Crazy Quilt Classes - 101 Design and Construction

I decided to continue taking classes on Crazy Quilting with Kathy Shaw on the internet.  The first Intermediate Class had to do with block design and construction.  We were to design & draw 4 crazy blocks and turn at least one of them into an actual fabric block.  Here are mine:

Doing the embellishments on the block wasn't required in this class but because I plan to make a crazy quilt with my finished blocks I decided to complete the embellishments on at least 1 of the blocks.

This was the design on paper.

We were to make one block that included a curve - I chose a fan.  This block will be further embellished in the future.

 This is the drawing of the fan block- I wasn't completely pleased with the upper portion of the block and worked on making it more pleasing when I used fabric.

This is a block that includes a heart.  When I designed it, I thought I'd make the heart into a pin cushion.  I liked it enough to include it in a block also.  It will be further embellished in the future.

This is the drawing of the heart.

I'm so happy about my crazy quilt find.  Today I was at our state quilt guild meeting.  They had a silent auction which included 2 crazy quilts.  I thought they were beautiful and decided to bid on them.

One was small, made primarily of silks and velvets, dated 1894. 

The other one is a 60" x 79" 12-block crazy quilt, made of wools and various other fabrics, dated 1892. 

I won the bids, and am now the happy owner of these 2 crazy quilts.  I'm not certain that the dates on them are accurate but some of the fabrics look like they could be.

Small One

Large One

Close-up of one of the blocks in the large one.

Crazy Quilt Class Complete - Here's My Piece

This is my finished piece from the Basic Crazy Quilt Class taught by Kathy Shaw on the internet.  What a great class!  I couldn't believe that it was also free.  I learned so much and have a lot of class hand-outs to refer to again and again as I finish other blocks that I want to complete.

I've registered for the first of Kathy's Intermediate Classes (she has a whole series of them) and am looking forward to continuing my crazy quilting journey.  I hope to take Kathy's whole series of classes.  They really are fabulous. 

Fabric Challenge Quilt

There was a fabric challenge at one of my quilting groups (Palo Verde Patchers), where we drew for a package of fabrics, and were to make a quilt using a recognizable piece of each of the fabrics.  We showed our creations Tuesday at our Spring Luncheon.  Here's mine:

Here's a close-up that shows the quilting:

Here's the fabric that was in my package of fabrics - 2 blues, 1 green, 1 pink, & 1 multi-colored floral.  These aren't the normal colors I use but did enjoy making this quilt.  I found the pattern that I used in the May/June 2014 McCall's Quilting magazine.

There were 76 ladies who participated in this challenge and there were so many wonderful creations.  Some of the packages of fabric had completely unrelated colors or styles of fabric.  Even so, the quilts were fabulous.

Two of My Quilts Won Ribbons!

I entered 2 quilts in one of my quilt group's quilt shows (Palo Verde Patchers).  I love to quilt because I love the creative process, and enter quilts to support the shows of the groups I attend, but it's a nice bonus when you they award you a ribbon for something you'd be making anyway.  The 2 quilts I entered this time both won ribbons.  My Home Sweet Home Baltimore Album quilt won 1st place in the Lap Quilt Category and also an Excellence in Machine Quilting Ribbon.  Quite a shock since I struggle with machine quilting and am still a reluctant longarm quilter.

 

The second quilt won a 1st place in the Miniatures Category.  The quilt I entered is the second of two quilts I made that are very similar.  I made the first one as a comfort quilt for my mom when she was struggling with cancer.  I called it Heart of Gold Miniature Baltimore (it has gold colored hearts in the swag border).  Then I decided to make one for my own wall to remind me of her, and that's the quilt I entered - it has fleur de leis in the swag border, the blocks in it are also slightly different than the ones in my mom's quilt.  Both quilts are 22" x 27".  Here's the quilt I entered:

Block #11, Civil War Bride Quilt, & Trial Layout

I started the Civil War Bride quilt 4 1/2 years ago - boy does time fly.  I completed my 16th block some months ago but neglected to post a picture.  So.....here it is.  It's block #11 on the pattern - a robin and nest of eggs.

Since I've been helping care for my baby grandson, my time to spend on quilting has decreased a lot.  I've been re-thinking priorities and have decided to call this quilt good with 16 blocks rather than 20.  I plan to add some more applique to the first block in the first row, and a little bit of embroidery on a few of the blocks, sew it together, and start on the borders.  Here's a picture of a possible layout of my blocks.  Input welcome!

Crazy Quilt Class Update

I completed the next task (task #7) so all of my seams are covered with embroidery now.  On to the silk ribbon embroidery - boy am I excited to try that!

I'm Excited to be Crazy Quilting

I love all kinds of handwork, so when I learned about an on-line crazy quilting class by Kathy Shaw, I got really excited.  I could hardly believe that the class was also free so signed up without a moments hesitation.

We move at our own pace in the class.  We have tasks to complete, then post a picture of our completed task, then are emailed the next task.  The pictures below are my completed Task #6, which is the stitching on all but 3 of the seams.  Those 3 seams are in the next task and have some ribbon work in 1 of them.  Can't wait for that!

