Getting started on my first 12x12x12

I have decided to challenge myself to participate in the 12x12x12 Portfolio Challenge that is being sponsored by the Quilt Studio Webring.

My theme is going to be the Alphabet.  Other than the size and the general theme, I don't think I'm going to give myself any other guidelines or rules or whatever to try to follow.  Well, maybe one, I think I might try to stick to a certain layout, but other than that -- I'll see where the ideas take me as far as technique or goals or whatever.  This also means that I'm going to pick whichever letter of the alphabet I feel like working on, and not worry about any kind of order. 

While in the car and hotel this past week, I did some drawings in my altered book that are explorations for my first page. 

I want to do a stylized tree for my first project.  I started with the idea that I would just do part of the tree, but I'm not sure if that's how it'll end up or not.  And yes, I'm showing you pages out of my book that I said I was probably going to keep to myself.  I haven't told you what the book actually is, and I don't think you can tell from these pictures, so I'm just not going to worry about it right now. 

The lower branches of the first tree are OK, but then my tree started getting all blobby and misshapen.  I didn't pencil it in first, and would have been happier if I had done so.  Also, I didn't count the sections for the red squares around the outside and didn't realize I couldn't finish the pattern until I turned the last corner.  Oops! LOL!

The second tree is better, but still not quite making me happy.  I was playing with the layout idea on this one, and the layout for all of the months will be something similar.

The third tree -- now this is making me happy!  I did pencil this one in.  I like the shape of the overall tree, and way the branches turned out.  I am envisioning using buttons for the  fruit and leaves.   

I played with CorelDraw for a little to work on the layout.  I think it might be something like this.  My thought is that all of the 12x12 quilts will have the same black borders and sashing (1/2 inch and 1/4 inch respectively) in order to tie them together.  But I'm not writing anything in stone....

Comments

[Debra Spincic]

I like all 3 trees but I really like the 1st 2 the best! and I am leaning towards the 1st one as my favorite! It has more character to me--like a big old gnarly tree that has seen it all!

This should be a fun project to follow! thanks for joining the 12x 12 x 12 Challenge with us!

[Vicki]

I really like #2 tree with #3 coming in second! If we can get enough opinion here we can totally confuse you so that you go back and rely on your very dependable gut feeling! :-) Can't wait to see where you go with this. I'm pretty sure that I will eventually regret not signing up for this challenge - maybe next year.

[Debby]

Love the evolution of your trees...and I like them ALL best! =-) Had to laugh about the border and turning the corner...seems to me I've had a border or two on a quilt end up that way =-) Well, I guess I'm going to have to find a book and just jump right into this...you and Kim have intrigued me so much with the idea...Happy New Year!

[Laura Kong]

Thanks for sharing your sketchbook--They're all wonderful!!! I can't wait to see the finished quilt.