Deb, beautiful work as always!! I have decided to use country/primitive colours for mine, whenever I get around to them! I'm SOOOOOO behind!! I got some Kansas Troubles or something similar - can't remember which - for my stitchery BOM of last year and had a lightbulb moment!! It was a toss-up between 30s and this, and this won!

Michelle, you and Deb keep up the wonderful work. I'll be joining in soon.

Gerda

Can't wait Gerda for you to join us ladies, I know that everyone is getting their end of the year projects done which is alwyas a task so it will be fun.
Tata, you might not find it as hard as you think maybe try a bigger block and you will see that it is pretty fun to do!!!!

Tata, here's a suggestion (so you can join in on the fun). I learned this from Maaike Bakker, who wrote a PPIng book called Cups and Saucers. Now, she mentions this as a way to use less fabric, therefore less waste, but I have tried this for piecing, and like it.

Cut the PPing templates/pattern apart on the lines (and disregard the seam allowance shown) so you have individual pieces. Now trace these on whatever you use for templates (in this case, I would use freezer paper) and cut out with a 1/4" seam allowance added all around - it will look like a regular piecing template. Now you can iron these to your fabric, cut them out and sew them together. A bit more work, but then you will have these teeny blocks. Give it a try with one, and see what you think. I know you can do it!

Gerda

How is eveyone doing with the challenge? If you are like me you are bogged down with more than enough to work on right now, seems like going into the holiday season is just as busy and the holiday itself.

Maybe if we can't do one or two now then the first of the year will be time to pick them up and have everyone starting then working on them together.

Have a stitching good time, Deb

I agree with you Deb, tis week I haven't even gotten a chance to go into my sewing room needless to sit down and sew something, my neice asked me to make her mother a sorta comfort quilt after loosing her kitty Riley she had him for 18 yrs. so now I am in the process of getting things together to have this done by Christmas which the pattern thatI am using I should very well complete it, let's hope!!!!

Good Morning ladies we have survived all that wonderful good food and gifting during the holiday season and even celebrated the Baby New Year 2008.

How are you all doing is it warm enough for you?

I haven't done a stitch of sewing but I hope soon to be getting back to my JS blocks, hope that you ladies are ready and raring to go as well with some new challenging blocks.

Hello,

Such talented and ambitious quilters you are to be making a Dear Jane Quilt!

A couple of years ago while my husband was working as a consultant to a firm in Bennington, VT, we stayed in Shaftsbury, not far from the Jane Stickle birthplace, house and burial ground. Very scenic area nestled in the mountains.

In a visit to the Bennington Museum, I happened upon the original quilt which is preserved there and only displayed once a year in October. Lucky me! Sorry, I have no pictures as they no longer allow photographs to be taken of the quilt and exhibit. At the time, I had not heard of this quilt or the Dear Jane book. But I was completely overwhelmed by the intricacy of this quilt. Afterward, I bought the book, but as yet have not gotten my courage up to attempt one of these beauties myself. I still have the magnet of the quilt which I purchased at the museum shop stuck to my refrigerator to admire it regularly and to remind me that I should be brave and make my own Dear Jane quilt.

I am new here to BC Forums and I am hoping your efforts will help inspire me to get working on this project.

I particularly love the one in the "Sweet Baby Jane" fabrics which Debo is making. Beautuful!

One time when I was visiting the Dear Jane website and admiring the pictures of all the wonderful quilts there, I found this one which is also in pastels and saved the link:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2464973830049587932plcIKE
The pretty floral applique border on this one is not traditional but I really love the way this looks.

Happy quilting,

Pat

Pat
Hi and welcome thanks for the nice words about my blocks. Love the pic that you posted of the JS quilt with the floral it geives it a more female quality withi I love very much it is beautiful.

As you can see we have only just begun this journey and you are more than welcome to join us as we face each new challenge. We go at our own pace and chose our own blocks and that is seeme;y working for us so jump in with both feet so to speak and have some fun with us.

You make me want to go to the museum in October to see the quilt.

Anyone is welcome to join it is open and we would love to have you all join us.

quote:

Originally posted by Debo:
...
You make me want to go to the museum in October to see the quilt ...

Thanks!

Here is the link to the museum:
http://www.benningtonmuseum.org/index.aspx

It does not appear that the date for this year's exhibit has been determined yet, though. If you decide to plan a trip, I would recommend you call them for details. The quilt looks to be in very good condition considering it's age ... faded somewhat, no apparent holes, but the fabrics are obviously deteriorating with age ... but I understand that is kept in special preservation vault for most of the year.

Benningtion and Shaftsbury, VT, are great places to visit, particularly during fall foliage season. The Benningtion Museum also has a wonderful permanent "Grandma Moses" exhibit with many of her orginal paintings and her desk and chair and other items. I visited the museum a few times as we stayed near there for almost a year. It is just down the main road from the Bennington Monument built to commemorate the Revolutionary War Battle. Robert Frost's Farm is another interesting historical site not far from Jane's farm in Shaftsbury. The year that I was there, 2006, the museum did some sort of Dear Jane workshop which made "Baby Jane Quilts" that included a visit to her house, but I was not ready to attempt such a thing so I did not really look into it.

Another Dear Jane quilt which I much admire is one in patriotic red, white and blue and is to be presented to George Bush:
http://www.dearjane.com/enduringfreedom.htm

As you can see, I have spent a lot of internet time looking at Dear Jane quilts. I am still working out in my mind what I would like my own Jane quilt to look like. I am trying to decide fabric selection. Pastel? Reproduction? Red/white/blue?

I like the one Kim has started in batiks, too!

So many choices ... Pat

Did you know that there are one or two Yahoo groups devoted to Dear Jane Quilts. I'll see if I can find the addresses if you are interested.