Dear Jane

Dear Jane,

I am trying once again to start my Dear Jane quilt. I originally thought I would use my leftover Civil War scraps from my Civil War Diary quilt for this project. Well, I've abandoned that idea. I want to make something a little different..... Jane, I don't know if I will ever get this quilt done, but I am giving it another try. I have been inspired not only by your beautiful quilt, but by images of finished 'Baby Janes' that I see on Pinterest. I know that you only used fabric that you had on hand to complete this masterpiece. In the spirit of your quilt, I am only going to use bits and pieces that I have. To add to my challenge, I want to make it only with blues. In my mind, I see a beautiful blue and white 'Baby Jane' quilt. 

In humble adoration,

When I first tried to do my first block for a Dear Jane quilt... I was thinking I would only piece the blocks by hand. Well, lol, my first block never got finished. I only got as far as pictured in my blog from 2011. Four flipping years ago, that's how long it took me to brave this project again! I have invested in the Dear Jane software. It will make all the difference... this quilt seems do-able now... or so I think. Here are three blocks that I have done so far...

Blocks A-1 and A-7I paper pieced block A-1. A-7 was a little trickier... I used paper templates
to make the melon shapes to hand stitch onto the four patch block. 

Block A-2
 I made this block 'two' toned. The little peeking kitten was
totally a fluke... but I will say it's planned since it's so stinkin' cute!
Here's the story, I only had a 2 1/2" square of blue fabric. So I cut it
into four triangles hoping it would 'cover' the center spaces while
I paper pieced. I knew the cute kitty was in there, but had no
idea how he would be placed in the block.
The quilting gods were shining down upon me!

Have you started a Dear Jane quilt? How far are you on your's?
I would love to hear your story! If you would like to follow my progress, I post pictures all the time on Instagram. I do sneak peeks, my Dear Jane blocks.... fabrics that I've gotten to work with etc. All sorts of quilty fun. (Just search Quilt Doodle Designs, #quiltdoodledesigns)

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Sadness And Silence

I have 75 blocks done out of the 121 blocks that are in Rosemary's book, 'The Civil War Diary Quilt'. I may actually get this quilt done in my lifetime. The block I'm showing you today is called 'Sadness and Silence '. In this passage Emma writes in her diary...

"The very air is fraught with sadness and silence. The few noises that break the stillness seem melancholy and the sun does not seem to shine as brightly, seeming to be dimmed by the sight of so much misery...."

Emma Florence LeConte Furman

I have my material picked out and foundation paper printed
and ready to go...

Sadness and Silence
February 21, 1864

Have a wonderful week! Remember to post your progress on the Civil War Diary Quilt Group on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1547598@N25/

I will be working on 'Abomination of Desolation' out of Rosemary's book next. Hope that you have a great weekend!

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Check out Rosemary's website.  Her books and Cd's can be ordered there too!

November 28, 1863

 On Novemeber 28, 1863, Cora writes in her diary;

'....Hurrah, Hurrah, Huarrah! I feel like I want to be somewhere that I can scream as loud as I can. I think I will get into the cellar and then no Yankee can hear me. Yes, Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah, for John Morgan and six of his men have escaped from prison.' 

Confederate General John Morgan and several of his men broke out of prison on November 27, 1963 in Ohio. The fled to the south. Morgan along with his men dug a hole into the ventilation space and tunneled their way out to the inner yard of the Ohio State Penitentiary. They then scaled the wall. Morgan caught a train heading to Cincinnati, and then hired a boat to take him across the river. John Morgan and his men made it back to Tennessee where they were safe in Confederate territory.

My block is pieced in strips, using foundation paper. This block could easily be rotary cut and
pieced too. I was so busy sewing that I forgot to take pictures while working on this block.
But I'm sure you can get the idea of how it's put together just by following Rosemary's diagram in her book.

'John Morgan'
November 28, 1863

Have a wonderful week! Remember to post your progress on the Civil War Diary Quilt Group on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1547598@N25/

Next Saturday I will be working on the block called 'Lincolnites Whipped' ' out of Rosemary's book. Hope that you have a great weekend! I'm off to buy some Halloween candy and do a little decorating for the season outside to surprise the little goblins.

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Check out Rosemary's website.  Her books and Cd's can be ordered there too!

September 24, 1863

Today I will be showing you another block that I got done on my Civil War Dairy Quilt. It reminds me of a 'signature' block. The white/cream rectangle in the middle would be the perfect place to sign your name or write a message! In this diary entry, dated September 24, 1863, Cora writes about a poem that Mr. Neill read to her about the 'Southern Cause'. It was written by Sallie Neill. 

Here are my fabrics for this block, I have also printed up my foundation paper
using EQ and the companion CD.

I cut my fabric into easy to handle strips for foundation piecing.

'The Southern Cause'
September 24, 1863

  

Have a wonderful week! Remember to post your progress on the Civil War Diary Quilt Group on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1547598@N25/

Next Saturday I will be working on the block called 'John Morgan' out of Rosemary's book. Hope that you have a wonderful weekend and find some time to quilt. Today I am at mom's house at our MCA quilt retreat weekend working on all sorts of quilty fun! I packed my Civil War Diary Quilt and Red and White quilt to work on along with a couple of Halloween projects. I'm hoping to come back with all sorts of fun things to share with you!

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Check out Rosemary's website.  Her books and Cd's can be ordered there too!

September 18, 1863

 I love fair time. In this week's post Cora writes about the fair and how Mrs Cary got the prize for the best 5 lbs of butter. Let me tell you, when I get my Civil  War Diary quilt done, it's going to the fair. I'm already starting to wonder how I will ever quilt it. It's going to be huge! I'm guessing around the 105" x 105" range after sashing and borders. It's been awhile since I've entered anything into the fair. Last time that I did I entered a Wedding Ring quilt that I made and also a Lavender Poppy Seed Cake, both won blue ribbons, the cake won Best of Show. 

I picked some fabric from my Civil War stash... I think they will
work nicely for this block. I also have my foundation paper printed up
and ready to go.

The block is broken down into five sections.

'Premium Prize'
September 18, 1863

 Have a wonderful week! Remember to post your progress on the Civil War Diary Quilt Group on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1547598@N25/

Next Saturday I will be working on the block called 'The Southern Cause' out of Rosemary's book. Not sure what I'll do this weekend. I'm hoping to getting around to some time spent in my sewing room. Maybe fit in a walk with Wilson. I love Fall and the brilliant colors of the leaves. It's also a good time of year to plant some bulbs for spring. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Check out Rosemary's website.  Her books and Cd's can be ordered there too!

August 11, 1863

 Who can't help but marvel at the beauty of a rainbow after a storm. In this diary entry from Rosemary's book, Cora writes about the beauty of a rainbow after a big thunderstorm. The date of her entry is August 11, 1863.

'... I have just looked out of the window to behold the sunshine come laughing forth from its hiding place behind the clouds, and also A Glorious Rainbow, but even now it has nearly disappeared....'

Here are my fabric choices for my block. 

I printed up the pattern on Carol Doak's foundation paper using my computer printer and Rosemary's companion CD. Using the CD and EQ sure makes doing the blocks so much easier. In the beginning I was hand drafting the foundation paper for my paper piecing. 

Sewing on the lines.....  using a very small stitch so that the paper will rip away easily.

Here are the sections of my block all ready to be sewn together!

'A Glorious Rainbow'
August 11, 1863

 Have a wonderful week! Remember to post your progress on the Civil War Diary Quilt Group on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1547598@N25/

Next Saturday I will be working on the block called 'Premium Prize' out of Rosemary's book. It's hard to believe that it's already October! Today is my nephew's wedding, I'm looking forward to a fun evening spent with family and friends! I wish a long beautiful life for Matt and Alicia and their family. Congratulations!

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Check out Rosemary's website.  Her books and Cd's can be ordered there too!

July 8, 1863

The block I complete for this weekend from Rosemary's book is called 'Surrender of Vicksburg'.  In Cora's diary entry she writes... 'It is reported that Pemberton has surrendered 'Vicksburg' but I do not believe it... Even if Vicksburg has fallen I think that things look brighter for us than ever."  

No surprise here.... I choose similar colors as portrayed in  Rosemary's book.
I'm thrilled with the fabrics that I found in my stash!

I love my 6 1/2" square ruler for trimming up the blocks!

The foundation paper that I printed up using Rosemary's CD breaks the
block down into two easy to sew pieces.

'Surrender of Vicksburg'
July 8, 1963

  Have a wonderful week! Remember to post your progress on the Civil War Diary Quilt Group on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1547598@N25/

Next Saturday I will be working on the block called 'A Glorious Rainbow' out of Rosemary's book. I'm starting to dream about actually getting this quilt done! I'm closer to the halfway point, or at least feel like I am. Starting also to ponder the thought of starting a Dear Jane quilt project. Another, it will take me years to finish quilt. Hope that you have a wonderful week and find some time to quilt!

