Choose Your Own BlockAlong 3/9/15

Most of the classes I took at QuiltCon did not require a sewing machine, so it felt good to sit down and sew on one today after about two weeks away.

Dear Jane Block B-10

My Dear Jane block for this week is another blue block, this time using scraps of Flea Market Fancy and Kona White solid.  I have been using so much low volume fabrics for the backgrounds, it was nice to go back to a solid for a change.

the blues

I need to update my layout (and count how many blocks I'm up to now), but here are my blocks made with blue fabrics.  

I also made some progress on my bee blocks and have done some hand sewing.
What have you been up to?

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 2/16/15

I just returned from my daughter's winter break and am preparing to leave for QuiltCon.  So excited!  

I have a visit from my grandson to look forward to immediately when I get back.  We'll see if I can keep up with my Dear Jane blocks.  I'm going to try.

Block B-5 without the appliqué 

Anyway, here's a quick simple four patch block with some appliqué.  Since I am taking an appliqué class at QuiltCon, I am leaving that part until later.

90% complete

The print fabric is from my stash, originally part of a pink bundle purchased for my Have a Heart quilt.  The background is Cotton+Steel.

Progress so far- 36 blocks

I am up to 36 blocks now.  Whoo hoo!  Linking up with Live a Colorful Life.

A social experiment in quilty communication.  Each week of 2015 a different quilter takes over the account.

Oh, and I almost forgot.  This week I am taking over the accounts of 52 Quilters.  You can find me over at their blog, Instagram and Twitter accounts.  Please go say hi!

Thanks for stopping by,

  

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 2/9/15

Another Monday means another Dear Jane block pieced!

Dear Jane Block H-1

I used more beautiful Doe fabric from my stash in this block.  I actually finished this for last week's post but forgot to publish to the blog.  Just as well as I am busy preparing for QuiltCon and may need the extra block for another Monday ;-)))

Anyone else working on a long term project?  How's that going?
Linking up with Live a Colorful Life.

Happy Monday and happy stitching!

Thanks for stopping by,

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 1/26/15

A bright red Dear Jane block to start off a dreary Monday!

Block L-8

Doe fabric for the background and Brandon Mably prints from my stash for the accent pieces.  I'm up to 34 Dear Jane blocks now!

Rumor has it Cindy has finished her Christmas Tula Pink City Sampler blocks.  Head over to her linky party and see for yourself.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a lovely Monday!

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 1/19/15

Happy Monday and Martin Luther King Day!

Dear Jane Block K-3

I spent a little bit of time already in my sewing room this morning which felt good.  It's been too long.  My sister drove down Saturday to attend our OrlandoMQG Sew Day, and we had a nice time sewing together.  More on that tomorrow.

Block K-3 was rotary cut and machine pieced.  All strips/squares are 1" cut and .5" finished.  Tiny!  Happy that I found another block that didn't require paper piecing or appliqué.  I cut into my new Carolyn Friedlander Doe fabric for this one!  Love it.

33 blocks made

I am going to make only one block per week for a while.  The blocks are getting more difficult and there are other projects I need to work on.  This Dear Jane is a long term quilt goal for me.  No rush.

Last week instead of working on DJ blocks, I played around with adding my blocks to an Excel spreadsheet.  This exercise took WAY longer than it should!  I placed the completed blocks according to the Dear Jane book.  Because of my random pick of fabrics per block, I will be laying my blocks out differently.  Still working on that arrangement.

How are y'all doing with your projects?  Thank you so much for leaving comments and encouraging me along the way!  It helps a great deal knowing others are interested in my progress.  Linking up with Live a Colorful Life.

Happy stitching,

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 12/29/14

My Dear Jane blocks are on hold for a few weeks as I'm away from my book and fabric stash.  

I'll be back with two new blocks January 12!

32 Dear Jane blocks

I'm looking forward to getting back to my two DJ blocks a week routine.  How about you?

Thanks for stopping by, 

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 12/8/14

Welcome to another edition of Choose Your Own BlockAlong.  I'm continuing to make two Dear Jane blocks a week.

low volume prints in pink

Block D-5 is rather plain so I added a thin strip of the pink low volume to the sides.  We'll see how that looks once the blocks are all assembled.  I'm realizing that many of these blocks have a thin 1/4" outer strip that will pretty much be swallowed up when joined together, and I am giving myself permission to change them up a tad if I want ;-))

Block D-8

Block D-9 is similar to this block that I paper pieced.  It's so much easier for me to rotary cut the strips and sew an accurate 1/4" seam which is what I did this time.

I find these little blocks to be time consuming but addictive.  I need to walk away for a little bit and do some Christmas sewing.  Hopefully I can manage both.

Thanks for stopping by.  Are you finding time to sew?

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 12/1/14

It's December already, and I really need to work on Christmas gifts every second of the day in order to make all on my list.  Despite that impossibility, I have two Dear Jane blocks to share.

no paper piecing

These Dear Jane blocks are getting harder and taking a big chunk of my available sewing time.  Last week's paper piecing was not pleasant so even though the instructions for today's blocks suggest paper piecing, I went old school.  By measuring the block diagrams and adding a quarter inch to each section, I was able to cut and piece without any foundation.  Too bad all the blocks won't be that "easy".

Block E-8

Block E-8 made with Liberty of London cotton print from my scrap pile.

Block F-7

The purple print is a Brandon Mably while the background is a Cotton + Steel basic.

on my design wall

I've progressed to 30 blocks so far.  I sorted the blocks by color and realized I have a duplicate print.  My intention was to use different fabrics (other than the background) in each block which means I will need to remake one.  Great....

Wonder what Michelle and Cindy have been up to this week?

