My quilt guild is doing a challenge for next year's quilt show. All participants were given a 6 inch square of tropical print fabric. Mine has a rather large parrot on it. The challenge is called "12 Step Program for Quilt Addicts" and here are the rules:
1)Wall Hanginging should be 18" X 24"
2.) must use all or part of the enclosed fabric (That would be my parrot)
3.) Can't use white, must use yellow
4.) Include a star
5.) Include an applique
6.) Include lettering, words or numbers on the front
7.) Include a label with your name
8.) Include an embellishment, such as beads, button, etc
9.) Must use textured fabric such as minkee, flannel, wool, etc.
10.) Include hand stitching
11.) Must use at least 12 different fabrics
12.) Name your piece
Any and all creative ideas would be welcome!!! I've done other challenges in the past, but this one has me stumped. I want to make it a FUN wall hanging and some of my brain storming has been 1.) Jimmy Buffet and Margarittaville, 2.) "Something Tells It's All Happening at the Zoo" - that old song by Simon & Garfunkle, 3.) The Tikki Room in Disney Land. There are so many creative quilters on this board that I thought I'd pick your brains for udeas. THANKS!

a few ideas that come to me
#4 make a large star using as #11 & #9 & #3many fabrics and different textures. #5 & #2 cut out the parrot and applique it to the star, could be off center does not need to me in the middle of the star. #8 embellish the parrot with #10 hand stitching, beads for eyes sprinkled in feathers
#12 $ #6 hand or machine stitch the name of the quilt in or around the piece in the #1 border
#7 add your label
Can't wait to see what you come up with and a picture of it :)
Makes me want to make one of my own:)

Put your parrot in a pirate scene...Captain Hook comes to mind with the crocodile and Smee in his striped shirt (the letters/numbers would be perfect on the alarm clock the croc wears) or there's always Captain Jack Sparrow and the Pirates of the Caribbean. What a great challenge! Have fun.

Good ideas so far ...... Thanks.

Here was another brain storm I came up with: My parrot could be the bachelor in search of a mate. I could name it "The Bachelor...", as in the TV show. I'd put him in the center of my quilt and surround him with bachelorettes. I have a paper pieced pattern to make kind of a funky looking toucan. I could make several toucans and dress them up with hats, jewelry, etc. so each would be different. The center parrot and all the toucans would have a little write up about themselves that I could print out. This could be pretty funny!

Sounds like your creative juices are flowing now!!! I won't add any suggestions.....I sure want to see this when it's finished!!!

Ditter

I'd be very tempted to use real feathers died the appropriate color for the parrots feathers if you could cut the feathers small enough to make it work. And I'd try for lame for the star.

I love the idea of the bachelor. I hope you do that one and post pictures as you go.

LOL sounds really a cute idea!!!

LOVE the idea of embellishing my parrot with real feathers! To satisfy the star criteria,I'll probably incorporate a star button into one the dressed up toucans or maybe create some type of jewelry with gold star(s)

How about the bachelorette who is the winner could be wearing a gold star... can't wate to see what you come up with.

Ditto

Definitely a good idea. I'm on a roll now ...... no stopping me. I'm kind of known in the quilt guild for my sense of humor and I already have some funny ideas for these paper pieced bachelorette tucans. Like: One could be named Polly Wantsacracker and her career could be a gourmet chef or food critique. And how about one that is Vera Wing and she would be a fashion designer. Then there's Beak Midler, who would be the singer/actress. I have a feeling that planning this wall hanging might be even more fun than the sewing & quilting part ......

Make sure you post it!!!!

I would be very tempted to make a large star next to the parrots mouth with @5#%$2$@8#% written in it!

Cute!!!!

You have fun with that one, I want to see what you come up with. Penny

Thanks for all your input. I designed the wall hanging on graph papar last night. Turns out that I need to make a total of six paper pieced bachelorette toucans. So far I have Beak Midler, Vera Wing and Polly Wantsacracker. Any fun ideas for the other three?

