2011 Guild Challenge

We all have our beverage of choice— coffee, tea, soft drink, or other energy beverage—that jump starts us when needed, refreshes us, and keeps us going through the day. Many of us also have a favorite mug from which we partake our preferred brew.

So, let a favorite coffee mug be the inspiration for a piece that often accompanies us “on the go”—a tote bag.

Inspired by your coffee mug, create an accompanying tote bag for those portable fiber art projects that are worked on-the-go! You may be inspired by your mug’s shape, its color, what is printed on it, or something else about the mug.

For the Challenge requirements, your tote bag must:

• Be a minimum of 11" in width and a minimum of 11" in length/height. The depth of the bag is up to you. If your bag is round or spherical, its diameter must be a minimum of 11".
• Use at least two different “fabric creation methods” * to make the “fabric” for your tote bag. Choose two (2) from the following: knitted, crocheted, woven, felted (nuno, wet, needle, machine, etc.), quilted, pieced/patchwork, smocked, yarn fabrication, hairpin lace (or any hand lace making technique), or tatted. Since sewing will most likely be used to  seam most of the bags, this method is not included as a choice for fabric creation.
• Incorporate one decorative design element on your tote. This can be a surface design technique (dyeing, painting, printing), an embellishment (embroidery, beading) or an added trim. *One of the fabric creation methods can be used to make the decorative element for your bag, for example, a tatted or crocheted trim.
• Your tote bag must have handle(s), a strap or drawstring by which to carry it. *One of the fabric creation methods can be used to create the handles, for example, knitted I-cord handles or an Inkle woven strap.
• Be accompanied by a completed entry form and your mug inspiration.

The Challenge items will be displayed at the October November 2011 Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild meeting.