Wednesday, October 1, 2008

The Valorie Wells Challenge....

Back in April of this year, Valori Wells had a free fabric give away on her blog.
I was one of the lucky ones to win a bundle of her new fabric line, Olive Rose. Two of my friends won also. We decided to have a challenge and see what we could come up with by the end of September. Two others wanted to join in also, so here is the result. We had to use at least parts of three of the FQ's.

I decided to go one further and post photos here and let you pick the winner of the challenge.

So here goes. Hopefully the poll on the right side bar will work and you can vote there. The descriptions below the photos were written by the person making the project.

Here is Project A.




My idea came from Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection Quilts and More magazine for Fall 2008, page 59. The pattern was for a table topper. The center measured 15 x 9 inches finished. I made the center smaller thus making the quilt/table topper smaller and featuring the large print in the center as a focal point for this small quilt. I hand embroidered the lines that were the flower centers on the large flowere print in the middle of the quilt.


Project B



My pattern is from Linda at All Stitched Up I wanted to make something that would highlight the large, bold print of Valori’s fabrics. Looking around my studio my eyes fell on my design notebook. I knew right then a cover for the notebook would the perfect way to highlight Valori’s fabric. (Nancy's note - in the third photo you can see the little elastic with beads, this was tied around the fabric when we got it in the mail. Cute way to use that!)

Project C



My inspiration came from my daughter who said she couldn't always find her bills and checkbook. I made the pattern to fit a basket purchased from a discount store. I added the brown pocket inside which is large enough to snugly fit her checkbook.

Project D



It's a little wallhanging, 20" x 22" and I'm calling it Acorn's Fall as I have seen so many acorns so far this fall that I believe this Fall belongs to the Acorns!
I designed the quilt myself and did wool appliques on the borders. It was a little tricky to piece, as the shapes were curved, but it sure was fun! I wanted to design a pieced yet curved shape reminiscent of an acorn. Even the border fabric looks a bit like acorns! I quilted simple curves on each piece to look a little like an acorn 'cap'.

Ok, you've seen all the contestants. Now go vote.

What? I hear some yelling out there...What? I can't quite hear you...Oh, you think there should be a prize for the winner? Oh, ok...What? You think there should be a prize for one of the voters? Oh, ok whatever I have to do to get you to vote...LOL

Um....I guess that's it....

Let the voting commence...

Well, I just checked and you can vote, but I don't get a list of voters...bummer...so you will need to leave a comment and say that you voted. Sorry for the double step, but can't fix it...

IMPORTANT - If you choose to comment as "anonymous" please leave a name or other information so I can contact you....

Happy Sewing,
Nancy
PS...yes, you counted 5 in the initial challenge, but only 4 projects. One of them dropped out...she had some kind of lame excuse about being sedated and not being able to operate heavy machinery or some such thing...(teasing!!)

37 comments:

Joanna said...

Wow Nancy you did a GREAT job with organizing all of this. I love them all - such clever ideas, and all so different. You should send a note to Valorie and tell her to take a peek!

Anonymous said...

well....here goes......I voted!...however it was hard as they were all clever and very cute!!!

Karen Duncan said...

I just voted too. Fun!

Anonymous said...

You should have it fixed for people like me who wanted to vote for them all. What great projects and wonderful fabric!

Huskerbabe said...

Okay, they were all great for different reasons, b and c are great gift ideas! But I voted for d because of the acorns. They are too cute!

Cynthia said...

Alrighty, I came over here from Joanna's blog.

And I voted, but it wasn't easy. It was kind of apples to oranges, know what I mean?

Dandelion Quilts said...

I am going to vote right now!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for setting this up for us. It is so much fun to see other peoples projects. I voted, but it wasn't easy. Melinda

Gluten Free Store Ltd www.glutenfreestore.co.nz said...

Okay well I voted, but I felt really mean about the other neat projects. There are some very clever people about!! Good luck!!! Liz

Anonymous said...

