Cotton Boll Quilt Guild Challenges
 

Stacking the Deck

    

There goes the red baron . . again. Tami made this German sunset scene - - last night. A lot of us brought in our quilts still smoking from the ironing board. Some of these cards are hotter than Vegas!

"Two Spayed"

This seems to be a theme for this suit without each of them knowing it. Sorry about the poor photo quality, but do you notice there are two ways she told us this was the two of spades?
 

  

"It's Magic"

Joanne's card does leave you sort of spell bound. I love the phantom hand.

 

"Four Spayeds"

Don't you know Melissa and Julie cracked up when they saw each others SPADES idea? Wonder how long Melissa networked to find Band-Aid fabric?

 

As you know Tracy's talents go beyond fabulous quilts. She found some photos of an 1811 English deck of cards, and from a tiny picture painted this scene!! She used Seta colors, a paint especially for fabric artists, except for the number fives, which are fabric. I would love to shuffle that deck of cards. Well . . maybe a replica deck.

 

"Do You See What I See? 6 Fishes in the Sea"

It looks like Sandra got her inspiration from the coral reef.

 

When we were trying to figure out which card Doretha had, we were trying to put significance to the exotic flowers, but the story is in the shape of the branches and the one spade leaf. Just look closely at the enlargement and see the different textures of brown that went into the "eight tree". As usual, Doretha has hand appliquéd everything.

 

"9 of Spades in Blue Jeans"

Flavin incorporates techniques that she is currently using on her lecture/teaching circuit. Denim jeans is her current "phase". I wouldn't be too surprised if she doesn't have a ninth nine patch in one of those pockets. I promise, I did not see the quote below until I was just writing this script, and felt I just had to include it. I just love serendipity.

"Most People restrict God to religion, meditations, sunsets, rainbows, shells by the sea, missions, crusades, prayers, and stirring sermons. Yet God's creative message is often found in the strangest places----even in blue jeans." Father Leo Booth Meditations for Compulsive People Revised Edition.
 

  

"Chaos Revealed"

Patti Viveros, who has moved to Dayton, Ohio, returned to share this beautiful rendition of the ten of spades she made when we started this challenge. The quilt is in too sections - the top is the universe, and the spades float around in chaos. The bottom is real life where things are orderly. The edge of the white satin where the two sections are joined is burned off, and has a black curly line where the chaos is revealed. A couple of the top spades are made from men's ties.

 

"To Dream"

I didn't speak to Terri about this, but I bet this Queen of Spades is dreaming about the beautiful garden she is preparing to work in.

 

"Murphy, King of Spades"

Bonnie says that this guy has the dubious name of Murphy after everything went wrong that could as she was getting this card together. Well Bonnie, you would never know by looking. He is quite handsome and serene.
 

  

We are missing some cards in the spades group so you get this "free shot" of some that are shown hanging at the Christmas party at the Glover's home.

HEARTS

 

"Stacking The Deck With the Ace of Hearts"

Louise subtly lets us know which card this is by the shape of the willow branches and the "quiet" heart setting on one of the chevrons. The tranquil scene with the appliquéd ducks is for free. How did she do those chevrons? Piece them and then appliqué them?? See if you can tell. I'm going up the hill to ask her. :-)

 

Linda made this sweet valentine as her interpretation of the two of hearts. The doves are made with fleece and I can practically hear them coo.

 

3 O' Hearts

Shirley claims she can't draw a straight line with a ruler, so her granddaughter, Alexandra drew the body of the peacock for her. The tail is made with 'delicious' colored flannels. When no one seemed to be able to tell it was the three of hearts with just the black appliqué thread, she outlined each heart with some black cording. The colorful feathers in the crown of the peacock came from her aviary.
 

 

I think Linda T. made this perfectly clear. Wait - - - maybe not. It could be a four leaf clover which would make it the 4 of club. You just might see this card in two different suits.

  

It's as plain as the hearts in her pasties, but I admit I did not see this gorgeous dame in the shape of the number until about the third time I admired it. There are three other hearts hidden on the card somewhere, and if the web quality will allow, you can see the heart quilting also. Martha was inspired by the 1920's theatrical and fashion illustrator Paul Erté. This guy had a rich dream life.

 

"Happy Hearts"

Jane's bouquet of hearts do indeed look happy. I remember she collected a closet full of fabric with metallic threads for that Baltimore Album quilt she showed us in March. Scroll down and see if you can find if she used the fabric in this vase for that quilt too.

 

"Lucky Hearts"

Now does this look like a traditional quilters design or what? I think a deck of cards with this back on it would "sell". Especially at quilt shows and fabric stores. Give me a dozen decks. I wonder if Margaret had lucky "sevens" in mind when she named it.
 

  

"8th Street Sweet Shop"

8 of these confections from 8th street, have hearts on them. All of the sweets are in their own little "cup" and are 3D. They look so tasty Cindy R., that I'm surprised there are not some empty spaces.

