Brown Bag Challenge Reveal
In April, I issued a challenge to our quilt group called the Brown Bag Challenge. I borrowed this challenge from a local quilt shop with permission. Here are the details.
- Choose 5 fat quarters that you like
- Place them in a brown lunch-size paper bag
- Add in a note with your name on it
- Seal the bag and bring it to the meeting
At our meeting, we gathered all the bags together, mixed them up a bit, and everyone drew a bag. They were allowed to check to make sure they didn’t get their own, but were asked not to show their bags to anyone else. The challenge was:
- Use all or part of the 5 fat quarter fabrics in the quilt top
- Add in one neutral, either a light or dark, but not both
- Make a quilt for the owner of the fat quarters, minimum of 20″ square or 40″ square. The quilt didn’t necessarily have to be square but had to fall within those measurements.
- Bring the completely finished quilt to the June meeting.
Here are the fabrics in the bag I chose.
I had to chuckle when I first pulled out the fabrics! I was thinking this would be such an easy challenge. Haha! What to do? I pondered these over and over, pulling them out of the sack and stuffing them back in. The poor little sack was looking weary and worn by the time I finally decided what to do.
My neutral color was blue. Thanks to my brother bringing me back some fun things from Quilt Market, including a 18″ block pattern that I knew would work, here’s the little challenge quilt I gave to my fellow quilt friend, Ruthie.
It really was a fun challenge for me, and I am happy with the way it turned out — thankfully so was Ruthie!
What About My Challenge Fabrics?
My challenge fabrics were orange batiks. Are you surprised? Haha! Vici drew my bag. You might recall Vici and her work from my blog post about her when she was our featured quilter at our group’s quilt show. You can see that post here. Vici is a talented quilter who does beautiful work.
I’m seriously giddy about what she made for me!
I love totes and zippy pouches, and matching are even better. The tote even has pockets inside.
The little zippy pouch is lined so beautifully.
We had a good time revealing the mini quilts — I have so many talented quilt group friends. Well done, all of you!
Other Bits and Pieces This Week
I’ve finished another project for Paintbrush Studios. I can’t show you quite yet, but soon. Here’s a little peek at the Green Thumb Girls fabric by Carolyn Suzuki for Paintbrush Studios that drew me in.
I also got caught up on my Minnesota Mystery Quilt 2019 clue for this month. Blocks are starting to form, and I’m getting excited about seeing this come together!
I also stitched up my June block for the 2019 Monthly Color Challenge by Patterns by Jen. Out of all the projects I’ve made, this is the first one that BigJ said he didn’t like when he looked at all my blocks. He said they look too psychedelic. So, in keeping with that thought, here’s what I did for June.
I think that sticks with the theme, don’t you??
And, of course, a little squirrel
This little demure lady came for a visit. I’m quite sure her friends will be arriving now and again.
This pattern was shared by Preeti recently, and I just had to make one. She went together so well, I know I’ll make more. This will be a perfect block when I just want to do something fun. Thanks, Preeti, for sharing this!
All in all, it’s been a great weekend! What about you? What have you been up to lately?
Linking up today with Beth for Main Crush Monday.
Happy stitching!
Wendy
26 Comments
Cindy Pieters
I like the bag challenge what a good idea! I love the bag and pouch you received back and the little quilt you made.
piecefulwendy
Thanks! Me too!
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
The blue really perks those fabrics up! Fun bag and zippy she made for you!!! Interesting blocks for the MQ mystery. Busy weekend!!!
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Nancy!
Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts
I never would have thought to make a bag with that challenge! What a great idea, and lucky you for receiving it. 🙂 I really like the little quilt you made Wendy. The addition of the blue was perfection!
Karen Goad
fun bag – love those colors. The fabrics in the paper bag that you got where kind of bland. Love Preeti’s block when she showed it and yours too
Diann Bottrell
The paper bag challenge looks like it was really fun! I love the blue you added to the fat quarters you got – it did perk them up! The mini you made is really neat. Can’t wait to see your Paintbrush Studios finish, and love your Sister block, too! Aren’t those fun to sew up?
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Diann! Those Sister blocks are fun, and so quick!
Jayne
Holy cow you have been busy! I love the idea of the bag challenge. Challenge indeed! You made a beautiful quilt and I love the orange bags…bright and useful!
piecefulwendy
Thanks! The challenge mini has been done awhile, just couldn’t post until after the reveal. The weekend has been productive though!
My Sewful Retirement
I like the brown bag challenge idea! Your mini quilt was super cute — blue was the perfect accent color. The bag and pouch are TOO cute — orange is my color ♥♥ We had a great weekend, the weather was beautiful — I’ll be going home later this evening!
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Karla! Safe travels!
Barbara
What a great use of your challenge fabrics! Genius!
piecefulwendy
Thanks! It was a fun challenge!
Lisa J.
You are still clipping along with your quilting. I love the challenge. What fun! Both projects are awesome.
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Lisa!
Kathleen McCormick
And a squirrel!!! you are getting a lot of projects done. All mine are big at the moment, I’m jealous. I love what you did with your brown bag challenge – a fun one for a group! Your monthly color challenge looks great, maybe I can sneak mine in soon. I love Pretti’s blocks and yoru version is so inspiring…and tempting!
piecefulwendy
Big projects are fun, but I do love a quick finish! Thanks!
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! Oh, how fun the brown bag challenge was. I just gasped out loud when I saw your cool bag and zippered pouch. WOWEE – how utterly perfect for you. And I love where you took all those lovely cream, beige and brown fabrics. I’ll bet Ruthie was 100% happy. Oh, and your International Sister . . . LOVE it. I have been wanting to make a few myself – there’s a pattern just floating around and it hasn’t revealed itself to my conscious mind yet but I suspect it will be soon. LOVE this post. ~smile~ Roseanne
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Roseanne! I do love my orange tote and zippy!
thedarlingdogwood
Wow, what a fantastic bag!!! And matching zippy pouch-jackpot! Love what you made for Ruthie, too. Sounds like a fun challenge!
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Emily! It was a fun challenge!
Preeti Harris
Oh Wendy, if I had pulled that bag of sad beige and depressed browns, I would have thrown a fit, a tantrum followed by a conniption at the guild meeting. In comparison your orange batiks are so cheerful and uplifting. In the end I am glad that each participant received an item in colors of their choice.
Thank you for welcoming one of the International Sisters to your studio. She looks beautiful in her orange outfit. Watch out they multiply fast 🙂
piecefulwendy
More Sisters are arriving, Preeti! What fun!
Sandra Healy
The brown bag challenge was such a fabulous idea, Wendy and both projects turned out beautifully!
Louise Hornor
I’m catching up on my reading after being away for a week visiting family. You’ve been working on so many fun little projects! Your Brown Bag piece turned out great, and how neat to get a matching tote set in return 🙂