Saturday, 14 January 2017

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E11 Wagon Wheel

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E11 Wagon Wheel
Dear Jane Quilt - Block E11 Wagon Wheel
My sister tried this block several times, with different techniques and different results.  The trauma of all that did put the fear of God into me as I approached this Dear Jane block, E11 Wagon Wheel.  I chose a quiet day of stitching where I knew I could concentrate on some heavy duty applique / reverse applique.  In the end it only had 7 pieces, it was stress free and I was quite pleased with how it came out in the end.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 7 pieces

Tuesday, 10 January 2017

La Grande Révélation - En Provence, 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt Link UP

En Provence, 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt
En Provence, 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt
Here it is!  My En Provence 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt top is complete.  As you will see I went for a smaller size quilt this year, just three by three, but this was just about the right amount of work for me at this time of year.  I think the darker stars give it a good structure and I love the way they float out to the border. I love it!
En Provence, 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt - Fabric Selection
En Provence, 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt - Fabric Selection
These are the fabrics I started with, a selection of soft purples from a Moda French General collection called 'Ville Fleurie'.  I added another neutral after the first clue and am glad that I did, especially for the chequerboard border.  I am hoping I have enough of the little grey flower fabric to do the binding.
En Provence, 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt
En Provence, 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt
I have really taken time to get my piecing accurate and my points pointing and am glad I took the extra effort.
Ville Fleurie by French General, Moda
Ville Fleurie by French General, Moda
The Ville Fleurie fabric is on its way out and it is not often French General put out a purple line, so I have picked up this fabric from the collection for the backing.  The quilt is not quilted yet and it will have to wait its turn in the queue, so don't hold your breath.

This was my fourth Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt.  Always fun and always a chance to improve your machine piecing skills.  Looking back at my first, my Easy Street quilt, I can really see great improvement in my piecing skills and I can honestly say that I have learnt it all from Bonnie and these mystery quilts.  Looking at her blog, there are lots of people who have completed their quilts and some in lovely colour variations. Please go and visit. Thanks Bonnie!

Below you can find links to all the parts of my Mystery journey, thanks for joining me!


Thursday, 5 January 2017

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 55 - E11, G1, H12, K7

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 54 - A5, H10, J8, J13
Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 54 - A5, H10, J8, J13
Whilst the En Provence Mystery quilt takes over the internet, Dear Jane quietly keeps going

Draw 55
E11 - Wagon Wheel
G1 - Hattie's Hen House
H12 - Hannah Lou's  Hearts
K7 - Rose of Sharing

This is an interesting set. This Draw will be in Yellow

Monday, 2 January 2017

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J13 Pam's Bells

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J13 Pam's Bells
Dear Jane Quilt - Block J13 Pam's Bells
I am just sewing Dear Jane block J13 Pam's Bells into the whole quilt, so this one looks very familiar at the moment.
I have put this up as my first post of 2016 to fill time whilst I work on getting my En Provence 2016 Mystery quilt together.  Depending on interruptions, I should have something to show you in the next 24 hours.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 21 pieces

Saturday, 31 December 2016

Part 6 - En Provence, 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt

Part 6 - En Provence, 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt
Part 6 - En Provence, 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt
You lose track of time at this time of year, but yesterday was a Friday, which means another part of the 2016 En Provence Mystery Quilt was released. 
Part 6 - En Provence, 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt
Part 6 - En Provence, 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt
This block was triangles and at last we got to use a new colour from the En Provence stash, which is the Dark Grey / Mink you can see. 

Usually Bonnie does the BIG REVEAL on New Years Day which I believe is already in full swing in Australia as I write.  But hang on - there is still one colour left to use.  Do you think there will be another part revealed in the next 24 hours?


