Two More Jane Block

I felt like I was neglecting my Jane quilt. And I really don't want to be rushing it at the end. So here are two more blocks.

G-5 Poof (06/04/09)


E-5 Rising Sun (06/03/09)"


I feel like I'm plowing through the applique blocks and will be left with all piecing. I will try to leave some applique for the end. Since it is my favourite part.

Off to Montreal today for a potluck with friends from high school. Should be fun. I'm going to try and get another block ready to hand applique. I know I just said I was going to save them, but one more can't hurt right...hehe I might be addicted to applique.

I've actually chosen my next applique project. Something from the lovely ladies of Piece O' Cake. Oh and while I'm talking about them, they've got a new book coming out. I'm very excited about this one. It's called Applique Outside the Lines. Check out the photos of the quilts in the book!

Picnic Quilt

I am madly working on a picnic quilt. After seeing Katy's lovely quilt and Sarah has started one too, I had to jump on board also.

I really have these dreams of putting the finished quilt in my cute bike basket (still need to buy one) and going for a wonderful bike ride. Then I will stop along the river where it is beautiful, and set up shop. I will lay out my pretty quilt, get out some lemonade and sandwiches and some hand sewing or quilt books to read. I will sit there all day and then when I’ve had just enough of the lovely summer bliss, I will pack up my blanket etc. and ride my bike back home...

Ahh won't that be nice? Here is the quilt so far.

The (fuzzy) plan.



The fun summer fabric for the middle of the big blocks.



The string blocks that will alternate.





Can't wait!

More Jane

I'm starting to work faster on Jane. I think it's cause I've finished some projects. I still have one more swap to go, and a baby quilt to make. Thanks to Helen, I have pattern I'm going to use. Or at least a look, i will be resizing the blocks as they are too huge for a baby quilt.

K-7 Rose of Sharing (04/26/09)



F-4 OId Windmill (04/26/09)



L-4 St. George's Cross (04/26/09)



H-7 Bennington Star (04/29/09)



I have one block ready to hand stitch too.

Dear Jane, I have not forgotten you...

I'm just really bad at taking photos when I finish your blocks.

Here's the latest:

B-2 Sweet Tater Pie (04/18/09)


B-12 Starflower (03/25/09)


H-6 Pie Sale (04/25/09)


B-3 Mirror Image (04/19/09)


C-11 Soldiers and Sailors Monument (04/19/09)


I'm hoping to finish up some other projects so that I can work on this more faithfully. And I still want to learn to knit socks too. So I have one swap quilt to make for Lisa, and a baby quilt to make for a coworker (baby due in June) and then I'll have some more time for this GIANT project. I'm not sure if I mentioned it here before, but my goal is to have the Dear Jane done for my quilt guild's show next May 2010. Here's hoping!

And I haven't forgotten about the tutorial for labels, I'm just waiting to finish something so I can take photos while I work.

Doll Quilt Received!!!

Yippee! I got my doll quilt from Terrie! I love it so much! The colours are great! The fabrics are great! the quilting!

Check it out for yourself







I love, love, love the rainbow thread she used. I need some like this!! And check out those leaves!

Thanks again Terrie! Love it!

DQS6 Done!

I finished my quiltie for the Doll Quilt Swap 6. Yippee! And I made myself a twin!



I really like these ones. I hope my person likes the brightness of them. I think I might bring mine to work to brighten up my cubicle!

I used a block from the Everyday Best quilt in Piece O' Cake Designs' Quilts with a Spin. It's a beautiful book. The cover photos on Amazon don't do it justice at all.



I decided to machine quilt with rainbow thread as well as hand quilt with a light yellow and a coral embroidery floss . I use three strands of DMC floss for the quilting. I really want to try the #8 DMC perle cotton but the needlework shop in Ottawa closed a few weeks ago. Very sad. I will have to find a source online.



And a peek a the label. Haha bet you thought it would have the recipient's name on it eh? Nope I did put their name on my label, so years from now I'll remember who I made it for. If there is any interest, I was thinking of doing a tutorial on how I do my labels. Let me know if this is something you'd like to see.

I hope everyone else is having fun working on their quilt!

DQS6

I'm on holidays until next Tuesday (the 14th) and my big plans include fabric, thread, sewing machine....etc.

I've almost finished my quilt for my Guild's challenge. I'm hesitant to show a picture yet cause it's a secret. The votes are done without people knowing who made what.

And I've been working on my Doll Quilt for DQS6. Finally!

I photocopied the paper-piecing pattern back on March 9th, and just yesterday started working on it. Loving the results so far. Using lots of fun scraps. And as (almost) always, making one to keep for me too.

Here's are my sneeky peekies.





I also plan to work on my Dear Jane. And a mini quilt for Lisa for a swap we are doing.

Sarah the Applique Queen!

I've been obsessed with the appliqued blocks in the Dear Jane quilt. I basted all three of these blocks on Saturday. I worked on C-6 on that day, and finished it on Sunday. I also started and finished G-1 and G-3 on the same day. I have two more basted and ready to go.

G-1 Hattie's Hen House (03/22/09)



I love this newspaper fabric!


C-6 Ashley's Aura (03/22/09)




G-3 Four Leaf Clover (03/22/09)



There's nothing like a lazy Sunday in your jammies, doing hand applique, and watching Season 3 of Veronica Mars. Another current obsession.

I've been Interviewed!

