How to get kicked off Project Runway

Harangue and mock the judges, then blame the model for your ugly outfit. I'm just sayin'...

See ya' Keith -- at least Santoro's shredded chiffon came with a personality!



Totally unrelated PS: I saw IQF chicken in a different grocery store yesterday. I didn't have time to stop and read the label to be sure it was really chicken, but I *will* be going back.

Get ready to "make it work"

Bravo's highly-anticipated fifth season of the three-time Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning creative competition reality series Project Runway returns Wednesday, July 16 in a new time slot -- 9/8c. Returning to the runway, host and supermodel Heidi Klum heads a panel of industry luminaries, including judges, top women's and menswear designer Michael Kors, and fashion expert Nina Garcia, as they decide who is "in" and who is "out." Tim Gunn, Chief Creative Officer at Liz Claiborne, Inc., will once again act as a mentor to the designers as they take on weekly fashion challenges. The 16 Project Runway contestants will be whittled down week-by-week to the finalists who will show their own line in front of an audience of fashion industry movers and shakers at New York Fashion Week.

PR update

I knew it was a "reunion" week... but still. What is the point, other than to drag out the finale? Boring.

Week #10 Project Runway Challenge

First, go read about Sophie's progress on the Week #9 Challenge... She's planning a little something for her inner diva!

This is a fantastic challenge -- choose a work of art as inspiration for your piece. Although PJ limited the source material to three wings of the Met (how harsh, eh?!), I won't set any limits. Find a piece of art that inspires you and make something.

Interestingly, there's a quilt exhibition with this theme at the Memorial Art Gallery right now -- click the link, then "preview the sale" to see thumbnails of the inspired quilts. None of the images are terrifically large, but there are some interesting works there. I'm still hoping to see this exhibit in person!

Another thought -- do you remember the idea of "slice quilts"? Groups would choose an image, slice it into sections, and each member would interpret their section before sewing them all together. Here's an example, and this one of glads in a vase is stunning (and a current project). The glads could be one of my all time favorites -- I do love glads!

You know what time it is... Week #9 Project Runway Challenge!

I know, I know... I don't have time for this. But it's kind of addictive! Plus, maybe I'll want to revisit this idea sometime in the future...

Wow -- I just realized we're down to six designers. Do you have a favorite amongst the contenders? Ricky, Rami, Christian, Chris, Sweet P or Jillian.

Um, the divas of the WWE? Their challenge is to create an outfit for the divas to wear in the ring. What in the world are we going to do?! (OMG -- they're going shopping at "Spandex House"!)

OK, let's do this: Design something that expresses your imagined self. While these divas are doing a job (albeit a non-traditional one!), they're also role-playing and living out fantasy lives. What do you DREAM of being? What do you want to be when you grow up? How do you see yourself? (This might be different than how the world sees you...) What is your dream job or aspiration?

Boring....

1. PR is a re-run this week.
2. Although I've got a lot going on, there's nothing to talk about -- or I guess it would be more accurate to say nothing I can talk about right now.
3. I decided that given the premise of #2, I had to drop the Walking in this World study group.
4. That leaves the weather... and, well, that's not all that interesting either! It's cold and windy and icy. Heck, it's January -- what do you expect?!
   

How was that for blog post #101? Not very auspicious, I must say :)

Project Runway - Week #8 Challenge

What will today bring? Oh, Levi's... this could be fun! More than 500 pairs of jeans in different colors with matching white cotton by the yard. Very neat to see all the different tones and tints of denim... this is like a scrappy blue and white quilt!

OK, focus here :) Design an iconic piece in denim.... Your challenge: Use denim for something. Easy this week. It could be a patchwork denim picnic quilt, clothing restyle, throw pillow, curtain, tote bag... whatever. I'm sensing a trip to the thrift store for supplies!

Week #7 Challenge - Project Runway

Hmmm.... create an avant-garde look that is artistic and conceptual, inspired by your model's hairstyle. Frankly, all that hair scares me! You're welcome to incorporate the hair idea if you like, but I'm *not* making it part of this challenge.

Your challenge this week is to create something that is arty and conceptual, doesn't have to be practical in any way. I encourage you to play with new ideas, new or unusual materials, whatever strikes your fancy. For example, Debbie brought home a stash of office supplies to use in quilting... Nellie is working on a piece that will incorporate pieces of spiral binding...

OOOOooooohhhhh -- a twist! Both an avant-garde piece AND a prêt-à-porter piece (gosh, that movie was funny!). Can you translate your crazy vision to the "traditional"? I usually find it I work more the other way -- traditional with a twist, if you will -- so that could be a fun element to add!

