Highly Prized Journal Quilt

I had not finished with the Sketchbook Challenge yet. As you might have read on a previous blog post, I'm participating in this challenge and we are set a theme for every month. January's theme was Highly Prized. I made the page in my sketchbook dedicated to my wonderful azur-blue new Lumix camera which has already found a place in my heart.

Another decision I made was to participate again in the Journal Quilt project of the Contemporary Group of the British Quilters' Guild. Last year was the first year I did not make JQs consistenly throughout the year and to my surprise I really missed it. And the sad fact is that I did make JQs, 6 to be precise and pictures of them will be appearing here as soon as their various exhibitions open. I know I would have made the full 12 if only I had signed up, so this year I'm back in the groove!

I'm going to combine the two challenges and let my sketchbook pages inspire the Journal Quilts. They have to be 10" square and for the first 4 of them, circles have to appear somewhere. What could be better for a sketchbook page inspired by a camera, which has, you've guessed it, a circular lens. So here it is, my first JQ. I've used the sketch of my camera by scanning it in and printing it out onto fabric. The image in the centre is one of the very first pictures I took with my Lumix.

Other techniques include: machine quilting on a velvet background, raw edge applique, free machine embroidery and quilting and hand beading.

The JQs this year will be photographed rather than scanned (those beads almost make that impossible in any case) so my camera has taken a picture of a picture of my camera. Talking about going around in circles!