Wednesday, 28 December 2016

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J8 Anna's Anchor

Dear Jane Quilt - Block J8 Anna's Anchor
Dear Jane Quilt - Block J8 Anna's Anchor
I thought I would sneek in another Dear Jane block, J8 Anna's Anchor, whilst I wait for the next stage of the En Provence 2016 Mystery Quilt.  This one had tiny melon's on each corner to applique - I managed.

There are not many days left of 2016!

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 22  pieces

Tuesday, 27 December 2016

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A5 - Cathie's Campfire

Dear Jane Quilt - Block A5 - Cathie's Campfire
Dear Jane Quilt - Block A5 - Cathie's Campfire
Here is Dear Jane block A5 Cathie's Campfire.  A simple flying geese affair in pretty green Kim Diehl fabrics.

Today I have had a bit of an audit for the Dear Jane quilt. AS a result I have all the papers and fabric cut for the remaining sashing, cornerstones and border triangles, so in theory there is nothing to stop me ... besides the En Provence Mystery Quilt.
 

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 29 pieces

Monday, 26 December 2016

Part 5 - En Provence, Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt

Part 5 - En Provence, Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt
Ok.  All the Christmas celebrations are over, so I am now ready for the final push on Bonnie Hunter's 2016 En Provence Mystery quilt.  I have made a good start on Part 5, still managing to use the Accuquilt cutter for cutting the triangles.  My sums on a back of an envelope reckon there are still 1908 sq" left to complete before the big reveal next Sunday.  Are you managing to keep up?

Today, we are off to watch Rogue One at the cinema and then I expect we will return for plenty of sewing.

Joining up with the Monday Link Up!

Sunday, 25 December 2016

Dear Jane Quilt - Christmas 2016 Edition

Dear Jane Quilt - Christmas 2016 Edition  Electric Quilt
Dear Jane Quilt - Christmas 2016 Edition 
Christmas is a good time to give you all a little present of a long overdue update on my Dear Jane quilt progress.  I am slowly posting the individual blocks on this blog, but it reached a point where I could start to put it together and sitting in front of the telly over the Christmas break is helping me move the whole project on.
Dear Jane Quilt - Christmas 2016 Edition  Electric Quilt
Dear Jane Quilt - Christmas 2016 Edition 
All these blocks are actually together and it is great to start having just one big piece to haul around, rather than wobbly piles of 4.5" blocks.  Have I removed the papers yet?  I did remove one line of papers and that showed me that it was not going to be as onerous as the Nearly Insane paper removal (which took 7 whole days!), so it will get done in its own time.
Dear Jane Quilt - Christmas 2016 Edition  Electric Quilt
Dear Jane Quilt - Christmas 2016 Edition  Electric Quilt
This is how it is looking as its virtual self, in my Electric Quilt software.  I still have a load of edge triangles, sashing and cornerstones to baste before I can even sew them together into the quilt, which slows me down at the moment.  No statistics either at the moment.  Do you notice one edge triangle not done yet?  That is Jane's Oak - it has proved troublesome ...  Otherwise I am SO pleased to see this quilt come together and I hope to give it a big push over the next week.
Dear Jane Quilt - Christmas 2016 Edition with Suzi the cat
Dear Jane Quilt - Christmas 2016 Edition with Suzi the cat
Suzi the cat has taken a break from sitting on the Easy Street quilt to check out the Dear Jane progress, but not much sewing from her so far this Christmas season.

Wishing you a Happy Christmas!


Friday, 23 December 2016

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H10 Ben's Bowtie

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H10 Ben's Bowtie
Dear Jane Quilt - Block H10 Ben's Bowtie
With the shorter days, photo shoots for Dear Jane are becoming more difficult.  The light is dark and at the moment Storm Barbara is on her way.  All the Christmas shopping has been done and I am just finishing off the last customer quilt for my long arm business before I stop for Christmas.  It is time to settle indoors and enjoy the Christmas spirit of home. 

This hopefully means more Dear Jane stitching. This is Dear Jane block H10 Ben's Bowtie.

I am still open to ideas for the next project ....

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 18  pieces