All Jane All the Time

That's what things have been feeling like this past little while. I guess that's why I started a few more projects. At least, that's my story and I'm sticking with it. :)

In keeping with tradition, a few more Dear Jane blocks.

I finished the top for the "muddy" quilt. This quilt is 14"x14". (Since it was recently pointed out that scale does not translate well in pictures. :)

The second nearly insane block.

My guild has decided to do a Block of the Month this year. Each person is picking a 12" (finished) block for us to do. At the end of the year, we'll have the unveiling of our very different quilts made from the same blocks. This is our first block. As I was making it, I kept thinking "Well, I double checked measurements as I cut" The block was soooo big. I measured it when I was done just to confirm it was 12" and not 18". I think this is a sign I've spent too long doing miniatures. :)

Wow. I've been much more prolific this week than I thought. (I've also been working on my SSCS gift too. I'd post a teaser but can't figure out a picture that doesn't give too much away. I will say that I'm liking how it is turning out so far. I'm a little tempted to keep it for myself. I may just have to make one for myself. :)

Sew Days

My guild had a sew day this weekend. We're lucky to have this wonderful work space with great lighting and comfy chairs available to us. That blue square quilt in the background was one of our guild projects last year.

One of the ladies brought her cousin to our sew day. Her husband suddenly passed away almost a year ago and they are making 3 quilts from his old clothes.

 I managed to finish a couple more Dear Jane blocks.

And... Since Dear Jane wasn't small enough :) When I needed a bit of a Jane break I put these blocks together. The blocks are two inches finished. I managed to get the blocks together and the rows. Now I just need the border fabric and I can finish the top. This quilt isn't exactly my colours, they're a little muddy but I love the pattern the blocks made when they were put together and the price of the kit was right.

And, just to admit to the world I really am nuts, I've started the nearly insane quilt. Yup, certifiable.

Almost Half Way!

I've now got 86 of the 169 centre blocks. If I was only doing centre blocks, I'd be 1/2 done! Since I'm doing the whole quilt, I get to say I'm almost 1/2 way done. It's wonderful to look through my binder and see sooo many blocks done. I'm on a roll now. I've been helped along by spending many lovely evenings with my no longer blogless friend (Hi Janet) chatting and working on handwork. (I'm machine piecing and hand appliqueing)
 

This past week I took a bit of a Jane break. I've been seeing various bags on blogs and fallen in love. I had a pile of charm squares left over from various projects and these seemed like the perfect projects for them. The pattern for the basket was found on ayumills site. I changed the location of the handles from the original pattern just to make it a little easier to carry things.

I went shopping and just couldn't resist a little sneak peek at my SSCS present. If you're my partner, I really hope you like it! Can you guess what it is!!?? :)

Finally, I couldn't resist. I've been having fun with the enders and leaders project. All those little triangles are now twins. I clipped the dog ears and was left with this pile. Looking at this pile, I couldn't help but to think of a lady who is quite famous in our parts. She uses *all* her fabric; including dog ears like this. (She saves them and her grandchildren make cards and pictures with them)

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.