"Anything but Square" Challenge

To make a cohesive display each quilt should start with a square (12” x 12” finished size). Your “not square” part can go in, on, or maybe under the black square.

Maureen Ashlock
“SCOPING THINGS OUT”

The design for this kaleidoscopic image was achieved with a custom paper piecing pattern. A circle was traced around a 10” dinner plate and divided into eight wedges. After drawing several red lines across the whole circle, 2 mirrors were placed to check each wedge for their kaleidoscopic effect. One wedge design was chosen, and line designs were made with a ruler inside the three red line sectioned areas. After photocopying the wedge, several copies were made to try several variations using colored pencils. After selecting the best combination, the three sections were numbered for paper piecing. The design consists of 24 sections that make up the 8 wedges and not a square in sight!

Lettie Blackburn
“2 HIP 2 BEE SQUARE”

The theme, "Anything But Square", inspired me to make my 12x12 commenting on the sociological label of "square", used to describe a person in the '60s who was not "hip"...which lead me to think of the Huey Lewis song, "Too hip to be square" The resulting piece illustrates that song... two hips, two bees and the mathematical sign for square. Thus...it is "anything but square".

Carol Bormann
“TRIANGLES, PYRAMIDS and UNICORNS”

The sheer pyramidal teabags recently discovered in a newly purchased box of tea became the inspiration and ideal use for my newest found-objects! A two-dimensional graphic consisting of a triangular grid was created in Photoshop for the foundation of the design. The image was then digitized so it could be machine embroidered. The analogous palette of the rayon-embroidered triangles became vibrant against the black background. The dried used teabags were emptied via a slit in the bottom of the pyramid. After rinsing, drying and removing the tag and string, the organza like forms were tacked at the lower corners to a triangle on the base creating a three-dimensional, translucent effect.

Dianna Callahan
"SQUARE TO ROUND"

The term “Square to Round” is common in basket making. Since the piece is woven, it seemed an appropriate title.

This experimental piece allowed me to use another technique in addition to quilting. It turned out well enough not to repeat. I chose to weave the top fabric into the black background fabric, and to complicate things, I did it on the curve. The finishing touch was bo-nash foiling.

Dianna Callahan
“COUCH PO-PLAITO”

This second piece is also experimental. I plaited an organic shape across the black square with handspun yarns which are also "woven" into the background in a few places. I also couched some organic shapes onto the black and finished it with bo-nash foiling. The name is a fusion of couching and plaiting (the technique used) and a play on the phrase "couch potato".

Cathy Jeffery
“KNOT SQUARE”

Knots and buttonholes form not only decorative elements but some serve as attachment devices for the three colorful shapes.

Roberta Ranney
"JERRY LEE LIZARD IS ANYTHING BUT SQUARE"

Being a child of the 60's, the word "square" means “uncool” to me. That led my mind to a quilt I made several years ago with a frilled lizard playing the piano. He is a rock 'n' roll sort of guy. So I made a small piece using the same idea. This little quilt makes me laugh and I think we could all use more of that.

Lily Kerns
“DESCENDING CIRCLES”

A single piece of inexpensive fabric was the inspiration for this piece. Various media and surface techniques affect the texture and reflective quality of the circles.

Donna Olson
“NIGHT MOVES”

This colorful frog intrigues me. I was going for a stark contrast against the black background.

Emmie Seaman
“DIAPHRAGMS”

My 12 x 12 was made by sewing 3"x3" squares out of as many black fabrics as I could find in my stash. The image is a silk organza pojagi experiment with poly circles sewn to it. It was sewn to the black background and the black cut away behind it.

Diane Steffen
“MARDI GRAS”

An old unfinished project was discontinued and the parts reassembled to create this piece. The colors remind me of a party and it was during the time frame of the parade in New Orleans, so Mardi Gras became the title.”

Lucy Silliman
“CORAL JEWELS”

When scuba diving I notice that so often the corals are more brilliant than the fish are.

Merrilee Tieche
“ANYTHING BUT S-S-S-SQUARE”

When Lily told us of the theme “Anything but Square”, I immediately began to think of sinuous shapes. Thos ideas coalesced into snakes of many colors.