Showing posts with label Crazy Quilting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crazy Quilting. Show all posts

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Score!


I had a major piece of good fortune today. Not quite Irish luck for St. Patrick's Day, but Scottish. My wool crazy quilt idea has been living in the back of my mind since I had to abandon it in December. All along I've wanted to include some tartan scraps in the quilt. Today I managed to acquire this sample book of authentic Scottish tartans from The Wee Tartan Shop in Port Perry, Ontario.

It really was a case of being in the right place at the right time. We were actually driving out of town when I felt strongly that I should turn back. Sample books like this are not offered for retail, but it just happened that they had recently bought a new one, and the owner was in the shop and willing to sell the old one. Who knows, maybe they will see a new business opportunity with quilters! There was quite a bit of tempting jewellery as well, but I spent all my money on the fabric, as usual.


So now I am the proud owner of 32 authentic tartan samples, each with about 6.5" square of usable fabric. The quilt pretty much designs itself from here!

I am a little disappointed that I won't be doing this project as part of CQJP. Maybe I could beg my way back in, but I think it is clear to everyone (even me) that I tend be deadline-challenged with creative projects.  It will probably be best to just work on it as inspiration strikes. And right now I have lots!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

CQJP 2013

I know, I need another commitment like a hole in the head, but nevertheless I have just signed up for the 2013 round of the Crazy Quilt Journal Project. For the past year I have been admiring all the work that was done in CQJP 2012, and I couldn't let it pass me by this time.

The big question has been what theme to use.  It hit me today:

WOOL

I have many books on wool embroidery...




...and I have never made one project from any of them! I haven't made a crazy quilt either, so this will be two birds with one stone. Well, three birds, because I've been wanting to a make a wool quilt too.

I hope to make it a sampler of as many techniques as I can fit in.  Different types of wool embroidery, some needlepoint on waste canvas, wool felt applique... and I'll use up some of those perle cottons I bought too. Dark, neutral fabrics, bright embroidery.

I want it to be a useable size for a throw, so my plan is to go big - 16 x 16" square blocks. A little primitive, big and chunky. I have loads of navy wool suiting that I never had time to make into suits when I was working, and which will be perfect for some sashing between the blocks.

I think weight will be an issue with this quilt, so I will not quilt it, just back it and put in a few ties. I also think it will be wise to avoid buttons and beads for this project, for the same reason.

It's going to be fun!


Friday, February 24, 2012

Allie Aller's Crazy Quilting

It's Book Review Day once again!  Today I am sharing Allie Aller's Crazy Quilting (C&T Publishing, 2011).


I love this book!  Before I read it, I was always on the fence about crazy quilting.  My impression was that it was too dark, and too random for my taste.  But the work in this book changed my mind.  Aller (I gather that her friends call her Allison rather than Allie) is largely inspired by gardens and flowers, which is something that really resonates with me too.  The colours are vibrant and beautiful throughout the book, and there are many gorgeous photos:


Crazy quilting is definitely one of those "more is more" techniques.  This book gives you everything you need to finish a project.  Aller provides four different methods for constructing a block, dozens of ideas for embellishing it, and complete instructions for finishing the quilt.  I am about to embark on a Top Secret crazy quilt project, and I feel very comfortable with the instructions for getting started.

But even if you don't have a crazy quilt project in mind (yet), this book is great eye candy, and provides lots of good ideas for embellishment and silk ribbon embroidery that you could use on other projects:


She does amazing things with Angelina as well!  So, another book that I highly recommend.  It is certainly a nice book to have on the shelf, when you are missing your garden in the middle of winter!
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