Tidbits

Not a lot I can report on the stitching front right now. I am working on my next Moda Bakeshop tutorial, teaser below!

I have also managed to revisit my Dear Jane at long last, and put this solitary little block together over the weekend.

E5 Rising Sun

The rays are freezer paper foundation pieced and the circle needle-turn appliqued. So nice to see you again Jane!

What was I thinking, Dear Jane?

I made this block a lot harder for myself than it needed to be ... but I think I like it.

This is G5 Poof - yes, that's it's official name! Personally, I wasn't keen on the big white 'poof' that was supposed to dominate this block, so I tinkered with it a little.

Dear Jane returns ... to a mess of fabric all over the lounge room floor

I am back to my Dear Jane blocks after months of inactivity. Now that the kids have returned to school, it is a little easier to find some stitching time.

F13 Tour de France

I used my new silk threads to needleturn this block and it really is very beautiful to work with. The silk 'disappears' into the fabric wonderfully.

A8 Florence Nightingale

And this is the fabric mess on the lounge room floor! In a mad rush of enthusiasm, I cut fabrics for this quilt immediately after my visit to Hatched & Patched with Chookyblue two weeks ago. It is my version of Anni's new pattern 'Ava Rose'. I am using these 'Barefoot Roses' fabrics by Tanya Whelan. And here it sits, strewn on the floor, waiting for me to be happy with the 'random' placement of the fabrics! It takes me a long time to 'do random'!! Hopefully, more progress on this front soon!

How cool is this, Dear Jane?

If you have a Flickr account, you might like to have a play with PictoBrowser. It turned my Dear Jane set into a cool slideshow instantly. Click on the PictoBrowser button at the lower right hand corner of my slideshow if you'd like to try it. Otherwise, these are my Dear Jane blocks to date.

Souvenir shopping?

I am slowly unpacking from our travelling about, and am unearthing little bits of shopping. Who needs postcards or teaspoons when you can buy fabric & sewing treasures! These lovely fabrics were purchased in Corowa & Echuca, both wonderful country towns on the Murray River between New South Wales & Victoria. I was very excited to find the 'Follow Your Imagination' fabric by Prints Charming - I have seen fantastic things made from this print. And there is some Sis Boom & some Robyn Pandolph in that little stash too! And a few more pieces to add to my Dear Jane stash. You may remember when I started Dear Jane, that it would be made entirely from my existing stash? As if that was ever going to happen!

I visited a favourite quilting shop in Berry, and was very self-controlled, leaving with the smallest of parcels. I had been told, more than once, that the only thread to use for needleturn applique on my Dear Jane quilt is pure silk. Expensive? Yep! The beige colour will be used for light fabrics, the grey for darks. Also, a little packet of 'the only needles for needleturn'! Hoping to try these out soon.

And also from Echuca, some very cute buttons to be used for who knows what, and a divine black velvet buckle.

Now aren't you glad I didn't buy postcards?! And the crazy thing is, I will remember where each one of these things was purchased, & the little towns we visited. So perhaps they are souvenirs after all!

Discovery of (yet another!) talented Australian quilter and designer

I was in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales the weekend before last, and popped into a favourite little shop, Ribbons & Rainbows (no website unfortunately). The owner was lovely and, despite me being there right on closing time, generously sent me off out the back to look at the quilts hanging up in the workroom. What a treat!

 

On the wall was this magnificent medallion quilt by a Blue Mountains local, Anne Sommerlad. It was special to see this quilt 'up close & personal' as it is published in the current issue of Australian Country Craft magazine (Vol 20 No 1).

It is made using the warm, rich fabrics of Moda's 'Chocolat' range by 3 Sisters. The applique & piecing of this quilt was impeccably done. And what should be on the wall next to this quilt?

The most exquisite of Dear Jane blocks, again stitched by Anne. She teaches classes on these blocks.

Anne has pinned or tacked her blocks onto a large sheet, which I thought was a great idea. Why have them packed away in a box for the months (years?) it takes to make a Dear Jane, when you can have them out to look at?

There was also the tiniest of sampler quilts made by Anne, with each intricately pieced block being a mere two inches finished!! I stopped short of photographing it for fear of breaking copyright. I emailed Anne to ask her permission to post these photos. She replied most warmly, allowing me to show you her work. She is based in the Blue Mountains, and designs patterns & is obviously an accomplished quilter. She is also well qualified as a tutor, having been a school teacher previously. She can be contacted by email (srt.sommerlad@bigpond.com) or I can provide you with her phone number if you are interested in asking her to teach a class in your area.

