Shirley Anne’s Heart

Posted By drsao on April 13, 2008

I was inspired to make a DEAR JANE (Baby Jane) CIVIL WAR QUILT by the quilters on my recent Wakefield, VA retreat.  Some people call our reproduction quilts BABY JANE QUILTS, reserving the title of DEAR JANE for the original quilt made by Jane in 1863. 

I have been reading all about young Jane who made this quilt during the CIVIL WAR out of the tiniest scraps of material imaginable.  The finished quilt has over 5,000 pieces.  To read about this, check out www.dearjane.com.  It is absolutely fascinating!  Who would have ever imagined that young Jane’s quilt (made in 1863) would be replicated by women so many years later.  There is something about this quilt that elicits awe and wonder.  I am sure young Jane never dreamed that something like this would happen.  (It is a sobering thought, isn’t it – just think, something that YOU are doing right now could someday become interesting to THOUSANDS of folks.)

On April 12, 2008  my historical journey began – my journey through the making of a Civil War DEAR JANE Quilt reproduction.  I was ready – with the TO DIE FOR background fabric, Civil War Reproduction fat quaters, the book, the software, the courage – and the special rulers.    I said, “Self, this is going to be a GOOD trip!”  Hopefully others will join me on this journey!

Susan, at the QUILTERS CORNER is considering a DEAR JANE CLUB.  Check the Quilter’s Corner Website in my blogroll for date and time (right now it is set for Wednesday, May 15, at 6 pm.)

Here are my Civil War Repro fat quarters- with the background fabric -that I picked out at the QUILTER’S CORNER April 12.

 

I must say that this is a new experience – there are diagrams for what the blocks are supposed to look like – but no rotary cutting instructions.  I have become a bit attached to those instructions! 

OK, no problem.  I CAN DO THIS.  I decided to choose the easiest block that I could find for my initiation into the Dear Jane journey – and A6 Uncle Homer’s block was my choice.

I have been told NOT to make ALL OF THE EASY ONES FIRST – but I think it is OK this time, given that it is my VERY FIRST BLOCK!

Moving right along, I measured the size of the block pieces and added 1/4 inch seam allowances.  I was still feeling a bit like a novice, and because I LOVE my fabric – both the Civil War repros and the background – I decided to make a little practice block….

I carefully selected the fabric (LOVE RED AND WHITE)

…carefully looked at the diagram

….. carefully printed the A6 Uncle Homer page from my EQ program

……then I held my breath and carefully, cut, and sewed

(ever so straight scant 1/4 inch seams!)

 Here it is – a perfect 5″ square and ever so cute.  Time to breathe again!

  

 

Now I was feeling EVER SO BRAVE and decided that I was ready to move on to the REAL DEAL!

Since I LOVE all of the fabrics that I bought, it was a struggle to pick the one to begin with – but this one won!  It is copyright protected from the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum Collection – very interesting!

I was and am really excited – these blocks are so much fun to make and I like the dainty little dimensions.  Actually, I just LOVE these tiny blocks and it was so easy!  (I know, of course, that I just made the easiest block of all and that it took a WHOLE HOUR of meticulous, careful planning and practicing…..LOL…….)

A-6 Uncle Homer – is shown here – ready for a storage box – and hopefully it won’t be in there alone for long!

 

 

So far, I am having fun!

To be continued…….:)

 

 

Category: Dear Jane Quilt, Quilts in Progress | 1 Comment »
Tags:

Posted By drsao on April 12, 2008

In the world of quiltdom you meet such nice people………and the internet has made it possible to connect with,  chat with and sometimes even connect with people who share the same interests and hobbies – or even who share your PASSION FOR QUILTING!

(In my humble opinion, passion is a much better choice of words than obsession….lol)

 I met a new “internet quilting friend” through an online block swapper’s chat – and come to find out we both shop at the QUILTER’S CORNER and we are almost neighbors!  It truly is a small world isn’t it!  So Patsy invited me to spend the day today quilting with the Virginia Scrappers.  It was a quilt retreat for a day!  Quilting with others who inform, inspire and entertain –  that is another thing on my LIST OF FAVORITE THINGS!

I must say that my mother was a bit concerned when I e-mailed her to say that I was going off to spend the day with folks who I had  met through someone on the internet (and generally I would say it IS NOT A GOOD IDEA to meet strangers that one has met on the internet)  but I felt assured that  meeting at a CHURCH with FELLOW QUILTERS  had to be a GOOD THING.

It was a PERFECT DAY!  The spring blooms were everywhere – the church was beautiful – and there was rain in the forecast (another of my favorite things!)

  

The church even has a lovely garden to honor those who are serving in the military.

