Each year, the Quiet Valley Quilters issue a “Challenge” to the members. Quilters are asked to design and construct a unique quilt, following the directions laid out in the Challenge. The protocols may require using a specified fabric, color, or theme. The Challenge quilts are judged for quality of the design and the technique. Ribbons and awards are given out the weekend of Bennington Quiltfest.
2023 Quilt Challenge - "Birds of a Feather"
Birds are the inspiration for this years challenge. Any interpretation works – a literal bird or birds depicted in your piece; use of a traditional quilt block with a bird-related name; use of fabrics that have bird or bird-related images; use of a bird-related quilting design…. anything goes! Spread your “wings”, and try something you don’t usually do! Any method or technique can be used : Piecework, applique, paper-piece, paint, fabric marker, photo-transfer, embroidery, etc, etc – as long as the medium is fabric/fiber. Each entry should measure between 12 x 12 inch minimum and 24 x 24 inch maximum.
“Blue Footed Booby”
Avis Hayden
“Paisley Peacock”
Charlene Adams
“Bird of Prey”
Joyce Eves
2022 Challenge Quilts
“Welcome to Our Library” Each participant has made a 20-inch square block that represents one portion of a bookcase – The challenge is to use whatever skills, techniques. materials that best suit you, to fill your portion of the bookshelf with whatever you want. The only limitations were: to keep the completed piece size uniform, to have a white background, and use a common wood grain fabric as the frame for each piece.
Sharon Shorey, “A Quilters Compendium”
I love all things quilt! So small quilts had to be included on my book shelf. I also collect buttons, I have them everywhere in jars, in tins, and in cups all around the house! I love to read.
Foundation piecing, Machine applique, Machine quilting.
Mostly inspired by Pinterest.
Charlene Adams, “A Few of our Favorite Things”
I created my shelf like a curio cabinet with a curved arched top. The blue vase represents a Bennington Potters one that I have. The vase with the flowers is like my husband’s cut glass collection. Many beautiful fabrics create the books. The white is quilted to remind my of wainscoting. The mini quilt was made from scraps from a quilting friend’s stash. She passed away recently.
Machine pieced, Machine appliqued, Machine quilted, Beading.
Gail O’Brien, “Ode to Dr. Seuss”
Three books by Dr. Seuss with Seuss’s Fish and S unique bookend!
Machine embroidered, Raw edge applique, Outline stitching with fabric painting, Free motion quilting writing.
2020 Barn Quilts Challenge
1st place: Cheryl King “Dancing Tulips”
Tulips in each corner, stems leading to the center square. Flying geese between tulips.
Machine pieced and appliqued, machine embroidered
2019 Challenge Quilts
The challenge was to turn the “Valley of the Kings” panel by Robert Kaufman into a quilt measuring 24 by 42 inches. The provided panel was richly decorated in blues, reds, and gold. The members did an amazing job and let their creativity shine in our spectacular display.
1st place: Elyssa Macura, “King Tut’s Garden”
2nd place: Gail O’Brien, “Egyptian Cats in the Garden”
3rd place: Cheryl King, “The Eyes of Heaven”
CH06 Elyssa Macura “King Tut’s Gaden”
This could have been King Tut’s garden in the Valley of the Kings where he is entombed. The colors and motifs in this panel did not appeal to me and this was destined to be a tote bag until I took a quilt guild workshop on July 13. This is my first challenge quilt and only the second time I tried Machine stipple quilting and machine applique.