Several things lately have left me thinking about making a Crazy quilt. So here are my reasons for starting a Crazy Quilt Challenge.

1. We are all crazy here at BC so this kind of quilt should come naturally for us all.

2. As true lovers of fabric I think we sometimes get left out of many fabulous fabrics such as velvet, satin, silk, etc.

3. I have been cleaning out some closets lately and there are several items that hold fond memories for me but aren't really important enough to try and store for the grandkids. I would love to use some fabrics from these things in something that can be enjoyed and displayed.

4. Along with the closets I had a good look thru my old jewelery box and there are so many things in there that brought out an emotion in me whether it was laughter at some of the ear rings I once wore (and apparently thought they looked nice? ) or a pin that my mother always wore on Christmas day. I'm sure you all have things like this that you would enjoy more if they were in a crazy quilt.

5. I love the hand stitching and would love to learn more about the traditional stitches used in crazy quilts as well as embroidery. I also love the fact that many of the modern crazy quilts are being done with beautiful machine stitches. So this element includes all of us here at BC.

6. Many of our questions during our weekly trivia games have included elements of history. I think the history of our craft is very important as a way to link the past to the future. I would like to tell my grandchildren what elements about Granny's quilts were historical and why I choose to use them there, as well as the history of that particular technique. I know many of you feel the same way.

7. And I guess my last reason is the crazy thing is a new and endless opportunity to explore my creativity. Nothing is ever wrong in a crazy quilt, there are only design decisions, and happy mistakes. I want to work with velvet and satin. I want to try out different threads and different designs for that thread. And I want to embellish with lace, ribbon, trinkets, jewelery, buttons, and even tiny mirrors (They were used at one point in crazy quilts.)

I want to make this challenge completely open like all the others are and have been. No sign up necessary, no deadlines, and no patterns. I am going to list a few of the wonderful websites I have already visited that are full of information on crazy quilts, stitches, designs, and even layout patterns to get you started piecing if you so desire. One has a wonderful online class on crazy quilts squares as well.

I'll set up an album as soon as I know there is something to add to it. I personally will not be able to start on this for awhile, maybe even not until after the first of the year. But the ideas have been haunting my dreams so I had to pour them out on the board.

What do you ladies think?

www.inaminuteago.com

www.caron-net.com/featurefiles/featmay.html

www.caron-net.com/classes/classmayfiles/clasmay1.html
Connie

That is one amazing idea Connie...... what a wonderful opportunity to explore the creativity inside us :0
I love the idea,,, totally
Jacqui

Connie have you seen the purses on the first site..... wowser... I love them..... I can't wait to play
Jacqui

Yes I love them and the little sewing caddys too. Wouldn't that be wonderful to have and they would make precious Christmas gifts too. The options are thru the roof on this project.

Connie

I didn't know that many of the traditional motiffs for crazy quilts were originally Oriental design. Like the spider web, dragonflys, fans, and several types of birds. I love the history of these quilts.

Connie

I love the dragon flies... the types of thread can give these embellishments such life and movement
Jacqui

Connie

Sounds great to me - especially the no time limit as I have just a few other deadlines to me (LOL) Thanks for sharing your thoughts

Milica

http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00086.asp

http://www.interweave.com/needle/projects/crazy_quilt.asp

Aother couple of sites I thought were pretty good
Jacqui

I'm in. I have some vintage drawing on silk that an old boyfriend bought me way back in high school, as well as pieces of embroidery and vintage embroidery floss from my aunt (and godmother) and lace made my grandmother and DH's grandmother. And I know where my mother's old prom dresses from the depression are. Thirty years ago, I was given books that had belonged to my grandmother from the turn of the century that show how to paint on fabric, and also books that show how to do all the little fussy things they used to do with ribbon to dress up their hats (not hats, milinary) and garments. Man, I knew someday all this crap would come in handy.

Hazel

P.S. Now that I know the difference, I am making mine in the British tradition, just like the one that hangs in my mother's living room. She bought it in Florida forty years ago- how do you suppose it ended up there?

Roflolol, how could a nut like you pass up anything with the word Crazy in it?? lolol There was never really any doubt now was there

Jacqui