Pages

April 18, 2009

Blogger's Quilt Festival

I have seen this on many of the blogs in my reader, and thought I would join in.
Dear Jane on Display at Home
Many of you won't be surprised that my favorite quilt is my Dear Jane!! I started this quilt in 2005, and did the quilt entirely by hand finishing May 2008, my probably the only one I will ever do this way (I love hand piecing and quilting, but putting on bias binding around a 92 inch square quilt by hand, not so much excitement there...putting hanging sleeves on by hand....snore!!). I didn't have any civil war era repros when starting this quilt so traded for scraps and was given some by some generous Dear Janers (other fellow insane people making the quilt!), my quilt has fabric that came from the UK, Australia, Canada, all over the US and even South Africa...I love that part of it!
Mommy and Aine Quilting Together
Before doing this quilt I had never hand pieced, appliqued or quilted anything, it was a real learning quilt and you can see the difference in early and later blocks, but they are all in there.
Dear Jane in Bend Outdoor Quilt Show August 15
I had this in the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show last year, and it won a Viewer's Choice award at the Bend Outdoor Quilt Show, my first ever award! My parents live in Bend, Oregon, so hence the international showings. I hope to enter it into some Irish quilt shows and possibly the Birmingham show in the UK, I am proud of it, most of my other quilts are machine made and less than perfect, but this one I took my time on and learned a lot!
Girls Hanging out Under the Newly Marked Scalloped Dear Jane
I even still like hand piecing the Dear Jane blocks and am doing a swap with a friend to give an excuse to make more blocks. I will probably always have some hand pieced quilts in progress, though I think from now on, binding can go on by machine!!

I am preparing some Dear Jane blocks this afternoon in preparation for my  trip tomorrow (always bring hand sewing and some knitting on trips), a week with quilty friends, I can't wait, and I will take photos of any projects or fun shops we find!

62 comments:

Ann J said...

What an achievement Cathi! It's not surprising that you are proud of it - and rightly so!.........Luv AJ
ps - love the models too!!!!!!

Carol Hansen said...

Wow woman. I am in awe that this was your first attempt at quilting. The thought of attempting a "Dear Jane" just boggles my mind!!!!!!

Stephanie said...

Amazing that you tackled such a huge project to hand piece, applique and quilt. Stunning quilt and I can certainly see why you won an award!

Dawn Hay said...

This is so amazing to look at and a real inspiration to others...Well done...I have not done many but am slowly getting there with my 'Dear Jane'...It will be a ten year project I think for me and I cheated, some are machine made....Hugs To You and the girls
Dawn x

heather said...

Three years is fast for hand work! I have two friends making this by machine and they are in year six.

Jana said...

Impressive!

Yvette said...

Incredible! I am making two right now but not by hand. Yours is just gorgeous.

Jan said...

Outstanding. So much work, love and co-operation involved in you wonderful quilt.

Thimbleanna said...

Ah, yes, how could this not be your favorite quilt? It's SO beautiful --and all by hand -- that's amazing!!!

Zonnah said...

This is giving me motivation to complete mine, thanks. And yours is amazing

*karendianne. said...

Stunning! A real "partner" quilt ~ like a true friend with an shared story. I'm so glad I chose your Blog to visit and pay some respect to your work. This is exactly the sort of quilt I'd hope to come across with this sort of story. Stunning in every way. *karendianne.

Serena said...

Wonderful Quilt! With wonderful work! Love it!

Kerri said...

so lovely!! the little ones are too cute!!

Patty said...

I see many bloggers make this quilt and I never tire of seeing it; your quilt is wonderful.

Barbara said...

I absolutely love your Dear Jane quilt. And the one you sent us is a treasured possession from a very dear friend. :D

Mary-Kay C. said...

That is a beautiful quilt. I just got the book and have to start looking for the fabric. I have no time frame in mind but I think it will take me a few years. Have fun on the retreat.

Karen aka Grammy Mac said...

What sweet little faces I see peeking out from under your absolutely stunning DJQ. Congrats on a job WELL DONE!

Cindy said...

I love this style quilt. What a great piece of work.

Jocelyn said...

Oh wow, what an incredible quilt! You should be proud!

Kristin said...

It looks even more fabulous in person! It's no wonder it's your favorite!

Terrie Sandelin said...

Wow! Beautiful quilt -- and doing it all my hand? This is really an achievement. A gorgeous heirloom quilt!

Sharon said...

Your quilt is beautiful and I'm glad I got to see it last year hanging in the clock shop.

Anne Bebbington said...

Cathi - I've long admired your tenacity for completing your Dear Jane - it's a real beauty. Just love the picture of your girls snuggled under it - that's what quilts are for :o)

Angela said...

What an amazing accomplishment. I can only imagine how much time and effort must have gone into making all of that by hand! It is a stunning quilt, I can understand why you are so proud of it.

Simone said...

What an wonderful Dear Jane Quilt. I can hardly believe how big it is! Did you actually hand quilt this? Really amazing!

Angela said...

what an amazing quilt! I'm not sure if I will ever tackle a quilt that big. You should be very proud of it.

deb said...