Project Runway Week #7 Challenge

Here we meet again... are you ready to create memories?

Before the challenge, can I just say: I take exception to the statement that prom is one of the most important days in a woman's life. Yes, I went to prom, yes I was excited, yes I had a good time. But it wasn't like life revolved around it. Ever. I subscribe to the concept that TODAY is the most important day in my life, no matter what the day brings. Some days suck, but that doesn't devalue them, you know?

OK, off my soapbox now -- Let's interpret the prom :) Use fancy material(s) -- if you usually work with "plain" cotton, try some silk or lame or velvet or lace.

So, if I tell you about MY prom dresses, will you tell me about (or show me!) yours?! I'll look for pictures...

Project Runway Week #6 Challenge

After a two-week hiatus (did you work on your challenges? I didn't, LOL!), Project Runway is back tonight. Wonder what this week will present? I may not make it through the episode, but I'll stay awake long enough to issue a challenge, I promise!

Hmmm... their challenge is to create a look using items from the Hershey's store. I'm not sure what to do with that, to be honest!

OK, here's what we'll do: Use something candy-related -- the wrapper, the paper cups, the plastic bags they come in, whatever -- and you can add whatever materials you need to make an item. I guess you could use the candy too -- how about an M&M mandala?

I actually saw this Ecoist clutch made of candy wrappers in a magazine today; lots more here on thegreenloop.com:
Good luck... and I'm not responsible for any resulting weight gain ;-)

Project Runway - week #5 challenge

First, I seriously commend this week's models -- to lose significant amounts of weight and then put themselves in a designers hands... probably none of whom have ever made clothes in anything related to a real size.

Anyway: Your challenge this week is what I'll call "New Wine in Old Wineskins" -- take a finished or unfinished project, and refashion it. You could also take an old item of clothing and turn it into something fresh and wearable. If you collect "cutter quilts," now would be a great time to turn one into a teddy bear or pillow or something!

Hey, does my unfinished week #1 challenge project count?!

And now, George wants some attention (and to watch the yarn move onto the needles some more...)

Housekeeping...

I fixed the link to Christine Thresh's web site in the PJ Week #4 post -- if you were looking for her bra block pattern (or any of her other great patterns), the link is now correct.

Just some responses to comments:

@ Dorothy: thanks for the ladder idea (I wish I had thought of that!)... but I don't get the tutus... I ended up using some leftover flannel from another project, that happened to already have some strips sewn together. His quilt looks like Daffy's, except in Thimbleberry flannels from a few years back.

@ Nellie: I considered making a quilt for my sister's dog (who, despite not being allowed on the furniture, seems to spend a lot of time on the living room sofa!), but that was too much work for the time left. She's getting a butterfly softie to rip apart instead ;)

@Sheri: My previous cat would have done just what your Jingle did -- she preferred cold or glossy surfaces (like magazines or newspaper inserts), and probably wouldn't have much cared for a quilt either. I didn't hold it against her, though -- she was such a sweetie!

"Oh Joy" is right! (Week 4 challenge)

Sophie emailed me today (with that subject line) to say she had finished her Project Runway Week #4 challenge piece... so I ran right over to her blog to see it. You should too -- it's fantastic! She used neon, cutouts and fringe in a very fun, modern way.

Project Runway Challenge -- Week #4

Ooooohhhh... dated trends AND teams. "Now it gets a little more complicated" is right! How shall we make this work? The designers are working in teams of three, and have to create three pieces that work cohesively as a collection. I won't challenge you with that -- let's not be ridiculous :)

So, here's the deal: Choose at least TWO of these outdated fashion trends and make ONE piece that incorporates those ideas.

• Neon
• Cutouts
• Pleather
• Poodle Skirts
• 70s Flare (a la John Travolta)
• Overalls
• Dancewear
• Baggy Sweater
• Underwear as Outerwear
• Zoot Suit
• Shoulder Pads
• Fringe

A couple of thoughts immediately came to mind: Sonji Hunt's work speaks to the idea of cutouts, as does an article in the new Quiting Arts Magazine. Fringe could be a great edge treatment, or an eyelash-type yarn. Underwear -- there's Christine Thresh's Bra block pattern, or use lace in a starring role. Shoulder pads might be some extreme trapunto.

Oh -- in case you were wondering, my menswear piece is truly disgusting and I'm tossing it. I refuse to make your eyes bleed by showing a picture -- I just can't be responsible for the resulting medical bills and mental anguish!

