Post # 99: time for a Give-Away!

Yes my 99th post. Most entries have been quilt related, documenting my journey on “That Quilt”. So, time for a give-away like a number of blogs I follow.

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED NOW.
The prize package is 7 pieces of reproduction turkey red fabric, each about 8 inches by 10 inches in size. Some of these prints are very hard to find now. One is at least 10 years old (but still in great shape!) In addition, the winner will receive a piece of a bright yellow print, and two pieces of reproduction poison green fabric. The print on the right is from a long-ago reproduction line. The one on the left is from the Callie Lu line, which had strips of two patterns on one piece of fabric. Also hard to find now. The size of these pieces is good for a Jane quilt or Nearly Insane quilt. I wish I had more alluring photos of the fabric, but there it is.

Here is how to enter.

My 14 followers as of Thursday Aug.28 are automatically entered.
Leave a comment on this post and please include a way to contact you if your blogger profile does not include your email address or blog name. A mention of this contest on your blog would be great but not necessary. Followers: Yes you can enter twice!

Enter by next Friday September 4, 2009 at 6 PM Eastern USA time. At that time I will use a random number generator or random list generator (See Random.org) to pick the winner. Post #100 will announce the winner. Once I have a shipping address the fabric is off to its new happy home.

Good luck!

Viridian

Elaine's Giveaway

Do you like Civil war reproduction fabrics as much as I do? Then:

a. come back here in a few days to sign up for my give away of turkey red and poison green fabric

b. Immediately go to Faithful Quilter: Elaine's Journey and sign up for her giveaway. You have until Thursday, Aug. 27.

viridian

C-5: Eye of the Cyclone

A big BIG shout out goes to Anina at That Quilt - this is 110% her method for constructing this difficult-looking block, that sends shivers down many quilter's spines. Here is a link to her specific directions with photos.
The idea is to approach this block by making two pinwheel blocks, as you do for block B-2. Then the clever part: a frame. [hits forehead, gently] - why didn't I think of that? Because I am not Anina, that's why. Above is my pinwheel block, and the frame, freezer paper on the wrong side. The curves are gentle here, and you just need to adjust the points so that it looks right.

Here is the finished block, next to the picture in The Book. I did not plan on reversing the colors but I am very happy in how it turned out. My one recommendation: choose a print fabric that you love, because you and other Janiacs will be looking at this block.

Thank you Anina!

viridian

Miniature Madness from last week

I've been out of commission for almost a week - not feeling normal. I am almost back in shape so a post for my few followers. 2 weeks ago I was going on my Dear Jane blocks. So much energy that I even returned to my miniature madness blocks, which I hadn't touched since April. On the left: a broken dishes block in real pink feed sack; on the right, the 5 and dime block in 40's or 50's fabric. these both will finish at 3 inches square.

viridian

H-10 Ben's Bowtie

26 pieces. Doesn't seem like that many does it? Paper-pieced. One for my main DJ quilt, one for my pink and white DJ quilt.

Merry May

This is post # 96, so getting close to post #100!

Merry May is block E-2 of the Jane Stickle quilt. Another block I put off because of the applique. But this has large pieces, so I would recommend it to a beginner, just tackling melons for the first time.

The melon that appears to be 'underneath' is actually two pieces, placed with the help of the drawing in the Dear Jane book. Applique in place, leaving the seam allowance that will be under the top melon in place, don't mess with it. Then place the top melon down, and baste in place so that it doesn't slide sideways. As always, I use the brute force method.

Add the borders and you are done.

viridian

Hunter's Moon

This is block A-3 of the Jane Stickle quilt, book by Brenda Papadakis.

I started this project in the fall of 2007. Looking back, I don't remember quite what pushed me to start such a major undertaking. I do recall that I realized I was the same age as Jane Stickle was as she completed her quilt. But there had to be something more.... hmm maybe it will come to me.

I prepped the brown block well over a year ago. I cut the brown fabric a bit larger than 5 inches square, and prepared the melons for brute force applique. Then, I set it aside. The thought of those melon points - 8 of them! was so intimidating. I am happy to say my skills have improved. So has my prepping for applique. My points still aren't so pointy but they are flatter. And my curves are smoother.

viridian

1800's Christmas Jane 127, 38, 1, 3840

Pretty in Pink Jane 94, 32, 0, 2932

Miniature Madness! 55, 0, 0, 776

J-5 John Jacob's Windmill

I think the triangles are supposed to be pieced in or appliqued. However, I'll redraw just about any block to paper piece it. The top photo shows how I dealt with the center and straightened out a few lines. You do end up with different seam lines, which may not be what you want.

Middle picture: Sub units put together. Note I did not cut my background fabric large enough, and had to add slivers. Sigh. Always cut large and whack it off later.

Bottom: the finished piece. Not quite like Jane's but close. Now I can do Which Points West, which is very similar. One of my future posts will be on the 'sister' blocks - those that go together is looks or construction technique.

viridian61

125 blocks!

Vintage thingy thursday

Boy, you have to be quick with this, esp. when Coloradolady starts her meme on Wednesday night! I've fixed my blog so that it should be easier to leave comments. I always love comments.

I recently went to an antique mall, one of those with "450 dealers" or some large amount. I picked up 16 grandmother's flower garden blocks for $12.95. Note the fussy cutting of some hexagons in the top picture. the same fabric is used in the center of each flower. Yet someone did not finish. Gosh, I have enough UFO's (Un-Finished Objects) of mine own, now I am collecting someone else's. But I could not pass them by.

Note in the last picture (enlarge if you can) the very fine handwork done by this unknown woman. Technically this is the whip stitch.

See Coloradolady's site for more vintage thingies!

AARRGGHH! Papa's Star of course

Argh, blogger ate my first post. Not so fun doing this a second time.
G-6, how we Janiacs obsess about you. (Not Janeites – they obsess about Jane Austen. The two groups often go together though, as in my case.)
Ignore the housework and laundry, ignore your spouse’s/partner’s pleas for dinner, ignore your children’s cries for attention. Find that quiet place, take a deep breath, and start on G-6, Papa’s Star.

I have Electric Quilt’s Dear Jane software, and I was following variation 1. I paper-pieced the central devil star, and felt pretty good about how it turned out, even with one small star point. However, I should have noticed something wrong by the time I took picture number 1.

You see, the central pentagon is not a regular pentagon. The orientation of it to the outside pieces is pretty important. Mine is rotated one position, and I did not notice until too late, when I saw the triangle points (see the one on the left) were not matching. But, the block is done, it is even the correct size, and so what if one of my star points will be cut off. I’m Done! Argh.

back with a DJ triangle

This is TR 6 Carla's Candle Flame. The names for the triangles are not in The Book but they are listed in the Dear Jane Software. I have been working steadily so my numbers are up to:

1800's Christmas Jane 124, 38, 1, 3757
Pretty in Pink Jane 93, 32, 0, 2927
Miniature Madness! 54, 0, 0, 770

More pics tomorrow.

Don't spill Diet Coke on your laptop!

Friday I was arranging books on a shelf when an old Diet Coke can fell over, spilling a bit (well more than a bit) of Diet Coke on my keyboard before falling to the floor and spilling most of the rest of the contents on the carpet. Computers that have not been "rugged-ized" (is that a word?) do NOT like this. Monday, I think it's off to the computer repair shop. Be careful out there people!

I am on the home laptop bu can't upload pictures from here. However, with limited internet time I HAVE gotten 3 more Dear Jane blocks done. I hope to update you later in the week.

PS. Back up your files! Do as I say not as I do (did).

viridian