Charo Feather, May Fly West,

Mae Fly West ...... HYSTERICAL!!! What I can't do to embellish THAT toucan. You are good ...... my kind of humor ...... thanks a bunch ...... got any more?

Thought of another clever one:
Dolly Pardon-mois Claws. I'll try to adhere some small acrylic nails, painted w/ red nail polish. So, now I've got 5 really good ones:
Dolly Pardon-mois Clois
Mae Fly West
Polly Wantsacracker
Beak Midler
Vera Wing
I just need one more! I'd love to incorporate the idea of feathers or plumes. Kind of want to get away from the singer or actress character and go with something different. Political figure? Author? Historical figure? Any ideas?

I think I might cut the parrot out and applique him. I'd have one of his feet on a very obviously mis-pieced block and have part of it in his beak and say something about my new automatic seam ripper. Embellishments could be a crystal collar, maybe a tiny bell on it.

Belle Starling? Make your parrot a fan dancer?

how about Meryl Cheep

Lady Bird Bush

Birdin A Bush

A French dancing bird Tou Can-Can

How about Chiquita Toucana... dress up like Chiquita Banana.. could even have a little "fruit hat"..

These girls are just too funny.

When you finish your wall hanging I think you should send it on a world tour. The first stop should be my house.

My home will happily settle for the second place on your world wide tour. You could call it the "This Is REALLY It" tour.
Okay, that probably won't happen but I would like to see a picture of it. Please?

Thanks, Tippy ~ I like that idea. Okay, unless anyone can top these, I have my line up of toucan bachelorette:

1. Chiquita Banana-Toucana: TV celebrity, Miss Chiquita is most notable for her famous banana jingle and fruit sombraro. Chiquita travels nationwide, educating the public about healthy eating.
2. Mae Fly West: Actress, playwrite, and sex symbol. Miss West first made a name for herself on the NY Broadway stage. Later, she migrated to Hollywood to become a comedienne, actress, and writer in the motion picture industry.
3. Vera Wing: Fashion designer based in New York City. Known for her feathered couture, Miss Wing has designed gowns and suits for Daisy Duck, Tweety, and Big Bird, among various other celebrities
4.Dolly Pardon-mois Claws: Singer-songwriter, Miss Claws is known for her country music and voluptuous figure. Her recording of "Save the Last Scratch for Me" hit number one on the country-singles chart
5. Polly Wanstacracker: Celebrity chef and cookbook author, Miss Wantsacracker is most notable for her book "The Joy of Cooking With Saltines"
6. Beak Midler: Singer, actress, and comedienne, Miss Midler is also known (by her informal stage name) as "The Divine Toucan Miss M"

Okay, now to go to my fabric stash and design some paper pieced toucans!

You have GOT to post a pix when this is done. It sounds FABULOUS ! ! ! and hilarious.
My sisters made a king size quilt called Naughty Knickers that won people choice award at their local church's quilt show. Each block looked like a different pair of bikini panties--and some of them were quite naughty. One pair had fabric 'money' sticking out, one pair had a zipper, there were pairs with fur, feathers, beads, etc. It was really a fun quilt--totally impractical but funny.

I can't wait to see it! What good ideas you have! It is sure to be a winner!

This is really going to be cute!!! You ladies really have some kind of sense of humor!!! Good thread to wake to with coffee!! :D :lol:

Oh, and with the Beak Midler I need to mention that her biggest hit "Wind beneath my WINGS" achieved platinum status and won Miss Midler the Record of the Year Award!

To answer everyone's question, yes, I will post a pic of my "The Bachelor ... " Challenge Quilt wallhanging for all to enjoy. However, it might not show up right away because my guild's bi-annual quilt show is not until April 2011. My guess is that I'll get it started, 'cause I'm highly motivated right now, but I'm sure that at least 101 other quilting & sewing projects will have a time precedence between now & then. LOL ... that's life, huh? But, don't worry, I refuse to let this one turn into one of my many UFOs ...... Nope, this one is too fun much to lose interest in. Thanks for your creative ideas and encouragement; I promise that I won't let it go to waste.