Challenge Reveal

Saturday was our annual challenge reveal at guild.   This year's theme was "Bars".    Anytime, anyway, anyhow you wanted to depict them.    Members showed their challenge at the meeting and now they will be hung at the Richmond Library in Batavia from February 1-28.

Of course my first thought was "Bars of Music"!   

This is a giant log cabin block - using all music themed fabrics.   I called it "Piano Bar"

Since we were allowed 2 entries, I decided to do a second one.    I had a FQ pack of modern fabrics I had purchased a couple years ago in Florida.    My goal was to use them.....in bars.    I wanted them to look woven which took a bit of planning and I wanted some white space to do more quilting.   In the end I had about 2 inches left of each of the fabrics and about a 5 x 7 inch piece of the white.    Of course that would partly be because I had to redo a couple of ideas.   My other theme I adapted to go with "bars" was diamonds - 60 inch angle diamonds.   

I learned a few things which is always good for a challenge.   Since both were original, I had to draft my own pattern ideas.   Some of the fabric was loosely woven and raveled, so I had to figure some ways to applique and make sure the edges didn't fray.  Quilting on the white was a challenge as I don't like to mark on my quilts.   I thought I could do the center with a walking foot......not true......free motion was a little more difficult.  

Contemplative

This week our photography challenge was "Contemplative".    I had all sorts of intentions of going out and finding the perfect view - the hills, the mountains, the river etc.   However, a "shot to the knee" forced me closer to home.    This is the photo I chose.

What am I looking at here and contemplating.....what do I see?   First of all, I am looking at an old decaying tree trunk in my backyard.  I am contemplating all the rings, all the different colored areas...some light, some dark yet I still see the structure of rings!  What I see can be applied personally or to our world in general.   We all have that bright light within us.    It radiates out into our world and our connections with other people and life in general.   Sometimes we go through dark periods and emerge, sometimes not.  Sometimes our light is sharp and defined - other times a bit blurry.    Yet our structure and purpose (rings) is still visible if we but look.

These are my "also ran"!    I almost chose the fence - then the tree.    The mossy stepping stone I just liked!

Here is my fence - with one slat out of place.   Contemplating all the perfectly straight boards and in place.....yet, the one who dares to be different. 

 This looks like a lost city to me.....

My Japanese Maple Tree - again on the theme of no matter how we branch out - we are all connected.    Some of us venture far - others stay close to the trunk!