Friday, May 7, 2010

Crabapple, irises & my Dear Jane start

I figured out what I did wrong in making the units for the checkerboard border on the Crabapple quilt designed by Bonnie Hunter (http://www.quiltville.com).

I was thinking the bigger units that start with a LDL was UnitA and the dark finished 9-patch was a unitB....wrong...the sub units that make up these two larger units were the ones I needed to make. So I made like 5 times more than what I needed.

But hey! Now I have a checkerboard border ready for another scrappy quilt which will likely be Bonnie's Scrappily Irish in her new book "Adventures with Leaders & Enders".
She used 2" squares. I will use 1 1/2" squares.


Our irises are blooming and these smell sooooooooo good. I want to pick them to bring in but decided to allow them to live outside and I can visit them from time to time.



Spring and all it's glory hides an evil face at times....hate these maple seeds. Hubby calls them helicopters. I tired to sweep them yesterday but the wind was blowing more down as I was sweeping. I gave up.



I have 6 Dear Jane blocks done. I am so very proud of myself. Last week I was ready to burn the program or cut my head off. Nothing was going right with these blocks.
But yesterday I was very calm and was able to make 6 blocks in a short afternoon of sewing.
Now I feel a sense of excitement and pleasure. I was going to make them in gray/pink combinations but this Eco muslin and a fabric sampler w/ a cardboard header seem to play so nice together that I will use the pink/gray in something else.



11 comments:

Girltwin64 said...

Hi Subee, I hate those helicopter things too! W have 3 of those trees and as soon as we save up enough money they are coming down! Ellen

Aunt 'Reen said...

Hi Subee!
I too began my DJ quilt this week!
Wishing you great success on your journey!

Amy said...

Ooooooo....
okay Subee, I gotta know! Are you using a book of patterns for the DJ? copies from some internet site?

I have also reached a pinnacle in my quilting career where I am ready to slowly start a DJ masterpiece. No hurry; just a block here-n-there....but I haven't really started the research yet.

Any info you are willing to share would be greatly appreciated :0)

Cheryl Willis said...

love the crabapple top, looks great. cw

sao said...

I am really inspired by your dj quilt.....love the fabric that you chose....

Great job

sao in Midlothian, VA
www.shirleyannesheart.com

Rose Marie said...

The border really finishes off your Crabapple quilt .... what a wonderful finish!

Anonymous said...

Love your Dear Jane blocks. I started mine last year and doing mine in Civil War fabric. I was making good progress then decided in January to work on my UFOs but need to get back to working on this soon. I am in no hurry. Here is a link to my blog specifically for my Dear Jane
http://13ghosts-neversayneverjane.blogspot.com/2009/06/out-of-hospital-1-week.html

Barb in Mi said...

I love your crab apple quilt - and now you are ahead of yourself with another border already done. As for the DJ: I admire everybody that starts the DJ! It's such a beautiful but sooo intricate quilt, especially for impatient people like me. Will come & visit again to see your status. Happy sewing!

julieQ said...

Dear Subee...guess what book I just purchased? Dear Jane!! I am just starting too...it will be fun journey, won't it?? Your blocks look wonderful!

Darla said...

Subee - If I were you, I'd add another "border" the same as your last one around the whole quilt being you have so many of the bits already made. The border seems a bit small compare to the strenth of your center. Just a thought...
Darla

Dionne said...

I found it! I found it!! I just love this quilt and it looks so fabulous on your wall! you've inspired me, its my next project from the book!
Cheers,
Dionne