Swans in Lemonade

Remember the story of the ugly duckling, or the saying about what to do when life gives you a lemon? Well the "Ugly Quilt Challenge" of the summer of '13 was a lot like that, as it turned out.

The night group of quilters decided to have an independent challenge over the summer break. The rules were:

1. Each participant must bring one yard of their ugliest fabric from their existing stash, cut into fat quarters to be placed in four "grab bags".
2. They must blindly draw four fat quarters of the garnered ugly fabrics. They are not allowed to draw their own, nor to draw a duplicate fabric.
3. Using the four fabrics drawn, five fabrics from their own stash as well as one neutral color (black, beige, white) can be used in combination with the "ugly four". [Maximum fabrics - 10].
4. A quilt top must be completed by the end of summer break, or before the scheduled "Big Reveal".
5. Size restrictions: no larger than 54" x 54".

Honored to be welcomed in to their big reveal on their reconvening the other evening, I snapped pictures of the lovely ladies' lovely creations. Two of the pictures show the four "ugly" fabrics one lady drew, and the five fabrics she used to combine with them from her own stash. The rest are sheer "Swans in Lemonade".

Enjoy the pageant with me:

Yes, indeed!  If anyone could make a silk purse from a sow's ear, it would be these gals!