A New Blogging Start

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http://livegrownourishcreate.wordpress.com/

A Little Blogcation

I have decided to take a bit of a blogcation...maybe a couple of weeks, maybe a month, maybe more...

I realised that I have been making things to show on my blog, regardless of whether they are things I wanted to make; have started to feel stressed when I've got "nothing to show" and have been comparing my skills unfavourably with other bloggers so that rather than being inspired by others' creativity, I have been intimidated and stifled by it. At the moment, the blog feels like one pressure (albeit self-imposed!) too many. I need to take a break, get my groove back, and just play for a bit.

I have really appreciated all the lovely comments from readers and followers but just need this time, so BYE FOR NOW!!

A Crazy Start

With some trepidation I started cutting into some of my selected fabrics to piece my first ever crazy quilt block. I used the "antique method" described by J Marsha Michler in her book Crazy Quilting The Complete Guide. This basically involves cutting patches and placing them randomly, then turning under seam allowances, pressing them and basting (as you can see from this detail):



I liked the painterly/collage type of feel to this method, but did find it rather time consuming and laborious. I may try machine piecing my next block.

The idea of the Crazy Quilt Journal Project is to extend your own skills in crazy quilting, and already I am learning a lot! Next time I need to make sure that I cut the patches big enough for the seam allowances to extend beyond the marked foundation, as I think I may end up having to trim this block to half an inch smaller than I had originally intended. Also, my curved piece at top right may have been a little too steeply curved as I found it very difficult to turn under the seam allowance.

On a positive note - I am pleased with the overall composition and the colours.

And now I have to decide how to embellish the block. Where on earth to start??!?