A Challenge

“The biggest challenge after success is shutting up about it.” 
― Criss Jami

     I am the biggest sucker for challenges!!  There is a fabric company called Cherrywood which offers a annual challenge using their fabrics.  All their luscious fabrics are hand-dyed and just fabulous!!! A past couple of challenges have been "Wicked" from the stage play/movie/book "Wicked".

All the "Wicked" entries

And "Lion King" also from play/movie. Each of these art quilts are 20"x 20" and made from four fat quarters of fabric selected by Cherrywood...at least 75% of the selected fabrics...and all other fabrics used must also be from Cherrywood, with the exception of white because they don't sell white!

All the "Lion King" entries

Both of these have been on display at the Houston International Quilt Show at the Cherrywood booth.

    This year the challenge is "Van Gogh"....an art quilt inspired by any Van Gogh painting.  The selected color fabric palette is three blues and a black.  I love Van Gogh; he has been one of my favorites for many years! So I decided what the heck and filled out the application, sent in my entry fee and have my fabric.

Challenge rules, etc.

Cherrywood Fabrics for challenge

     I have decided to do a picture inspired by Van Gogh's "Irises".  A friend of mine, Morris Meador, has a beautiful garden and a few weeks ago he posted some pictures of his irises...I actually think they are much prettier than Van Gogh's, but because I am restricted by the use of these fabrics with a some of a few others thrown in, my iris will be a bit different in color from Morris's.

Van Gogh's Irises

Morris's Iris

    I have to have my 20" x 20" art quilt done by August 1 to enter online...so, hopefully, this time next year my Van Gogh will be hanging with others like the pictures above of the other two Challenges!!!! I plan to show some of my process here on my blog....so stay tuned!