2013 Winter Challenge Results Posted at Evening Star Designs!

Remember the beautiful kit I received on June 18th for the Evening Star Designs 2013 Winter Challenge?  Well, I finished my project on the deadline - September 15th - and mailed my pictures in to enter.  The results were posted today! 

Last year, I decided I wanted to make a stocking for myself.  When I heard about the winter challenge, I decided it was just the push I needed to complete the project this year.

To see the other beautiful entries, just CLICK HERE.  I love seeing the different way the same materials were used! 

There was also an Evening Star Designs 2013 Miniature Challenge.  To see those beauties, CLICK HERE.

I did not win a prize through Evening Star Designs, but I had a lot of fun, tried some new techniques, and ended up with a stocking that will become a family heirloom someday. 

Top Close-Up

Middle Close-Up

Bottom Close-Up

Here was the block after it was pieced.  I traced a stocking I liked the shape of onto muslin and then added a few inches to the height so it would meet the 100 square-inch requirement for the challenge.  (It was just over 102 sq. in.)

The snowman in the center is from a fabric in my stash that I really like, but have been unable to use.  Of course, once I began stitching, I had to keep reminding myself I was limited to a winter theme.  (Christmas ideas kept popping into my mind!)

One of my favorite seams.

When I painted the stenciled words onto my blocks for the CQI Winter/Christmas DYB RR, I also made my first attempt to paint a motif on fabric with acrylic paints.  Once the paint was dry, I set it with the heat of a dryer.

I checked a painting book out of the library and read about shading fruit.  The book used black paint beneath the color used for the fruit.  I opted to use a blue paint.  I let each layer of paint dry for a day before moving on to the next step.

I stuffed some batting beneath the circle so it would round out like a real snow globe.  To be honest, I was not sure I was happy with this addition, but opted to leave it anyway.  I added metallic blue thread around the border so it would stand out a bit better.

I wanted to add a button cluster, but could not find a combination that pleased me.  While moving the buttons around I was struck with the idea of this snowman.  I was so happy with this little fellow (pictured here without his scarf) that I added one to Kathy's block in our round robin.

I had a hard time thinking of something to stitch on the snowflake fabric, so I opted to embellish the snowflakes on the fabric.

I traced a few of those snowflakes onto tissue paper and stitched them onto this section near the top of the stocking.

 The tree in the little scene above (with the wind blowing in from the right) is my husband's favorite addition.  I just happened to find the little snow globe button stashed away with a few beads I purchased for a Christmas project a few years ago.

 The snowflake/snowman border along the ribbon was fun to make!  And, I do love snow days - as long as I do not have to drive anywhere!

I adapted the poinsettia from a motif design in The Silk Ribbon Embroidery Bible by Joan Gordon.

The tree was adapted from the pencil pine in Diana Lampe's book Embroidery for all Seasons.  (If it looks familiar, I stitched a pencil pine onto Barbara's block in our round robin.)

A few more snowflakes and a sparkly button I picked up at JoAnn Fabrics finished up this section.

It is hard to think about winter without picturing a nice cup of cocoa to warm up with!  I do not think of myself as an artist, so I was quite pleased that I was able to sketch this cup and the steam and actually stitch it so it looked half decent! (It is the little things in life...)

This blue snowflake fabric I found in my stash was perfect for the back.

I enjoyed this challenge so much that I signed up to receive the Evening Star Design Newsletter so I will not miss hearing about next year's challenge.

Evening Star Designs Winter 2013 Challenge Package

Evening Star Designs Winter 2013 Challenge Package

Talk about fast!  Less than an hour after I placed my order with Evening Star Designs, I received an email letting me know it had shipped.  I ordered it on the 14th and it arrived on the 17th.  My boys must have thought I was nuts, I was so excited!

Evening Star Designs 2013 Winter Challenge Package Embellishments

The first thing I had to check out were the embellishments included with the package.  They are absolutely lovely!

Evening Star Designs 2013 Winter Challenge Package Fabrics

The fabrics are simply gorgeous!  I have only stitched on a fabric similar to one of these in the past.  The textures of these fabrics are amazing!  I am so excited to crazy quilt with these beauties.  And, I am equally terrified I may mess them up!  Which means, I am off to a good start.  Any good challenge should require you to step a little bit out of your comfort zone, right?!

You cannot really tell from the photo above, so I took one more so you could see how sheer this pretty silver fabric is:

My requirements are to use at least half of the fabrics included with this package to make a block measuring at least 99-square-inches.  A 10x10-inch block would cover that.  However, the block can be bigger.

This is going to be so much fun!

Have a wonderful day!

Evening Star Designs 2013 Challenges

There is something I have really, really wanted to create using crazy quilted fabric.  Ideas have been simmering in my mind for nearly a year.

So, when I discovered Evening Star Designs was offering two challenges and I saw one of the challenge packages, I knew I had to give it a try!  I just ordered the 2013 Winter Challenge Package.  (Special thanks to Nicole from the CQforNewbies Yahoo! Group for bringing the challenge to my attention!)

I was very tempted to order the 2013 Miniature Crazy Quilt Challange Package, too.  However, I really do need to work on some of my UFOs and I signed up as a coordinator for a CQI round robin that will begin next month.  So, I opted not to over-commit myself.

While at the Evening Star Designs site, I also discovered some wonderful trims, beads, buttons and ribbons.  (If only my budget matched my wishlist!)  I do not anticipate winning the challenge, but I would have no problems spending the $100 gift certificate offered for first prize.

I will show you pictures of the package when it arrives.  However, photos of my work will be safely tucked away until after the challenge.  (All entries are due on September 15th.)

Will you be joining one of the Evening Star Designs Challenges?  If so, please let me know!

-Renee