Last year mt quilt club announced a secret challenge. We were to bring in some fabric in a jam jar, with our name under the lid so you didn't know who it belonged to. The idea was for another club member to take your jar home, make whatever they liked from your fabric, adding one other fabric if necessary, and bring it back on the last club night of the year. This is the anonymous jar I chose to take home, it had an interesting mix of colours inside.
Wonder what's in here?
Tucked inside was a lovely piece of linen type floral fabric. As soon as I saw it, my mind was made up, I was going to make a tote bag. My extra fabric was purchased, turquoise Grunge for the back, straps, and lining of the bag. I started work on this project straight away, and this is what I came up with.
Bag front
I used the pieces of fabrics provided, making an inside pocket on the lining, and using this pretty floral strip down the back of the bag. And I must say, I'm rather pleased with how it all came together.
Back of the bag
It's just as well I finished this project in good time, as Robin passed away in late November and I didn't feel that I could attend the Christmas meeting. This bag was dropped off to the recipient, and challenge was delivered to me last week, thanks to the Sew Wot girls involved.
I had filled my jar with New Zealand themed fabrics, and was thrilled with what I received back. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined the club member would make me a rope basket. Such a lot of work, and it was beautifully done. Colleen had placed the beautiful native Tuis in the base of the basket. The early settlers named these parson birds because of the white feathers at their throats.
My beautiful rope basket
Collen had also made me two lovely little coasters. I think her creativity and skill is amazing indeed.
Rope basket and two coasters
In my view, the Christmas challenge was very sucessful. I'm pleased with what I made although it was a big responsibility making something really special from the jam jar fabrics. And I'm over the moon with what I received back, thanks again to Colleen.
