National Quilting Day is coming on March 16, and our local guild does a small show to celebrate every year. Each year we have a theme or a challenge. This year, the challenge is a really creative idea. We got a fat eighth of the challenge fabric and a non-quilting magazine. It is our guild’s 42nd year, so the challenge is to make a small wall hanging inspired by what is on page 42. I got a Southern Living magazine from a few years ago. Page 42 had a photo of an amaryllis in a bowl with a framed picture on the wall behind. I got out some graph paper and drafted an idea for an applique wall hanging. The challenge fabric is the classified ads print.
I wanted to create a background, quilt that, then applique something on top. I began with selecting two cream tone-on-tone fabrics to make hourglass blocks. Squares are cut, and marked on the back for two sewing lines, one-quarter inch away from the center diagonal.
Cut apart down the middle.
Then, place them in pairs, right sides together, and mark another set of sewing lines perpendicular to the seam.
Be sure your seams are nested.
Chain sew for speedy assembly.
I trimmed them up to 4-1/2-inches and put two sections together.
I am creating a window for the upper left corner. I had to buy a fat quarter of the tree fabric to set into the piece. I topstitched the window pane dividers on top, then added sashing to the right side and bottom like a windowsill. I needed to make a few more QST units to get the sizing right.
After that, I added a brown fabric to the bottom to represent a table. I didn’t get a photo of it at that stage. Next time, I’ll show you the quilting of the base.
If you are local to Western North Carolina, make plans to come to Hendersonville on March 16 for the show. It is at Blue Ridge Mall on Four Seasons Blvd. We will have a Viewer’s Choice judging, and winners receive awards of some prizes, a ribbon, and bragging rights.
If you belong to a guild, are you doing something fun for National Quilting Day?
From My Carolina Home 
That is a fun challenge and your piece is coming together nicely!
That sounds like such a fun idea. I’m excited to see this develop.
Can’t wait to see the finished product 🙂
What a clever idea! I think this will be a fun one to see what you come up with — and curious to hear about some of the others!
This challenge looks exciting. I like to challenge my brain sometimes with a project outside of squares and triangles. Choosing fabrics and methods to accomplish the task is always a fun part of the process.
I can’t wait to see this come together~!~ Your directions for QST is very helpful. Happy New Year .
Very creative and I look forward to seeing the finished quilt.
Oh, I like the layers that you are already creating in the window frame and view out the window. I look forward to seeing this come together!
Carole, thank you for finding a way to celebrate my birthday!
Challenge projects can be exciting to participate in. How will you use the challenge fabric, as the amaryllis bowl, perhaps?
What an excellent idea for Your Amaryllisquilt!
What a fun challenge to spark your creativity! I love the pieced background, and the way you’re putting the window in. I’ll enjoy seeing how you add on the flower!
I love your composition!
I like quilting the background first before appliqueing too. Less thread breaks, less steering around applique elements and more fun!
You’ve got a great start. Can’t wait to see your progress!
What an innovative challenge. I absolutely love what you have come up with so far. The hourglass blocks have given me an idea that I have been searching for, for a project I’m working on. Thanks so much.
I KNEW you’d come up with something innovative and beautiful even though at your first post I couldn’t imagine what that might be. The hourglass blocks looks wonderful and I can hardly wait to see the final product. Our guild celebrates it’s 32nd anniversary this March; I am a founding member. We usually host an open house with various members demonstrating some aspect of piecing, applique or quilting, etc. This year I’m thinking about missing our meeting and heading to Henderson. 🙂 I’ll see if I can talk hubby into a road trip. He loved our previous trips to Asheville. Blessings, Carole….
I love this challenge, and your idea sounds brilliant!
Can’t wait to see the end result – Amaryllis is so beautiful and so hard to grow! A quilt of it will be wonderful! Our quilt meeting was cancelled for tomorrow on account of snow! It’s the first snow of the year (since last year!) but it’s a doozy! My neighbors came over and shoveled the sidwalks and driveway for me. Guess I can unpack the car….. Thanks!
Love the hourglass background you created. I’m not aware of anything special that our guild will do for National Quilting Day.
That is a fascinating challenge. You are well on the way to meeting your goal.