This year the Hoffman Challenge is celebrating its 24th Anniversary. The Challenge started with 94 enthusiastic quilters, and in some years, the number of entries has grown to more than 700. In addition to the three quilt categories (pieced, appliqué and mixed technique), new categories include clothing (wearable art), accessories, and dolls. While the majority of the entries come from the United States, a wide variety of international entries are received. Each year, the top entries are grouped into traveling collections and visit quilt and fiber shows, seminars, quilt shops and quilt- and doll-makers guilds nationwide and in Canada.
Needless to say, I was truly inspired. I could not find one of the entries that I would love to have sewn or wear.
Now, here is some of the quilts that were in the festival.
None of these quilts were the top winners but they are still absolutely beautiful. I am not a quilter but after going to the festival I am thinking seriously of taking it up. The next group of pictures is not your usual style of quilting and it is very unique.
And who knew you could do more than make a quilt that is a blanket. You can also make art with quilting. This item is made completely of fabric that has been pieced and quilted.
Here is several items that are felted or felting was used in them. Felt is a non-woven cloth that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing woollen fibers. While some types of felt are very soft, some are tough enough to form construction materials. Felt can be of any colour, and made into any shape or size.
This is a felted piece of artwork. You can buy the felt to make this or you can felt your own. The Finishing touches are embroidery stitches. This store has tons of kits in various sizes for you to try. I love this idea and can't wait to try it.
This is a great example of felted purses with felt applique and embroidery stitches to embellish the purses.
This was an exciting piece of felting. It is a scarf. I loved the use of the vibrant colors.
This was a great example of restyling, reusing, and recycling. Then finished off with Felted applique work.
This is a beautiful sweatshirt that is embellished with felted leaves and a jeweled zipper. Now, where are all my sweatshirts I need to get started.
This is a great idea on what you can use your scrap felt pieces for and practice your embroidery stitches.
Santa needed a felted robe to go out in the cold.
Here is another sweatshirt that is embellished with felting and embroidery.
Ribbon Embroidery
I personally love embroidery, ribbons is a great extention of using embroidery. Here are a few examples to help you get creative in finding ways to use ribbon embroidery.
I love the top with all the ribbon embroidery.
This is a great sampler of stitches that when you are done you can hang on the wall of your house. Great idea!
Tambani Textiles
This is a job creation project for Venda women in South Africa.Tambani is a quilting and embroidering initiative to set a group of disadvantaged rural African women on a path of self-actualization and economic empowerment. The embroidered folk tales, which are sold as applique blocks and used by quilters, knitters and crafters all over the world, is a practical way of preserving the Venda oral tradition.
I found this style of embroidery fascinating.
Some of the shops that I stopped by and visited with. The first one is J&M Vac & Sew in Fort Collins, CO. I also teach classes in their store.
The next stop was at The Presser Foot of Fort Collins. They were doing a demonstration on the coolest new iron on the market. Steams and you do not burn yourself. You can also use regular sink water and not distilled water. I would love to have one.
The next booth I stopped at was the Sewing Circle. Many of the items on the wall were designed and created by the women who work in the store.
Here Melissa is showing everyone how to do embossing on fabric. She has also designed and created a pattern that will be sold in her store.
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