Just finished my Christmas Kitties quilt … in July! The block is a log cabin variation and goes together quickly. The kitty fabric is a cute fabric used in a modern quilt. I love the brown fabrics, which were Peggy Anne’s idea. I never would have thought to use these colors together in a Christmas Quilt … but I love it.
Here are my latest Jane blocks. Three of the five blocks are purple this month as indicated in my plan for the quilt .. a rainbow scheme starting with green in the middle, followed by yellow, etc. I still love working with the Kaffe Fassett and Philip Jacobs fabrics. You can use the large scale fabrics and pick sections to work with. The blocks seemed fussy to me this month, but maybe it was me! The reverse applique is the most trying. Hard to get the corners sewn without the raw edges poking out. I think I need most improvement in that area and will not doubt get the opportunity to do so in the next few years of my Jane Journey!
Bob and I were in Vermont for a few days earlier this month and we spent one of those days at the Shelburne Museum. I was most interested in seeing the display of antique quilts. They have a collection of over 700 quilts, but of course, only a few are on display at a time. What really surprised and pleased me was the display of Velda Newman’s quilts, Larger than Life, which will be in the Hat and Fragrance Textile Gallery until October 31st.
Velda Newman was gracious to allow photography of her quilts, so I am sharing my photos, but you really should see them in person if you can to really appreciate the splendor of these works of art.
I have finished my Jane blocks for Tuesday night’s meeting. I am enjoying this quite a bit …. so far! I love the fabric I am working with and the fact that each block is so different. This month I had two rotary cut and pieced blocks, two paper pieced blocks and one applique block. The paper pieced blocks are the fussiest, but the triangle block went together pretty quickly. Take a look at the May blocks. 10 done 215 to go!
Here are the blocks:
Okay … Here is a list of my current projects:
Main Streets and Back Roads – A twelve month Block of the Month designed by Antoinette which, if the previous months’ block is finished, is free each month. This is the first month, so I am all set for my free block 2.
Aunt Lucy – A 16 month block of the month quilt in reproduction fabrics with 5 months completed!
Peggy Anne’s Quilting and Sewing Company projects:
In the Meadow was the 2012 block of the month. I started the background a a few of the blocks, but never finished because I was too focused on the Bird Quilt, but I am really going to try to find some time for this now!
Chicken and Stars is a 9 month BOM. I already have two months and I need to get started on this one before it ends up like the In the Meadow quilt!
Seven Sisters – This is the same pattern as the Star Quilt, but I am going to do this as a Seven Sisters quilt, with the 7 stars in the middle in blue and the others in purple.
Christmas Quilt – Peggy Anne has asked me to get a Christmas Quilt ready by June for her store. I have a pattern ready for this and will be getting the top done this month!!!
And … there is a an entire basket of quilt kits …. someday!!!!
Despite all of the projects I am working on, I could not resist signing up for the Jane Stickle quilt group at Quilter’s Common. I started a Jane quilt a few years ago using reproduction fabrics but I only got four blocks done before I gave up on the idea.
This time around I am feeling more confidant with a few more years of piecing experience and a sewing machine (Bernina 830) that makes it a lot easier to be precise … which is absolutely necessary with these small 4 1/2″ blocks . I have decided to go with modern fabrics this time and I am using a pale gray fabric for the background.
I have a collection of Kaffe Fassett fabrics and also just purchased three sets of 6 1/2″ squares of Kaffe and Philip Jacobs fabrics. I think the 6 1/2″ squares will be perfect for the Dear Jane blocks … 5″ squares would be too small for the blocks that require 2 or more 2 3/4″ square pieces from the same fabric.
I am already ahead of my first attempt attempt at Dear Jane. I have finished four squares and a triangle. I make no promises about keeping up with the pace and I don’t plan to make this a Dear Jane Blog … but, I will post updates as I go along!
Here is quick way to jazz up a fabric panel for a crib sized quilt. I just added “side lights” to the panel and some borders. This quilt is 36″ x 51″ with the wide borders on the top and bottom only. Add the 3″ borders to the sides for a 48″ x 51″ quilt.
This pattern is available as a free download in my Craftsy Shop.
Here are some of the blocks that I made for Boston Modern Quilt Guild’s effort to make quilts for people who’s lives have been disrupted by the Boston Marathon bombings. If you would like to help please send your blocks to the guild by May 24.
It really is therapeutic to spend time making these blocks.
Boston Strong!!
I finished my little house quilt last Friday, the 19th of April. I spent the day listening to the news and waiting for Suspect 2 in the Boston Marathon Bombings to be found and arrested. While listening I worked on this quilt. This terrible event hit close to home, as I work in Boston 3 days a week.
But on that Friday I was safe at home working on this fabric picture of my house and hoping that the law enforcement officers would all be safe while doing their jobs. Thankfully no one else was injured or killed and now we can move on …. while remaining vigilant!
This little quilt is 18″ x 18″. The story behind it is here … and to see a full size version of the finished quilt click on the thumbnail photo.
I was reading a Simple Sewendipity post the other day about using paint color cards from the hardware store to help in planning a quilt. This is, of course, a fabulous thing to do! You could stash loads of those paint cards away in your big quilted tote bag! Ha Ha!
But, it did remind me of The Color Scheme Bible: Inspirational Palettes for Designing Home Interiors
Quilting with Patrice 