Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2013

If you’ve been to the CQJP 2012 blog recently, you’ll know that Kathy has put up the information to register for CQJP 2013. Even if you didn’t participate in CQJP 2012, you are invited to try the challenge in 2013. Basically, you just have to make a crazy quilt block each month that is equal to a 6 X 6 inch block (36 square inches) or larger. See the blog for all the rules and guidelines. You can participate whether or not you have your own blog. It’s a fun way to see crazy quilting from stitchers all over the world!

I’ve started thinking about what I want to do for 2013. If I stay on track and finish 12 blocks of my anniversary quilt this year, I will still have 10 blocks to make. My goal is to have 25 blocks done for my 25^th wedding anniversary in 2015. I made three blocks before CQJP started, then the 12 from this year equals 15 completed, so I will need 10 more.

I don’t really want to make all 10 of those blocks next year. We are already signed up to help chaperone another trip to Europe with students from my husband’s school in 2014, so I will want to make a block from that trip. I also want to include a block with a photo of the two of us from 2015. Not to mention that I am kind of tired of working on basically mono-chromatic blocks of white, cream, and gold all the time!

So, the idea that’s brewing in my mind is to make a wall-hanging crazy quilt of nine squares, probably 8 X 8 or 9 X 9 inches. I’m still thinking out the details, but I think this will be something I can hang up in the spring to celebrate Easter.

That will take me nine months and then I’ll have three months in 2013 to work on three more blocks for my Anniversary quilt.

That’s my plan for now, at least. I’ll keep you posted.

Happy stitching!

October CQJP block work

Here's the work I've done recently on my October block for CQJP 2012.

On this seam, I did a zig-zag stitch with a thicker "velvet" thread. Then I made straight stitches and lazy daisy stitches.

 I used feather stitch to couch down this thick, metallic gold "Radiance" thread.

Two rows of chevron stitch in different threads, topped off with silk ribbon French knots on the outer edges of the stitching.

I added a piece of lace to this seam to bring another element of texture to the block. I think I'm ready to applique the photo onto the center of this block.

 

Happy stitching! And if you live in the USA, please go exercise your right to vote today!

November First Friday UFO

Happy First Friday of November! This month, I made another block for my All Star (UFO) quilt. This one has a nine-patch in the center of it. I love nine-patch quilts. In fact, one of my other UFO projects is a red and white double-nine-patch quilt :)

 Here's a close-up of the white-background "USA" fabric.

In this picture, you can just barely see that the red fabric has "fireworks" in the background of the white stars.

For those hit by Hurricane Sandy, I am praying for you.

Happy stitching!

September and October CQJP blocks

This weekend, I finished the beading and other embellishing on my September block. As you may recall, this block commemorates the trip Mike and I took to Europe over Spring Break this year. I added three charms for three of the places we visited. I bought the "Paris" and "London" charms at one of the big craft stores, I think Hobby Lobby.

Here's a closeup of the souvenir tie tack I bought in the gift shop at Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany. I purposely bought it for this block, the way I bought the doily that the "London" charm is on while we were in London.

Here's a photo I took of the real Neuschwanstein Castle. This castle may look familiar to you. It's one of the most photographed castles in Germany, and it was the model for Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle.

I added this gold ric rac on the long patch of fabric. First I couched it down with chain stitch and French knots.

Here's a closeup of the bead cluster that I sewed onto the ric rac. The two oval-shaped pearlescent beads are from a pair of fancy earrings I bought on clearance after the holidays a few years ago. I deconstructed the earrings to get a fun assortment of beads.

 I put sequins, seed beads, and larger pearls on the lace edges of the doily.

The date was an after-thought! I had already photographed the block and was putting it away when I saw one of my other Europe blocks and realized I had forgotten to put the year that we took this trip. I used some small rubber stamps and gold ink. It's a bit faint, but I like that the 2012 is not real obvious.

Besides finishing up the September block, I pieced my October block. The blue oval is where I am going to applique a photo from our wedding. I'm planning on sewing my seam treatments before I applique the photo; I think that way will be a bit easier than appliqueing first.

Happy stitching!

September CQJP work

Here's how my September CQJP block looks after I stitched the seam treatments. I will be adding some beads to each seam later.

For each of these seams, I was inspired by photos in Carole Samples' book, Treasury of Crazy Quilt Stitches. Have I ever mentioned how happy I am that American Quilter's Society republished that book a few years ago, so I was able to buy my own copy?

 

You can't see the chain stitches real well, as they are close in color to the fabric. Little cross-stitches and straight stitches finish up this seam.

This seam has two zig zag lines made of different threads, formed by straight stitches, with three detached chain stitches in between.

The third seam is feather stitch in embroidery floss with French knot flowers made of silk ribbon.

I love these cooler fall days...they put me in the mood for some stitching.

Happy stitching!

September CQ block started

Yes, I am getting further behind with my CQJP 2012 blocks. But even if I don't get all 12 blocks done this year, I know I will have done more than if I wasn't particpating in this challenge!

My September block is going to commemorate the trip to Europe that my husband and I helped chaperone this year over spring break. We went to London, Paris, Lucerne (Switzerland),  and Munich. Yep, these trips are whirlwind trips. But they're lots of fun and we get to go to all sorts of places that we couldn't normally visit. As chaperones, our trips are free!

While we were in London, we were browsing in  a little market and I saw this cute little doily. I bought it, knowing it would be perfect for this block!

Here is the pieced block. Now I'm off to start stitching on it.

Happy stitching!

Mystery Quilt Block 8

This weekend I made my final block for the 2012 American Patchwork and Quilting "Mystery Quilt." The directions are in the December 2012 issue of the magazine. This issue also has the directions for setting the blocks and making the borders. It looks like I'll be making lots of hourglass blocks for the middle border!

Happy stitching!