Joan Freedman

When some people turn fifty they get a tattoo, others buy a fancy car. I decided to combine these ideas and tattoo my car.

I blogged for several weeks looking for feedback and traction on the various ideas I wanted to incorporate. If I was going to drive this car around for years the design had to really speak of who I am. Thanks to family and friends commenting on my blog I was able to combine my love of fabric, color, puzzles, and communication into the "Carzy Quilt".

My 2000 Odyssey van is covered with shapes of fabric cut from old clothing attached with silicone bathtub caulk. Stitching was added with permanent marker and everything sealed with 2 layers of marine expoy. There is a secret message written in six different "languages" around the bottom. Each language is an important part of my heritage or related to my profession.

The best part of this project is that over the course of a weekend in November 2010, 60 friends and family members all helped with the implementation. A local magazine featured the project at http://www.urbanitebaltimore.com/baltimore/paint-by-number/Content?oid=1348004

I feel so full of life when I drive my car around Baltimore. People smile at me, give the thumbs up, and occasionally I even find a love note tucked under the windshield wiper.