Starting my first Friendship Quilt block and other things

I've been terribly busy the last few weeks (what's new) so I haven't done much stitching. I have made some more progress on my blue urn applique block, but it is tough going because of its miniature size and the silk fabric, so I have found I need something "in between" that doesn't require so much precision.

So, last weekend, I thought I would start on a fabric journal of my favorite quotes, one per page. I am inspired by the CQ postcards made by Cat. I started 3 journal pages using crazy quilt techniques. The quotes I am using for these pages are:

If not us, who? If not now, when?

(Robert Kennedy)

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I

I took the one less traveled by

And that has made all the diference.
(Robert Frost)

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

upon the place beneath.

It is twice blest,

It blesseth him that gives,

and him that takes . .

(William Shakespeare)

I've chosen several other quotes, and I intend to use 12 altogether. Let's see how I get on. I'll post a photo of the first finished page once it is done!

In other sewing, I am starting today my first block for one of the BAQ Friendship Quilts organized by Elly Sienkiewicz. Seven quilts are being made - as true album quilts, i.e., with blocks contributed by many, many women from around the world. The quilts are all being done in miniature, which is challenging, and may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they should be spectacular when done. We just heard that they will be shown in the Houston International Quilt Festival in 2010. Cool! Anyway, my first block is the heart wreath block from the long out of print book by Elly, called Spoken Without a Word. Here's the block pattern, which I am doing at 7" x 7" design area. that means the 46 leaves are all smaller than my little fingernail! eek!

Haven't worked out how I will do the flowers yet, but I do intend to add some dimensionality, so let's see. I'll post progress as I go along.....