I love your story behind your DJ quilt and the joy I see it gives to your family...what a special gift. I too and "hand piecing it all" I have made many quilts and need to slow down so this one like you I am taking my time and enjoying the process...I think that is what this quilt does.. it makes you stop and smell the roses.
Congrats on your viewers choice award it is justly deserved.

nicolette said...

Your Dear Jane is amazingly beautiful! All made by hand. wow. You inspired me to continue mine with a bit more speed!

Mary Ann said...

Cathi, your DJ quilt is gorgeous! Seeing your two sweet girls snuggling under it, is just so wonderful! Warms my heart!
Thanks for sharing!
All the best!
Mary Ann

sherry said...

oh my favourite too! I had no idea you were a quilt virgin before DJ! gorgeous as always!

Patricia said...

Hand pieced and hand quilted---even putting the binding on my hand! YOU are my hero!

ilena said...

STUNNING!!! So incredible. I love Dear Jane. What an accomplishment.

Cindra said...

I bow down to you! I love the photos of your girls with quilt and the one with your daughter by your side while you quilted. She will remember you working on this always. It is an heirloom. Just beautiful.

Ozquilter said...

Wow, I am in total awe, way to fiddly for me, but I adore 'Dear Jane' quilts

Tracy said...

Such fun to see DJ again...a look back in progress and all finisshed--a truly magnificent accomplishment, Cathi! Enjoy your trip! :o) ((HUGS))

Jane Weston said...

Beautiful!

I have a learning quilt like that...It's a Piecemakers calendar quilt and it's all applique. I too can notice a big difference from the top left hand corner and the bottom right hand corner in my stitches...I still haven't quilted it...partly because I haven't decided how best to tackle it...one day...one day...

Debbie said...

Awesome! I am almost ready to start my own Dear Jane. You are an inspiration! Debbie

Penny G said...

What a beautiful quilt. Your work is fantastic.

Cathi said...

How absolutely beautiful. I'm not going to try this one but I am going to try Sylvia's Sampler from the Jennifer Chiaverini books. Same concept....lots of little blocks, all different. I don't think there are as many blocks, though, so maybe I could finish it!

Clare said...

No matter how many quilts I see, this will still be my all time favourite.

The quilt rat said...

AMAZING! This is an absolute treasure every bit of it. I am totally in love with that border!

Ruth said...

That is such a gorgeous quilt! I would love to make one, but don't know if I'm up to it. I will have to consider it some more. I had decided to do it sometime in the future, but when I saw a lot of blogs with the details of the blocks, I kind of gave up on that plan. Maybe I will be brave enough some day. It is so amazing! You did a fantastic job on it!!!

Miri said...

Beautiful, simply beautiful! Love the colors in your Dear Jane!

Karen said...

You should be proud. It's just beautiful.

hetty said...

I am always impressed when I see a finished DJ quilt! So much work, especially when done all by hand. Congratulations on winning the viewer's choice award. You deserve it!

ruthsplace said...

It's awesome. I'm considering starting, by considering I mean getting my hands on the pattern and then letting that marinate in the stash for a while until I'm confident enough about my skills...

Amy @ parkcitygirl said...

Dear Jane is a lifetime achievement quilt - so many bitty pieces and all by hand! Amazing. Congrats on your success in Bend :) Thanks for sharing

Karen said...

great Dear Jane quilt - did you make your blocks larger than the 4 1/2 finished size that a lot of us make? I couldn't tell if it was just the angle of the photo's - I love them and I am quilting my first Dear Jane and hand piecing my second - Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/

Kelli said...

That is just fantastic!

Marguerite said...

It is gorgeous Cathi ! What a lot of work... you are very clever and patient. I wouldn't dare to start something like that !

Sandy said...

What a wonderful quilt! Several ladies in my Guild are doing a Dear Jane quilt BOM (well 40 blocks per month really). But I think they are all machine piecing them and only doing the applique blocks by hand.

Andi said...

What an extraordinary achievement, Cathi.
It's truly beautiful
Andi :-)

Karen Snyder said...

This is truly inspiring. It's on my list of "someday" quilts. Did you enlarge the blocks?

Emma said...

Wow, what an achievement!

kaholly said...

What an inspiring quilt! I've always wanted to construct a Dear Jane quilt, but never had the nerve to even begin! But seeing this beauty, I just might consider it. I love to work small and I love projects that last a long time. Bravo on your achievement.

Isa said...

Stunning.
Amazing that you did it all by hand.
I love it

Cheri said...

A truly stunning quilt! The photo of you and your daughter at the quilting frame is priceless.

rebecs said...

simply amazing....!

colleen said...

Looks like loads of fun. And really nice shopping. Love the DJ block you shared.

Monty said...

3 YEARS!! What dedication, and worth every stitch!! This quilt is simply BEAUTIFUL!! Great work!.

Gayle bong said...

Such a treasure! I have seen many Dear jane quilts. You did an excellent job choosing fabric. Congratulations on the award.

Susie said...

I LOVE your DJ! The first time I saw the quilt at a quilt show 4yrs ago, I was hooked. I'm going to be doing one of my own here soon.