Thursday 15 September 2016

Improv Like a Boss - TGIFF! & A GIVEAWAY

Welcome! So glad you could drop by for a little TGIFF! action... I have a special finish to share today (and...just maybe a prize...)


This year my Guild hosted their very first Executive Challenge. We picked three paint chips out of a brown paper bag and then we tried to make a quilt out of those colors. I'm here to tell you, I got lucky on my choices. Green, yellow, blue. No challenge there since they are my go to colors. I decided I needed to make this a wee bit more challenging and set some personal goals.

First, use only fabric and supplies from my stash. Success! I started with a Kona to match each color and then pulled some prints and low volumes.

Then I challenged myself to Improv. That's right people. I did not use a ruler for this entire project until it came time to bind. I know right. Take a deep breath. Its all over now and I did great!

If you are new to my bog here is a secret - I don't do improv. I worship the pattern. Oh sweet patterns. BUT I was determined. Armed with a sparkly new copy of  The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters by Sherri Wood I read every detail and then started cutting squares. With no Ruler!  I have to tell you I am in love with this book. If you are a pattern girl but want to branch out? Start here!

Even though my focus was imporv, I still wanted the star to be the colors, since that was the challenge. So I kept it simple with the color grading from blue to yellow. I joined squares to make small units, joined those units together, then again into bigger units (you get the point) until I ran out of fabric.

I did really random straight lines for the quilting. I admit I am not thrilled with the quilting on this. I was in a time crunch and quilted it on an older machine that just does not have the quilting chops of the Janome. So there is a lot of distortion going on. But, overall I am super happy with how this challenge turned out. I even hung it in my living room!


I revealed this quilt last week at the Maritime Modern Quilt Guild meeting along with 19 other members who made some amazing pieces.

I know some of you like a good backside, so here it is...
The guild is running an on-line viewers Choice Contest over on their blog. You can hop on over and see the other fabulous quilts! So much talent in our group. Have fun trying to pick just one to vote for!


So this was fun! Thanks for stopping by TGIFF! If you are new to Chezzetcook, please stay and take a look around. If you are a regular visitor...hey! Thanks for coming back :)

http://tgiffriday.blogspot.ca/
Now it's your turn!  Link up your finishes and link back to the TGIFF! party so your readers can find us and link up too! I can't wait to see what you've finished this week!


AND
If you have made it to the end of this post you deserve a chance to win your very own copy of  The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters.  Simply leave a comment and tell me if you are partial to improv or patterns. I'll announce the winner next Friday!

Finish on!
Adrienne


42 comments:

  1. You did improv like a Boss! Love those colour choices -- great paint chip challenge selection. Love this! Thanks for hosting, Adrienne! (I have the book and love it!)

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  2. Looks amazing! I love those colours. And I'm definitely a pattern kinda girl - I've done improv but I find it very stressful. :-)

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  3. This pleases me. Greatly.
    And I know I don't have to tell you that patterns ain't my thing!
    Kudos to you for jumping in!

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  5. I haven't done an improv project yet, but I LOVE the look!

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  6. Your Quilt is great but I really depend on patterns and I have done a few improv blocks but not without my ruler.....

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  7. I'm too scared to "improv" so I'm more of a pattern person. This book looks like a great way for me to be more "daring". Thanks so much. akronne17@gmail.com

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  8. Please don't put me in for the prize as I already have this book. I want to say how great your quilt turned out! I love improv design and the free flow it offers. It's just so relaxing and stress-free. Bravo and I hope you continue to make more!

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  9. I'm more a pattern person. I like the backing you choose for the quilt.

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  10. I like both but a pattern helps tell me how much fabric I will need. Otherwise I run out.

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  11. Oh wow! You did great. I really dislike trying to cut fabric to the correct size so need to try some more improv :-)

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  12. I love this! So pretty and the colours are my favourite! I had sponge painted my walls blue and sponge painted my casings yellow in my old room at my parents house. Since I've moved out many moons ago, it has been repainted :) I am definitely a pattern person but would love to try improv someday....especially with all the scraps in my stash. Thanks for sharing your finish :)

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  13. I am a pattern person. Even if I design the quilt I have to draw it out or at least think it out and use my rulers. I have tried making a few blocks with scraps but not much is happening yet. Maybe I need to use bigger pieces to start with. I need a copy of that book so hope, hope, hope I win it. Thanks. I do like your quilt and how the colors move.