Week #3 Challenge = U-G-L-Y

Ew. I should have gone with the idea I showed the other day for my week #3 challenge. I messed around with the strips of the tie, and added some decorative stitches, and it's just plain ugly. Binding is probably making it even worse. I feel like I've been visited by the same workroom gremlins that led Sweet P to this seriously troubled shirt. I haven't decided if I'll stitch on the other two binding strips and show it to you, or just toss it out. I'm leaning toward the latter, but I'll sleep on it first in case inspiration comes to me in a dream ;)

Week #3 Challenge - progress

Just a little teaser of what I'm working on for the menswear challenge. I bought a couple of silk ties and a tweedy wool sportcoat at Goodwill yesterday, and immediately tossed the coat into a hot water wash for felting. I'll tell you, cutting apart a jacket to get at the usable pieces is NOT a fun task. Had I been thinking, I would have looked for a wool skirt with a similar pattern -- easier to deconstruct -- but I rarely think in instances when it would be helpful.

Anyway, I had no plan for this piece (and really still don't, if you want to know the truth). I thought I might be able to make another piece for the Priority: Alzheimer's Project if I kept the dimensions small. I started thinking about a man walking on a windy day, with his tie flapping up, maybe over his shoulder. This piece surely won't be a realistic interpretation of that idea, but I still like the image!

These are just 3" pieces of wool, with the patterns running in alternate directions. I joined them edge-to-edge with a decorative stitch, and ended up with this approximately 9" square surface. Then I took apart the tie (another fun project) and cut some strips, and grabbed some silk ribbon from my stash. I don't really know if it'll look like this, but thought you might like to see my mind at work on an abstract piece. (Don't forget, I warned you I was eclectic in my quilting tastes!)

Week #2 Challenge -- FINISHED!

Here's my diptych for the Project Runway Week #2 Challenge. I traded the wool star on the tree for the cute button that says "Believe" (leftover from some other project) -- gives it a little more character and a much-needed darker hue.

The snowman (well, it looks more like a snowgirl to me, with the button snowflakes) has hand embroidery for the eyes, eyebrows and mouth, then I hand tack stitched the cheeks and nose, too. That was more a function of not having the right color of thread for machine buttonhole stitch!

I photographed the pair atop the book the pattern came from... I decided that way I wouldn't forget to tell you source! The pattern is actually for coasters, with an additional layer of felt on the back, but I decided to make ornaments instead. I just have to add a hanger of some kind. But I'm still calling this one finished :)

Sophie's Week 2 Challenge

Go see Sophie's great week #2 diptych challenge here, if you haven't already. It's still a work in progress, but who am I to judge? Neither my week 1 nor my week 2 are finished. (Apparently I chose an obscure thread for the quilting of the feathered star, so that one may languish until I can locate more.)

Anyway, I love the free style of these pieces, and the day/night contrast. I can't wait to see how she finishes them.

How could I forget...

Christine Thresh's wonderful paper dolls, from her pattern Kate & Friends. She's done men, women, boys and girls for your paper-piecing pleasure.

Inspiration for Menswear Challenge

Thought I might jumpstart your thinking by sharing some links to quilt ideas and sources that are menswear inspired.

• ABOVE: Tied quilt made from "various suit and coat materials, rectangular sections of various woven materials, backed with green plaid material, each section with center orange cord knot. No mark. Size: 66" x 64"." (from an old Dargate auction catalog)
• Kate's journal quilt, using fabric from her father's Hawaiian shirts
• Kate's quilt top, using that shirt fabric in a totally different (and very cool) way
  
• Lots of menswear inspired quilts at QuiltBug
• If you EQ, there are 16 shirt front blocks (most with long ties) in the Contemporary Pieced block library
• Men of Biblical Proportion -- quilts by men, about men and for men, based on the men of the Bible. (I wish there were more pictures on the site -- I saw one of these pieces at a local show before it went to the exhibit, and it was amazing.)
• Wagga rugs, a traditional Australian covering made by men -- the rugs themselves aren't much to look at, but they might inspire you...
  
• Several sports-themed quilts made from patterns by Spring Creek NeedleArts
• Tied quilt made from "various suit and coat materials, rectangular sections of various woven materials, backed with green plaid material, each section with center orange cord knot. No mark. Size: 66" x 64"." (from an old Dargate auction catalog)
• Quilt made from wool suits by blogger Kodachrome Knits, inspired by Good Things from Tag Sales and Flea Markets by Martha Stewart
• I'm no Sunbonnet Sue fan, but one of her boyfriends would also fit the bill for this challenge.