Back on the Jane Train

I rhymed!

I'm planning a Dear Jane weekend with my online buddies Upstatelisa and Fanny Fairbanks. It will be the weekend of September 19th if everyone's life cooperates. We haven't planned out all of the details yet, but we will spend the weekend working on our Jane quilts. Each of us in our own homes...haha. So an at-home retreat of sorts. We will try to mass produce Jane blocks like crazy, and compare notes. Probably on twitter or something throughout the weekend, and post results on Monday? If any other Jane-ers out there want to play along. Just let me know.

I have already started a list of blocks to make that weekend. I'm aiming for the instant gratification ones. Gotta win the competition!!! Oh wait, it's not a contest...

In the mean time, I've finished some blocks that I had started a while ago. The hand applique was done, all I needed was to machine sew the pieces together.

I give you...

J-3 Rick's Volleyball Net (08/23/09)

Love Paris! Never been, but I'm open to free trips there! :)


M-13 Lynette's Diamond (08/23/09)



E-2 Merry May (08/23/09)

Check out the awesome frog fabric!

I-1 Ralph & Nelda's Wedding (08/22/09)


Till next time, take care!

Some Unphotographed Jane's

Here are some of the Jane blocks I made back in June. Just finishing up some swap things, and I'm back to my Jane quilt. I still would like to finish it by the spring. And if that's going to happen, I need to work on it. Who woulda thunk that eh?

J-7 Chicken Tracks (06/07/09)


J-2 Picture Perfect (06/07/09)


I-2 Kaye's Courtyard (06/07/09)


F-3 Snowball (06/07/09)


A-6 Uncle Homer (06/07/09)

Blog Post

Well I might be a bit behind posting here. But I did do a blog post over at Doll Quilt Swap Blog called Plate-a-rific!. Does that count?

Episode 51: Doll Quilting

I've been sewing all day. I finally picked an idea for my doll quilt for the Doll Quilt Swap #7 over on flickr. The difference this time, is that my partner may be a bit more subdued with their colour taste, so I am going out on a limb here and scaling back my crazy super-saturation a bit. Oh the agony...just kidding, I like it too. As you may know, I always make two. This time will be no exception.



I am doing Dresden fans. in aqua, red, light pink, and fuchsia with possibly some mauve purple, and for sure some white.

I have redone the block layout a million times. So I decided that I'm just going to go for it and make the blocks, and then figure it out after.



No sewing day is complete without some good watching material. Today was no exception. Gilmore Girls Season 6.



I decided to machine baste, since I have 16 blocks to hand appliqué, I figured I should try and save time wherever possible. Also this will keep the pieces from shifting.


All ready to hand appliqué!



I love this swap!

FYI This is my 50th Post.

I’ve been sewing away working on Quilting Bee blocks. I’m in two groups. Ten Make Two. Which started in June. In this group each person is assigned a month. On their month they let the group know what type of blocks they want. We use our own fabrics to make two 15.5 inch blocks in the given theme.

These two are for June: Shanna’s Pink Trees.

Block 1


Block 2


These are for July: Louise’s Bento Boxes in Pink and Orange.

Bento 1


Bento 2


The other group I joined in March. It is Another Quilting Bee 1. In this group we use the fabrics sent to us, and make the requested block. I had my month already. It was in April. Stay tuned for the awesome quilt made from the blocks from these wonderful ladies! Very cool. I haven’t put them together yet, but once you see the blocks, there’s no way the quilt won’t turn out awesome!

This block is for AQB1 June. Jessica send each person some solid black and a mix of one colour of fabrics. I got green. She said “anything goes”. Check out those peas...Too cute!



This basket is for AQB1 July. Barbara sent out a mix of greens,one white, and one floral. Barbara also said “anything goes”.



On the topic of Swaps. There is excitement brewing for the DQS7 that has started over on Flickr. It’s a great swap. Amazing participants! And it’s all secret! So you won’t know who’s making your quilt until you get it in the mail...very mysterious and very fun.

If you’re a Flickr person, and you like to quilt, go sign up! You won’t be disappointed. Sign-up closes this weekend. So hurry over there!!!

These are the quilts I made for DQS5


and DQS6.


What will I make this time?? Not sure, but if you sign up, it could be coming to you!

I’m a swap mama again this time. So behave yourselves and get your quilt done in time!!

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.