Just fiddling about ...

A little bit of this ...

and a little bit of that ...

a little Dear Jane ...

and a whole lot of nothing much at all!

Poor neglected Dear Jane

My Dear Jane blocks have been languishing, unattended in their little box for weeks. I am far behind the group, & won't even count how many I need to do to catch up. But I will whittle away slowly at them when I can - they are always very calming & enjoyable to return to.

A10 Which Points West

Fabric is 'Look & Learn' by Sandy Klop of American Jane by Moda.

A5 Cathie's Campfire

Fabric is from an old Robyn Pandolph line, called 'Bed of Roses'.

TR3 Checkerboard

Fabric is from 'The Merrimack Collection' by Judie Rothermal for Marcus Fabrics.

Another weekend flies by

The only stitching done over the weekend for me was just one solitary little Dear Jane block ...

J4 Adelaine's Apron Strings

... and the smallest bit of progress on my version of Anni Downs' 'Tim's Things' quilt:

I could tell you a whole lot that I learnt about violas (the musical kind) or perhaps the theme of 'resilience' in the movie Stuart Little, having coaxed my 12-year-old through two more school assignments, but I think my time and yours would be spent much more productively by popping over to see these girls at Princess Martha. They both stitch & quilt the most divine things, so be sure to welcome these new kids to the (blogging) block. Have a great week, Bloom.

The Great Dear Jane catch up

The Dear Jane group has been in hiatus for a week or so to give some of the slower members (that would be ME!) a chance to catch up on some blocks.F2 Kaleidoscope - I really like this block. Must be the pinwheel shape. I have always loved pinwheels, & I'm happy to say my piecing of them is improving. Segments are foundation pieced.

A3 Hunter's Moon - reverse appliqued. A nice simple one.

C2 Streak of Lightning - I thought this one looked easy enough, just a glorified nine-patch, but the angles made it tougher than I expected!

So I am now only four blocks behind. But one of them is an edge triangle, and the dreaded 42-piece Battlefield is looming. Wish me luck - I may need it!

Jigsaw puzzle, Dear Jane?

The latest blocks for my Dear Jane quilt:

A1 Pinwheel Gone Awry - not perfect, but finished!

H6 Pie Sale - not happy with how the seams are showing through from the back on this one.

Our fearless leader, Anina, has graciously given the Dear Jane group a break for a week or two to catch up on some blocks. I think I am about seven behind. Here is my Dear Baby Jane so far: Just like a big jigsaw puzzle really - except that I've never done a jigsaw with over 5000 pieces!!

They say it's my birthday!

And yet I'm sure my last one wasn't that long ago! I left all my lovely friends behind who would have spoilt me today when I moved in January. So I took 'me, myself & I' for a special treat - a drive to visit Hatched & Patched. It was a beautiful sunshine-y day for driving & Anni's shop was heavenly as always. I spent all my birthday money & then some! 

I treated myself to Anni's newest book, 'Simple Pleasures', just a few more fabrics for my Dear Jane (!), a set of Dear Jane rulers & the essentials to try some needlepunch embroidery. And then there is another little bit of fabric that coerced it's way into my bag - but it is already in the wash & will have to wait for show-and-tell tomorrow. I feel that I have done a particlarly good job in making myself feel special today! Well done me I say! Now, where's that champagne gone?

Nice to see you again, Dear Jane

I am enjoying spending time with my Dear Jane blocks again. I am especially enjoying the appliqued blocks at the moment. Lots of the blocks lately have been foundation pieced, which does my head in after a while!

E1 Aunt Exie's Phlox 

E10 Five & Dime 

H11 Piercing Rays

Too much to do, Dear Jane!

What was I thinking when I signed up for Happy In Quilting's 'Finish Five by the end of July Challenge'?! There is now just a week left in July & I have sewn a big, fat nothing - LOL! I took a huge suitcase of quilting back to the farm across the holidays with grand plans, including the three quilt tops I blogged about here, and the suitcase didn't even get opened. Does getting my roses pruned at the farm count Peg? HOWEVER, it is a new week, kids are back at school and perhaps there is room again in life for my grand plans!

I am way, way behind with my Dear Baby Jane blocks, but determined to catch up with the group again. I have done a few of the quicker ones to get myself back into it.

K8 Springbrook Park - foundation pieced.

