More Jane blocks

It feels like summer is over. We're having quite the rainy weekend. I'd even turn on the heat if we didn't believe that you shouldn't need heating in the summer.

The good thing in all this, it's not too hot to quilt!

I've been working on more Jane blocks and now I'm only 1 block from caught up (H8)! Yeah!!

It's funny. When I was doing the simple cross in the upper right hand corner (J4) I kept rechecking the measurements. I kept thinking they're way way way too big. It's funny how quickly we get used to things. When I first started I couldn't believe anything could be so tiny.

Dear Jane

More Jane blocks done! Though still 4 blocks shy of being caught up with the Jane-a-long. With these blocks, I've got one entire row done! Yeah!!! (Just 12 rows left :)

The hiatus for the Jane-a-long has ended and we're restarting again with a block I've already done (K12). Hopefully this bodes well for the remaining blocks.

New Projects

Yup, I need another new project like I need another hole in my head, but I've started one anyways. I've been wanting something simple (and fast) for in between the Jane quilt.

I started this:

It is something that will be completely random and can be pieced as leaders and enders while putting together Jane blocks.

An Apple a Day

I was reminded of this quilt a little while ago while stitching with a friend. It was started last year while on vacation, it even made it to a post. The apple cores are hand pieced. The piecing was completed while on various planes and trains. I'd even sandwiched and started quilting it. I pulled it out last week while at our guild coffee meeting. There were only 4 apple cores left to quilt! I'm now very happy to say that it's done and will shortly be hung up on the quilt line.

This was my first attempt at hand piecing. I'd recommend a pattern like this for starting. It was so forgiving of my less than perfect 1/4 inch seams.

Dear Jane give away

I just ran across this site. If you were thinking of starting a Dear Jane quilt and want a head start, run over and put your name in the draw. She's giving away 25 Dear Jane blocks that look quite lovely.

SSCS

It's time!

If you'd like to participate in the second Secret Santa Christmas Swap, run over to Chookyblue and sign up before it fills up.

Last year was a blast. It was fun to stalk my recipients blog and filter through the thousands of ideas that came to mind to finally come up with a parcel to send.

Then there was the excitement of discovering my own parcel in the mail and ripping it open. I was well and truly blessed. The person assigned to me flaked out on the swap. Donna and a friend of hers Linda stepped in and sent me not one but two amazing gifts.

This bag which has become the togo bag for my guild meetings. (Donna, if you ever want to come to Calgary, my guild wants you to teach the bag. :) Also a book that just re-enforces my desire to travel to Australia and a lovely notepad that was claimed and used by too many people in the house.

From Linda I received this amazing wall hanging that now hangs on the clothesline year-round.

More Janes

I too was a little worried about the colour, especially after that first coat. But I'm loving that splash of colour more and more. (The rest of the house is very calm and neutral.)

Ennavic - I'm doing traditional colours for Christmas ornaments this year.... (I'll leave you to ponder which country's traditions for a while. :)

I've got two more blocks to add to the roll call. They're really starting to fly off the machine now. Though, these two also include hand applique. That was done at the third sew day (evening) with my lovely friend Janet (no blog, but interested) Please everyone tell Janet that she needs to start a blog and join us in our addiction. Plus, she really needs to post pictures of the beautiful quilt she's working on. (Hand quilting it to boot).