The Blackstone Valley Heritage Quilters Challenge Reveal was last week. I was the chair for the Challenge. The Challenge involved reducing our guild’s Library of books. We have limited space to storing them and they were not being used as much as they had in previous years. We decided to forgo keeping a Library for the guild moving forward. Sooooo, every guild member was given a quilting book from our Library in a black plastic bag, no peeking. We even had a guest take a book! They could exchange the book with another member or with the another books in a black bag, BUT they could NOT give it back. If they choose to not take the Challenge they were asked to recycle the book or give it away (keeping it from the trash!) Other rules included – use the book for inspiration of colors to make a quilt, make a quilt using a pattern from the book or use a technique from their book on a quilt. I am happy to report we had some wonderful finishes. (Mine is in progress and will not be revealed until next month….two guild challenges….one quilt!)

Here are the results!!! I’ll try to remember the books or a little about each quilt. I didn’t take notes since I was the quilt holder 😉 Note the legs and feet behind the quilts.

Lori Lisak’s Sunshine and Shadows from a beginning quilter skills book.

Gail Dodd’s Log Cabin from Quiltmaker’s Gift (her first log cabin and first time using jelly roll strips!)

Diane Zayonc’s quilt with a purple focus fabric for a new baby named Violet!

Nancy Bisceglia’s quilt using only fabrics she had on hand!

Priscilla Mathurin’s quilt from P.S. I Love You (she found she already had the book at home but decided to keep it anyway!)

Lucille Harper’s quilt. She learned how to do a mitered border to finish her Block of the Month quilt from last year!

Karen Malo’s table runner from a book on applique and using templates. Her daughter has already laid claim to it!

Ta Da!!! They ALL did a great job! I’m so happy they took the Challenge. Hopefully we will see more after the summer break.

Tips to do when you are a member of a guild or just for yourself…

#1 – TAKE the Challenge.

#2- Look through “old” books. You might be surprised how you can stretch your knowledge and learn or re-discover a technique!

in quilting,

Debbie