This year I participated in my first-ever long-distance quilting challenge — the 2012 FMQ Challenge hosted and organised by SewCal Gal, a lady in southern California. Each month, SewCal Gal arranged for a different tutor to teach us a particular technique. All the tutors were great, and I’ve already incorporated many of their techniques in the quilts I’ve quilted this year. Some techniques I may never never use again, but I’m glad I did them. One thing about doing something you’re unfamiliar with is that it forces you to try something new — and even if you don’t like it and will never do it again, at least now you know why.
So this post highlights some of the sample pieces I did over the course of the year. Each month has a link to the blog post I wrote about my process and what I learnt from doing that month’s challenge piece, as well as a photo depicting the practice piece.
I’d like to thank SewCal Gal and all the wonderful tutors for giving up their time and sharing their knowledge so freely (yes, this challenge cost us nothing to enter except our time and dedication). I had a great time doing the challenge pieces and I learnt a LOT! I’d also like to thank all the other participants who so willingly shared their adventures on our Facebook page, and who so kindly helped everyone else, even if was just words of encouragement or ‘Likes’ for a particular piece.
January: Frances Moore: Leaves
Blog post: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/2012-fmq-challenge-january/
February: Diane Gaudynski: Feathers
Blog posts (yes, there are two!): https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/2012-fmq-challenge-february/ and https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/2012-fmq-challenge-february-more-feathers/
March: Ann Fahl: Loopy fills
Blog post: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/2012-fmq-challenge-march/
April: Don Linn: Marked designs
Blog post: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/2012-fmq-challenge-april/
May: Leah Day: Spine designs
Blog post: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/05/20/2012-fmq-challenge-may/
June: Cindy Needham: Micro fills
Blog posts(yes, there are two for this month!): https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/2012-fmq-challenge-june/ and https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/2012-fmq-challenge-june-part-2/
July: Angela Walters: Tiled fills
Blog post: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/2012-fmq-challenge-july/
August: Wendy Sheppard: Jester’s hats
Blog post: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/08/19/community-quilt-13-and-2012-fmq-challenge-for-august/
September: Paula Reid: Marked design
Blog post: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/2012-fmq-challenge-september/
October: Teri Lucas: Name echoing and fills
Blog post: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/10/07/2012-fmq-challenge-october/
November: Sarah Vedeler: Spirals
Blog post: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/2012-fmq-challenge-november/
December: Patsy Thompson: Border effects
Blog post: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/12/02/2012-fmq-challenge-december/
Bonus tutorial: Susan Brubaker Knapp: Photo
Blog post: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/09/30/2012-fmq-challenge-bonus-tutorial/
Rhonda Bracey: At Random 
Just a wonderful display of talent, congratulations!
Beautiful work Rhonda! Congratulations on completing the entire year of challenges!
An amazing collection. I’ve really enjoyed seeing these pop up during the year.
Wow, I feel I’ve just been to a quilt show. Loved seeing all of your pieces for this challenge. They are absolutely beautiful. Great job.
I’m so proud of you for completing the 2012 FMQ Challenge. I know it is a big time commitment, to focus on FMQ. But your FMQ really looks fantastic!
SewCalGal
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
It’s so neat to see these wrap-up posts! Congratulations on completing the challenge! Wonderful job! ~Jeanne
Rhonda – I’m so impressed you stayed with the challenge all year, photographed all your samples, AND blogged about each tutorial — congratulations!! I really like your feathers and I think your spined designs turned out really cool.
You have produced some really great work this year Rhonda. Your feathers are beautifully executed. Well done!
Holy moly – the bonus tutorial is gorgeous. Great job on the challenge.
Your work is stunning and truly an inspiration. Thank you.
[…] Last year (2012) I participated in the 2012 FMQ Challenge (http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com.au/p/free-motion-quilt-challenge.html) and that pushed my boundaries even more. I forced myself to make each month’s practice piece, even if I wasn’t keen on the technique or felt I’d never use it again. Some of my efforts were less than impressive (https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/2012-fmq-challenge-summary/) […]
[…] Last year (2012) I participated in the 2012 FMQ Challenge (http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com.au/p/free-motion-quilt-challenge.html) and that pushed my boundaries even more. I forced myself to make each month’s practice piece, even if I wasn’t keen on the technique or felt I’d never use it again. Some of my efforts were less than impressive (https://rhondabracey.com/2012/12/13/2012-fmq-challenge-summary/) […]