 

And thanks to my friend Sheddy, I actually didn’t get lost finding the church!  She rescued me en route!

Thanks Sheddy for rescuing me and for the inspiration today…..(and for sharing your extension cord!)

Sheddy knows just about EVERYTHING there is to know about quilts, and shows, and retreats!   AND….I just love her wonderful miniature Singer sewing machine – which, by the way, SHE DID NOT BUY NEW.   She shares my birth month and birth year, and I can tell you WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT that she is much too young to be the original owner of her machine.  🙂

This is Sheddy working on the cutest little basket blocks on her antique Singer (I think I want one……and a sewing machine that runs by cranking would be fun to have as well – I learned about that today too!)

We all had a lot of fun sewing…..eating……laughing….

and watching the WONDERFUL RAIN……what is more soothing and exciting than an April shower……

and the SHOW AND TELL was a big treat!  Here are a couple of pictures…..

Carmen is making a BRAID QUILT….and I LOVE HER FABRIC

(the same as what I am using for my Birth of a Sampler Quilt….:):)

and Patsy – my new internet friend – was finishing the binding on her beautiful mystery quilt!

It is quilted with the cutest little poodles…..

or if you aren’t fond of poodles, you can squint and pretend that they are cute little flowers!)

Life is good…….

 

 

 

 

Category: My Favorite Things, Quilt Retreat | 1 Comment »
Tags:

Posted By drsao on April 10, 2008

Tuesday I attended one of my FAVORITE ongoing classes at the Quilter’s Corner in Midlothian, VA – THE BIRTH OF A SAMPLER taught by Sherry Whitford.  In NINE months (nine steps) we will have a beautiful quilt designed by Sherry Whitford herself – and part of the fun is that we have OPTIONS at some of the steps along the way!

We were diligently producing hourglass blocks for this month’s border – in an innovative way – and someone had a little mishap…..stitches gone awry!  A mistake is often called a DESIGN OPPORTUNITY in the world of quilters….I learned that from my new friends at the last Wakefield Retreat (the Dear Jane Quilters.)

Someone made FOUR partial face masks instead of four hourglass blocks…..tooooo funny!

We turned it into a photo – op!  I am the one with the beak on UPSIDE DOWN!  🙂

Category: Quilts in Progress | No Comments »
Tags:

Posted By drsao on April 8, 2008

KU won the BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP last night in a nail biting victory….after going into OVERTIME.  Oh my, was it ever an exciting game.

CONGRATULATIONS KU JAYHAWKS! 

I could hear the ROCK CHALK JAYHAWKS cheer from my family last night all the way from Missouri, Kansas,  and Texas!

And that is a long way for cheers to travel all the way to me in Virginia.

What a game – I have never seen a better one!   I usually quilt while I watch TV, but last night I was afraid that I might get TOO excited and sew my fingers to a quilt block – so I just stopped and was GLUED to the action.  And today there will be a lot of fans taking NAPS!  There is a time to celebrate and a time to “JELL-OUT!”

Here is ANOTHER thing for my LIST OF FAVORITE THINGS – when your “FAMILY SCHOOL” wins in a close game. 

 

Category: Life Comments, My Favorite Things | 1 Comment »
Tags:

Posted By drsao on April 6, 2008

The WAKEFIELD QUILT RETREAT was an adventure…

….a lot of fun….

and it was a great learning experience! 

I REALLY learned SO MUCH.

The first thing that I learned is that these women are A LOT OF FUN TO BE WITH!

We laughed a lot – and we even found an additional NANCY (#3 – with the name tag on) who came over to laugh with NANCY (#1 – the jewelry designer – in red) and NANCY (#2 – the resident RIPPER – not in red)  at dinner.  (We didn’t know Nancy #3 – but her group must not have been as much fun as ours because, as you can see, she is NOT sitting at her table with HER group !)

Karen, Gloria (holding the quilter’s sign) and Carolyn are waiting for those wonderful homemade rolls!

 

 

The second thing that I learned is that these women DO NOT PICK BORING PLACES FOR THEIR RETREATS!

We had a GLORIOUS VIEW of the outdoors! And we were serenaded by singing ducks every morning! it was beautiful, peaceful, and refreshing! Our parking area even had a lovely view!  It rained (my favorite weather) – well, it was just perfect!

 I LOVED the 4-H Airfield Retreat Center!

   

 

We also had plenty of wildlife to enjoy (this had to be a FIRST for me – a bear in the dining area!)

Here are some of us with the bear – and of course I had to have a personal close up photo with this HUMONGOUS BEAR…….I have named her Jane – but I heard rumors that she might have originally been John but I have decided that SHE should be an honorary member of the DEAR JANE QUILTERS group!) 

And….I HAVE to make a Dear Jane Quilt – it is now on my TO DO LIST!

  

And isn’t this little Rosie bobcat cute?  The other critters in the dining area were quite interesting as well!  🙂

 

The third thing that I learned is that Wakefield, VA has a UNIQUE QUILT STORE…….

Ning’s House of Crochets – it was a one-of-a-kind quilt store for sure.  In fact, many of us went to NING’S MORE THAN ONCE – and some folks may have even made the journey three times.  Our sides ached with joy – it was so much fun! That store was unbelievable. Where else can you get china thimbles from the BLANK display in Houston, 2005 – FREE?!

I had to take a picture of the sign for the quilt store.

And that is NOT ALL – under the big sign was a smaller sign – and it made us SMILE for four whole days!

The CRAPBOOK WING of the fabric store was evidently a new feature….there was one stand with a few stickers and some papers.  Oh my – even if there was only a scant array of supplies for memory making – there was EVERYTHING ELSE in that store.  Crochet thread, knitting yarn, buttons, quilt fabric, pillow forms, dolls, antique pottery, towels, potholders, scarves, shawls, tapestry fabric, netting, thread, glue sticks, patterns……..and this is only a SMALL LIST of the treasures available at NING’S…..so it is easy to understand why it took multiple trips to Ning’s to get the full experience!

Now to a comment about the “OP EN” part of the sign at Ning’s.  OPEN takes on new meaning for Ning’s House of Crochets because the TRUTH is that Ning’s is NEVER OPEN.  The door is kept LOCKED.  If one wants to shop there, one has to e-mail the owner….which could be a problem because Claudette DID e-mail the owner to announce our shopping intentions but the owner did NOT read her e-mail – because “no one sends her e-mail” so she doesn’t check it!  🙂  Her e-mail address continues to be posted on her sign and on her business cards….but in case you REALLY WANT to shop there, call or KNOCK LOUDLY!

 

See how HAPPY going to Ning’s made Claudette!!

The fourth thing that I learned is that these wonderful women are talented and creative!

Look at SOME of the beautiful things that were created during these past few days!

Unfortunately many of my pictures were fuzzy so not everyone is pictured below with their masterpieces – but here are a few (the fuzzy pictures might have had something to do with the fact that I dropped my camera and it fell apart prior to my downloading these pictures)

 

Carolyn and her beautiful – absolutely amazing – 5-year work of art! I am so impressed.  I would have never been able to get that quilt together, much less quilt it myself! 

CAROLYN GETS THE AWARD FOR MAKING THE MOST COMPLEX DESIGN STATEMENT!

She also gets the title of GUIDE FOR THE DIRECTIONALLY IMPAIRED – she was so nice to meet me so that I could follow her to the retreat….yes I am a directionallly impaired person and I am so thankful that I had a GUIDE PERSON!  :):):) 

  

Gloria color coordinated her jewelry and clothing to complement her happy quilt creation (this woman – who I named GRACE for no rational reason whatsoever – has a sense of humor to die for!)  I don’t know the name of her quilt – but it is very pretty!  She also did some fancy stitching on her HAPPY wall hanging!

GLORIA GETS THE AWARD FOR BEING THE MOST COLOR COORDINATED WITH HER HAPPY QUILTS!

  

Look at Mary’s Miniature Masterpieces…..they are so fabulous.  I was inspired and just might HAVE to try making one of these mini wall hangings!  

MARY GETS THE AWARD FOR MAKING THE TINIEST PERFECT WORKS OF ART AT THE RETREAT!

 

  

Sue made this kitty quilt – and it made me OOH and AAH – since I am a super lover of all things CATS, I developed an instant attachment to this one!  Isn’t it just TOO CUTE!!!  She also made the red and white table runner in the DISPLAY AREA…..unfortunatlely I didn’t get a good picture of Lynn, the creator of the beautiful  bargello type quilt – blues and greens – but her quilt is great!

SUE GETS THE AWARD FOR MAKING THE CUTEST CAT QUILT AT THE RETREAT!

    

And now for Claudette…….amazing productivity.  I lost count of all of her charity quilts that she quilted – but there is at least ONE of her stacks of completed work pictured above.  I think she also had a suitcase somewhere full of projects.  Her 12 appliqued blocks on the right were a gift to Gloria and I made a “mental note” to be really nice to Claudette from now on! 

