Bigger Than Ben Hur - The Naked Bed Challenge!

Is your bed Naked? Unclothed? NUDE?

And don't even TALK to me about duvets. They do NOT count. During Talking Tuesdays on Twitter a few weeks ago, the discussion led to what kind of quilt everyone had on their bed. I was horrified to learn that most of the people in the discussion, despite having made loads of quilts, didn't have a quilt for their own bed. 

People!! I mean really, what is the world coming to?? All the beautiful fabric out there, and you don't want to sleep under it? Cara and I talked about it afterwards and decided that you all needed a little motivation, a virtual kick in the pants. And so today we are proud to announce:

The idea is that you all have two months from today, April 2, to make a quilt top for your bed (just the top - we understand that you might not get it quilted in this time!!)  and submit a photo of it to our Naked Bed Challenge Flickr group. Make sure you read all the way to the end of this hugely long post, it only gets better!

What can we do to make this even more exciting? How about some incredible prizes from fantastic sponsors? Lovely Shawna at One Choice for Quilting is offering three $50 gift vouchers, and the ever generous and lovely Kimberly at Fat Quarter Shop is offering three $30 gift vouchers, so there are HEAPS of chances for everyone to win!

                

AND, not only could you win great prizes, but the fabulous folk at Fat Quarterly are going to do our prize draw for us, and publish pics of the winning quilts on their website. 

Wow! The little competition that started as a joke on #talknt has grown to large proportions in a very small amount of time, so we hope you all start growing your quilts quick sticks. To help you along, I will be providing a free pattern of mine called Bless You, which is VERY simple and quick to make and comes in 3 bed sizes, and Cara is going to provide you a free called Chain Link too. You don't have to use these patterns, you can use anything you like or design a quilt yourself, but if you don't know where to start and are looking for something easy and fun, these patterns are for you!

Bless You

To give you a bit of a kick start, (and to make sure our challenge is World Community Friendly), we are holding a raffle as well to raise money for Japan through the Red Cross. If you go to this link and donate $10, come back here and leave a comment ON THIS POST with a receipt number attached, you will go into the draw to win a kit for a Queen Bed Bless You, from amazing Melanie at Above All Fabric. The kit will include all the fabric for the top of the quilt, and made up in Queenstreet by Jennifer Paganelli of Sis Boom!! This competition will remain open for two weeks and be drawn at 3pm, Saturday April 16 Sydney time.

Ok, hang onto your hats, now we get to the Huge Mother Prize. Are you ready? If you enter the competition using YOUR OWN DESIGN (That means you made it up and didn't take measurements, settings or drawings from someone else's pattern. If we find that you did, the quilt will not be eligible for the prize), my lovely friend Deb at Down Under Quilts Magazine will pick her favourite quilt from the original quilts entered and publish the quilt and the pattern in the magazine. AND, she will pay you $300 AUS for the privilege. Holy smokes!

Here are the rules of the NBC: 

1. The quilt must be made expressly for the Naked Bed Challenge, not previously made.

2. It must be for YOUR bed. No cot quilts, wall quilts or dolly quilts. We do not believe any of you are mice.

3. When you post to Flickr, MAKE SURE you leave your name and a way to contact you, the name of the designer of the pattern you used if applicable, what size your quilt is, and note wether you wish to be considered for the Down Under Quilts prize.

4. Your bed does not have to be naked for you to play. You have just to make it more clothes.

That's it. We aren't very big on rules around here. 

Now listen carefully peeps, 'cause this is what we want you to do. You can add your name and or blog to this Mr Linky if you are going to play in any way, then go on over to Flickr and join up to the Naked Beds Challenge group.

And here's a little button to put on your blog if you are so inclined:

 

use this code  (<a target='_blank' href="http://thelastpiece.typepad.com/the_last_piece/2011/04/announcing-the-naked-bed-challenge-1.html"><img src="http://thelastpiece.typepad.com/Nakedbedsbanner.jpg" border="0" /></a>) 

Email me or Cara if you can't get it to work and we will send you the code. OK I think that's it! I am now exhausted and need a lie down. Get stitching while I'm sleeping, wont you? Remember, I have a quilt to snuggle under on MY bed......

Comments

[Tine]

Wonderful idea!! My bed SO needs a quilt!

