Single Girl...

I am thrilled to be taking part in the Single Girl Support Group on flickr!

I do realize I am married, thus NOT single, ha ha, but this is the Denyse Schmidt "Single Girl" quilt along :D

This pattern has been in and out of my "cart" at Alewives Fabrics for months, and finally I had an excuse to purchase it.

My friend and I spent some time yesterday on the phone and on Superbuzzy discussing a color theme and selecting fabrics for the quilt. There is a half-yard minimum on these lovely Japanese fabrics, so it works out perfectly they we have the same vision and taste in fabrics, enabling us to split half-yards. Here is what we came up with!



Aren't the colors just delicious? We are opting to make a throw-sized quilt and are still deciding which background fabric to go with. I am pretty sure I want to go with a soft nuetral linen, but I won't be sure until I get to see the fabrics together in person.

This picture of Denyse Schmidt's Single Girl is of her twin size quilt, we figure 6 circles would make a perfect sized throw quilt.

The best thing about this group is the talented quilters that are in it, and in charge of it! Many of these quilters/bloggers have also been in the swaps I have participated in over the past year. This makes it the best of both worlds...a super fun bunch of gals to inspire me and (the best part) I get to keep this for myself ;D I have decided to slow down on my swaps and bees this year, and use that time to work on some of the quilts I have been wanting to make, but haven't had the time to.

So, do you think you might want to join the quilt along too???

Happy quilting,
Colette

Almost...

I am ALMOST finished making R.'s first quilt (from Mum ever!)

I am ALMOST finished FMQ (free motion quilting) it! Superior Threads King Tut 40 wt. Egyptian Cotton thread in White Linen is what I am using and I really like it. I have been reading up on FMQ in this fantastic little book "Quilt Savvy" and she recommends using a wool batting. I bought this "Quilter's Dream" wool batting from Alewives Fabrics (Don't forget to tell Rhea I sent you if you grab some) and so far I am loving it. I'll let you know after the quilt is washed if I prefer it to the "Quilter's Dream" cotton batting.

I've also thrown off my quilting gloves and have replaced them with this Neutrogena Hand Cream that makes your hands perfectly sticky for moving your quilt around and it really works ~ thanks for the tip Gayle!!! (She read about it in one of Harriet Hargrave's quilting books)

I ALMOST chickened out and straight-lined quilted this instead, as this is my first time FMQ a quilt. I am doing a simple stipple and really having fun with it. It is of course far from perfect, but I am quite impressed with how well it is turning out.

R. said, "I want big stipples and small stipples." (She is extremely opinionated like me) Ha, ha, good thing because being inexperienced at FMQ, that is exactly what she is getting :D

Happy Saturday,
Colette

Sis Boom Wow!

I am completely freaking out! "Mason's Quilt" was featured on fabric designer Jennifer Paganelli's Sis Boom Blog HERE! I am sincerely flattered :D She is one talented designer. I love her vibrant colors and swirling designs and find her fabric lines so inspiring. I am just finishing up a quilt top for R. using a few of her fabrics as well. I am still missing that camera battery...I'll just have to use D.'s cell phone this weekend to take some photos of it.

Have a lovely weekend!

Happy quilting,
Colette

Janiac!

So I am officially a "Janiac Newbie", Colette-Jane 2-0-0-18! And for once, Jane has nothing to do with Jane Austen, wink wink.

"What exactly is a Janiac Newbie and what's up with that name/number thing?" you ask.

To answer briefly, I will tell you that I have started my "Baby Jane" and I have completed 2 blocks using 18 pieces. Hmmm...still not getting it??? Well you'll just have to pop on over to Dear Jane and read all about it!

Ok, I'll give you a bit more info than that, although its much more fun to read about it at Dear Jane.

1863 Jane A. Stickle Quilt, photo from Brenda Papadakis.

The quilt actually hangs every September-October in the Bennington Museum in Vermont. I have yet to see it, but you better believe I will be dragging R. there this fall to admire it! Jane A. Stickle lived in Shaftsbury, VT in the 1800's and you can even visit her home and cemetery...I am seeing a whole homeschooling unit and field trip in our future ;D You can read more about the History of Jane. A Stickle quilt and her personal history HERE or in the Dear Jane book.

Dear Jane is a quilting book by Brenda Papadakis, dedicated to The Two Hundred Twenty-Five Patterns from the 1863 Jane A. Stickle Quilt. I purchased my book and templates from Brenda's shop, she offers the set for $40, autographs the book, and throws in a "Dear Jane" quilt pin, and best of all there is no shipping fee!

Triangle template

Square Template

I feel a personal connection with this quilt, being so geographically close to me and all, and hope to work on this quilt a little here and there over the next TWO years.

Yep, two years, at the very least! With 169 blocks, 108 triangles, 4 corners, and like somewhere over 2600 pieces, and then it will have to be quilted...its safe to say that I will be working on this for years to come.

Did you notice that new button on the left side of my blog? See that big pink one that says "That Quilt"? Give it a click and you'll be directed over to a Dear Jane devoted blog, where you can finds loads of information on how to make each of the DJ (Dear Jane) blocks. I was particularly inspired by her 1930's Jane. I will be using a variety of 30's prints (I am going to keep mine to pinks, blues, greens, yellows, and purples) that I'll collect here and there along the way. I've chosen Kona Bleached White "PFD" for the background color.

Now here is where my two finished blocks should be inserted, and would be if my daughter R. didn't "misplace" my camera battery ARRGGHHH! I'll get pics and post them here ASAP.

Now what will I do with this quilt when it's finally finished? Hmmm...good question. I hate to make something and not use it, but with all the time and effort and how special this quilt will be, it might just have to be put in R.'s hope chest for a wedding gift or maybe college graduation. One thing is for sure, I will have loads of fun making it :D

Don't forget to check back weekly for updates on my finished blocks!

Happy quilting,
Colette

Dresden Love

I am seriously crushing on these Dresden Plates I made up for the Not Your Grandma's Quilting Bee!

This is a block that I have had on my TBM (to be made) list for a very long time, and I was really excited to have the opportunity to make these up in the DS Hope Valley fabrics.

Admittedly, I was totally intimidated by the Dresden, but I followed this tutorial over at Say Yes Juliet, and it was actually pretty easy. Just remember to set your stitch length really small (I set mine to 1) when sewing down that center circle.

My little one (who isn't really so little anymore...big sigh) wants me to make up a Dresden Plate pillow out of Echino fabrics for her room. What can I say, she has impeccable taste, ha ha.

This block and fabrics has inspired my next quilt...more on that next time :D

Happy quilting,
Colette