"My Jane" Block G-11

Encouraging words of the day:

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31, NLT

We’re still playing catch-up with the stuff we neglected while we were visiting in California.  It has been hot, hot, hot, 107 degree F. days and still no rain in Texas.  We have evaporative a/c in El Paso. Since it’s not humid around here, we need something to add a little moisture to the air but lately it seems like our a\c is just putting out hot air and very little humidity. 

Here’s the next block  completed for “My Jane.”  This one was also pretty easy, time-consuming but easy.  It's actually has beautiful purple hues instead of this grayish color that seems to show up in my photo.

G-11

Today is One Flower Wednesday!  Here are my 3 patriotic 4^th of July flowers.

Giveaways I've run into:

  Vicki B Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win an AccuQuilt GO! Baby cutter and three dies.  This giveaways ends Sunday night, July 3.

Canoe Ridge Creations is having a giveaway of a fat quarter bludle. – ends July 1^st.

That is all. 

"My Jane" Block F-9

Encouraging words of the day:

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ~ Philippians 4-6, NLT

 We’re back in El Paso now after spending 3 weeks in California with our daughter and her family.  It’s always nice to be home but I’m missing our daughter, grandson, and son-in-law so much.  I know you all know how sad it is to leave dear family members.  On the brighter side, I found some things in the mail to brighten my day.  A giveaway I won from Ft. Worth Fabric Studio had arrived.  Check out this photo of fabric from Free Spirit.  It is Jenean Morrison's Wild World.  Thanks "Ft. Worth Fabric Studio".

Also in the mail were the 10-inch blocks of fabric for the Dots-and-Dashes fabric swap I joined at "Quilters Club of America".  There are 22 squares of polka dotted fabric and 22 squares of striped fabric.  Yay!  Great variety.

Here’s another block I completed for “My Jane” while I was in California.

F-9

This block was easy and I think it turned out really pretty.  (all applique)

The block for the  "Penny Haren Applique Quilt-Along"  this week is called  “Facets of Jenn.”  Mine turned out really wonky but a lot of my blocks are wonky so it matches.

Giveaways I've run into:

"Just So Y'll Know"  is hosting a patriotic giveaway  of two sets of fat quarters to two winners. – ends June 26^th.

"A Desert Quilter"  is giving away a book called "Quilts from Selvage Edge" by Karen Griska.  Along with the book,  she is including some of her own selvages. – ends June 30^th.

"Quilt I.T."    is giving away  5 Fat Quarters.  – ends July 3^rd.

That is all. 

"My Jane" Block G-7

Encouraging words of the day:

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. ~Mark 1:35, NLT

Jesus took time to pray.  Finding time to pray is not easy, but prayer is the vital link between us and God. Like Jesus, we must break away from others to talk with God, even if we have to get up very early in the morning to do it!

Our grandson’s parents are back from their trip.  Now we’re back to being 100% grandparents while Andy’s parents take over discipline.  Yay!  We’ll be in California two more days spoiling our grandson.

So saying, here is the next block I’ve completed for “My Jane.”

G-7

This block looks easy enough and that may be what caused me so many problems.  I kept getting the colored fabric on the strips running through the circle in the wrong place.  Two of them are STILL in the wrong place but I’m going with it.  I keep unsewing and then sewing them back in the wrong place again.  I finally decided to leave it as it is now.  I did say I was making this Dear Jane project into “My Jane,” right?

It’s  "One-Flower Wednesday" and here is my flower.  I'm going for a 4th of July theme.

photo

Giveaways I've run into:

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting is having her first giveaway.   Cheryl is giving away An OLFA Circle Rotary Cutter (18mm) and the product demo disc that goes with it, a pattern, 'Bundle of 12 - Beach Balls' by Amelie Scott Designs, and a pattern, 'Gifts All Around' by Aarol Penny Pattenden.  Cheryl will select a winner on Tuesday evening, July 5.

Jay Bird Quilts is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a full collection of fat quarters of Outside Oslo by Jessica Jones from Pink Chalk.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, June 22, at 10:00 pm EST.

That is all. 

“Goodnight, Irene” (that’s me) meets Jane A. Blakely Stickles"

 “Goodnight, Irene” (that’s me) meets Jane A. Blakely Stickles"

I’ve actually been posting pictures of “My Jane” on several of my blog posts.  Now, I’m going to try to do it in a more orderly manner.  Right!

