Summer Challenges

 My Guild has a summer challenge. Last year it was Architecture Inspired Quilts.

I took this photo of one of the many bridges over the Chicago River early last summer.  I was intrigued by the way the light reflected the surreal color of the water onto the girders above my tour boat. 

After an intense week long workshop with Judy Crow, I thought I might be able to interpret the image for the Guild’s Architectural Challenge.  When I started sewing, I was filled with uncertainty and doubt.  I felt like I was wasting time and getting nowhere.  But I kept at it, dyeing fabrics, cutting and sewing fabric strips, re-slicing them to make new cloth, and inserting more lines and shapes until I was satisfied with the representation. I machine quilted the details that were too small to piece.

Water Under the Bridge

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This year the summer challenge is to create a 20" by 20" quilt based on Botany. It is one of my favorite subjects.

magnolia 

dogwood

bleeding hearts

sidewalk sunflower

roadside zinnias 

japanese maple

Last year I grew passionflowers on my rear deck.  This year I am growing them on the front stoop. They send out lovely tendrils that wind along the wrought iron railing.  There are lots of buds getting ready to pop.  I have an idea in my head and have started dyeing fabric again.  I'm not sure if I am up to the task, but I sure am excited about trying.