Encrusted Crazy Quilts

Continuing with Sharon B's Encrusted Crazy Quilt class, I've been through the "yapping puppy" stage where ideas about a project's direction are coming fast and furiously. The lesson I have to learn over and over is not to become so wedded to one of those pups that the natural development of the project gets stifled right at the beginning. (Note to self: Not a good idea to post pictures for all the world to see during the yapping-puppy stage.)

Anyway, I've traveled a different path, with a nod to Magritte, which came about as I was obsessing about my lack of any thread that was just the right green for the "lime." There's still much be done, but I'm beginning to get a glimmer of an idea about how to proceed. I've always admired crazy quilters (and also quilters/embroiderers who work on crazy quilt blocks!), but I have an increased respect for the men and women who put together these beautiful works of art. Sharon's class--a wealth of information, well presented--is a good introduction, and the number of online resources available, both through www.pintangle.com and other generous people about the web, is amazing.

Encrusted Crazy Quilt Continues

So, here's one seam treatment sketched out. I thought I would continue with the buttonhole stitch wheels, only flip them to create mini-beach umbrellas. You can see that the reality is not as tidy as the sketch, and I'm a little doubtful, but my motto is "when in doubt, plow ahead." I began the word "Summertime" with a huge "S," which may turn out to be a mistake--oops, I mean "an encrusting opportunity." Things are not showing up so well. Here's where I pay for the mistake of not changing my fabric choices early on. I'm hoping that once I put a hot summer sun in the upper left quandrant, some balance will start magically appearing!

Encrusted Crazy Quilt

So, as proof that I'm crazy, I signed up for another of Sharon Boggon's classes (her classes are wonderful, but I never seem to keep up and actually finish--that's the crazy part of it). Still it's another year with the resolution not to procrastinate (let's see, exactly when did I last post here...?) I took this particular class to try to overcome my habit of always stopping short when working on embellished projects. I never do quite enough. I'm hoping that these projects will teach me to loosen up a bit.



Anyway, the block's assembled, one little seam finish is started, some possible embellishment areas are blocked out (with some wonky scanning). Im not thrilled with the block itself, but I've putzed about long enough and decided to just move forward.

So, here's "Ain't Got time for the Summertime Blues" in very rough draft form.