adventures of a quilting diva

Now for your viewing pleasure, the results of the Citrus Belt Quilters’ Quilt Green 2009 Challenge as seen at the May 16 CBQ Quilt Festival in Redlands, CA. Those who quilted before us knew how to reduce, reuse and recycle; something we sometimes forget after being spoiled by all the wonderfully stocked quilt fabric stores around. As you can see by this collection, it really is quite easy (and fun!) to be green.

Reincarnated
Recycled double bed quilt by Lois Cowan
A true quilt … made from clothing to create a useable quilt. Made from two pairs of jeans and four shirts. The maroon is a sheet. The batting is a mattress pad. Backing is a duvet. I needed another dark color so the gray around the border. I dug out the gray plaid shirt and began cutting, when my husband said … “But I still like that shirt.” “Oh well, now you can really enjoy it.”

Days of Wine and Roses
Wall quilt by Marguerette Tate
Grandmother’s Mother’s linens (napkins/small tablecloth) background/backing. Used ribbons for grapes and binding. Mother’s scarf for roses. Lace center from old lampshade. Family jewelry for beads. This challenge was fun! Corks from “2 Buck Chuck”, not from gifts.

Literally Green
Wall quilt by Violet Vaughnes
Made from my collection of men’s neckties. Batting is necktie interfacing and a baby’s receiving blanket. Backing is a shirt from Salvation Army Thrift Store. Pattern is “Boston Lettuce” from Pieced Vegetables by Ruth McDowell.

Pizza & Coke
Wall quilt by Lily Marie Amaru
This piece came from my love of pizza and Coke. The idea started with collecting Coke cans and etc. from around the world for about 15 years. My favorite pizza is from Pizza Hut. The ideas kept coming and being refined until this piece Pizza and Coke materialized.

In the Garden
Wall quilt by Marguerette Tate
So much fun — old linens, coasters for wine glasses (flowers), cuff links, earrings, pins and family jewelry — beads, old cheesecloth (flowers). I used fabric ink for dye.

Sewing Room Floor Massacre
Wall (floor) quilt by Donna Gaston
Often times while sewing in my room the dogs are playing. But when it’s been quiet for awhile I realize something’s up. And usually this is what I find.

Jean Jacket
Recycled pair of jeans by Lois Cowan
Made from just one pair of jeans. Everything, but the front pockets were used. While attending Chaffey College fashion classes, we were assigned to design a wearable garment from a pair of jeans. This was my design and it placed second in the California State Community College Fashion classes Denim Deconstruction Contest.

I Love Coke
Wearable by Lily Marie Amaru
Working with Coke cans and other fun ideas I have made several of these vests. My collection of Coke memorabilia is displayed throughout my home and this vest is my wearable to display my Coke pins and caps that have been collected from all over the world.

Grandpa and Grandson Matching Outfits
Child’s shirt and jeans by Lois Cowan
Taking the idea from the Fons and Porter ad … the two women that are always cutting up the husband’s shirts and pants. I made Grandpa and Grandson matching outfits. But I don’t think Grandpa is going outside in his outfit.

Turn Me Over — One More Time
Shopping bag by Marlene Padavick
Using the socks with holes (my husband’s) and the gardening gloves (mine) was the start. The denim pockets from granddaughter’s discarded jeans sent me on to pieces of beach towels, dish towels, and plastic bag from our travels. Then lastly the single earrings, bottle caps and a broken watch completed it.
And of course, my upcycled quilt:
Quilt-cycle Sampler
Wall quilt by Laura West Kong
Quiltmaking has a long tradition of reusing materials. In Quilt-cycle Sampler I used a variety of old clothing and linens. I couldn’t resist adding some fun and unusual recycled materials as well: plastic grass sushi garnish, a souvenir keychain, pieces of old jewelry, broken baby sunglasses, buttons off the old clothes, fused plastic shopping bags, part of a juice pouch and clear vinyl packaging, used stamps from around the world, and a painted dryer sheet.

Finally, instead of challenge ribbons, I made cell phone charms out of recycled vintage fabric and beads as souvenirs for each participant.
Quilt green! =(^_^)=