Happy New Year 2019! Thoughts on Resolutions and my finished mini challenge quilt!

Happy New Year 2019!

Like many others you may be busy making resolutions for the New Year. I am usually tempted to jump on the Resolution wagon and join challenges for the year. One thing I discovered last year is that the monthly challenges I joined were often not met because new opportunities presented themselves.

This year I've decided to follow my heart, leave my time more open and create more on my own. I do have an ongoing list of things I would like to achieve that I am always working towards. I'm hoping to get back to entering juried shows and showing my work. I plan to keep working on my projects, so I have some completed ones to share! Also, looking forward to exploring more in my studio, trying out new techniques to incorporate in my work and also improve on my already existing skills.

Here is a photo of my recently completed entry in the "Heat it Up" Quilting Arts Reader Challenge. My little quilt was not chosen this time, but I am very happy I took the time to make it. I explored some new techniques. I may have to set up a little gallery area in my studio for these little quilts.

I do plan to enter more Quilting Arts Magazine Challenges in the future, they are great for expanding your creativity.

Full view of my little 7 inch x 7 inch quilt. 

I used Angelina Fibers for the binding.

Detail view of quilt, using fused elements to embellish 

and enameled charms left over from an enameling class I took.

Another close up - Glass butterfly beads on the left.

Whether you chose to make Resolutions or not, I wish you Happy Creating in 2019!

Blessings,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Good News: my Quilt has been Published and Day 2 Blog Writing Challenge!

Greetings,

It is Day 2 of the #31DayBlogChallenge2018, though I confess, I am writing this post ahead of time!

I have some good news to share:

My entry in another challenge, the Quilting Arts June 2018,  "I've Got a Notion" Reader Challenge was accepted and has been published! It is exciting to see my little quilt printed in the recent December 2018/January 2019 Quilting Arts Magazine.

Here are two photos of my quilts, the first one is a detail, and the second is the completed quilt:

Detail - My Notions: Imagination, Needle and Thread, by Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk Copyright 2018

Full view - My Notions: Imagination, Needle and Thread, by Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk Copyright 2018

It took me about 2 weeks to complete the little quilt. I used leftover bits from previous projects, charms, buttons and a little spool of vintage silk thread to embellish the quilt. My father gave me the little brass thimble with a tassel charm, which I included on this quilt.

The Reader Challenges in Quilting Arts Magazine are a great way to challenge yourself and keep yourself creating on a regular basis. In the past I have entered some of the challenges, but had not been chosen, which is always a bit disappointing. But now, when I think of it, taking part is actually a way to keep yourself growing creatively (DUH!). I may try to enter most of their challenges this following year. I also like that you do have the chance to have your art published and it is another way to share your creations with others.

You can find the December 2018/January 2019 issue of Quilting Arts here.

To see what other bloggers in the #31dayblogchallenge2018 are writing about visit here.

Stay Creative,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Embrace the Challenge

I've recently discovered something about my creative self. I love a good challenge! I had been thinking I should stick to creating my art based on my inspirations only, but I seem to be unable to resist entering art and quilting challenges. Instead, I've decided I will embrace the challenge!

What I like about entering challenges:

• A great way to show your work to a larger audience
• Build connections with other artists and organizations
• Possibles prizes and/or compensation!
• Get your creativity flowing
• Lead to new ideas and new creations after the challenge
• Work created for a challenge can often be entered into other shows or competitions

What I don't like about challenges:

• Time restrictions: I often don't have enough time to do everything to a project that I would like, due to challenge deadlines.
    (However, I am more productive now that I have my studio set up and supplies and work areas easily accessible. Also, if a project can't be completed to one's satisfaction, you can always make a second project based on the first one, and finish it in a different way, something I like to do.)
• Depending on the challenge, you may have to purchase specific fabrics and materials to complete the project.
   (Though, there are some challenges which don't require any additional purchase, and you can use the materials you may have in your fabric and supply stash.)

Here is a list of challenges I have recently decided to pursue, I like them because I can use my existing materials to create the artwork, and there is no entry fee for the contests. We are recently retired, so this is very appealing, and I have lots of supplies I need to get busy using!

5 Fat Quarter Fun Contest:

This is a challenge I found on Instagram. Quilts are to be made using 5 fat quarters and up to 2 background fabrics. This challenge starts August 25, 2017 and ends October 25, 2017. Quilts are to be made during this time frame. Visit the Instagram pages of  @jedicraftgirl and @gigis_thimble for additional details. This contest has prizes!

Quilting Arts Magazine Challenge,  Necessity is the Mother of Invention:

For this challenge you create a 9 inch x 9 inch quilt, all materials must be found and not purchased. The challenge entry is due by October 1, 2017, via email submission. I found this challenge in the August/September 2017 issue of Quilting Arts magazine, you can read more about the contest details there.

Scrap Challenge of a Lifetime (Scrap Quilt Challenge):

I have started looking through my scraps in anticipation of creating a quilt for this challenge from Judy Gauthier and C&T Publishing. For the challenge, you use scraps of fabric you already have to make a quilt based on quilt blocks and template cutting techniques from 2 books by Judy Gauthier. The books are Quilts for Scrap Lovers and Rainbow Quilts for Scrap Lovers. You can use blocks from one or both of the books. I have purchased the Kindle version of Quilts for Scrap Lovers from Amazon.com, and I am planning to design my quilt using the blocks featured in the book. Quilts will be chosen from the photos submitted (12-14 quilts), and they will be exhibited at the April 2018 International Quilt Festival in Chicago. The deadline for submission of the entry form for this contest is November 1, 2017, and the deadline to submit photos of the finished quilt is January 1, 2018. You can find out more about the challenge by visiting: http://www.ctpub.com/blog/scrap-challenge-of-a-lifetime/

What do you think of Creative Challenges?  Do you like, love or dislike them? Please leave a comment, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Have fun creating and embracing the challenge!

Visit my gallery page on this blog to see some of my quilt designs, many were initially created in response to a challenge, then also exhibited at other shows.

Nesting, by Denise A Buchwalter-Losczyk, copyright 2006, This quilt was made for one of the first challenges I entered, the "Piece, Love and Quilt" contest for Benartex fabrics, in 2006. It was one of the semi-finalists in the contest.