Quilting

The Simplicity Designer Challenge Quilt is Done!

So, I think it's done.  I think that the quilt is done.  Maybe.  It sort of has to be.  I'm dropping it off at Simplicity headquarters later today.

Here's the base in progress:

InProgress-sm

It's canvas that I painted.  It's quite stiff after being painted, but since this is going on a wall, it doesn't really matter.  And now, here are some details of the finished quilt…

StitchingDetail-sm

GridDetail-sm

HeartDetail-sm

TransferDetail-sm

And the quilt itself:

ReasonsToStay-sm

The assignment was to use Simplicity's bias tape maker and/or rotary cutting machine in a creative way.  I made a few quilts that I think were more "creative" about the way they used the products, but I didn't like them.  They just didn't feel like me.  So, in the end, I decided to be myself.  Always a better choice, right?

It's colorful and collage-y and personal.  I think that's where I'm at right now with  my artwork. 

The winner of the challenge will be announced at The International Fall Quilt Market on October 11.  I am very much looking forward to what the other designers came up with!  I suspect that most of them are far more traditional quilters than I am.  And I think it will make for an interesting group of quilts!

P.S.: Just got an e-mail from Somerset Memories requesting a layout for publication!  Yay!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a painter, printmaker, and collage artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Her artwork investigates the interplay of identity and perception, inviting viewers to take a longer look. Julie works in layers, both physically and metaphorically, exploring what is visible and what is concealed. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops and her online classroom at MyArtPractice.com. Julie's achievements include high-profile clients, multiple publications - including her book, “Carve Stamp Play” - and exhibits in New York City and throughout Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Brown University.

44 thoughts on “The Simplicity Designer Challenge Quilt is Done!

  • hey I randomly found your blog but I find it inspiring that you’re having people somehow record their life in some creative way. I’m doing that with blogging, the 101 things to do in 1001 days and the 365 day photo project and I am hooked!

    Reply
  • hey I randomly found your blog but I find it inspiring that you’re having people somehow record their life in some creative way. I’m doing that with blogging, the 101 things to do in 1001 days and the 365 day photo project and I am hooked!

    Reply
  • hey I randomly found your blog but I find it inspiring that you’re having people somehow record their life in some creative way. I’m doing that with blogging, the 101 things to do in 1001 days and the 365 day photo project and I am hooked!

    Reply
  • hey I randomly found your blog but I find it inspiring that you’re having people somehow record their life in some creative way. I’m doing that with blogging, the 101 things to do in 1001 days and the 365 day photo project and I am hooked!

    Reply
  • wow- this is stunning!!!!! I love the colors! congrats ont he pub 🙂

    Reply
  • wow- this is stunning!!!!! I love the colors! congrats ont he pub 🙂

    Reply
  • wow- this is stunning!!!!! I love the colors! congrats ont he pub 🙂

    Reply
  • wow- this is stunning!!!!! I love the colors! congrats ont he pub 🙂

    Reply
  • Fabulous, Julie!! What a wonderful combination of colors and techniques! Amazing details and I love your free-motion work! Good luck!!

    Reply
  • Fabulous, Julie!! What a wonderful combination of colors and techniques! Amazing details and I love your free-motion work! Good luck!!

    Reply
  • Fabulous, Julie!! What a wonderful combination of colors and techniques! Amazing details and I love your free-motion work! Good luck!!

    Reply
  • Fabulous, Julie!! What a wonderful combination of colors and techniques! Amazing details and I love your free-motion work! Good luck!!

    Reply
  • WONDERful quilt. How did you get your pic on the quilt? congrats on the pub. request!

    Reply
  • WONDERful quilt. How did you get your pic on the quilt? congrats on the pub. request!

    Reply
  • WONDERful quilt. How did you get your pic on the quilt? congrats on the pub. request!

    Reply
  • WONDERful quilt. How did you get your pic on the quilt? congrats on the pub. request!

    Reply
  • AWESOME! Love the colours, the arrangement, the textures. The whole lot!!!

    Reply
  • AWESOME! Love the colours, the arrangement, the textures. The whole lot!!!

    Reply
  • AWESOME! Love the colours, the arrangement, the textures. The whole lot!!!

    Reply
  • AWESOME! Love the colours, the arrangement, the textures. The whole lot!!!

    Reply
  • clicked over here from ali’s blog and OMG i love your work…the bright colors, the artsy-fartsyness, the sheer enthusiasm of it all! great blog! 🙂 i’ll be visiting often to check for updates!

    Reply
  • clicked over here from ali’s blog and OMG i love your work…the bright colors, the artsy-fartsyness, the sheer enthusiasm of it all! great blog! 🙂 i’ll be visiting often to check for updates!

    Reply
  • clicked over here from ali’s blog and OMG i love your work…the bright colors, the artsy-fartsyness, the sheer enthusiasm of it all! great blog! 🙂 i’ll be visiting often to check for updates!

    Reply
  • clicked over here from ali’s blog and OMG i love your work…the bright colors, the artsy-fartsyness, the sheer enthusiasm of it all! great blog! 🙂 i’ll be visiting often to check for updates!

    Reply
  • Wow, what a great quilt! You are so talented girl and what an inspiration to us all!

    Reply
  • Wow, what a great quilt! You are so talented girl and what an inspiration to us all!

    Reply
  • Wow, what a great quilt! You are so talented girl and what an inspiration to us all!

    Reply
  • Wow, what a great quilt! You are so talented girl and what an inspiration to us all!

    Reply
  • Question about Somerset…did you submit your layout by email or did they see it on your blog and ask for it? One of my goals for the next year is to get some work published..of course I have to actually DO some work first but that is another challenge.

    Reply
  • Question about Somerset…did you submit your layout by email or did they see it on your blog and ask for it? One of my goals for the next year is to get some work published..of course I have to actually DO some work first but that is another challenge.

    Reply
  • Question about Somerset…did you submit your layout by email or did they see it on your blog and ask for it? One of my goals for the next year is to get some work published..of course I have to actually DO some work first but that is another challenge.

    Reply
  • Question about Somerset…did you submit your layout by email or did they see it on your blog and ask for it? One of my goals for the next year is to get some work published..of course I have to actually DO some work first but that is another challenge.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *