Pink Broken Dishes Doll Quilt

Pink Broken Dishes Doll Quilt

Back in the spring I joined up with the 2016 Doll Quilt Swap over at Humble Quilts and made a little brown broken dishes quilt for my swap partner, Heather in Florida. 

Brown Broken Dishes Doll Quilt

Whilst I was getting it together I thought I would work on one for myself, this time in a pink colour scheme, choosing from the lovely selection of traditional prints which Wendy sent me.  I had most of it together, but this little quilt has been hanging on the back of a chair for the past few months waiting to be quilted. This was its lucky week.

Pink Broken Dishes Doll Quilt

gjsk

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L8 Box Kite

Dear Jane Quilt - Block L8 Box Kite

More Dear Jane blocks, this time L8 Box Kite. 
Through this Dear Jane journey I have had plenty of ideas for different Dear Jane's.  I know many, many people make more than one Dear Jane quilt.  This is a true fact.  Yes, I think I could join the group, but then there are so many other projects I could be doing.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 15 pieces

Hidden Gems Quilt - Scraphappy with Purple in January 2017

Hidden Gems Quilt - Scraphappy with Purple

I have resisted for many years, but the flurry of Hidden Gems quilt blocks I have seen has tipped me over the edge.  I have given in and one of my 2017 projects will be joining the Scraphappy gang at So Scrappy.  I am a long time visitor to the blog and often see the fun everyone is having with their scraps.  The Hidden Gems pattern was one of the first 'Pins' I pinned on Pinterest several years ago and these are the first four blocks completed in purple fabrics - not without pain, but complete nonetheless.  The blocks are 4" square.

Leftovers from a Dear Jane quilt

With all the pieces for my Dear Jane quilt cut I still have ALL THIS Kim Diehl fabric left over.  Clearly I didn't want to run out of the fabric.  I probably have enough remaining fabric to make several Dear Jane quilts, but instead I will be turning them into a Hidden Gems quilt over the next 12 months, following the colour guidance of SoScrappy.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H7 Bennington Star

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H7 Bennington Star

I am sure this Dear Jane block, H7 Bennington Star, has hijacked its namesake, the Ohio Star.  Quick, where are the quilt police.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 25 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 56 - E12, H7, M11, L8

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

Thank you for all the supportive comments about my last post.  My Dear Jane blocks have been laid out on my floor since October, so they are quite a familiar sight for me, but I guess the glimpse I gave you revealed the actual progress I am making.

In getting this blog post together I have realised that my photographic record taking of each block and set of blocks lapsed near the end when the excitement of getting it together took momentum.  This is the last 'set' picture I have and some of the blocks did not even get their photo taken before I had sewn them in!

In our progress there are only 8 more blocks to show you.  Once they are done what will I have to show you each day?  I still don't have anything planned for 2017.

Draw 56
E12 - Mary Ruth's Corset
H7 - Bennington Star
M11 - Ricshaw
L8 - Box Kite

This Draw will be in Orange

Dear Jane Quilt - Slow Stitching Sunday + 300th Follower

Dear Jane Quilt - Slow Stitching Sunday

I am pretty laid back when it comes to timescales I take to make a English Paper Pieced quilt - I am in no hurry.  However, once it is no longer portable I tend to get less time to work on it and it seems to take for ever to come together.  I am at that stage now with my Dear Jane quilt.  I have at last got all the Dear Jane square blocks together, along with the sashing and the cornerstones and I am now finally working on the border triangles.

Also I would like to welcome Laura Bender who is my 300th Follower on my blog!

Time to join up with Kathy at Slow Stitching Sunday.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G1 Hattie's Hen House

Dear Jane Quilt - Block G1 Hattie's Hen House

Again just five pieces for this little Dear Jane block, G1 Hattie's Hen House. Again a bit of fussy cutting to add interest.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 5  pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H12 Hannah Lou's Hearts

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H12 Hannah Lou's Hearts

Some people are always amazed that I am completing the Dear Jane quilt using the English Paper method.  I EPPed these hearts for Dear Jane block H12 Hannah's Hearts and then appliqued them onto the background - it works just fine and no fancy Freezer paper to worry about ... just make sure you slip out the paper before you make the final last applique stitches!