Thanks for stopping by,

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 11/24/14

I knew it would happen eventually, and the time has come when it seems I have pieced all the Dear Jane blocks that can be done without appliqué or paper piecing.  

I have put off the paper piecing as long as I can.  The above block wasn't too bad and I like the purple Anna Maria Horner print with the Cotton and Steel background.

 This second block on the other hand was a pain to assemble and took forever.  I used the same Cotton and Steel background fabric and went with scraps from this quilt for the print.

Check out Michelle and Cindy's progress and others who are playing along here.  

I'm off to visit my parents.  Happy Monday!

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 11/17/14

The Mondays are just flying by!  From my blog posts it seems like all I sew are Dear Jane blocks, but that's not the case.  One of these days I will publish a non-Dear Jane post ;-)))

The "I"'s have it

The two blocks did not appear to be that difficult, but I had to redo them...twice!

Block I-2

 The directions I followed for Block I-2 listed background fabric for the setting triangles.  After assembling the block I noticed the original DJ block used the focal fabric for the triangles which I like better so I remade the block.   Fabrics used are Architextures and Cotton+Steel Basics.

Block I-3

 I did my own math for Block I-3 so I have no one else to blame for having to redo it.  Plus lining up those thin strips is not as easy as it seems.  Fabrics in this block are Architextures and Kaffe Fassett.

Off to see what Michelle and Cindy have accomplished!  Also, if you are playing along don't forget to link up over at Cindy's blog so I can cheer you on too.

Thanks for stopping by,

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 11/10/14

Oops, Monday came and went without my posting progress on Dear Jane blocks.

Block K-2

Block K-2 starts with 1 1/8" strips which I mistakenly cut at 1 1/4" and didn't notice until I had finished sub cutting them.  The block came out to be a perfect 5" before adding the 7/8" outer strips so I left it as is.  All the blocks will end up having sashing anyway which should make everything OK.  Directions for this block (and a picture of how the block is supposed to look) can be found at That Quilt.

Block K-12

For block K-12, I used instructions from a long ago Dear Jane class.  Even though I followed the directions carefully, my block looks off so I may redo it using the method of That Quilt's site.  That's what I get for avoiding paper piecing whenever possible.

Up to 26 blocks now

I've made 26 Dear Jane blocks so far....that's more than 10 percent!  I'm trying not to let this fact overwhelm me ;-)))

Michelle took this week off to make Christmas gifts, but I know Cindy has some blocks to share.
Thanks for stopping by,

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 11/03/14

Well, it's November already.  The weather is cooler here and the humidity has taken a short break which is a nice change. We've pulled out our socks and turned on the heaters to deal with the forecast of morning temps in the 40's!  It won't last long and we'll be back in flip flops by the weekend.

22 blocks

My head is still fuzzy from cold medicine I've been taking for a week now, so it's a miracle my Dear Jane blocks did not require the seam ripper this time around.

Block J-7

Teeny nine patches finishing at 1.5" make up Block J-7.  Piecing instructions found on That Quilt.  Both fabrics are by Carolyn Friedlander.

Block F-4

Scraps of Amy Butler and Carolyn Friedlander make up Block F-4.  Instructions came from class notes.

Michelle and Cindy have their posts up so go see their beautiful City Sampler blocks.

Thanks for stopping by,

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 10/27/14

I am up to twenty Dear Jane blocks!  This block-along is keeping me on task.

Progress

Block J-4 directions are from a class I took years ago at a LQS.  I saved what block instructions were given, but sadly the class was canceled mid-session.  Fabrics used are Paint by Such Designs and Cotton+Steel basics.

Block J-4

I followed directions from That Quilt for Block J-6.   The polka dots are Kaffe Fassett and the background is Carolyn Friedlander Botanics.

Block J-6

Wonder how many blocks Michelle and Cindy made this week?  I know they've been busy as there has been quite a bit of activity on Instagram!  

If you're playing along, don't forget to link up over on Cindy's blog.

Thanks for stopping by,

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 10/20/14

Today's blocks are brought to you by Liberty of London.  My accumulation of fat quarters looks pretty sitting on the shelves, but it's nice to cut into them every once in a while, don't you think?

Dear Jane dressed in Liberty of London

First up is Block I-1.  I followed the cutting instructions from That Quilt for both blocks.  These pieces are relatively large, the smallest strip being 1.25" wide and the largest square measuring at 2.75" unfinished.  The background fabric is Cotton+Steel.

Block I-1

The second block is C-3.  This block has quite a few strips and squares, but I'm finding that 1.25" widths seem "normal" now and .75"  are on the smallish side ;-))   I used scraps from our guild's Festival of Trees project for the background; it's 25th and Pine from Moda.

I am enjoying the process.  It's a relief and a joy when the resulting block is squared to five inches!

Block C-3

 The individual block photos aren't true to color as the battery in my flash was low.  The print fabrics are really so pretty, and I love how they look in these tiny blocks.

Thank you for the continued support and encouragement each week!  I read and delight in every comment and hope to catch up on my emails soon.

Heading now to see Michelle and Cindy's progress.  

Thanks for stopping by,

Choose Your Own BlockAlong 10/13/14

Sixteen Dear Jane blocks as of today!  Can you spot the latest two additions?

Up to sixteen blocks now!

Block D-7 is rotary cut and pieced with bright Alison Glass yellow prints and  text prints for the background.

Block D-7

I used scraps of my red scissor print fabric and Kona solid for the background in making Block C-1.

Block C-1

Can't wait to see the blocks Michelle and Cindy made this week.  Others playing along are linking up here so check those out and add yours!

Thanks for stopping by,