Fortune Cookie Challenge

Instructions provided by quilt artist and author Laura Wasilowski.

I instantly visualized this quilt when I read my cookie fortune: You will be fortunate in the opportunities presented to you. I knew the best method for creating this quilt was using a fused-collage technique. This easy technique is found in my book, Fusing Fun: Fast, Fearless Art Quilts. It is a quick way to make an unusual quilt from the fused confetti or color chips left over from finished fused-quilt projects.

Materials:
fabric confetti
release paper (packaged with fusible web)
batting
quilting supplies

1. Sort all the fused confetti fabric into color ways (color scheme). Fabric confetti is made up of leftover fused fabrics from previous quilt projects. Trim ragged edges as you sort.

2. Assemble the fused collage on release paper. Randomly place fused confetti fabric into a collaged design by overlapping the confetti pieces (figure A). Fuse-tack the fabric confetti to set. Tip: To determine which side of the fabric swatches are fused (glue side), slip fabric into a folded sheet of release paper and press; whichever side adheres is the fused side.

3. Construct the collage entirely on release paper into either strip fusing (figure B) or specific shapes (figure C).

4. For doors, windows or other figures, cut additional collaged swatches into desired shapes (figure D). To enhance fabric edges, cut with decorative rotary cutters. Remove the collaged fabric from the release paper, test for holes, and treat the collage as a new piece of fabric.

5. Arrange the collaged confetti fabric on the batting and fuse directly to the batting. The scrim side of the batting (scrim is the fibrous side that holds the fibers together) is placed next to the backing fabric (figure E).

6. Steam-set the quilt top upon completion to fuse the glue (figure F). Quilt and trim the edges. Quilting adds textural elements and encloses the space. Finish the quilt with binding (figure G).

I have taken the theme "Dancing Baby" and made a fabric talisman book filled with positive energy to be proudly displayed on a mantel or coffee table. The fabric book is accordion-style, 10 pages total, five on one side and five on the other. The cover of the book shows a stork carrying a fortune cookie I made from fabric. Each page features a dancing baby bustin' a different move, and his (or could it be her) diaper is embellished differently with colorful fabrics and beads on each page. The book pattern was cut from one piece of stiff interfacing, fused to fusible webbing, then painted with colorful acrylic paints. I then machine-stitched with a decorative stitch and variegated thread around each page.

Materials:
piece of stiff white interfacing
ruler
pencil
scissors
fusible web
iron
acrylic paints
paint extender
spray bottle
paintbrushes
palette
plastic water cup
sewing machine
variegated thread
images, photos, etc.

1. Draft a book pattern onto stiff white interfacing. Fold and shape into a book template. Cut out spaces for hinges (figure A).

2. Spray the book template with water to promote paint dispersion. Dip the paintbrush into a paint extender and assorted acrylic paint colors and brush onto the book background (figure B). Let dry. Tip: Allow the paints to bleed into each other for a colorful motif.

3. Add images that have been transferred to fabric with fusible web. Place the images into the desired position on each page. Decorate each page edge with machine stitching (figure C). Embellish with beads, etc.

4. After the front and back page sections have been decorated, fold and glue the undecorated pages together with either fabric glue or fusible webbing to create a double-sided book.

Materials:
9" x 12" piece of Kunin felt
sewing machine
variegated thread
heat gun
novelty fabrics
scissors
fabric glue

1. Sew a variety of fabrics to black acrylic felt with decorative stitches. Then cut into 2- to 2-1/2-inch strips (figure D).

2. To form the hinge, wrap felt strips together with swatches of fancy fabrics (figure E). Pin to secure and apply heat with a heat gun (figure F); the acrylic felt will lock together to form the fabric hinges. Caution: Be careful not to inhale the harmful fumes.

3. Embellish with gold medium and beads and glue to the book's hinge.

Voila! You have your own book form with 10 pages to embellish with your own family photos.

Instructions provided by quilt artist Lynda Poole Prioleau.

Fortune: You will be called to fill a position of high honor and responsibility.

Materials:
Fabulous Fortune Cookie pattern*
2 cotton fabrics in 3/4-yard pieces
3/4 yard of cotton muslin
Warm & Natural cotton batting
paper-backed photo transfer fabric
Wonder Under fusible web
decorative threads **
images--family, friends, pets, sayings, etc.
2 large clear snaps
scissors
seam rippers
sewing machine
*Available from Lynda Poole Prioleau.
**Cotton, polyester, rayon, metallic threads, etc.

1. From the Fabulous Fortune Cookie pattern, cut two fabric circles of assorted or matching fabric for the inside and outside sections; cut one circle of muslin and one circle of batting (figure A).

2. Layer the back (outside) of the fabric with muslin and ensure that the right side is up. The muslin acts as a foundation layer and results in easier stitching.

3. Quilt the two fabric circles together with decorative thread. This is a good time to take advantage of the preprogrammed stitching features on your sewing machine.

4. For the inside (decorated) design: Layer the inside circle section with the batting so the wrong side faces the batting.

- Place the back side of the fabric images down on the rough side of fusible web (figure C). Press with a dry iron on a medium setting and let cool.

- Peel away the paper backing from the fabric images.

- Cut the images, if desired, and determine placement; press in place. Let cool.

7. Pin the quilt sandwich together to secure, and quilt.

1. Adhere fusible web to the back side of approximately 1/4 yard of fabric. Cut two strips, 2 inches wide by 40 inches long. Cut the fabric into two-inch squares. Wrap a fabric square diagonally over the raw edges of the fortune cookie (figure E). Press. Continue to wrap squares over the raw edges of the fortune cookie. Overlap the squares so that none of the raw edges of the fortune cookie are exposed (figure F).

2. Lay the paper pattern piece back on the front side of the quilt and transfer the markings for the snaps at the northern and southern end of the quilt. These will be labeled A-first fold and B-first fold.

3. On the back side, transfer the markings for the snaps marked C-second fold and D-second fold.

4. Place one female snap at the A marking and a male snap at the B marking. Do the same on the back side at the C and D markings.

6. To make the second fold, find the middle on the folded edge; press that section in and the sides down, matching the C and D markings. Snap together at C and D (figure H).

The folded cookie can be used as a table centerpiece. Or hand-sew a fabric loop to the middle of the folded edge of the cookie to suspend the fortune cookie from the ceiling or wall.