Design in June!

This is my 2nd finish from my 2015 Q2 Finish-A-Long list! Linking up with the FAL Q2 Finishes.