G8 Justin's Comet - Wimped out completely on this block & pieced it more simply! All those set in seams & eight-pointed join in the centre scared me off!

H13 Farm Fields - they don't get much simpler than this one.

There are some real doozies to be done, including One, Two Buckle my Shoe , Pinwheel Gone Awry and the very scary Battlefield (name says it all really). And Anina is threatening a triangle block for Friday so I'd better get my rear into gear! Have a great week everyone.

Oh my! Fabric by the bolt?!

Precious little to report as my 'no time for sewing' phase continues, exacerbated by end of financial year tasks, the start of school holidays & the sudden (and wonderful!) company of three busy children.One solitary little Dear Baby Jane block to show. This is K11 Columbine. I am many blocks behind the progress of the group, but remain determined to catch up again soon!After all, I can't throw in the towel on Dear Baby Jane now - an ENTIRE BOLT (!!!) of Kona Snow arrived during the week for the background. I'd say I'm well & truly committed now! In an attempt to calm the 'sewing withdrawal' jitters, I am leaving bundles of loveliness all about the house so that I can stroke them lovingly as I hustle past on my way to the next should-have-been-done-yesterday task. Desperate times!

Dear Baby Jane update

Raining here today which is lovely. Means we might get some crops sown after all. Just a couple of Dear Baby Jane blocks to show you. This is C1 Trooper Green's Badge - foundation pieced, a nice easy one. But then there is TR4 Bennington Cross - again foundation pieced, but tricky & time consuming with all those pieces. If the Dear Janers out there have any tips on trimming these triangles accurately, I would love to hear from you. I don't have the 'you beaut' Dear Jane triangle ruler. And I am a tad concerned about trimming the triangles too small - that would not be good considering how much blood, sweat & tears is invested in each of them!

Creativity vs migraine

Not much news on the girly twirly skirt I'm afraid. Have been battling a migraine. So often for me, creativity and migraines seem to go together - very frustrating! I finished the latest of my Dear Jane blocks a couple of days ago. This is F5 Parcheesi. And my first 25 blocks, all together: I try not to think too much about how many blocks there are to go for Dear Jane, but am enjoying piecing them just one at a time. Hope your day has been more creative & productive than mine!

So you think I'm crazy?

Attempting to re-create a Dear Jane quilt may seem crazy enough, but just have a look at this! Hanne has just put the finishing stitches on her aptly named 'Nearly Insane' quilt. It is the most amazing quilt I have ever seen, and just stunning in red and white. Congratulations Hanne - you are in a league of your own! My Dear Baby Jane progress:B11 Melissa's Cross - I foundation pieced the centre (using Minka's 3/8" cross hairs) & hand appliquéd the curves as for Anina's method. The curves on this are more circular than square-ish as they should be, but it is symmetrical, so I'm happy! H1 Peek-a-boo - freezer paper foundation pieced. Hmmm, very different to the original I know. The truth is, I am a bit scared of the Dear Jane blocks that have a large proportion of solid colour. Because they are so dominant in the finished quilt, I am worried I will muck up my fabric choice & it will look awful. So I tend to want to 'soften' the look of these blocks by using more than one fabric. What a coward I am! I8 Pete's Paintbox - freezer paper foundation pieced. See 'coward' comment above! BR1 Rosemary's Window - the first of the border triangles. One down, only 51 to go! There is a code amongst Dear-Janers, which for me at the moment looks like this: 24:1:0:336. This means I have completed 24 blocks, 1 triangle, O corner blocks & have used a total of 336 pieces. The numbers should eventually read 169:52:4:5602!

Friday frills!

Frills just make me happy, don't know why! Working on this bag.And just one more Dear Baby Jane block; this is B10 Jud's Trophy. I am totally converted to the freezer paper method for foundation piecing. If you haven't given it a go, do yourself a favour! Tutorials for this method can be found here and here.

Chasing Dear Baby Jane

Trying to catch up with the Dear Baby Jane group again.B8 Water Lily - This block just about had me beaten. Had lots of trouble with the set-in seams. My first go was a disaster. I ended up stitching the seams by hand, something I have never done. And of course, I made the whole thing much harder for myself by choosing stripes! I think I would have given up the whole Dear Jane thing if I wasn't part of an encouraging group - thank you to all who have left comments for me, both here & on Flickr! B9 Tinker Toy - This came together much easier than B8 for some reason. It stretched a little in the centre along the bias seams, but it has pressed up OK. Just 2 more blocks to catch up on before Anina hits us with the first triangle - scary!