Gallery - Spring 2014 Fabric Challenge (Michael Miller Fabrics)

Indianapolis MQG Member

Derivative work inspired by "Retro lines of black and white" by artist Wen Wen. Machine pieced, hand quilted applique (circles) using paper pieced glue basting method with wash away foundation and machine quilted. As I was unable to source additional challenge fabric - the personal challenge was to maximize what was provided in order to fulfill the design inspiration. Given that the face design was non-organic, I opted for a more fluid, improvisational with the quilting to provide some contrast and balance to the overall quilt. Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada 31" x 43"

I challenged myself to not only use Michael Miller's Spring Couture fabrics, but to use all the colors in the line. This quilt is pieced improvisationally and the circles are hand appliqued. It is quilted with a wavy grid using threads in four colors to mirror the springtime pastels. Sequim, Washington, United States 36.5" x 43.5"

Improv piecing and techniques, inspired by candy coloured rainbows, happy rain, and of course, candy! Mission, British Columbia, Canada 32" x 42"

This quilt was inspired by a game of Quilt BINGO on a bus trip from Wisconsin to the International Quilt Show in Houston. The announcer called out 'nine patch' instead of 'log cabin' which instantly made me think that I could make a whole bunch of nine patches into a log cabin block. From there – four log cabin blocks were created which I arranged in a pinwheel style. Keeping tradition – red is in the center of each of the four log cabin blocks. Poynette, Wisconsin, United States 63" x 63"

Inspired by the cool colors and white in the Michael Miller Spring Cotton Couture collection, my quilt is an abstract interpretation of spring rain showers. To make the quilt, I started making inset circles. I then cut them in half and joined them to large strips of fabric in the corresponding colors. Woodbridge, Connecticut, United States 91" x 79"

After staring at all my MM charm pack squares for weeks and weeks, I found inspiration as I listened to Swan In The Water. I arranged my colours to resemble the rainbow reflection when the setting sun hits the water. (purples and corals as the sunset, blues and greens as the water- with the little white swan floating in between) The machine quilting on the grey background reminds me of the ripples on the water's surface. Ilderton, ONTARIO, Canada 63" x 77"

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. Pieced using my Improv Under the Influence technique. North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 43.75" x 43.75"

This quilt was a journey into the unknown and unfamiliar. Pastels are not my usual colour palette and I couldn't resist setting them against a deeper colour; experiments with strips led to the design - an attempt to modernise the traditional log cabin block by introducing 45 degree triangles into its construction. Edinburgh, , Scotland 40" x 45"

One evening, I was enjoying a particularly colorful sunset while driving home. I looked up at an office building that I was passing, and it seemed each window was reflecting a different color. This quilt was inspired by that vision. Redondo Beach, California, United States 35.5" x 43.75"