I'm having lots of fun in this class and am learning some new stitches that I hadn't even seen in the past.  One I especially like is a woven stitch - intricate and kind of tricky to do - but I just love it (the bright green detached stitches on the far left - easiest to see in the 2nd photo).  I really like the look of the little hyacinths all in a row too. 

 

 

 

I'm hoping that this venture back into the world of crazy quilting will get me pumped to finish the other blocks I've made and those I received in a swap some years ago.  The swap only required that 5 of the seams have some treatment on them, so there's still lots of work to be done on them.  My plan is to work on those while I'm working on this block, incorporating some of these stitches in them, and when I'm finished with the class in March, would then have enough blocks to put a pretty quilt together.

Nesting Robin - Tree of Life and Pomegranates complete my Flora/Fauna blocks

In the Nesting Robin Challenge that I joined, we were to make Flora/Fauna blocks this month.  I completed the Tree of Life block I've been working on.  I used needle turn applique for the trunk, and decided to use invisible thread and a blanket stitch on the machine, to sew it down - finally completed that step today. 

 

 

More Flora/Fauna blocks - three pomegranates sewn next to some of last month's triangle blocks.. 

 

Here's my layout so far.  Squares, triangles, & flora/fauna.  The blank spaces will have more blocks as a type of block we'll need to make is revealed each month.

Nesting Robin Update

My Nesting Robin is coming along.  I've decided to do a free form layout since I've previously participated in 2 row robins and 2 round robins.  I finished my design of the quilt and made the parts for the first several months.  The lady who started the Nesting Robin reveals each month what subject our blocks will be that month. 

-The 1st month we selected our "center/main block"
-The 2nd month we made "squares"
-the 3rd month we made "triangles"
-the 4th month (this month) is "Flora/Fauna"

 Here are the blocks I have so far.  The gaps are where other blocks will be placed:

 

This is the Center/Main Block

 

Here are the "squares"  

 

Here are the "triangles"

 

I'm making 3 blocks for "flora/fauna" - here's the first one:

 

Here's the second:

 

.....and I just finished designing and started working on the third block.  I've always wanted to make a Broidery Perse Tree of Life.  So here it is in process.  I need to applique the tree onto the background, then will fuse the flowers, leaves, & bird, and finally go around them with an embroidered  buttonhole stitch.

 

My plan is to use various background fabrics and other fabric from my stash.  I'm finding this to be a lot of fun and very creative.

 

 

 

Twelve Days of Christmas Block of the Month

As promised here is a picture of the Twelve Days of Christmas quilt that I've been working on.  It's a red work and crazy patch quilt (35" x 35").  It will be a block of the month for my Palo Verde Patchers quilt group.  The blocks were inspired by blocks I found on the internet and I then re-designed many of them to fit this quilt.  I also designed the layout.  In the 4 inner and the 4 outer corners are crazy patches made using wool felt.  Each month the handwork group will receive one red work pattern and the directions for 2 hand embroidery stitches to be used on the crazy patches.  I'll be doing the hand embroidery right along with the group.  It should be a fun quilt to make.  I think it will take us longer than a year to make though.  There is quite a lot of red work in the various borders.  That final top border took an age to make even though I was very motivated.  I wanted to get the top finished by today so it could be shown as a sample for sign-ups.  Thankfully I met my goal. 

Twelve Days of Christmas (click to make larger)

Here's a picture of the completed blocks before they were made into a quilt:

 

This is the Block of the Month quilt that I'm leading for this year.  It's called, "Calendar Block of the Month".  It combines redwork and applique.  

This year I also taught the ladies the spray-starch method of applique to use on this quilt.  We discussed quilt labels and what can or should be included on a label.  As a side project, I showed the ladies how to make a felted-wool pin cushion.  They all turned out so cute!

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving.  I know we all have a lot to be thankful for.  Here's one of the things I'm thankful for:

Our sweet little baby grandson, Zahn!

Nesting Robin 2014/15 Center Block

Here is the block I plan to use as the center for the upcoming Nesting Robin Challenge on the About.com Quilting Forum.  It's an orphan block that I had planned to use on my previous Nesting Robin but it didn't work out.  I found the pattern for it in one of my quilting magazines but can't recall who the designer is (may be Blackbird Designs).  When I figure it out I'll give whomever the credit they deserve for designing such a lovely block.  I made a miniature version (8 1/2" x 8 1/2") of the pattern and did needle-turn applique on it. 

I'm thinking a few plain borders, some more applique, and maybe even some pieced blocks could make this into a nice medallion type quilt.  Or I could go a little bit out of my comfort zone, and try something entirely different than I've done before, by placing it and other various sized blocks in a random setting - with a layout kind of like this sampler that I found on pinterest (a Sue Spargo pattern):

Baby Zahn

We had baby Zahn here visiting us yesterday (Lindzey's baby).  He's 10 months old already.  He's crawling, pulling himself up, curious about everything he sees, and squeals with laughter almost constantly.  He's such a happy baby and is so much fun to be around.  Getting him to smile for pictures is kind of hard though.  He's too fascinated with the camera and the flash.  Here are a few pictures (the last one is of Zahn with my husband Rick - Zahn's Pappo).

 

 

 

Zahn in his Superman Halloween costume

 

 Zahn watching the Broncos

Such a happy boy!

 

Zahn reading his book from Aunt Judy

 

 Zahn reading his cloth book