Claudette’s CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT just makes my heart happy – for real.  I love it. Unfortunately I got away without a picture of the most beautiful appliqued quilt ever!  I have named it CLAUDETTE’S LOST AND FOUND GARDEN QUILT.  The next time that you see her you can ask her why I named it that!  (OK OK – I will tell you – because she lost two corner blocks and had searched everywhere, only to find out that they were sewn onto the quilt already……how many of us have BEEN THERE DONE THAT!)

CLAUDETTE GETS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT AWARD AND THE MOST PROJECTS  COMPLETED AWARD!  She is definitely the Charity Quilt Queen of this retreat!

THE BEST JEWELRY MAKER AWARD GOES TO NANCY – AND THE BEST FIRST QUILT (GRANDMOTHER’S FLOWER GARDEN) GOES TO NANCY’S MOM, MAGGIE, aka the knitter! 

Nancy made us beautiful jewels to match our outfits!  I am pictured below with Nancy – and I am wearing the earrings and necklace that she designed!  I wish I had pictures of all of the jewelry that Claudette and Gloria had – every outfit had matching jewelry designs by Nancy!

   

And the uncontested title of the QUILTER WHO DID THE MOST UNSEWING goes to NANCY THE RIPPER!

Here she is hiding behind a beautiful quilt that she made WITHOUT ripping!  🙂 I heard a rumor that she actually wore out her ripper at one point….that might just be a rumor though.

She is Nancy #2 in the first picture!

The fifth thing that I learned – well there were several things……

First…..it is a good idea to clean the lint out of your sewing machine…….HM…..who KNEW!

Look at ALL OF THAT LINT that came out of someone’s sewing machine!  HM…..but in HER defense, I must say that no one ever TOLD her that taking the sewing machine APART to clean it was routine behavior!

Second – ants are not nice people.

This same poor linty soul (a relatively NEW QUILTER) had believed ALL OF HER LIFE that ants (and therefore other bugs) should be put outside when possible (rather than killed) because they had families who would mourn their demise……

As a child she had observed ants carrying a DECEASED FAMILY MEMBER away (presumably for the purpose of shared grieving rituals prior to burial.)  SOMEONE, who shall remain nameless but whose initials are C. A. and who is a descendant WANNABEE of John Adams) GOOGLED ant behavior and disclosed to this poor LINTY SOUL that ants not only do NOT mourn and bury their family members – but in fact they EAT THEM……..sigh

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A BELIEF THAT YOU HAVE CARRIED YOUR WHOLE LIFE JUST TO HAVE IT GET BLOWN AWAY – GONE WITH THE WIND……..sigh?  Life is a series of learning experiences!

Third – I learned how to do the cute little twisty thing on the back of a four patch – THANK YOU Elaine – who preferred not to become famous by appearing on Shirley Anne’s Heart.  Aren’t these TINY FOUR PATCHES in the center of the large four patch cute!

 

I not only learned lots, but I came away INSPIRED and HAPPY.

And now the part that I know my mother has been waiting for…here are the things that I did on the retreat.

I worked on the quilt that I thought that I had created, only to learn that it already exists and it has a name….HUGS AND KISSES…..

I made twelve green scrappy log cabin blocks for my decentralized log cabin block swappers group…I took a picture of four of them.

I made 150 scrappy four patches for CLUE 1 of Bonnie K. Hunter’s ORANGE CRUSH MYSTERY QUILT (http://www.quiltville.com/) only I miscounted and made 200!  🙂

 

 

I made a few blocks for my PEACEFUL HOURS QUILT – I LOVE these blocks!

I made NOT ONE BUT TWO of the April 2008 BLOCK of the QUILTERS CORNERS Block of the Month Mystery Quilt (from Quilter’s Corners in Midlothian, VA.)  I had to make 2 because I REALLY REALLY REALLY LOVE it!

And I worked on my GRANDMOTHER’S FLOWER GARDEN – I am so excited about this quilt…..THANK YOU CLAUDETTE (whose initials are C. A.) for getting me started on this.  I love working on it!  I just hope it doesn’t take me 20 years to complete it!  🙂 

This partial block took SEVERAL HOURS…..I was told that I would get faster!

Thank you, Gloria for my new title……OUR LADY OF LINT……that Gloria is a hoot!

I am so glad that I got to visit the PEANUT CAPITOL OF THE WORLD (Wakefield, VA) – and the VIRGINIA DINER.  I am already looking forward to the next retreat!  I am putting Quilting Retreats on my LIST OF FAVORITE THINGS……no wonder our fore-mothers had so many quilting bees!

 

Category: Grandmother's Garden, My Favorite Things, Orange Crush Mystery, Pineapple Crush Mystery, Quilt Retreat, Quilter's Corners BOM, Quilts in Progress | 6 Comments »
Tags: