Banned Books Week Mini Quilt Challenge!!

I am thrilled to host another BBW mini quilt challenge with Sandy. This annual event means a lot to both of us, and it's fabulous we get to express our creativity while supporting a cause that reminds us not to take our freedoms for granted.

The challenge Sandy and I give our readers and listeners is to make a small quilt that represents one of the books on the banned or frequently challenged book list. Then you put pictures of your finished quilt in our BBW Flickr Group, which is public, so everyone can stop by and see the virtual quilt show.

And of course, what's a challenge without some prizes?!?! Head on over to Sandy's blog to see what goodies she's giving away, but over here I decided to pull from my considerable stash of book bags and offer 2 of them to a lucky 2014 participant. And if there happens to be a few fiberlicious goodies packed inside, well...let's just say my fat quarter stash is a little lighter and the winners will be pretty happy!

PRIZE: 2 WINNERS will get a "Read Banned Books" tote with some fabric (3-4 fat quarters), a quilt book, and a couple other fun goodies to enjoy while you sew!

You have through Sat. 9/27/14 to get your quilt into the Flickr Group to be eligible to win...and there's still time to make a mini if you haven't already!

Now for my quilt. Once again I pulled inspiration from a favorite childhood author, Judy Blume, and a book that meant so much to me as a preteen girl when I first read it. I think I read it about 50 times in the following 2-3 years. 

 Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret mini quilt. Book by Judy Blume.

For this quilt I used some of the symbols and themes of the book (bras/bust-size, wanting to grow up, wanting to wear makeup, questions about religion) to create applique shapes I then fused on to the background.

The title and author were hand embroidered on, as well as the little gold necklace and religious charms. Then I did stipple FMQ on the background.

 

Considering my very first mini quilt for this challenge in 2012 was a Judy Blume book, I may be onto a series.....?

You know I'm already thinking about Deenie, even though I don't think it's officially on the list.

So I've shown you mine, I hope you'll show us yours! Even if you're not entering this year, I encourage you to head on over to the Flickr Group and check out all of the quilts, from this year and the last two! We have had so much fun with this.

CGM

CGM Podcast Episode #68: Soccer Mom?

Listen to the episode here

Show Notes 

Life Update:

• Sam is on a soccer team.
• Maddy is taking tap and ballet lessons.
• The song Let It Go is never letting go of its hold on us.
• Work is keeping me from being as crafty as I'd like to be.
• But I still managed to make a few things:

Finished Objects:

• Stencil Girl mini art quilt (see previous blog post for pics)
• Barley Hat. Post and pics here.

WIPs:

• Banned Books Week mini quilt
• Flickr Group
• Sandy's post about our BBW challenge
• My post about our BBW challenge
• Banned Books Week official site.
• List of frequently challenged/banned books

• Outlander block #3, featuring Jamie and Claire
• 80s pop culture sampler quilt
• Leave a comment below if you're interested and/or want to test a few blocks for me in the next 1-2 months.
• Or email me at: taneshaquilts@yahoo.com

 What I'm:

• Listening to: Purple Daisies podcast, Quilting Bits and Pieces podcast, Slightly Mad Quilt Lady podcast
• Watching: Outlander on Starz, Emma Approved

Classic Movie:

Cheaper by the Dozen

with Clifton Webb, Myrna Loy

Book Review:

 Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones

1st book: First Grave on the Right

2nd book: Second Grave on the Left

...so far she is up to #7 which goes on sale 10/21/14

 

Thanks for listening!

CGM

Stencil Girl Mini Art Quilt

16" x 16" canvas quilt. Sprayed background with Dylusions ink spray.

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer "Three Quarter" stencil.

CGM

What We're Reading This Month

Me:  

 Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

I'm really enjoying this series. If you like Molly Harper, Janet Evanovich, 

Kerrelyn Sparks, and other comedic paranormal books, you should check this series out.

Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews

One of my favorite Southern fiction authors.

Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper

Whenever I need a solid LOL, a Molly Harper book is my go-to read.

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion

(on sale 12/30/14, I am reading an advance copy)

To say I squealed like a little girl when I received this advance is putting it mildly. 

I loved the first book, The Rosie Project, podcasted about it, and continued to tell everyone 

about it for months. This immediately pushed many other "must-reads" down the 

list, I am so eager to get into it.

Samantha (age 7):

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

(we're reading this together)

Maddy (age 3):

Olivia Forms a Band by Ian Falconer

Is There Really a Human Race? by Jamie Lee Curtis & Laura Cornell

What are you reading these days?

CGM

Knitting F.O: Tweed Barley Hat

Not much to say here...it's a hat. The pattern is the Barley Hat by Tin Can Knits, and it's a very simple hat to make - perfect TV knitting. I used Patons Classic Wool in the Chestnut Tweed colorway. This is a very nice yarn, perfect for a cozy hat, and I really like the flecks of orange, green, yellow, and gold spread throughout.

To make this hat you need to be able to: knit and purl in the round (circular needles), k2tog (knit 2 together), p2tog (purl 2 together), and place stitch markers, and switch from circular needles to dpn's (double-pointed needles). All of this is simple to do for a beginner knitter! I used this video to refresh my memory on switching from circs to dpns.

Well, all that's left to say on this one is: bring on Fall!

CGM