Monday, June 30, 2008

A Day with My Baby Jane

I have spent my day catching up with my Baby Jane. Here are the results:


This first block was assigned last week, but I had already done it. It is E-1 Aunt Exie's Phlox. I actually did the block twice, but decided that this would be the one that I used.


This block is H-11 Piercing Rays. It pierces alright. I think I did alright on this one. I certainly don't want to do it again.









This block was just assigned today. It is G-8, Justin's Comet. I was so thankful for Anina's helpful instructions. It took a long time to do this block, but I was so pleased once it was completed. I felt that it was as perfect as I could get it.





This block was a simple one, H-13 Farm Fields. It was nice to have a simple block in the middle of these more complicated ones.








This block is F-2, Kaleidoscope. What a fun block. With the fabric that I used it could actually be a Kaleidoscope.

This has been my day with Jane. I started about 9:00 this morning and as I am writing this it is 3:45---soon to be 5:00 somewhere. A great day in my studio and I look forward to another one tomorrow.

I have to take a minute to thank Anina for all of her work on this project. As we continue on with this, I am beginning to understand why I could not possibly have done this 10-15 years ago when I wanted to try it. I think that I am using every technique I have learned in my years of quilting and sewing. It has taken this long to learn what I needed to know and to meet the people that would help me with this journey. This is difficult, but, I am loving every stitch that I put into these blocks. Soon Anina will pull more blocks, triangles, and possibly a corner kite to challenge us with. I look forward to each stitch.

So I end my day,


46-2-0-779

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Back to Jane-the Saga Continues


OK, I just spent 2 hours working on this block, M-11 Rickshaw. Guess what--- it is 1/4" to small. It is paper pieced for heaven sake! It should not be to small, it should be perfect!! Would you believe that part of the "size" problem is in the center of the block. It is not the side borders, or I could just replace them, it is in the interior of the block. DRAT!!!!! I can't decide right now whether I will just make up the difference with the outside borders or redo the block. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
What to do, what to do????
Stay tuned,

Saturday, June 21, 2008

The Hurrieder I Go; The Behinder I get

I am actually posting things that happened last weekend. I am now 3 blocks behind on my Baby Jane, but hope to catch up next weekend.


Tori has been over here helping Dick clean up our back yard. We actually have not done any work in this yard for several years, so they have a lot to do. I know that Dusty has to be glad that his sister is in one of her "hyper" moods as this has certainly taken alot of stress off of him. Dusty helps us with construction and has been a life saver many times with the construction of the porch, the shed, the studio. We probably would still be working on the shed if it were not for his help.


While Tori has been working with Dick, I have had a really good helper in the studio.

I don't think there is a Grandmother, among quilters, out there that can turn down the request: "Grandmommie, can I sew?" I certainly couldn't, so Piper spent a few minutes at the machine on my lap so that she could sew a seam or two. I was also working on a Baby Jane Block, K-8 Springbrook Park, and Piper helped with several seams in the block. Everytime that I finish a block I use my Pigma pen and write on the back : my name, the number of the block, and the date it was done. On this block I also added Piper's name. Now, how special is that?










This is the block that we did. I really hope to catch up next weekend, even though we have a very special wedding on Saturday night.

If I don't catch up by then, oh well, I WILL BE ON VACATION!!!!
I can't decide what to do. I know that a trip to Mary Jo's in on the list. I need to pick up some 30's repros for my Baby Jane. I would like to do some type of shop hop through southwestern North Carolina and the upper part of South Carolina. I am also interested in looking at some possible retreat sites for Just Stitchin'. So, if you know of any interesting shops or possible retreat sites, let me know. Pat will be with me and we are pretty much open to any ideas.

Tomorrow is a Guild Workshop for Devine Quilters. We will be working on some "Love" Quilts. I hope to have some pictures for you later in the week.


Have a great weekend.


Sunday, June 15, 2008

Just the Best

What a great weekend I have had.


Friday was my birthday, so I went to lunch with Tori and Piper. Saturday night we had supper with Dusty, Sherry, Austin and Alexis. Also in attendance was Pat, Danny and our bride Kristy. Dusty made the Best burgers (almost as good as mine). Today, being Father's Day, Tori came over and gave Dick and I a wonderful gift. She spent the day working in the yard with her Daddy. They have cleaned out a lot of "stuff" that has grown up in my flower beds in the past several years. So, now I know who to call for yard work. I call Dusty for construction--he has been doing a lot of that lately with the porch and deck.


Piper spent the day in the studio with me--- pictures later. Austin and Alexis came over long enough for me to check on the dress that I am making for Alexis. I just have to find enough fabric for Austin to have a tie for the wedding. I am looking for a fairy frost called Petal. It is a hot pink with silver metallic in it. I need 5/8ths of a yard to make him a tie. He has told me that I can make him a bow tie, so if I don't find enough, then I can use scraps from the dresses for his bow tie.


I did manage to finish one of my Baby Jane blocks (K-8). I have pictures, but will have to wait to post them.


Hope that everyone has a wonderful week. I have applique group on Tuesday and Design group on Thursday, so it will be a busy week. I will post pictures of the weekend later.


For now here is a special photo:


This is the daylilly garden in the front of the office where I work. The dentist that I work for works very hard on this garden and it is currently at it's peak. I hope that you can see enough of it to enjoy the true beauty.


Saturday, June 7, 2008

Baby Jane Friday








Our first block for this weeks assignment is C-1 Trooper Green's Badge. Simple block, paper pieced. I did this in green, not even thinking about the name of the block.





Our second block is a triangle. This is TR4 Bennington Cross. You talk about difficult. I paper pieced this very carefully. I did follow Anina's advice and piece it from bottom to top. Then I just held my breath and hoped for the best. I am very satisfied with the out come.

This is so much fun, doing these blocks. Many of them are very challenging and you really have to work hard to get them right. I'm lovin' it.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend. It will be 100 degrees or better here again today. I'm in the studio.

40-2-0-658

Friday, June 6, 2008

IT IS SO HOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I can't believe that it is this hot this early in the summer. Here in South Carolina we are already having 100 degree days, which does not usually happen until mid to late August. Now they (the weather folks) are telling us that we will have these temperatures for 4 to 7 days! Thank goodness for air conditioning.
We have a wedding coming up in the family 3 weeks from tomorrow and I don't really have a dress to wear. I decided last night to spend today looking for one, however, I will now stay in my cool studio and work on Baby Jane. I also need to make a dress for one of the flower girls, so, that will be on my to-do list this weekend.

Can't have a post without having a picture, so let me go look for one:

This is a quilt that I gave Piper for Christmas last year. It is so colorful and she loves it. It was designed using a Debbie Caffrey pattern "Good Night Sweetheart". If you ever need a fantastically easy pattern for a striking top, this is the one. So much fun to make and so easy too.
This is one of "The Boys". This Black Lab, with the tongue that never fits his mouth, is Rocky. Rocky is 9 months old and is now 70+ pounds. He is really convinced that he is a "lap" dog and tries to sit in my chair with me, which doesn't leave me a lot of room.


This is my "Big Boy" Jake. I call him my big boy because he was first. Jake is around 14 years old and the VERY BEST DOG I HAVE EVER had the pleasure to have in my home. He is a rescue and he is part Lab and part Shephard.


Love these boys.

I also have a long haired calico cat, Patches. I'll let you know more about her later. Now I think that I will go sew.