What Project QUILTING did for Me

An Interview with Me, Kim Lapacek 

What was your favorite part about Project QUILTING? I have been a seller on etsy for about 2 1/2 years now.  I had been finding myself in the rut of “What can I make that will sell.”  Something I should know by now is that it’s nearly impossible to know what will sell.  Something you think is adorable, cute and just the perfect thing won’t sell ever and then something you make and feel like ripping apart will sell the next day.  Project QUILTING pulled me out of this rut.  Because of Project QUILTING I feel that I can now call myself an artist.  I always shied away from that word when referring to myself in the past but some of the pieces that I have created because of or as a result of Project QUILTING has made me feel that I can say that sentence:  I am an artist.  What’s even better, now that I’ve come to that realization I have started to actually sell pieces of art – because it’s different, it’s unique, and those that understand what goes into my pieces appreciate them.  Who would have thought that by going away from the ‘norm’ I would actually accomplish my goals in the first place?   Which Challenge in Season 1 (you can include the 2 pre-season projects) was your favorite? and why… This is a tough question.  I learned different things from each challenge and each was fun in it’s own right.  The Shoofly Challenge was fun because it was fresh and new and brought me back to piecing.  The Apple Blossom Challenge because I had been wanting to appliqué something similar but it just never made it to my immediate list, same with the log cabin challenge – I had wanted to try that block but hadn’t gotten to it, and the Stars Over America – I kept meaning to converge some commercial’s with hand-dyes but again…never made the list, and when the challenge showed up I immediately thought of my outer space fabric for converging. I have to settle on my favorite was the Rectangle Challenge.  The piece that I created in this challenge was completely organic – it created itself and it told me how it should be.  I started to fuse and quilt rectangles down and all of a sudden it said, “I should be a kite.”  When I thought it was done, it yelled at me – “No I’m not! I still need something and you have some rectangles left to use.”  And of course, it was right – it needed some fun swirls.  It also created a challenge for me that lead me to discover just how much I like to paint my own fabric to use in various projects.  I also had a lot of fun weaving the ribbons and fibers for the kite’s tail…I love that I can twist and turn it however I please since I did it over wire.    Which Challenge in Season 1 (including the 2 per-season challenges) was your least favorite? and why   The Road Trip Challenge.  I had such a hard time coming up with a doable idea for this challenge.  I had a lot of great ideas that I would be able to complete to my liking given a month…but not in a week.  Then I started something I didn’t love and had to start something different.  I do love the bag I came up with – it works fabulously and the laminated maps have held up through a couple of rainstorms and spilled water bottles.    Which Challenges did you come up with your idea immediately and which took some marinating? Immediately:  Shoofly, Apple Blossoms, Recycle, Log Cabin, and Stars Over America. Marinating:  Rectangles, Road Trip, Black & White, Nursery Rhyme, Office Space (sort of…once I went to the store I knew what I was going to do)   Did you try any new techniques for your projects during these challenges and if so, what were they? Apple Blossom – Thread Painting, Three-dimensional pieces on my quilt Rectangle – Fabric Painting Travel – Laminating Fabric Log Cabin – Log Cabin Blocks, ‘Pillowcase’ binding Stars Over America – angelina fiber Office Space – Grommets   How has Project QUILTING made you a better Quilter? Like I said earlier – it has made me realize that I should do what my heart and mind tell me to do…not what everyone else is doing or not just something that I think will sell.    What didn’t you like about Project QUILTING? Hmm…I guess I didn’t like how nervous I would get towards Sunday when no one posted their projects yet.  I know I gave you all a week but I would have been devastated if no one got them done.  Luckily, that never happened!  I’m just a worrier by heart.   Did you find the judges comments beneficial, annoying, or inconsequential?  Why? I liked to read the judges comments.  I listened to what they had to say and analyzed if I think it would have helped my piece – sometimes I thought, “Oh, yeah…that would have been neat,” and other times I still thought I had done the right thing.  It’s always good to hear others opinions and try to grow from them.    Do you think the judging format should be more structured, less structured, stay the same?  and why? I was fine with the judging.  I think they did a great job and I know that many weeks they had some very hard decisions to make.   What was your favorite piece that you created for the Project QUILTING challenge? My Shoofly Challenge piece.  Even though I’m a quilter this was an ‘outside of the box’ piece for me – I’m not a piece quilter.  I started as one but lately I’ve veered away from this and have gone the appliqué path.  So for me to come back from all the more ‘arty’ projects and create this piece…it just holds a special place for me.    What was your top three favorite pieces that someone else created for the Project QUILTING challenge? Karen’s Scrapbook   Lovebug’s Crooked House PennyFabricArt’s the Juggler   What changes would you make to future Project QUILTING Seasons? I know one change that I’m going to make – it’s going to be shorter.  Maybe 5 or 6 challenges instead of 8 (10 with preseason).  I loved every project but it definitely got to be a long season – lesson learned and an easy fix!   Is there anything you’d like to add or comments you’d like to share with me and my readers? I just have to say that I am so happy, honored, and grateful for all the support that everyone has given to my Challenge.  It would not have been what it became without the participants, the judges, and of course the fans.  This has just been great all around and even though I’m exhausted I would do it again in a heartbeat.  Thank you.