My interview has been posted on Carina's craftblog . And while you're there, check out Carina's whole blog. She's an amazing artist and crochet queen! Such colourful and wonderful things!

Exciting News!

I have some rather exciting news. I've been interviewed by Carina's craftblog and it's being posted tomorrow (Saturday). I'm very flattered that she asked me to do it! So check it out, I might give out some dirty little secrets, or not. You'll have to go on over there to find out!

In celebration of that, I thought it might be about time to update my etsy shop, and add some more crochet roll ups. This batch is freshly made with bright fabrics! These ones are definitely up my alley!

Here's a little taste of them...

Hope on over to My Shop to check out the rest! And as always I do custom orders. I'm also working on some Quilting Patterns!

Stay tuned next post, for some quilting updates. I've made a few things, send some in the mail...and I need to get my butt in gear and work on the Doll Quilt Swap 6. I’ve gotta set an example since I'm a Swap Mama. I promise you that although I haven't done anything but photocopy my paper- piecing patterns, I am processing and thinking about the idea.

Note: I've posted these pictures smaller than I have been previously doing, I'm not sure which size I like. Which size do you like best? Please help me decide by leaving me a comment.

Doll Quilt Roundup

So things just got started this week with Doll Quilt Swap 6, but there are already a ton of ideas flying around (not to mention tons of fabrics too).

Coffee Shop has started sketching ideas. It's looking great already!


Quilting Barbie has posted a sneak peak..ooh let's look! I love the colourful flowered fabric!


And some people have posted some mosaics of their favorite doll quilts for inspiration and so their stalkers..I mean partners can get to know them better. I'm noticing lots of birds and houses.

Quilting Barbie I see the one I made there. Thanks Barb!


ritapizza


j_q_adams


austysmom


spinster sister



katias_stitchin has also shared a quilt received in Doll Quilt Swap 3. Very pretty!



I've started thinking about my idea. I thought I was sure I knew what I wanted to do, but then I started to think of another type of quilt to make. I'm still trying to decide, but I'm hoping to get going tonight. I keep checking my person's favorites, hoping something new will show up. Don't forget to keep your favs up to date. I've also gone in and removed some of mine that don't do it for me anymore.

More Jane

Two more blocks done. I started and finished the red one on Monday evening and worked on the green one last night and finished it tonight.

L-7 Town Square (03/02/09)



L-1 Widow's Pane (03/04/09)



I've got my partner for the Doll Quilt Swap 6. I'm excited to get going. I have an idea but am still stalking my partner to make sure it's a good choice for him/her.

Jane, Jane, Jane

Not much to say. I've made two more blocks. And a whole other quilt but I need some daylight to get a decent photo. Might be the weekend before I can get one. In the mean time...here are my two blocks.

K-12 Doris's Dilemma (03/01/09)



C-1 Trooper Green's Badge (03/01/09)

Helping Others

Part of the reason I love being a quilter is that is allows me the opportunity to use my creativity and sewing skills to brighten people's lives and to provide them with a symbol of love and comfort.



This is the 25 block quilt top that I sent to Tia for the Bushfire Quilt Project.

Here is the signature square with some kind words for the recipients.



These are the 3 blocks I made for Project Improv.







They will be assembled into charity quilts with other blocks created in one of the three colourways. I can't wait to see the finished quilts. They will definitely spread some happiness.

Bushfire Blocks and Dear Jane

I have almost completed my 25 blocks for the Bushfire Quilt Project. I plan to mail them early next week. My mom is also making some blocks to send, so I will have to co-ordinate with here so we can mail our things together.

Here is the progress right now. All three pieces of the blocks made, just need to complete them, and sew the top together.



As mentioned in a previous post, I was contemplating what fabrics to use for my Baby Jane quilt. I made the decision that I want it to be fun, but not something too 'now' as far as my colour taste goes, since it will take a while to make, and I don't want to have that 'what was I thinking?' feeling when it is finished.

I've decided on Strawberry Jane. Colours are: Red, Bright Pink, Lighter Pink, Lime Green, and Bright Green with white background fabric. I began this project on January 25th, 2009 (the day before my 1 year wedding anniversary) and I'm hoping to complete it in 1 year. It may be a crazy goal, and I might need some cheerleading along the way, but I'd like to have it done for my quilt guild's show on Mother's Day Weekend 2010. Unless my machine quilting skills go through the roof between now and then, I will probably have it long arm quilted.

Here are my 13 Jane blocks so far with the date of completion for each block. I haven't worked on it for a week and a bit, because I was away at a retreat last weekend and worked on some other projects. And when I got back I heard about the horrible fires in Australia, and immediately started on my blocks for the Bushfire Quilt Project.

A8 - Florence Nightingale (02/01/09)



B-1 Batchelor Buttons (02/01/09)



B-4 Chris's Soccer Field (01/29/09)



B-13 Four Corner Press (01/27/09)



C-9 Jane's Tears (01/28/09)



D-3 Jason's Jacks (01/31/09)



D-6 Challenge (01/27/09)



D-13 Field of Dreams (02/01/09)



G-4 Shutter Bug (02/01/09)


H-13 Farm Fields (02/01/09)



I-3 Family Album (02/01/09)



J-4 Adelaine's Apron Strings (01/29/09)



M-10 Simple Simon (01/25/09)



Stay tuned for more progress and a photo of my Minny Muu quilt that I'm making for ME. It's about time.