Button Blooms

 Created for Project Quilting 16.6 Button it Up challenge.

What a fun challenge! This is why I love Project Quilting. A new challenge comes out and you create something you had never imagined before. And, before you know it, your walls are filled with amazing quilts.

I was immediately excited about this challenge because I have a dishpan full of buttons that I've collected over the years. And using something that has been on a shelf for a long time always makes me happy. Of course, I started with a crazily pieced background. After all, why would anyone use one piece of fabric when 50 will do. I layered it and quilted it with wavy lines going top to bottom, then pulled out my buttons. Some were handmade, many had been recycled from things headed for the rag bag and many had come from who knows where. I chose a few to get started, then found some fibers to make stems, adding knots to them to make them a little more interesting.

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.
12" x 24"

Which Way???

 Created for Project Quilting 16.5 Follow Your Arrow challenge.

For this challenge I created string blocks with arrows in assorted sizes, then put them together pointing every which way. Then I quilted it with lines that went every which to add to the confusion. Of course. it needed to be named Which Way??? And, although it's not my favorite, I like it way better than I thought I would. 

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.

14" x 27"

Garnet Coasters

 Created for Project Quilting 16.4 Birthstone Challenge.

Interesting week around here. Suddenly it's Thursday and I have not made a start on this challenge. So, time to do something totally not me. No orphan blocks, no string quilting, no crazy scrappiness. Just some cute little coasters.  I've seen these around and decided to go for it. A couple hours later, I was done. 

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.

Each is 4" x 4".

Orphans in Purple and Pink

 Created for Project Quilting 16.3 Common Blocks Challenge.

This challenge said you must incorporate 3 common quilt blocks into your challenge. As I considered which common blocks to use, it occurred to me that I probably had many common blocks in my orphan block baskets. The pink and purple basket called my name and, not surprisingly, it had common blocks in it.
Flying geese in multiple styles, log cabin, shoo fly, pinwheel and even some pieces from New York Beauty blocks. Back in 2020, I was obsessed with New York Beauty blocks. When I had had enough of them, I ended up with some that were not completed. Not sure why. Anyhow, they were in with my orphan blocks along with anything else that had been sewn together and not used for whatever reason.

I made Warm Orphan Ombre for PQ 16.2 and decided I would make another for 16.3. So I puzzled them together on my design wall and started stitching it together, using strips and smaller pieces to make it all fit.

By late Wednesday, I had it sandwiched and started with some fancy quilting in the white areas where it would really show. Thursday morning I looked at the rest of my week and decided I needed an unconventional approach to get it all done on time. So I added some simple quilting that held all parts of the quilt stable, then added the binding. I started the hand sewing in the car while heading to a basketball game.

Friday I added more quilting, working the areas that looked like they needed it most first. After lunch we headed to pick up our grandson who was coming to Poynette to go to a Badger hockey game and spend the night with his cousins. I finished the binding and trimmed as many threads as I could find during the drive. Saturday morning I added some more quilting before leaving to go to my mother-in-laws 100th birthday party. Amazing lady! Amazing day! 

So this morning I just had to photo and post this. My quilt is done. (It might be a little more done next week if I decide to add some more quilting, but for now it's done.)

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.
39" x  47"

Warm Orphan Ombre

Created for Project Quilting 16.2 – Ombre – Challenge 2 of Project Quilting season 16.

I have never used a true ombre fabric, but I have made many quilts that use this effect. Often it's a rainbow theme floating across the quilt. That was my first thought here.  I actually started on a few blocks, but it didn't feel right. Too boring. Looks like I made a few new orphan blocks...

AHA!!! Orphan blocks! I have a couple of baskets of them. You know, all those blocks or parts of blocks or any pieces that got sewn together and not used. I had been messing with them a couple of months ago and stuck some up on my design wall, but was uninspired. I ended up sorting them by warm and cool, then putting them away because I wasn't feeling it. Maybe I could make something from them that would work here. Now, the rules for Project Quilting do say your project must be started and finished during this week. Yes, I know. I consider my orphan blocks to be pieces of fabric I previously made for myself. They have been sitting in a basket waiting to be used in something special. Much as my ONE ROOM of uncut fabric is waiting to be used. The biggest goal of Project Quilting has always been to inspire creativity. So, I think this is legal. If not, oh, well. There are no prizes and if there were I wouldn't be eligible because Kim, our brilliant Project Quilting creator, is my daughter-in-law. :)

On to my process. I started by placing blocks on my design wall starting with lights in the top left and going darker diagonally across and down. I had a few blocks that were half dark and half light. Didn't really fit anywhere in the layout. Some I cut and used only part or used both parts in separate areas of the quilt. I got close to the dimensions I wanted and started sewing together in sections. I added fabric or cut pieces from the remaining orphans to make things fit, squaring up each section. I didn't hesitate to just trim away a quarter or half inch or whatever of anything that was a little long. I love this process. It's kind of like putting a puzzle together, only, in the case, I can just cut something to fit.

In the end, I now have a small lap quilt that used half the orphans in the warm basket. I consider that a win and am inspired to go at the cool basket next. 

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.
40" x 58"

1. 
   

Go For the Gold

 Created for Project Quilting 16.1 Mythical Creatures

I have to say, this challenge was a challenge for me. (I guess that's what it should be, right?) Mythical Creatures? Not my wheelhouse. So, I did the smart thing and searched for mythical creatures. And I came across the leprechaun. I grew up a Donahoe and, although I was 1 of 13 children and my parents seldom left the farm, we always knew Dad would take Mom out to celebrate St. Patrick's Day every year. So a leprechaun seemed like a good inspiration for me. Leprechauns are said to bury pots of gold at the end of the rainbow. A workable inspiration  and a great memory of when my family with Mom, Dad, all my siblings and the grandkids would spend a weekend at Joy Lake camping each summer. There was a year when we had a rain shower and a wonderful rainbow. The kids ran through the campground looking for the end of the rainbow and the pot of gold. Great memory! So, I made a rainbow. And put gold at the ends.

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.

20" x 40"

Royal Irish Chain

 Created for Project Quilting 15.6 Irish Chain challenge.

 

For this challenge I did a pretty standard Irish Chain. Because I am incapable of finishing a project that isn't super scrappy, I made the entire project from 1 1/2" finished squares. I had thought to use blues and greens with gold for the chains. I even went so far as to pull out a collection of fabrics. I was straightening up my studio before starting to cut and came across this basket of scraps in pinks and purples already cut into 2" strips and left over from a project I finished last week. 

I decided it was a sign that I should change my color scheme and save myself some time. In the end I had almost the exact strips I needed. Good planning!

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.

14" x 40"