Is anyone going to do the Challenge? I've never done one before and I love the fabric this year. I ordered a 1/2 yd cut set of the 13 fabrics and an additional yard of the challenge fabric.

No idea what I'll do with it yet.

http://www.hoffmanchallenge.com/currentchallenge.html

Best of luck to you!! I entered last year's because I loved the fabric, but this year's just doesn't talk to me. Make sure you look at all the past year's winners to get a feel for what they like to see. Karen McTavish's book, Quilting for Show, helped me a lot because I had never entered any show before, let alone one of this size (800-1,000 entries every year!). Just remember, you have absolutely nothing to lose and a world of things to learn...even if you never send the quilt off to Colorado!! :D I wish you the very best!

I'm glad you put this up.

Turns out I have a piece of the 1990 Challenge fabric - Jungle Madness.

This sounds like fun, but waaaay out of my league...I will happily sit back and watch the rest of you create :D:D:D

One thing I would advise, because this is a competition after all, is not to show your design or progress to anyone but a very few trusted friends until after they have confirmed receipt of your quilt in CO. Fellow quilters will understand, I guarantee it. A good support system is priceless, but keep the design itself close to the vest.

DA Mayer entered the 2008 Challenge, but that's the only other board member I'm aware of that has sent something in.

I hadn't thought of that...I will happily sit back and wait to see what you all create and have entered :D:D:D

I was thinking about it, since I got to play with a lot of the quilts and dolls that were sent to my house! They were shipped in big crates. Had them in my livingroom for a few weeks,until our guilds show. They came from all over the world.

I am certainly not design talented enough to enter that challenge, but the colors of the fabric certainly appeal to me!! Those are definately my colors!

Hope you decide to enter. Can't wait to see what you create.

Pretty fabrics. I can't wait to see what you do with it.

I want to but I don't know that I have left myself any time to do it. I have a few friends who have done it in the past and had their quilts travel for a year across the country. And we have a section in our quilt show for the Hoffman Challenge. It's amazing to see what everyone has done!

It's not due until what, July? Maybe...

It doesn't have to be your own design. You can do anything you want but give credit to the pattern designer if you use one. There is still a world of traditional designs to make or put your own spin on.

Sometimes I have wondered about posting my own designs as I work on them. I love to share what I'm doing and get feedback though. I guess I should keep this one under my hat if I'm going to enter it.

Donna, was that for Quilts of the Endless Mountains?

I would have to look again but it was either June or July 23rd (I think).

No it was for our guild show Quilt Explosion in Pa.
They devide them all into groups for the quilt shows

Go pam go!!!! You win it Girl!!!!111

Yeah, I know. I just wondered if my quilt got to visit with you. :oops:

I considered it, but just do not have the time. Have too many other things that need me (not to mention 2 daughters who will graduate - one from HS and 1 from college, plus SIL from college, too. Hubby also working on his college degree. Soo... too many parties to plan and prep for, and not enough time to devote to something so important.

But good luck to you! You don't have to post photos, but please come back and let us know how your process is going so we can cheer you on!

i'd love to have a go, and have loads of ideas but am note sure i am qualified enough technically to put them into practice, i do think the fabric is divine though.

I am sure there are all sorts of skill levels. You won't know if you don't try.

The fabrics are so yummy this year! Best of luck to you pittsburgpam. You know we'll all be rooting for you!

Ghostrider, I received that book from Amazon today. The quilts in it are so absolutely beautiful and intricate. I don't think I'll ever be in that catagory.

There is some good information about preparing a quilt especially for show, things I never knew to do. Thank you!

Pam, I don't think many of us will ever be in Karen McTavish's league :shock: , but I'm glad you think the book was worth the price. There is also a CD video put out by the Challenge folks (via Jukebox Quilts) that details several techniques to correct the most common problems made on Challenge entry quilts. It's a definite bargain. http://store.jukeboxquilts.com/servlet/Detail?no=152 Also, paying the extra fee ($10) for Judges Comments when you send your entry is worthwhile.

Kelly Gallagher-Abbott, the Challenge curator, is extremely helpful and very kind if you have any questions...to the point of telling me how to put sleeves on an odd-shaped quilt so it would hang properly. With less than a week to the deadline, she replied to my email in under 24 hours. I was truly amazed! :D

The whole thing was an incredible experience for me, start to finish, and I am so very glad I dared to give it a try! Don't let anything about it intimidate you!!

There is a DVD that came with the book that I will look at when I get home. The book says it has videos on binding, sleeves, blocking, machine quilting, etc.

I'm working on some design ideas but they all seem so plain compared to the pictures of past entries.

Good luck! I am new to this board and went back through all the Hoffman Challenges.
Wow!
I am positive all of us on this board will be routing for you.

Pam - we will all be behind you. Your designs are wonderful. How is that kitten of yours, I loved that kitten in the basket avatar? What have you been quilting lately?

Thank you. :-) I have gone over some designs but the one I liked most I see is VERY much like one of the winners last year. :cry: I just don't think I should do that. So, I'm trying to come up with something else which has me stymied right now.

My kittie is now a big cat! She is fine, follows me EVERYWHERE! She loves playing in water and if I even approach my bathroom sink she is there before me and laying in the sink in a flash. I have two sinks so I turn the water on a trickle for her.

I think she misses the grandkids. If I play a youtube video that has baby sounds or crying she comes running and meowing and squeaking.

Go for it, it was so fun entering and trying new methods. The judges comments mean a lot. I had never done anything like the Challenge before and I hope to do more in the future and my quilting should definately improve. Can't wait to see your end results. No one has time until they make time.

I entered the doll challenge once but became ill before I could complete the project.

Good luck. And, more importantly, enjoy the challenge. Definitely get the judges' criticisms. It's very educational. Love the fabrics.

I like the fabric this year. I have some from last year also. Haven't done anything with last year's fabric. Will have to see the new fabric in person.

Loretta, are you still thinking about going to Des Moines in June to see some of the 2009 quilts?

Well, I started on my challenge quilt yesterday. I've been going over and over designs because the first one I did I noticed that one of last year's winners was very close to it!

Since I have 7 yards total of the entire collection (1 yard of the challenge fabric) I just might do my original idea too. I like it the most. It's an old traditional design that I modified the open areas of. With 800 to 1000 entries there is bound to be some duplication of ideas.

Here is one tiny part of it. I'm doing one section before cutting the fabric for all of it to make sure that I like how it looks.

beautiful, go with what your heart tells you - it will be the right answer, i think too many people think quilts rather than feel them - if you see what i mean! Good luck.