Have you ever related to or dreamed of becoming a particular animal (or insect)? Or has someone ever walked up to you on the street and said, “Hey! Did you know you resemble a ______?” Let your inner animal out of its cage by participating in our latest reader challenge! We will show some of our favorite entries in future issues of Quilting Arts Magazine and even exhibit some at upcoming national quilt shows in 2010.

here’s how to enter

1. Make an 81⁄2" x 11" art quilt of vertical orientation that celebrates your inner animal. (Only one entry per person.)
   
2. The entire quilt, including binding, must measure 81⁄2" x 11" and must weigh no more than 1 lb.
   
3. Your quilt may be made of alternative substrates (such as paper), but it must consist of three layers and it must be quilted, either by hand or machine or both.
   
4. The edges of the quilt must be bound or zigzag stitched closed and there must be a sleeve on the back.
   
5. Any embellishments must not protrude more than 1⁄2" from the quilt. 
   
6. Your entry must be free of any text or images that are protected by copyright, unless you have the expressed written permission from the person or institution that holds the copyright and you provide that written permission with your submission. It’s a good idea to steer clear of commercial imagery.
   
7. To be considered for the challenge, send two low-res images (each less than 1 MB) of your entry (one of the entire piece and one of a detail) via email by Friday, January 22, to challenges@interweave.com, with the words “Quilting Arts Animal Challenge” in the subject line. Please include your name, email address, phone number, and a brief explanation of your piece in your email.
   note: Please do not “zip” your files and be sure to send jpegs. Do not mail your piece to us at this time; we are only requesting two images sent via email.
   
8. On Tuesday, January 26, Pokey will post the finalists on her blog at quiltingarts.com and they will also be notified via email.
   
9. If accepted as a finalist, your artwork must then be in our offices no later than Tuesday, February 9, along with a flat shipping and handling fee of $15 (U.S. and Canada) or $25 (all other international). This fee, which must be paid in U.S. dollars, covers the shipping costs, packing materials, and handling for the return of your entry.
10. The entire piece and all of its packaging must weigh less than 5 lbs. and fit into a standard shipping/mailing box (no larger than 12" x 4" x 14") or padded envelope.

Finalists should mail their entries to:

Quilting Arts Magazine
Attn: Animal Reader Challenge
P.O. Box 685
23 Gleasondale Rd.
Stow, MA 01775

note: By submitting your reader challenge entry, you are authorizing Interweave Press LLC to publish your project in upcoming publications and promotional materials, on our website, and in other Interweave e-media, as well as to possibly display it at shows. Interweave Press LLC will not be held responsible for loss or damage due to circumstances beyond our control.

We reserve the right to keep and display your “Let Out Your Inner Animal!” art quilt until the week of November 15, 2010.

If you have questions about the “Let Out Your Inner Animal!” Reader Challenge, contact Pippa Eccles at peccles@interweave.com.

We hope you’ll unleash your creativity and join our challenge!

You’re invited to enter the 2011 Quilting Arts Magazine Calendar Contest, with the theme “Flavor of the Month.”

Does the thought of July make you want to bite into a cold, sweet slice of watermelon? Does the smell of cinnamon make you long for a piece of Grandma’s Thanksgiving pie? When you think of April, can you taste drops of rain on your tongue? What flavor does each month of the year conjure up for you? Show us in stitch, surface design, fiber, and embellishments your favorite “Flavor of the Month.” The artists who create the 13 winning submissions (one for the cover and 12 for the months) will each win a prize package worth $200.

How it works

• Create up to two original, not previously published, 12" x 12" square embellished art quilts based on the theme of “Flavor of the Month.” The quilt(s) must be backed and bound (anything from a traditional binding to a zigzagged or satin stitch is fine, but the edges must be closed). The quilt(s) should also include a sleeve for hanging, as the winning quilts will be displayed at various quilt and textile shows with Quilting Arts Magazine.
  
  Please note: Because the winning quilts will be photographed at their actual size and used in the 12" x 12" format, all embellishments must remain within the 12" x 12" boundary; unfortunately, submissions that open to a larger format, have a pocket with a hidden artistic element, or that have embellishments that extend beyond the border cannot be accepted.
  
• Although we welcome all quilting styles, each quilt should be of original design and have some form of embellishment, include mixed media, or have some surface design technique. Examples include—but are not limited to—beadwork, silk screening, fabric painting, thread painting, needle felting, and hand embroidery. Also, though we encourage you to follow your muse, please be aware that quilts that are overall very dark or very shiny do not photograph well, and are thus less likely to be chosen.
• Your entry must be free of any text or images that are protected by copyright unless you have the expressed written permission from the person or institution that holds the copyright and you provide that written permission with your submission.
•  Submit three 8" x 10" photographs of each submission, one of the full quilt and two detail shots. To give your submission the best chance of being accurately evaluated, please make sure the photographs are well lit, clear, and are printed on photo-quality paper (not copy paper). Please label each photo with your first and last names, address, phone number, and email address.

 Along with your photos, please include a brief narrative explaining your     interpretation of our theme, “Flavor of the Month,” as well as the methods and materials used in your quilt(s).

• Deadline for entry: Monday, March 8, 2010. Please note this is a receive-by date. Your photos and descriptions must be in our office no later than March 8th.
• On Monday, April 5, 2010, we will announce the finalists on our website and ask them to ship the actual quilts to our office. Please check the website on that date.
• On Monday, May 10, 2010, we will announce the winners on our website and notify winners by email.

Send your photos and narrative to:

Quilting Arts Magazine
ATTN: 2011 Calendar Contest
P.O. Box 685
Stow, MA 01775

We cannot accept emailed entries. However, if you have questions about the contest, please email Barbara Delaney at bdelaney@interweave.com or write to us at the address above.

By submitting your quilt(s) to Quilting Arts Magazine you are authorizing Interweave Press LLC to publish your project in the 2011 calendar as well as in other upcoming publications and promotional materials, and on the Quilting Arts website. Interweave Press LLC cannot be held responsible for loss or damage due to circumstances beyond our control.

Good luck and thank you for your participation.

We have a special treat for everyone in that we have posted all of the images of the 2010 Finalists in the Photo Galleries! We have never posted all of the finalists' images before, but what better way to utilize the new Quilting Arts Community than by sharing for all to view and comment? 

You can find all of the 2010 Calendar Finalists on this page. Enjoy! 

Congratulations to:

Mary Arnold
Polly Bean ("Spike is out again")
Janet Bednarczyk
Staci Boham
Donna Burke
Ana Buzzalino (Both entries)
Diane Chaudiere (Both entries)
Leah Day
Karylee Doubiago
Rebecca Douglas ("Hibiscus, Ginger, and Bougainville")
Margaret Fowler 
Ellen, Greenberg-Friedman
Donna Greenwald
Estelle Jackson
Jody Johnson ("Grandma Florence's Apple Pie")
Susan Brubaker Knapp (Both entries)
Loreen Leedy
Sara Mika
Judy Momenzadeh
Hilde Morin
Jeannie Palmer Moore ("Eat Your Greens")
Catherine Parkinson
Shelli Ricci
Jan Routh
Lind Sharp ("Plumbs")
Patty VanHuis-Cox
Deborah Wolff