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  14. Adrienne, it came out beautifully! You did a great job. I have done a few small improv projects. Small. Good luck in the paint chip challenge!

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  15. Way to go out of your comfort zone!! The results are beautiful. I have never used a ready-to-go pattern; I've always designed my own. I have tried a little bit of improv, and I like it! Although...it's mostly been white on white. :)

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  16. Way to go out of your comfort zone!! The results are beautiful. I have never used a ready-to-go pattern; I've always designed my own. I have tried a little bit of improv, and I like it! Although...it's mostly been white on white. :)

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  17. Kudos for challenging yourself during this endeavoureview. Lovely outcome! I am trying more Improv but I do enjoy the mind rest when using a pattern.

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  18. Kudos for challenging yourself during this endeavoureview. Lovely outcome! I am trying more Improv but I do enjoy the mind rest when using a pattern.

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  19. I'm a beginner so I am using patterns for now but would love to try this!

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  20. I am a pattern user, for sure! I love how your improv quilt turned out!! Your made a beautiful quilt with your colors!
    Susie

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  21. Love your quilt and your bravery in trying this. I admit I'm mostly a pattern girl, although I have been known to tweak them a bit. Improv intrigues me but I haven't yet mustered up the courage to try.

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  22. Your quilt is beautiful! Looks to me like you have mastered improv. Well done!

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  23. First, I love improv! Second, I love seeing Paint Chip challenges! Your colors are gorgeous, as is the quilt!

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  24. I love the look of improv, but I struggle with it! I would love to win this book and give it a more informed attempt :) thanks for the giveaway. Great quilt!

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  25. Awesome improv quilt - love your color choices! I tend to go back and forth between improv and patterns. Depends on the fabric I'm using, I guess.

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  26. I am a pattern girl all the way! I love the look of improv, but the brain struggles to wrap around it.

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  27. Beautiful quilt! I love how you created the colour gradients. I'm a pattern girl and find improv challenging!

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  28. I'm a pattern girl but I am trying my hand at improv. I find it very relaxing and freeing. It hard coming out of the box.

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  29. I love your quilt! When I saw it in the voting I thought it was a disappearing 9patch. I make up my own patterns so they wind up being kind of improv? I guess? Maybe? Both? Could I be more inarticulate?

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  30. Pretty finish! Color sorting and improve looks good to me :)

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  31. You did a great job! It was good to see it in person. I am a pattern girl!!!!!

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  32. Well done, this turned out beautifully! Improv is very liberating, just go with the flow. I sometimes have distorted quilting but I feel that when the quilt is washed it's not that bad anymore. I really like it and it's worth hanging in your living room!

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  33. What a cute quilt! It looks like it was fun to make, and I love the color gradation you chose!

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  34. I am too afraid of going outside of the lines to do improve. But maybe this book would be good for me to get me thinking outside of the box. I did link up a post about my finish this week or a block pattern. It may not be a finished quilt but this was my first attempt at doing a tutorial. I have new appreciation for pattern designers everywhere. kthurn(at)bektel(dot)dom

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  35. You did an awesome job with your first foray into improv! It depends on the day as to whether I prefer improv or patterns. Much to my shock, though, I'm finding myself loving paper piecing! Yikes! Lol.

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  36. I am a pattern girl, through and through! Improv tends to make my brain freeze. You did a brilliant job with this quilt!

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  37. I've barely touched improv, and was actually just thinking that a book to read would probably help eliminate my fears.

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  38. I've never tried improve, so by default I guess I am a pattern person. I would love the chance to read the book and try some of the ideas. Thank you for the chance to win. momoftana at yahoo dot com

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  39. I love your quilt. And I love how you embraced your improv side. You did a fantastic job. Now I need to go improv something!

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  40. I'm warming up to improv slowly.

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  41. I have always used a ruler but you make it look lovely. Great quilt! It is something I would like to read about and try. Thanks to your guild for this chance.

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