In May 2011, as I was surfing the internet, I ran into an interesting page about a “Dear Jane” quilt.  I’d never heard of this quilt and was intrigued by the information I found.  So intrigued that on May 13, 2011, I ordered the software.  I was so excited and by the following day,  I had make my first block, A-1.  Jane Stickles,  here I come! 

I’m not setting a deadline to complete the 225 blocks but do plan to work on them continuously.  It is now June 18^th and I have completed 32 blocks.  Once all the blocks are completed, I will make the decisions involving borders and quilting.

Right now, my plan is not to use any of the fabrics I choose twice so each block is a different fabric.  I have always been one to color outside the lines, so I may adapt the blocks to my own interpretation and not strictly follow the guidelines of the software as I consider those exactly that – guidelines.  I’m not sure the person who set up the software knows exactly how Jane made her blocks either (smile).  I’ve purchased the book also and that just has the colored picture of the block and an outline of how the block looks, now how it was sewn.  I will be using different techniques to achieve the same results as Jane although now necessarily in the same way. That said, one, two, three, GO!

A-1

28 pieces

Paper-pieced

I love paper-piecing and I was so glad that the software came with a print-out for foundation piecing.  I think this is the reason that I enjoyed making this block.  It seems like a good start on my “Dear Jane” since after this block, I’m feeling confident.  It's a little crooked but that just adds character, I always say.  Nevermind that it came out as a mirror image of Jane’s.  Didn’t I say I would be making my own adaptations?  I hadn’t realized it would be right away, LOL.

Bass Lake in California and My Jane G1 and G5

Encouraging words of the day:

	Then Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen." Matthew 21:21, NLT
	Many have wondered about Jesus' statement that if we have faith and don't doubt, we can move mountains. Jesus, of course, was not suggesting that his followers use prayer as "magic" and perform capricious "mountain-moving" acts. Instead, he was making a strong point about the disciples' (and our) lack of faith.
	What kinds of mountains do you face? Have you talked to God about them? How strong is your faith?

On Sunday we went to beautiful Bass Lake, north of Fresno.    I hear What beautiful scenery!  There was an Arts and Crafts Fair which we enjoyed.  Later we found a place selling a catfish dinner and enjoyed that as well.  Just another wonderful day spent with our grandson. 

The  "Penny Haren Applique" block for this week is called “Snowflake.”  I don’t think this one is very pretty but, oh well…

My evening sewing on “Dear Jane” blocks has produced the following: 

G-1

 G-5

It looks like I need to remember to cut the back out of the middle applique on this block.  Maybe.  It does add a little character to see that light X that shows.

A giveaway I've run into:

"1 Choice 4 Quilting"  is having a giveaway of a  Fat Quarter Bundle, 2 yards of matching Bella Solids, and your choice of a Moda tote bag to 4 lucky winners. – ends June 27^th.

That is all. 

It’s Saturday in California.

Encouraging words of the day:

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. ~ Deuteronomy 31:6, NLT 

It’s Saturday in California.  That means that our grandson does not have  his summer school program today so we will be having a picnic.  He absolutely loves picnics, even if it’s just sitting on the grass in the backyard.  In reality, we’ll be going to a local park to feed ducks and use the walking trails.  I hear there’s an Arts and Crafts Fair somewhere so maybe we’ll be able to find that.

My evening sewing on “Dear Jane” blocks has produced the following: 

C-5

I see I still need to cut out the dark blue fabric in the background.  Something to remember.

D-4

F-5 

Hmmmmm, not my best fabric choices here.  Too much white in the background fabric so the block doesn’t show up too well.  Another thing to remember.

 I found what I thought was a good deal on fabric at a LQS in Fresno.  They made up little bags of scraps selling for $4.99 each.   I bought a few and each bag has the equivalent of 8 fat quarters of Moda fabric.  This offered me the opportunity for more variety in my “Dear Jane” blocks since my plan is not to repeat the fabric in any of the blocks.  That means I need 225 different fabrics, right? I’ve also purchased a few fat quarters while in Fresno for a total of 57 different fabrics purchased here.  I’m happy.

 

A few giveaways I've run into:
"The Plaid Scottie" is giving away bundles of Foundation Piecing Papers.- ends June 19^th.
"Sew Crafty Jess"  is giving away a fat quarter bundle of 6 prints and a Charm Pack. – ends June 20^th.
"CSN Stores Blog" is giving us a chance to win one of 4 different tote bags. – ends June 30^th.
"The Green Fairy"  is giving away a fat quarter bundle. – ends June 21^st.

That is all.