 

"Broken Hearts"

Kim used this sort of 9 shaped heart to commemorate the 9 broken hearts she left behind in her youth. Perhaps Ichabod will happen upon this site and seek to re-kindle. I will let you know if any of them contact me looking for you Kim. :-D

 

"10 of Hearts A'Bloom'n"

It is up to you to count to see if Debbie used the correct number of hearts. The hearts sparkle in the enlarged photo. The photo quality unfortunately does not show the beautiful hand quilting.

 

"Jack Rabbit of Hearts"

I don't know what role the "jack" played in the King's court but this guy smacks of royalty, down to his curled whiskers. He's wonderful. I love the way Judy carried the quilting in ripples from the heart angles.
 

  

"The King"

Ramona, are you trying to legitimize velveteen art? It's coming back you know. Good idea! Do you know the words to all of his songs?

DIAMONDS

 

"Snoopy In the Sky With Diamond"

AHA! This is the dude that did in the baron over in the ace of spades! Isn't it just too cool how these creative brains (Tami and Aggie) work with the same idea and come up with such diversified ways to express it? I'm humming the song, can you? do do do do do, do do do do- "10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or more The Bloody Red Baron was runnin' up the score . . ."
 

  

"Flying High"

Susie made it clear that this is the 2 of Diamond. It makes me hum the kite song from Mary Poppins.

 

Once again a similar theme but so different too. Brenda C's kite flyer has a triple kite and I can feel the motion and the wind expressed.

 

"Feline Gems"

The cats were the give-way that this was Pam's card. Those faceted diamonds are beautiful!

 

"Gems In The Garden"

Shirley F. has sparkled up this pond scene with 5 diamonds. 3 pieced faceted ones and the eyes. Or maybe the facets are quilted in. Be sure to enlarge and admire the detail in the piecing and quilting. I'm sure it is paper pieced but is it all one piece?? Let us know Shirley, it sure is pretty. I am a dragon fly fan and this is a great pattern.
 

  

"Fractured Six of Diamonds"

Well it took three people to convince me that this was Carolyn Zeanah's card. Miss Perfect Points/Symmetrical, has climbed out of her box! It's great Carolyn, now I have to call you Miss Diverse, full of surprises. BUT I bet it was hard for you!

 

"Play It Again Sam"

Sandy J's sax is playing "rich" notes. Enlarge to see the accompanying glitter to the 7 diamonds. Like Man, it vibrates. :-)

 

"A Girls Best Friend"

Yes, Talitha, I heard everyone humming it as soon as they saw it. Nice manicure.

 

"A Nine-Patch of Diamonds"

Golly Martina!! How many geometric shapes can you squeeze in one little quilt?? What a cool border. A nine point on point with fussy cut piano keys. How did you get those blue points in there? Hmmm? I happen to know that Martina is a pedagogy music teacher at the university and I'm sure that is "key" to this design.
 

 

I know, I know!! Florence tells us this is the 10 by shaping her diamonds like the number. What do I win?

 

We are displaying our deck of cards at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on campus. The historic building makes a lovely place for a gallery. Do try to visit the display. They are in the phone book and anytime anyone is in the building with no activities going on is a good time to go.

 

It is fun to see them all "bunched up" too. Another photo at the party where we "revealed" them.

CLUBS

This is the club that hit the hole in one. You know - - Becky aced it.

"Let's Do Lunch"

Yes let's! Cathy's two club sandwiches look good enough to eat. Check out the lace table cloth.

 

"Gala At The Club"

Linda B. was attending a big party at the golf club. She even had some spare golf balls in the pouch. She must be pretty good to only need 3 clubs. :-)
 

 

Anne, went to the lake with her theme too! Those club fish are a new species to me. I see they leap out of the water like bass. I bet they are a game fish and tasty too.

Joyce doesn't understand golf any better than Fred or me. The green pin tells us it is the 10 of clubs. Anyway, Fred when you are that cute you don't have to have course finesse.

 

"Woodland Find"

You have to be a little bit of a botanist to recognize Betty's Jack in the Pulpit. The enlargement shows her artistic detail pretty well.
 

And wasn't Cindy subtle? She only tells us which Queen lives behind this elegant gate and garden with that tiny club crowning the gate. Don't overlook the chickadee on the tree branch. The tiny vines in the front of the gate and the watercolor garden are very sweet Cindy.

Alice, this king is regal. The pieced background befits such royalty.

JOKERS

Mary S. made this nutcracker at Weze's request. She collects nutcrackers and this joker will fit right in.

Aggie made this colorful joker guy as her second contribution to this deck. I think he is going to dance to Spain as a gift to her son.

No guessing which card Susan meant to make. It really makes a pleasant jingle when you shake it. You can double the use as a percussion instrument.