How timely that I've been thinking about quilt challenges the past several days, when The Quilt Show hosted by Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims opened up Show 2112 for everyone - even non-paying non-members - until Saturday December 16.
Here's the link that has a short life span featuring Queen of the Quilt Challenge, Mel Beach.
But, just in case you miss the show, Mel Beach confesses to participating in 50 or more quilt challenges in the past 3 or so years. Quilt challenges start with a specific theme or fabric or a twist on things that has to be accomplished. Mel admits to enjoying the challenge of being pushed to try new fabrics, new quilt designs, new techniques....anything to get her out of her comfort zone. Mel says she would never have completed....would on her own, never even have thought of, so many different style quilts without each quilt challenge prompt.
Some of the challenges are spread out over a year long period, some monthly, but Mel says she even entered some that from start to finish last only one week. She finds her challenges in many places, beginning with
- Quilt Magazines: Modern Quilts Unlimited and Quilting Arts, for example.
- Fabric Companies: Hoffman Fabric, Riley Blake, , Cherrywood Hand Dyes and American Made Brand, just to name a few. Michael Miller Fabric teamed up with QuiltCon 2018 and American Patchwork and Quilting for a "Flying Geese" challenge.
- On line....of course. Start by searching for Quilt Challenges 2018 and see what pops out.
- Friends: Mel says that once the word gets out, your friends will bombard you with newly found quilt challenges.
- And most importantly.....Quilt Guild Challenges. The Modern Quilt Guild, of which several QGA are members, hosts a charity quilt challenge each year.
- Stay tuned, there will be more to come on the Quilters' Guild Acadienne quilt challenges.
Needing a nudge to give yourself a creative push? Find a challenge....or two.
"I never lose. I either win or learn." Nelson Mandela
