The challenge this year will be to make basket blocks and fill them with your choice of anything. The finished product can be any size from a wall hanging with one basket to as large as you want to make. If you choose to make more than one basket, however, each must be filled differently.

Techniques can be whatever you like; pieced, appliqué, embroidery, whole cloth, conversational prints, embellishments, or whatever else you can think of. In an attempt at fairness, commercial patterns may not be used. However, elements of commercial patterns may be incorporated, such as a flower from one pattern, leaves from another, and the basket from a different pattern.

Some ideas to throw around: Apples, vegetables, Christmas ornaments, sewing stuff, flowers, puppies, kittens, bread, candy, gardening tools, kitchen utensils, toys, buttons. Just take a look around at your own baskets and see what's in them.

Judging will be at the November 2008 meeting and there will be cash prizes for the winners.

If you have any questions, contact Carole Steitz through our website contact form .