Crazy for Roses part 1

Although I made my first crazy quilt in 2007, I've never posted any pictures of it. So I've got a few to share today. I call this quilt "Crazy for Roses." Roses have always always been my favorite flower. I love their beautiful shape and their scent.

Shortly after I became interested in making a crazy quilt, the quilt guild that I used to belong to had a challenge to make a quilt in the style of the 1800's. Although I didn't finish it in time for the challenge, I thoroughly enjoyed the process! The blocks are all 9" square, and the border is about 7" wide.

This block is in the top row, left side. I love quotes, so I embroidered the famous Shakespeare quote onto the center of this block. Then I added a variety of fabrics, embroidery stitches, beads, and buttons. On the right side of the block, I sewed a curvy vine, then placed some rose buttons going up the vine.

The block, above, is one of my favorites on this quilt. I hand-stitched these roses with a satin stitch. I got the idea for this block from, you guessed it, Maria Wilson Beardsley's c. 1883 crazy quilt, pictured in Penny McMorris' book, Crazy Quilts. I was so thrilled when I found the rose ribbon that's on the seam between this block and the next one!

This is the third block on the top row. That white is a textured ribbon I found at an antique shop. I satin-stitched the purple butterfly at the top of the block. I also embroidered the year I made this, 2007, and some small flowers. The blue circle in the white patch in the lower right is a Czech glass button I found at International Quilt Show.

My son wants me to take him to Target, so I better be off. I'll post more pictures of this quilt in the coming weeks.