Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012

So I've decided to do the "Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012." I'm not sure if I will actually be able to make one CQ block each month next year, but I thought that it would be a good incentive! In the summer of 2010, I took Sharon Boggon's "Encrusted Crazy Quilting" online class. (A wonderful class, by the way!) I made one block, with the intention of making a 25-block CQ by December 2015 for my 25th wedding anniversary. Here it is, a year and a half later, and I've made three blocks. Not a good start. As it happens, my blocks are 6X6 inches, which fits the criteria for the CQJP 2012. I emailed the chairman to make sure I can make the blocks for a project I've already started, and Kathy Shaw replied that, "Twelve new blocks would fit the intent of the challenge...and would be fine as long as each block is at least 6x6 inches in size."

I'm showing my first three blocks, so you can get an idea of where I'm headed in 2012. I'm sticking with a monochromatic color scheme of whites, creams, and golds, with some black embroidery added. Although there will eventually be 25 blocks, I'm not making one block to correspond with one year of marriage.

This is the first block I made in Sharon's class:

This block commemorates our first trip to Europe. My husband Mike is a high school social studies teacher, and in 2006, we helped chaperone a group of 24 students on an educational trip to France and Italy (there were three other chaperones). I embroidered the Eiffel Tower in black floss and added gold beads to represent the lights at night. In the upper right corner, I embroidered the Leaning Tower of Pisa, although it didn't turn out so great. I added a "Rome" charm I bought at Hobby Lobby on the left side. You can't really see it in the photo, but I used some gold thread to embroider the year 2006 in the lower right patch.

Below are two close-ups of the block (Oops ~ I forgot to turn the photo of the Rome charm before I uploaded it.)



This is the second block I made. I embroidered the US map in black. When a local bead store was going out of business, I bought a string of about 50 light brown Swarovski crystals at a great price. I sewed one bead onto each state that Mike and I have visited together. If we visit more states before our 25th anniversary, I will add those beads to this block.

Some closeups of block 2:

There's a small lace flower under this button. I used acrylic paint to add color to the lace.

This is the third block I've made. It represents our second time chaperoning a trip to Europe, in 2008. This trip we went to Ireland, Wales, and England. I used some rubber stamps and acrylic paint to stamp the year. In the center, I embroidered Big Ben in black, and used a small mother of pearl button for the clock face. In the lower right corner, I used pre-made ribbon roses to make a circle, then I placed a shamrock charm inside.

Closeup of the shamrock and roses. I put a cream bead in the center of each rose:

Closeup of the little gathered ribbon flower I made. There are a few clear beads in the center of the flower.So there you have it: my first three CQ blocks for my anniversary quilt. Now I just need to be consistent working on the next 12 blocks in 2012!

Thanks for stopping by!

My Mind's Eye November Challenge

For this month's challenge, all the products I used are from the "Lost and Found Two" collection. Love those! The background paper looks black in the photo, but it's really a dark brown. I used some crocheted trim from L&F2. You probably can't tell from this photo, but the tree in the picture is covered in frost. I thought the pearl swirl added just the right touch to the frost. Thanks for looking:)