CRAZY TIMES

I occasionally enjoy working with a crazy quilt format.  There are no points to match; using up a lot of scraps; using colors and embellishments as I feel like it; and, best of all, no expectations!  Perfect for the New Year 2024.

THE STATS:  Crazy Times, 2024, 29"x29", Foundation pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

 Additionally, the different techniques I included were miniature quilt blocks, buttons, ribbons, Broderie Perse, thread painting, raw edge applique, wool applique, hand drawings, computer- generated words, and machine embroidery.

My original plan was not to put a border on it, but a quilt this crazy needed something to corral it in.  Plus, I was dealing with so many bias edges.  By designing it on the diagonal, I was constantly dealing with hypotenuse measurements; Pythagoras became my closest friend!

DOODLES AND DANDIES

 Psychologists have studied doodlers trying to figure out why they doodle.  The reasons range from "expressing ourselves without words" to "occupying our right-brain so our left-brain can concentrate on listening".  I've always been a doodler for every reason imaginable; except I'm certainly not exhibiting my artistic drawing ability, of which I have none.  My sixth-grade art teacher made that very clear!!!

  I have done some study on the friendship quilts from the 19th century to the present, and notice that signatures are often accompanied with drawings.  I thought I can't draw, but maybe I can doodle; so in 1992 I started experimenting.  Some doodling on quilts has occasionally been going on since then.

I decided a crazy quilt format called for doodles, embroidery, and ribbons. 

Here's the latest ----

 THE STATS:  Doodles and Dandies, 2022, 25"x25", Foundation pieced, Machine ribbon applique, Machine pieced, Machine embroidered, Machine quilted, and lots of thread.

Always fun to work on a crazy quilt with no points to match and no expectations, plus always an unexpected result.

TENETS

 Occasionally, I enjoy working in a crazy quilt format.  It is easy with no corners to match; an unlimited color scheme using up small fabric scraps; design as you go with no expectations; plus fun practice on my new sewing machine.  It is relaxing and with a little introspection, you have cheap therapy all rolled up in a small quilt!  This is "Tenets".

The Stats:  Tenets, 2021, 25" x 28", Foundation pieced, machine embroidered, machine pieced, machine quilted.

A word or two about the title, "Tenets".  To me it means the personal philosophy that I attempt to follow in my life.  Sometimes, I fail miserably, but I try to "get up and try again".  The other words/phrases included in this crazy quilt (and life) are a snippet of those tenets that I attempt to live by.

Our son, the high school math teacher, says that the only way to learn math is to do it again and again.  I was struggling with the learning curve on my new sewing machine; so I decided to listened to his advice and apply it to my machine.  This quilt gave me time (and time again) to practice on most of the available tools of my machine.  I feel that I am the master of it now!!!  It pays to listen to your kids occasionally.