Modern Mini Challenge Day!

OK friends- the big day is here!

 
I’m super excited about this fun, new sewing contest- the Modern Mini Challenge at Ellison Lane Quilts. 

Looking for some creative inspiration? 

How about a quick project that sparks your imagination? 

Want to try a new technique or use some of your treasured favorite fabrics? 

Then the Modern Mini Challenge is exactly what you need! 

This is my newest Modern Mini, Between the Lines, with a mini-tute to follow the information on the Modern Mini Challenge below.

The Modern Mini Challenge is a 5 week series that kicks off with some seriously inspiring work from some super talented bloggers. Spark your creativity with ideas and inspiration from some amazing mini quilts and mug rugs. 

Get ideas flowing for color, fabric, technique and style. This is your opportunity to try something new, something fun, something on a small scale. 

Take that big idea and give it a try in mini form. 

So here’s how it will work: 

2/6/12 - 2/19/12 

Weeks 1 & 2 - Inspiration Weeks - Modern Mini Challenge Blog Hop  

Bloggers share their modern minis and kick-start your creativity. Get inspired, get creative, get those ideas flowing!

2/20/12 - 3/4/12 

Weeks 3 & 4 - Sew. Sew. Sew! 

Work on those minis and create your Modern Mini Challenge piece. 

3/5/12 - 3/9/12 

Week 5: Enter the Contest!

Link up your Modern Mini Challenge piece at Ellison Lane Quilts. Voting begins that week and winners are announced on March 9th!

Sounds awesome, right? Get out your sketch book because you don't want to miss your chance to win on of the 5 fabulous prizes. (Um, yes- you read that correctly- FIVE!) 

A BIG THANKS goes out to Kimberly at the Fat Quarter Shop for generously sponsoring all five of our fabulous prizes. 

The five winners will be chosen as follows: 

James’ choice (my husband chooses his favorite) 

Viewer’s choice Mug Rugs

Viewer’s choice Mini Quilts 

(mug rugs and mini quilts- the viewers choose from a selection chosen by myself and three other bloggers) 

Luck of the Draw (Random Number Generator chooses 2 winners)

So what are those fabulous five prizes? Hold on to your hats! 

Source: fatquartershop.com via Jennifer Mathis on Pinterest

Both Viewer’s Choice Winners will receive a fat quarter bundle of the FULL LINE of Flea Market Fancy reprint by Denyse Schmidt. 

James’ Choice Winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop

Both Luck of the Draw Winners will receive a $75 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop

Now, how does that sound? Peaked your interest? Ready to jump in?  All the fun starts next week with the Modern Mini Challenge Blog Hop and this amazing line-up: 

2/6: Stitchery Dickory Dock

2/7: Fairy Face Designs & Amy's Creative Side

2/8: Lily's Quilts

2/9: Patchwork Notes

2/10: Don't Call Me Betsy & Flying Blind on a Rocket Cycle

2/11: Sukie, Don't You Know Who I Am? 

2/12: Freshly Pieced

2/13: From the Blue Chair & Poppy Makes

2/14: Needles, Pins & Baking Tins

2/15: Mon Petit Lyons & Felicity Quilts

2/16: LR Stitched & Random Thoughts Do or Di

2/17: Life's Rich Pattern & Twin Fibers

2/18: Cut to Pieces & Sew Sweetness

2/19: Swim Bike Quilt

Contest Requirements: 1. Create a modern mini quilt or mug rug - only one entry per person 2. Enter your mini quilt or mug rug in the linky party at Ellison Lane Quilts on Monday, March 5. You do NOT have to have a blog to enter. You may link a picture from your Flickr account. 3. Your entry (blog post or Flickr description) should include the size of the item Now, grab a button and go get started!

<a href="http://ellisonlane.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Modern Mini Challenge" src="http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l623/ellisonlanequilts/buttons/modernminichallengebutton125.jpg"/></a> 

And now on to the Between the Lines mini-tute:

To begin you will need to make a patchwork base.  I used sixteen 5" charm squares in various Echino fabrics.  I use a 1/4" seam allowance throughout the tutorial.

 

Now take a deep breath and cut through the center of each row. Should be 2.25" from the seam lines.  Cut very carefully, as you need both sides to put back together!

 

Next you will need a 1" strip of text fabric to sew in between each piece you cut, mine measured 20" long, because I'd rather trim than be short! 

 

Now you will make a slice through the center of each  column and follow the steps above to insert the 1" strips of text fabric.

 

Continue to baste, quilt and bind as you like  I did random straight line quilting with my hera marker and bound in Echino scraps.

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

-Courtney