[LauraJ]

I've got my palette and fabrics all picked out! I'm very excited! I'll be making a girly quilt. I just have to hurry and decide a pattern/design.

[Leanne]

This is great! I have had the fabrics and a plan in mind for months for a quilt that fits my king size bed but other things just get in the way. So I'm in.

In terms of donations, I have already made a large (for me) donation to the Canadian Red Cross Japan relief fund so I'll pass on this round of prizes.

[Leanne]

Hey Sarah, I put the button on my blog but when you click it is goes to an error page. I'll leave it for now but maybe let me know when it is fixed. I have no ability with this html stuff so cannot fix it myself. Thanks.

[Jenna Excell]

Here's mine: 4297476-4722319 is the last two blocks of numbers in my code. Wow, your quilting is really beautiful!

[Courtney]

Um...LOVE this! So simple and so smart. Plus, the prizes? Not shabby. ;) Excuse me while I go make some sketches...

[daisy]

Hi Sarah
I have a private blog (long story) but hope I can join in anyway - just two weeks ago I measured up my bed for a scrap quilt I was planning to make so joining this challenge will make it happen - thanks

[Lisa Betker]

I've just taken a deep breath and signed up :) I have boxes and boxes of fabric in my mess room, which I'm gradually transforming into my craft room. Have desparately wanted to craft whilst on mat leave so this is my inspiration!!! THANK YOU!

[Kay]

OK, I'm in. Maybe will get a non-catalog quilt on my bed, at long last!

[Johanna]

I had been working for a quilt for the bed but never got it finished because I decided I didn't like it anymore. Here is to a brand new start!

[Sylvie]

What a cool challenge.
I really don't know if I will be able to meet the deadline, but I wanted to make a quilt for my bed soon, so it is a great opportunity.
I linked to my Flickr account because I don't have a blog.

[Jenni]

I'm so excited. Now off to play in my stash and devise a pattern

[Katy]

Count me in! My receipt number is below......
1555-8047-1-4740769-5241977

[Sharon Pernes]

I am going to play! I am still a beginner quilter, but this sounds fun!

[Kasey]

I came up with an idea during a benadryl fugue. Now I just need to get the rest of the fabric and get busy.

[Jeanne Gwin]

Sarah, What an "Aus-some" idea! I'm in like Flynn and have been sewing all day on something that I have put off for a long time. There is a great story behind the quilt top I am making!!! Can't wait to see all the others!

[Brooke]

What an awesome idea! I can't wait to get started!

[Malory]

I am so excited about this challenge! I just finished one quilt top for our bed (the first), but I think it is too dark for spring and summer. I was planning on making it our fall/winter quilt. Now I can plan a spring/summer quilt.

Thanks for the challenge and all the wonderful prizes!

Malory
http://snips-and-spice.blogspot.com/

[Leone]

i need help. I want to register but the linky thingy wont let me because I dont have a url. Can anyone help me?

[WandaFish]

I may be getting a bit carried away here as a blogless newbie, but I'd love to have a go at this challenge. I don't have a blog but have linked to my Flickr page, hope that's ok?!
I'm looking forward to some fun with this. Thanks for all the prizes too!

[Sandy Narayan]

I have a kit that I bought last year that I have been wanting to do. This is just the push I need to get it done. I'd better get going!=)

[Claire]

Yay! This sounds like fun. Just the incentive I need to finally make a really big project.

[Susan C.]

I'm in. I've wanted to make a queen size quilt for some time now, and this is just the push/incentive I need!

[Mary on Lake Pulaski]

I'm in - I have the prototype made for my Single Girl quilt - but that's ALL! I want this KING size quilt finished for our bed.

[Deb]

Bought fabric the other day with the intent to cloth our bed in a me-made quilt. Hopefully this will motivate me to make it happen!

[Becki]

Added the button to my blog... SO excited about this challenge! I can't wait to have my very own quilt on my bed! :o)

[Angelina S.]

Oh lord, I have about 3,782 projects going already. What's one more, right?!

[Cornelia Pramendorfer]

Im in the flickr group now, will upload some pics
my pieces were cut half a year before and some blocks sewn together, but thats all

[Corri C]

Well, I've just started cutting out the pieces for the quilt my husband randomly decided NEEDED to be on our bed NOW. So timing is everything.

[Jackie]

oh man i have been avoiding eye contact with my bed for far too long. i'm so in.