The Power Suit Art Quilt Challenge- A FREE Party!!!

This weekend, Saturday evening to be exact, is the big Opening of the Power Suit Art Quilt Challenge at Artistic Artifacts in Alexandria VA.!! this is going to be quite the big event and has been about 8 months in the making!! This all began last winter when friend and wonderful teacher and quilter, Cyndi Souder of Moonlighting Quilts was asked if she had any use for some sample books of fabrics from a men's tailor in DC. Cyndi ,of course, said yes! A full truck load of sample books later, the Power Suit Challenge was cooked up with the help of quilt artist Judy Gula.

If you happened to be at the Cincinnati Quilt Show this Spring you might have heard all about this challenge. Many quilters from all over the US and Canada have sent in over 100, 18 in X 18 in quilts that reflect what they were inspired to create by the term Power Suit.

More details about the specifics of the challenge can be found here!

Basically Cyndi and Judy made up free packets containing a fabric sample book of shirt fabrics and a fabric sample book of suit fabrics, an old silk tie and several old buttons. We could use some all or none of the fabrics, but our quilt had to be 18 x 18 and had to be based on the phrase Power Suit in some way.

The Party to Reveal all of the Quilts is Saturday the 22nd of October at Artistic Artifacts in Alexandria from 4pm to 8 pm and it is open to the Public and Free!!!! A free Party with fabulous artwork, delightful artists and Nibbles!!! The show will be hanging throughout the month of November so if you MUST miss the party, you can come by and see the quilts later.

You may remember the picture at the top of this post as I posted a similar photo when I was hatching my plans for my quilt. As most plans do , my immediate thoughts on the quilt morphed into something very different but with some vague similarities. Judy and Cyndi have asked that we not reveal the designs of our quilts till after our Opening Gala, so this shot will have to do! I will be back with more pictures of the Opening and specifics on my quilt and lots of pictures of other quilts, next week!

Come on out and join us on Saturday in Alexandria for the Opening Gala of the Power Suits Art Quilt Challenge, if you can!! We would love to have each and every one of you there!

Playing with Color

Today has truely been an amazing weather gift, here in Central VA!! The sky is clear blue with fluffy white clouds , a bit of a breeze and temps in the mid 80's. We don't get many days like this at this time of year!! After taking care of the neighbors dogs and cats, I spent an hour in the garden, dead heading Daisy's, Brown Eyed Susan's and roses while drinking my morning cup of coffee. The birds were keeping me company as I put fresh water in their bath and the hum of the Cicadas had not even begun!!

As I ahd started my day with color I decided to stick with the game plan. Out came the sunpaints and the fabric. I have finally chosen a theme and idea for a Quilt Challenge that I am participating in. This is for the Power Suit Challenge being run by Textile Artists Judy Gula and Cindy Souder . The 18 x 18 quilt is due at Artistic Artifacts by the end of August so my decisions are bordering on last minute!!! I will be using a sunprinted background and altering the shirting fabrics that were provided to create my piece. I am going to hold off on more details as we have been asked to not talk too much about this before the celebratory Reveal at Artistic Artifacts in October. But I will share a few crumbs here and there. (Yah, I thought that would make you all just so happy!!) Part of this finished sun print will become my quilts background.
In the top most picture you can see that I had golden rod, basil blossom spikes, verbeana, daisies, clover and grassy weeds covering the painted damask table cloth piece. I am really happy with the results so far. Now for the shirting.

All of these pieces are from a sample book that I took apart and painted with the paints. I used palstic doilies and a cut up onion bag to cover the fabric while it dried in the sun.
I used all sorts of samples here many have plaids and stripes that are so common in men's dress shirts. They all came out really well and, with the weather, they dried in about 20 minutes!!

Now on to the cutting and construction!!

I hope that wherever you are you are having wonderful weather as well!!