Monday 1 October 2012

Dear Jane

 
Dear Jane,
 
You will be so proud of me. After all this time of watching and learning and taking notes you will see that I have been a diligent pupil. Some will even say that I am a little crazy, well, we shall see. I have been busy working on the hexagon bag pattern by Brigitte Giblin and I am just waiting for the frame to arrive so that I can finish it.
 


After all the cutting out I was left with a box full of snippings, such tiny pieces that were destined for the doggy cushions. This dear Jane is where you will be so proud of me. I know that you would not throw those scraps out, oh no! You, dear Jane, would make something out of those little crumbs.


I challenged myself to emulate you in the best possible way. Those teeny, tiny pieces were stitched in a crazy log cabin fashion until they were big enough to be recut into 2.5" blocks. I know, small.



Well, slowly  but surely those snippets became 16 little blocks and with a bit more cutting from the scrap box.......



 This little panel may become a cushion, it may be a little quilt, yet to be decided. Those red squares are way too dark and I shall change them for something more in tone. A girl has to be allowed to change her mind. There are still a few more bits left but I think they can go in the doggy pillows without too much guilt. I hope you will agree.


 
Your Faithful student.
 



Whilst searching for something in my messy chaos I came upon the pieces for the Rose Star block that was started some while ago.  A little bit of sewing here and there gets the job done and the finished block now looks like this. Will I stitch more? We shall see. This is a large block and a one piece shape repeated and fussy cut in places. There are some fabulous examples being stitched out there, Barbara Chainey, Nicky Eglington and heaps more on Flikr.



I recently made the acquaintance of Donna and she very generously sent me this huge bundle of fabrics which she thought may be of use to me in my latest project.  Well, I can tell you that there are some great fabrics in there and I certainly will use them wisely. Thank you Donna, you are a star.


 
 
Happy Stitching.
 
Shirley.
 
 

26 comments:

  1. love the look of your hexie bag, can't wait to see the completed bag!
    What a dedicated use of scraps, lovely. Your rose star is gorgeous.

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  2. Gorgeous Hexies and wow what cute wee blocks from your scraps....amazing! Lovely fabrics gifted to you too.

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  3. You are amazing!!!! Those little crazy patchwork blocks are unbelievable. Your hexagon bag is going to look absolutely beautiful - I bet you can't wait for the frame to arrive.

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  4. oh i am so impressed with your little scraps project, patience is a virtue they say. i too will look forward to seeing your purse made up, very pretty so far !

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  5. Lovely post Shirley. Good on you for learning your lessons well and creating goodness from your crumbs. I, too, am impressed :-) I love your Rose Star block - I will have to try this technique one day as the results are beautiful. Happy sewing!!

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  6. I'm impressed with all your little pieces and how well you get them to cooperate and go together so beautifully! Hexies and the Rose Star block are ones I've been tempted to try, but I'm going to take the easy way out and satisfy my need to make them by watching you make yours! :) And those pretty little scrap squares--only 2.5"--oh my--I think they would have been eaten by my machine!

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  7. I think you just made my eyes bleed with those scraps.

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  8. All what I love !
    I started this bag last year...:( all in neutrals

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  9. The Rose Star block looks amazing!
    The scrap blocks are also very beautiful.
    Your taleted!

    Have nice week, Evelyne

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  10. Dear Shirley,

    You are indeed a diligent student and I am quite in awe of your tiny scraps blocks. Needing to purchase my first pair of glasses I can almost imagine your eyes squinting! Do you wear glasses, Shirley?

    Your Rose Star is stunning!

    Stephanie

    I hope all is well with you.

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  11. Your hexagon bag is going to look spectacular, looking forward to seeing it all finished.
    Well done with those scraps, so pretty and creative.
    The Rose Star is lovely made in your signature colours.

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  12. You would be so ashamed of all the pieces in my stash that I have ready to get rid of. Your hexies are gorgeous.

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  13. Wow, what determination with those little scraps. Are you going to embroider them, like proper crazy quilt blocks? And your Rose Star Quilt is gorgeous. I have a plastic template for this block too, but so far it always looked like too much work. Did you do yours by hand?

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  14. There's an awful lot of fussy cutting going on here Shirley - all beautiful as usual!

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  15. Fantastic! I love your fussy cut hexagon in your bag and that hexagon star is wonderful.

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  16. Fabulous blocks Shirley and I too squirrel away all my little fabric bits - you just never know!!! Very creative use of the offcuts and I am sure the dog will never know! Take care.

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  17. Wow, I love your hexagons and the other Blocks too.
    Liebe Grüße Grit

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  18. Love the little hexagons, that will be a lovely purse...
    How small do you keep scraps...I hate having too many tiny scraps..but you have made great use of yours Shirley
    Your rose star is gorgeous..
    Julia ♥

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  19. Shirley...wow I just love your rose star block.
    And the hexie's look great too and I very much like your recycling of scraps....it's very satisfying to make something out of something we would usually throw away.
    I keep just about every little scrap....

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  20. Dear Shirley...you are indeed an apt student. You learned so quickly and moved with speed, even by Dear Jane standards! Then you did the most wonderful thing, you used up the scraps, I am over the quilting frame happy...regards, Jane

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  21. Love the little crazy blocks you made with the smallest of scraps. I'm impressed. I'm also impressed by you hexie bag progress... can't wait to see it finished.

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  22. Imagine my surprised when I hovered over the name Jane and realized you were talking to me :o) Oh Shirley I'm thrilled that you were inspired to sew your scraps into the most darling scrap blocks. I am quite impressed! A++

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  23. What a great use of this tiny scraps. A very clever idea indeed. I have the template for the rose star block. It's back on my list of things to make one day..... There are so many quilts on my list to make!!!

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  24. Loved the little scraps, prefer your Antique Rose block to mine, but refuse to be deterred! Maybe I should start a little scraps piece with all the offcuts from the Antique Rose project...??

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  25. Mum says your little blocks are beautiful. And if mum inherits your sampler quilt does that mean I get it after her? I will make you a nice thank you card in pink. Sorry to have missed you this week.
    Laura Lou xxx

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  26. Smile....all so very clever and beautiful..
    Well done!!!:0)

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