Project Runway Sewing Machine and a finish

During the recent "Craft Taffy" retreat I attended, we had a challenge:  Project Sewing Machine.

It was set up just like the Project Runway reality show, except with our quilting/sewing skills.

We were each given a paper bag with a fat quarter and some charm squares.

...thank you, Riley Blake, for giving us fabric!

 

 

The challenge was to make something for the kitchen.

We had one hour to complete the challenge,

the judges left the room and the timer was set.

The funny part was it was completely silent for the entire hour, with the exception of someone yelling out the time.  One machine broke down, I broke a needle, hot glue guns came out, and trims and batting appeared from nowhere.

It was incredibly intense and yet so fun!

My sister, on the left, is trying to smile but it looks more like an un-smile...:( 

 

 

I made a little dish drying mat - not very creative, but useful.

 

 

There were mug wraps, aprons, a chef's hat, a wreath, and many more fun kitchen related items.

 

 

And we had demos... 

I was asked to demo bias binding.

(looking pretty darn serious - I do take my binding pretty darn serious!)

 

 

 

I needed a quilt to demo with so I finished this cute twin size one. 

I just made giant 1/2 squares and set them in a zig-zag pattern. 

 

 

I used a layer cake of:

 

 

Scrappy binding and flannel dots for the backing...

 

 

 

I quilted giant, loose swirls all over.

 

All bound & ready to go to a new home.

 

 

 

So many happy faces - there's Desiloo & Shelto with an eye-spy quilt....Jen is happy, too.

At each cutting station I had made a little 14" x 18" pillow to fill with fabric throw-away scraps. 

These will go to the local Animal Shelter for kitty beds.

 

 

We managed to fill 4 kitty beds - wow - thank you, ladies!