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Check out Rosemary's website.  Her books and Cd's can be ordered there too!

June 29, 1863

 

This weeks block is called 'Smallpox'.  Rosemary has included two diary entries. On June 29, 1863 Cora writes about a friend that has contracted smallpox. In the second entry dated July 11, 1863 Cora writes that her friend is starting to recover. I don't know very much about smallpox so I did some reading about it. Abraham Lincoln came down with smallpox after he gave the Gettysburg Address and was sick for about four weeks. Lincoln's valet caught the disease and died. In December 1862, Richmond's smallpox hospital admitted 250 patients. 110 of these patients died. Luckily we have vaccines to protect us from smallpox. 

Civil War Hospital, Washington D.C.

Here are the fabrics that I decided to use for this block. While digging through
my Civil War bin, I have discovered that I don't have much red left.
A trip to the quilt store is in order! Red's my favorite color so it boggles my mind
that I am short red...

The block is broken down into easy to sew strips.

Here I am sewing the strips together.

'Smallpox'
June 29, 1863

The first Have a wonderful week! Remember to post your progress on the Civil War Diary Quilt Group on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1547598@N25/

Next Saturday I will be working on the block called 'Surrender of Vicksburg' out of Rosemary's book.

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Check out Rosemary's website.  Her books and Cd's can be ordered there too!

Hand Grenades, June 1, 1863

 I love the design of this weeks block. It is called 'Hand Grenade'.  Cora writes about hand grenades in her diary on June 1, 1863...

".... The rebels have a small shell called the hand grenade, something like the size of egg I think and at last late fight of Vicksburg the Yankees try to climb up the bluff to the Fort and the rebels just rolled the large shells down the bluff on them and they burst in the midst of Grant's men and if they got up near the Fort by means of ladders they threw these little shells at them and they are like torpedoes, for when they strike anything they burst..."

Ketchum Hand Grenade

During the Civil War, the Ketchum hand grenades came in one, three and five pound models. The explosives didn't always work when thrown. In 1863 at Port Hudson, Louisiana, Confederate soldiers used blankets to catch the hand grenades and then threw them back at their attackers.

Rosemary's Hand Grenade block was a fun block to paper piece. I printed up a foundation paper using the companion CD that can be purchased on her website.

I am so pleased with the fabric that I was able to pull out of
my reproduction fabrics for this block.

Here is one of the sections all done... just needs to be trimmed.

I trim all of the block sections down, remembering to leave a
1/4" seam allowance.

'Hand Grenade'
June 1, 1863

 Have a wonderful week! Remember to post your progress on the Civil War Diary Quilt Group on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1547598@N25/

There is so much quilty fun going on next weekend that I will be skipping a Saturday for Civil War Saturday. So next weekend I hope that you are able to join me for the 'Pin It Blog Hop'.  So on September 21, I will be working on the block called 'Small Pox'' out of Rosemary's book.

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Check out Rosemary's website.  Her books and Cd's can be ordered there too!

Baptism, May 24, 1863

Cora writes about Sunday school and her lessons. Then she writes about a baptism she goes to in the evening...

"... Emma did not want to be baptized, but she submitted with a good grace... The ceremony was a lovely one, performed at sun set and by Mr. Wells. Oh I wish that I was good enough to be a member of a church and cold have Mr. Wells to baptized me if I was baptized when a baby...."

Cora also writes about being 15 in a month and writes about that's a long time to live. Average life expectancy during this time period was about 40 years old. With that in mind turning 15 was a 'long time'. I read in one article if a person lived past their childhood years then they had a good chance of living up to be 70-80 years old. Cora lived until 1939, she was 90 when she passed away.

'Baptism' is the last block of the fifth row.... 55 blocks done! Woot hoot!

I picked out purple and black fabric from by Civil War stash for the block.

Here I have the 'rows' done. They are all ready to be trimmed up
and then sewn together.

'Sewing on the line'... I'm using Carol Doak's foundation paper.
Using the companion CD for EQ I printed up my patterns on the
foundation paper. It's a little thinner then printer paper and tears away
pretty easily.

'Baptism'
May 24, 1863

Have a wonderful week! Remember to post your progress on the Civil War Diary Quilt Group on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1547598@N25/

Next Saturday I will be working on the block called 'Hand Grenade' out of Rosemary's book. It's labor day weekend and the official end of summer. I have been enjoying the cucumbers and tomatoes from my garden. Thinking about maybe making some pickles, or make a batch of salsa... hope that you have a wonderful, relaxing weekend.

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Check out Rosemary's website.  Her books and Cd's can be ordered there too!