Stitchin' The Blues

Every other year the Heritage Quilters of Huntsville guild presents a Challenge program. A committee meets, sets the rules, those are announced to the guild about six months in advance and then we get to work making an entry.

Here are a few overview shots, taken by the committee before a lot of people came and it was tough to get good photos of the room:

Some years there is a lot of interest, some years---not so much. This year may be the biggest number of entries we have ever had--75--that means at least one-third of the guild particpated!

Here are the rules as presented:

1. The entry size, a rectangle or square only, may be anywhere from 18 inches by 18 inches to 36 inches by 36 inches. The length or width should be no longer than 36 inches or no shorter than 18 inches.
2. Use only blue and white fabrics. These may be solids, stripes, plaids, prints or batiks.
3. The entry must be a quilt – three layers held together with stitching.
4. Each entry made by one person only.
5. No kits.
6. Please keep your entry a secret.
7. Put a label on the back, but cover your name with tape or fabric. No obvious means of identification should be on the front, of course.

The meeting is open to the public and a lot of word-of-mouth advertising brought at least 50 guests. On the ballots we were given, we selected our top 10 favorites and "Best Interpretation of the Theme". Enjoy a little show, some of my favorites, in no particular order:

33. Blue California Star by Linda S.

37. Blues of a Feather by Pam A.

24. Carry Me Away by Linda H.

68/ My Blue Heaven by Sharon St.

44. Bluebird of Happiness by Paula N.

38. Swingin' the Blues by Teresa Rawson

34. Wedding Tradition by Kari H.

72. A Few of My Favorite Things by Anne C. This won first place for Best Interpretation of Theme. The detail in this is beyond belief--Anne outdoes herself in every challenge and show.

8. Blue Melody by Denise P.--this won 2nd place in Best Interpretation of Theme

61. Stitching the Blues Away by Leigh H. --this won 3rd place in Best Interpretation of Theme

64. Caribbean Waters by Sue B.

One of my most favorites:

51. Blues in the Night by Ben D.

15. Dave in Blues by Elaine H.--based on a photo of a well-known local musician Microwave Dave

Here is my entry, a variation of Spellbound by Calico Carriage Quilt Designs:

It is 19.5" x 21.5" and is made from the leftovers from my full-size Spellbound:

This one is bed-size and the quilting is about half-done. I am working diligently on it now. My eldest son saw it a few weeks ago and said "Who is THAT ONE for?" He really likes it. Christmas is coming. Don't you love it when someone really likes a quilt you are working on? 

Blue and White quilts have been very popular the last few years as we move toward the Sapphire Celebration of October 2019--the 45th anniversary of the International Quilt Festival in Houston. Our challenge quilts are too small to be entered in the Special Exhibit in Houston but this is a good way to get started and excited about the upcoming Celebration.

If you  have a blue and white quilt you want to consider entering in the Sapphire Celebration, here is the basic info--submission dates will be provided later this year:

Sapphire Celebration

I saw this quilt at the International Quilt Festival in Chicago in 2017. It is Sarah's Revival, a Sue Garman pattern, made by Gail Smith and quilted by Karen McTavish. I think it is just spectacular! I hope to see it again at the Sapphire Celebration.

Maybe a Blue and White Quilt is in your future.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara