Dear Jane Quilt - Block A13 Starlight Star Bright

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A13 Starlight Star Bright

Where am I? 

So far this Dear Jane quilt has not been on many trips, but recently block A13 Starlight Star Bright has been treated to a day out, since it is officially the completed 100th block on my Dear Jane journey. 


Dear Jane Quilt - Block A13 Starlight Star Bright

Starlight Star Bright is a nice simple block using EPP, so not too much trouble for me

So where am I?

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces:  21  pieces

GIVEAWAY 2016 Malvern Quilt Show Tickets + Dear Jane Quilt - 100th Block Edition

Giveaway - A pair of tickets to 2016 Quilts UK Malvern Quilt Show

THIS GIVEWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

I am celebrating reaching my 100th Dear Jane block by having a GIVEAWAY!


Dear Jane Quilt - 100th Block Edition

Yesterday, Mystic Quilter commented how I must be accumulating quite a pile of Dear Jane blocks.  Yes, indeed. This is what 100 English paper pieced Dear Jane blocks look like.  Steady hand piecing since August has produced this pile of pretty blocks and I am starting to feel a sense of PROGRESS.

To celebrate I am offering the chance to win a pair of tickets to the 2016 Quilts UK Malvern Quilt Show.  Each ticket is valid for one person for one day and are non-refundable.  The show runs from Thursday 19th May to Sunday 22nd May 2016 at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, WR13 6NW, UK.  There will be one winner who will receive the prize of two tickets.  The draw will be made on Saturday 23rd April 2016. 


Alongside the personal quilting projects you can follow on this blog, I also have a Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting service (www.fabadashery.co.uk) which I offer to customers, which has its own blog and Facebook page, where you can see other lovely quilts made by my lovely customers. 

How to win the tickets - you have three chances

• Go to my Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting Facebook page where you will find a post about the Giveaway, leave a comment, SHARE it and the LIKE my Fabadashery Long Arm page, or let me know that you are already a Follower and you would like to enter the draw. 
• Go to my Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting Blog (www.fabadashery.co.uk) and become a Follower or let me know that you are already a Follower, leaving a comment on the blog to let me know.  You can link from the button on the sidebar.
• Become a Follower on my regular Fabadashery Blog or let me know that you are already a Follower and you want to be entered into the draw.

Be sure to leave a comment to let me know what you have done by 12pm Saturday 23rd April to be entered into the draw.

 

 

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H6 Pie Sale

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H6 Pie Sale

For my version of Dear Jane block H6 Pie Sale there are 12 pieces to applique.  It is a pleasing pattern, but the applique always seems to take up more concentration than anything else in my life.

I have been out and about for the past few days and popped down to the Exeter Quilt Show which kicks off the quilt show season for me.  There was a lovely display of quilts by Kay Bell and enough fabric stalls to satiate my fabric appetite.


Red Telephone Fabric

I have seen this red telephone fabric at the shows for several months now and at £4/m I relented.  I can't see it on the front of a quilt yet, but I have enough for backing a quilt.


Midnight at the Oasis - Fabric Selection?

I also bought some of the basics for a Jen Kingwell pattern I hope to make in the near future called 'Midnight at the Oasis'.  There have been several quiltalongs for this quilt design, but as usual I will need to work to 'the beat of my own drum' for this project.


Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 17 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G6 Papa's Star

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G6 Papa's Star

I think there is a general consensus in Dear Janeland that if you can do Dear Jane block G6 Papa's Star, you can just about do any of the blocks in the quilt.  Yes, the centre star is a challenge and yes I have just had to buy my first set of spectacles for 'close work'.  However, don't take a breath too quickly once it is done.  Those orange points on the bigger star are all different sizes and need to be placed in the right direction and position too.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G6 Papa's Star

When you see the completed star above you make think it looks very accomplished.  I thought I would share this picture of the back of the mini eight-pointed star.  It looks slightly crazy.  But hey, no one is going to see it!

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 30 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 26 - A13, F9, G6, H6

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 25 - Border Triangles LR2, RR2, LR12, RR12


Are you still with me?
I imagine that most of you are making quilts at a much faster pace than I am with this Dear Jane, but for me it is usually the journey and not the destination which counts. 

Here are the most recent set of border triangle blocks which means we are ready to move onto Draw 26.

A13 - Starlight Star Bright
F9 - Autumn Aster
G6 - Papa's Star
H6 - Pie Sale

This draw is Orange and we are back to the 4.5" blocks.

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR12 Linda's Church in the Valley

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR12 Linda's Church in the Valley

I am getting to the stage with this  Dear Jane quilt where I am starting to think about designing my own blocks, maybe altering some.  The border triangles in particular seem to have a lot of the same repetitive triangle shapes in them to make them work.  This is RR12 Linda's Church in the Valley and follows a similar theme to Megan's Cathedral which I pieced back in January.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 29 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR2 Barb's Diamond

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR2 Barb's Diamond

Suzi the cat is with me as I write my post today.  She likes to help with any work on the computer and has been inspecting each block as I design it on my Electric Quilt software.


Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR2 Barb's Diamond

This is Dear Jane Border Triangle block, LR2 Barb's Diamond.  Only 22 pieces and just one simple diamond shape to applique.  Did you note how I said 'simple applique'.  Jane is certainly starting to change my thoughts on the matter.


Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 22 pieces

Eat Your Greens - Mug Rug

Green vegetables - Brussel Sprout Mug Rug

It hasn't all been Dear Jane blocks here this Easter.  I have been working on some other projects which you will hear about in due course.  One little project was this 'Brussels Sprout Mug Rug'. A finish deserves a link with Crazy Mom Quilts.


Brussel Sprout patchwork fabric

I guess sprouts are popular with some people and not so much with others.  I tolerate one or two with my Christmas dinner, but I tend to draw the line there.  However, my husband loves them and tries to sneak them into as many dishes as possible.  I saw this Brussels Sprout fabric in a shop a while ago and had to purchase a fat quarter.  I always love to look at the 'fruit and veg' section in a quilt shop.

Green vegetables - Brussel Sprout Mug Rug

So for Easter he was gifted this little mug rug for his cup of coffee.  It was a quick make.  I didn't want to cut up the sprouts too much, so I went for a simple design, which is large enough for a cup and a biscuit.  I think he was quite pleased with it.
So which side of the fence do you sit regarding sprouts?

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR12 Button Hook

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR12 Button Hook

Here  are at the end of March and looking back on the Dear Jane progress I have managed to complete 18 blocks this month, which must be a record for me so far. Border triangle block, LR12 Button Hook looks quite straightforward, but what look like squares were slightly diamond shaped so a bit of caution was required and then you get to the applique...


Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block LR12 Button Hook



There is a very small diamond shape at the top of the triangle which could easily be conveniently overlooked, but I know that even if there are no Quilt Police, there are definitely Dear Jane Police out there.  I approached it by cutting out some iron-on Vilene the same shape, pressing it, tacking it and appliqueing it down.  I knew trying to remove paper from this itty bitty bit was going to be fruitless, so the Vilene stays in.  In reality it is so small it only requires about six stitches, so once started it is quickly done.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 25 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR2 Cherokee Lee

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR2 Cherokee Lee

I always feel a quiet sense of relief each time I complete a triangle border block from the Dear Jane quilt.  Before I started the journey I promised myself that I would complete ALL the triangle borders and that I would give the quilt the traditional scallop edge finish, so another triangle done keeps me on track.  This is border triangle block RR2 Cherokee Lee.  In my edition of the Dear Jane book there are no names given to the triangle blocks, I seem to be picking them up from the Electric Quilt Dear Jane software that I am using.



Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR2 Cherokee Lee

Here you can see all the Cherokee Lee pieces laid out ready to be basted.  Some of the shapes are 'unique' and with diamonds scattered amongst it, I made sure that everything was in its exact position.  Before I cut out the pieces I take a photo on my iPAD to see the exact position of each piece which I refer to plenty of times!

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 24 pieces