Crazy Quilt Blocks

Recently while working on one of my projects, I ran across a set of Coluzzle crazy quilt templates. I remember when they were new I just had to have them, but that was as far as it ever got with them. Anyway, that started me thinking about doing some crazy quilt blocks for a mini book using some of my paper scraps. I just didn't know where to start so I spent several days online reading about "real" crazy quilts and looking at many, many beautiful blocks and quilts made by some very talented artists. I was fasinated with their beauty and how they were embellished with intricate stitches, beads, lace, trims, buttons, and all kinds of wonderful things. (If you put "crazy quilt images" in your browser, you can see some of these beautiful works of art.)

I am not going to try and duplicate some of the quilt blocks I saw, but I think it will be fun to create some "paper-style" blocks. When the art group I belong to meets in April we are going to build some crazy quilt blocks so this should be a fun adventure. Wouldn't a swap be fun?

So, here is one I created this week.



I started with a 8 X 8" square of kraft paper card stock. You can use any card stock for your base, kraft paper is my favorite. It really doesn't matter, as it won't show anyway. Kraft paper is a brown bag color--the image above is not accurate for some reason.



Next, I cut four 1 X 8" strips of black card stock and glued them down as a "frame" on my 8 X 8" square. This will become the border for my 6 X 6" quilt block. You can use any color for the border. I was going to use black stitches on my blocks so thought the black would make a good border.

My finished Crazy Quilt block! By assembling the border around my quilt block first, made it easier for me to put it all together. Ranger Distress Ink Antique Linen was applied on all my quilt pieces before assembling. I used 2 strands of black floss and the Bazzill in Stitch'z Templates for most of the stitches (or you can use your own creative stitching). I decided to embellish the quilt block border and used some of the flowers from scraps of the printed paper, some tiny buttons, and some varigated satin floss. A piercing tool and pad is essential for this project. I used Zip Dry Adhesive to attach my pieces before "stitching."

This was fun! Can't wait to start another.