Over at Sarah Did It! you can find a haven of EPP.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 5 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K7 Rose of Sharing

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K7 Rose of Sharing

This round of Dear Jane blocks had surprisingly few pieces.  This one, K7 Rose of Sharing had only five and if I hadn't insisted on doing some fussy cutting it would have been two.
Hoping to get a bit of slow stitching done on my Dear Jane quilt today.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 5 pieces

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Part 1 - En Provence 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt

Part 2 - En Provence 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt

Part 3 - En Provence 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt

Part 4 - En Provence 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt

Part 5 - En Provence 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt

Part 6 - En Provence 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt

Part 7 - En Provence 2016 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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!

Dear Jane Quilt - Christmas 2016 Edition

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 

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

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

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!

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

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 54 - A5, H10, J8, J13

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 53  - Corner Blocks TLC, BRC, BLC, TRC

Completing the Dear Jane quilt corner blocks does feel like a major achievement.  For the record, they are just a regular 4.5" block placed in a corner shape, so not too far off piste if you have your Dear Jane head on.

Thanks to everyone who pointed out a few projects for 2017.  The Quilt Room in the UK is starting a BOM Dear Jane with all the paper pieces cut - bit late for that one!

Draw 54
A5 - Cathie's Campfire
H10 - Ben's Bowtie
J8 - Anna's Anchor
J13 - Pam's Bells

This Draw will be in Green

Dear Jane Quilt - Corner Block TRC Longwood

Dear Jane Quilt - Corner Block TRC Longwood

This is the last of the four Dear Jane Corner blocks which I will be showing you, TRC Longwood.  This block has 61 pieces in it which has to be the most of any block in this quilt.

Construction of the whole quilt is quietly going on in the background.  I keep running out of sashing and now it is less portable, I get less stitching time.  If there was some good Christmas telly that would really help ..

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 61 pieces

Part 4 - En Provence, Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2016

Part 4 - En Provence, Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2016

As Bonnie promised, quite an easy week this week for the En Provence 2016 Mystery Quilt.  Something we have done before, just a slightly different colour way.  I have made about 42 sets of these, which is just ove half, so I expect to be making a few more maybe.  I used my Accuquilt cutter and this made light work of the cutting.

So this is what we have after four weeks of the En Provence Mystery Quilt - four sets of 3.5" blocks.  I can't believe we have done a month already and to think that in four weeks time there will be some completed ones! There are still two more colours to use and  hopefully a bit more variety in the blocks this week.

Easy Street Mystery Quilt , modelled by Suzi the cat

Suzi doesn't seem quite as enthused by the current Mystery quilt as she has been in previous years.  We switched the quilt on the bed for my Easy Street 2012 Mystery quilt and this is where you will find Suzi the cat.

Linking up with the Monday group.

Dear Jane Quilt - Corner Block BLC Goshen

Dear Jane Quilt - Corner Block BLC Goshen

Here is another corner block for my Dear Jane quilt, BLC Goshen. 

Although I am in the middle of the Bonnie Hunter 2016 En Provence Mystery Quilt, I am starting to look for some new online projects starting in the New Year. I have resisted the Rainbow Scrappy Challenge for years, but feel I am starting to weaken with all the lovely projects that are being shared at this time of year.  Do you know of any that are starting in the beginning of 2017?  I think a monthly 'thing' would work with my schedule.  I am all ears.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 72 pieces

Part 3 - En Provence, Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2016

Part 3 - En Provence, Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2016

How about this as a guess?  For Part 3 of the En Provence Mystery Quilt I used my Accuquilt cutter again, but refrained form cutting the strips into squares and the 4-patches came together much quicker.  However, I have been struggling with a cough and a cold this weekend and I have only just finished pressing all those spinning seams which seemed to take for ages.