What great ideas. I really liked them all but an motivated to try and make a basket cover like yours as a catch all for the bills. Thanks for all of the inspiration.

Roselie
roselieberard@yahoo.com

Carol said...

Wow! it was hard to choose just ONE. I liked all of the projects.

I enjoy your site every day

Keep it up

Your "Sewing Comrade"
Carol

From: Frewsburg, NY

Jeanne said...

I voted for one, but all four are winners in my eyes. Great projects from the fabrics.

Lisa said...

What a great idea!!! I voted. Not telling you!!! Love your banner so black/white and red!!!!

Judith Tetley said...

Yes I voted for B....loved the use of the fabric to highlight the "big" part of the design.
Well done! From Judith

Richelle said...

Wow! Everyone did a great job. But I did finally choose one.

Anonymous said...

Nancy,
I voted! Just started blogging and love it! I still am trying to get more hours in my day!

quilterpolly said...

I voted for #1. I love that big floral:) great job!!!

jacquie said...

i voted too. love this fabric!

Anonymous said...

veronicak said...
beautiful projects,very hard to choose just one. Great job organizing this, Nancy. I just voted.

Lynette Anderson said...

My first choice is the notepad cover,I love it and its gorgeous and my second choice is the wall quilt with acorns in the corners.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

I like B (the notebook cover)...very pretty.

Jenny of Elefantz said...

I love the notebook cover - so vivid and funky! It would entice me to use it!
Jenny
www.elefantz.blogspot.com

Pat said...

WOW....all so great....and some clever minds to think of such different ideas for the fabric they won. I'm voting but it was hard to decide.

Amy R said...

Such creativity! No prize needed here - the participants already won the best prize of all! Their projects and time to be creative!

amy

mary-myneedlethead.blogspot.com said...

Great Job Nancy, I voted, but as it was very hard to pick just one. very creative! Hugs, Mary
blog: http://mary-myneedlethread.blogspot.com
email: coolmommary@fastmail.fm
Just in case I win!!!

Anonymous said...

I like your blog. I voted but you made it hard. How did you do the apple slices in the microwave? Hubby wants to know. I am at elsiemaepeterman@hotmail.com

Val said...

Oh my goodness Nancy, so hard to pick just one project. They all turned out fabulous. I am currently partial to utilizing the large print as the main motif and voted for "A" but I have to tell you each one is ingenious. I'd be happy with any of them you might like to send me :-) Congrats on winning the fabric!

Anonymous said...

Such beautiful fabric. I voted!

Anonymous said...

Hi Nancy,
I am a fellow Sloanie, and I voted. All of the projects were wonderful! You are all so creative. Congratulations on whoever wins this little contest.
Jan in TN

vickie y said...

Nancy, they all are so cute. It was hard to pick just one. That journal cover is really lovely!
Thanks for the great show.
Vickie Y

Sweet P said...

Those projects are lovely. Everyone did great work with their designs. I agree with Joanna, you should send the link to Valori. She's love it.

Anonymous said...

Nancy:

I voted, actually tried to vote before but couldn't, so came back today to try again, and was successful! --Lydia (you know my e-mail address!)

Anonymous said...

Well done ladies. I love them all.
I voted after a lot of deliberation. Hard, hard, not fair. I wish for a draw, then all can have a prize.

Jules

Dell said...

The choice was difficult, but I love acorns and all things fall.
Piecefully, DellM

Osage Bluff Quilter said...

Such eye candy! It was hard to pcik one. But the blue and brown is so classy.
Osagebuffquilter

gag7949 said...

Really like all 4 entries in this challenge and love the fabric! Such innovative ways to use the fabrics and to show off the large print. Always enjoy something different in a quilt and #4 provides that, but the notebook cover is quite different, too. The table topper and basket are beautiful as well!

Shellbells said...

I am not really a quilt person but Project A makes me want to be. this is my pick!!!