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Home » Blog » Uncategorized » The good, the bad, and the Ugly Fabric Challenge

The good, the bad, and the Ugly Fabric Challenge

Created On: March 31, 2011  |  Updated: March 31, 2011  |   4 Comments

I participated in the “Brown Bag Challenge“… which really means that I swapped some “ugly” fabric from my stash with another unsuspecting participant, and we were each to try our best to find the “potential” in this fabric.

My “ugly” fabric came to me from Brigitte in Canada. Pretty much my “worst nightmare” of fabric. Pink. Dark. Floral.

I struggled with this fabric. For months (seriously – I’ve had this since September), I anguished on coming up with something lovely. In the end, I decided that in order to get it done… I was just going to have to make Log Cabin Blocks. It would have to be good enough.

Then, as I was cutting 2 1/2″ strips… inspiration struck!  Jan Krentz had been in the shop a few weeks before. She is lovely. Really, one of those people who radiates lovely from the inside out. And, her starburst quilts find hidden fabric potential in the most amazing ways. But, I’d already cut all of the darkest ugly strips. There was no turning back… or was there?

I came up with this idea. I call it “Exploding Starburst.” Because it sounds better than “Lazy Starburst” which is pretty accurate as well (for reference, I added the background fabric with the pink butterflies, and the teal ombre – the other 3 were the “uglies”).

Quilted by the amazing Tami of The Enchanted Desert Quilter.  You can see her quilting better on the back, as well as my attempt to “use up” the extra ugly fabric…

Hopefully I’ll have more show-and-tell soon! : )

Always,
Carolina

posted in: Uncategorized

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. jan says

    March 31, 2011

    I always wonder – how do those ugly fabrics make it into the stash? We all have them…

    I think you have ‘lemonade’!

    Reply
  2. SharleneT says

    March 31, 2011

    Looking forward to it. You’ve already done such a great job. Sometimes, you just have to let things lie fallow while the old brain comes up with these things…. Thanks for sharing. Come visit when you can.

    Reply
  3. Stacey says

    March 31, 2011

    I’m impressed. It certainly doesn’t scream ugly to me. You’ve tapped it’s inner beauty. Great job!

    Reply
  4. Cola says

    April 1, 2011

    It was fun to see this quilt in person! You did a great job with what you had!!!

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Carolina!

I’m a Quilt Pattern Designer, Award Winning Quilter, and fan of all things quilting. I live in San Diego with my husband, our two boys and our pets. I love keeping both my hands and mind busy, so I’m always working on lots of projects. You’ll find lots of them shared here!

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