Part 3 - En Provence, Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2016

In total I have done 105 4-patches and I can see that when Bonnie does her BIG REVEAL I am going to have to do a bit of last minute 'fixing' to get a convenient amount.  I have always done the full size until this year, so my 'different size' decision has added another level of jeopardy into the Mystery process.  Will the quilt be square?  Will it be oblong?  I don't know, but the start of 2017 is going to be interesting for sure.  I am loving all these parts just building up ready for the final construction.

Part 3 - En Provence, Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2016

Here is another idea. 
I will be linking up on Monday!

Dear Jane Quilt - Corner Block TLC Sadie Rose

Dear Jane Quilt - Corner  Block TLC Sadie Rose

As you know, the Fabadashery Blog is a haven for English Paper Piecing with other techniques only occasionally getting a look in.  However, you very rarely see my touching a hexagon, perhaps the most traditional of all English Paper Piecing shapes.  To be honest I find them an awkward shape to deal with, so I avoid them if I can.  Today I am showcasing Dear Jane corner block TLC Sadie Rose which is made up of octagons, OK, still not a hexagon, but I think I deserve some congratulation for my attempts.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 30 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Corner Block BRC Sarah Jane

Dear Jane Quilt - Corner Block BRC Sarah Jane

Let's start off simply.  Six appliqued melons and an appliqued pieced star for the first Dear Jane corner block, BRC Sarah Jane.  I think this is the block where I am meant to embroider my name and the number of pieces I have used throughout the whole quilt.  I imagine that this figure varies wildly across Dear Jane quilts depending on the techniques you choose.  I haven't added that number up yet - maybe a task for the Christmas holiday period.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 11 pieces

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 53 - Corner Blocks TLC, BRC, BLC, TRC

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 52 - B4, E9, K2, K3

Lots of little pieces for this Draw of Dear Jane blocks, but fun working in the red fabrics.
There are only 5 Draws left for this project and to add to the excitement, the next draw includes the Dear Jane corner blocks - slightly bigger and slightly more involved.

Draw 53
TLC - Sadie Rose
BRC- Sarah Jane
BLC - Goshen
TRC - Longwood

These are the corner blocks and this Draw will be in Yellow

Part 2 - En Provence, Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2016

Part 2 - En Provence, Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2016

Part 1 of the Bonnie Hunter 2016 En Provence Mystery Quilt didn't give much away, but with Part 2 there is the fun of second guessing what she has in store for us.  It is early days, so this layout guess is pretty much all I have come up with.  With a different colour scheme I also had to decide which fabric would be my constant.  The dark fabric I have chosen is actually a rich purple / plum colour, the darkest in my fabric selection - not sure what your 'device' is showing you.  My favourite line of her instructions was  'there is an Accuquilt die for this size.'  It certainly made light work of her cutting instructions and reminded me of how far I have come with my quilt making skills since I started participating in Bonnie's Mystery quilts.

Part 2 - En Provence, Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2016

This triangle block is familiar from the Celtic Solstice Mystery quilt in 2013 which makes me think that they will be placed in sets of four and that the quilt will be made up of 25 + 24 blocks.  Again, based on the layout of Celtic Solstice, I have done 72 for my smaller quilt.

I have been joined by a few friends and family for this Mystery Quilt and we are all doing different colours, sizes and layouts.  With all our different approaches it has highlighted a little clue from Part 1.  If you are keeping to one colour you only needed to cut 45 plain squares? So what about the other 176?  At this stage I think the 45 are for the blocks of the quilt and the rest are for the border - what do you think?

Looking back at my guesses from previous years I have been hopelessly wrong - LOL! 

I will be linking up on Monday and with my 'homework' done also with Kathy at Slow Stitching Sunday! I'm off to do some more work on my Dear Jane.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K3 Seven Sisters

Dear Jane Quilt - Block K3 Seven Sisters

In the past Bonnie Hunter has released the clues for her Mystery Quilt about 11.00am GMT on a Friday, here in the UK, which allows a good days sewing if I am about.  There seems to be a change in schedule this year which is more in line with the USA time.  So whilst I wait and I fill my time with another sewing project, here is Dear Jane block K3, Seven Sisters, the last of this Draw.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 33 pieces