That was not a very large photo

Hmmm. Let's see if we can get a larger photo.











Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A test of the Blogpress app

I have been following the Temecula circa 2016 Quilt along on their blog.




Jim and I recently bought new iPads - the iPad 2 was finally almost non functioning.

I used to use the Blogpress app for blogging from my iPad. But it stopped working and I started using the Blogger app.

I liked the Blogpress app when it worked. And I would like the option to save posts locally instead of online for the boating blog - Phoenix Hunter. We don't always have cellular or wifi.

So this is a test of the Blogpress app on the new iPad Pro 9.7




Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

New Block Folder

I retired the old block folder - which I made in 1997.  Boy time flies!  The old one was starting to come apart at the seams and handle. 

The frame of the old one was made from pieces of cardboard cereal boxes stapled together?  Haha. I don't think I planned for it to be used for 19 years!  It was made in a quilt class I was taking - to hold the appliqué blocks we were working one. It was a Piecmakers Calendar, Times and Seasons 1997.  

With the new one I used 13x12 pieces of corrugated white plastic. I elimated the handle. I found I didn't really use the handle as I usually put the folder in a bag with all the other supplies I needed. 

 

I have a small pocket on the inside flap. 

A quilting friend gave me a stack of six mini design boards. They are WONDERFUL!! I love them!  The block pieces stick so well to them and then another board can be stacked on top. Holding all pieces securely in place. 

My collection of tools --- 

The thread and scissor holder I won from Carol at "Quilting Advenures"

The seam roller in another great tool!!!

I keep all the tools in a small plastic container. 

In my bag. 

Recently completed blocks.

I have been working away on my blocks - slow and steady. Just yesterday I took pictures of the last four blocks I finished. 

This is my second triangle.  I don't know if I've taken a photo of the first one I completed.  

I am now putting the completed blocks in the one binder. I received the new Dear Jane book from Amazon. So I am back on track with my system!  

I have 71 blocks completed.  I have no idea how people complete more than one of these quilts in a lifetime!!!  

I figure at the rate I am going I will be finished in the Year 2525 !!  If I am still alive.  I am hoping to pick up the pace a bit over the next few months. 

I made a new folder for my blocks.  Really nice with modern fabric. I am pleased with how it turned out.

Jim will be back to working on the boat so I will have time in the evenings to do some blocks. Although I have been working on a bit of hand quilting in the evening as well - with the help of Lilly! 

It seemed like a good idea at the time

It seemed like a good idea at the time - but it wasn't really !!

I decided one Saturday afternoon last winter that I needed to organize my Dear Jane blocks into something I could manage better.  Something that I could easily see what blocks I had completed and what blocks I had yet to complete, what fabrics I was using etc.

So I decided to cut the book apart - put each page in a clear page sleeve and put the finished blocks in the sleeve with the page.  And put it all in a big binder.  Sounds like a good idea - right?

So I set myself up a big binder - the cover of the book on the front of the binder.

Lilly was happy to help and spend the afternoon on the table watching this all come down - or nap!

Then I decided that the blocks that were in their little baggies and ready to stitch would be in another binder - with their pages from the book.   Some of the unstitched blocks had stitched blocks on the same page - so that complicated things a little.  But I now had two binders - big bulky binders!

As soon as I finished cutting up the book I regretted it!  I ordered this book from the Dear Jane website -- Brenda signed it!

The biggest problem I have found is I have two big bulky binders full of pages and blocks and baggies of unstitched blocks.  Too bulky to carry around and just pull out and stitch on the go.  Big and bulky to store on the boat!  And I need to take at least one binder with me because I needed the pages and pictures of the blocks that I had yet to stitch together because once the pieces are in the baggies I  have no idea what the block looks like.  So some of the pages are in one binder - some of the pages are in another binder - some finished blocks don't have a page in the one binder because it is in the binder with the unfinished blocks!  In the end I have found it has not simplified anything!

I used to just have a little bag of the baggies and then I would carry the book in my bag - a nice thin - light paperback book!

So - what to do?  I decided this weekend to order a new book -- and they have become quite expensive!!  I found one on Amazon.ca for $42.00 - shipping included.  Some of the books were being sold for $75 - 100??  My book should be here at the end of October.

I took all of the baggies out of the one binder and put the baggies back in my little special - Wide Open Bag ( made by Jo Anne )

I put all of the pages in their own sleeves in the one big binder - and that will always be just a binder with finished blocks!  I think that will be a good way to track the blocks I have completed.

Hopefully I can get back to stitching!  I haven't done the stitching this summer that I had hoped to do and I am blaming it on the big binder debacle!

Completed blocks

A few blocks from the past few months 

                    

                                                         B-11 Melissa's Cross 

                             

                                                      C-6

B-4 Chris's Soccer Feild 

                                                      K-11 Columbine 

M-8

I can't believe it has been two years since I posted any progress!! 

I uploaded these photos months ago - the hold up being I need to go back and label what blocks they are.  

So. I'm just going to post these photos!   Just so I record that I am still busy working away on this quilt. I think I might call this quilt " Jane's Long Voyage". 

 And maybe I will eventually write another blog post this fall. 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Pam. 

I have blocks to share!

So!  Although it has been months since I have posted I have been busy working on my Dear Jane.

I have been quite productive actually.  We bought a boat this June and we have been out cruising around the Pacific North West ( as it's know in the U.S. ) or the West Coast as it's know to us Canadians.  We have spent about 6 weeks this past summer out on the water.  And I have discovered that my Dear Jane is a perfect project as I sit in the Pilot house in the afternoon as we cruise along.

So first I will show a few boat pictures before we get to the Dear Jane block photos.

Here is our boat -- a Kadey Krogen 42 and we have named her Phoenix Hunter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my spot in the pilot house that I set up my Dear Jane for stitching.  The light is really good - even on cloudy grey days there is plenty of light.

One of the nice little anchorages we stayed at this summer.  This is James Bay on Prevost Island in the Gulf Islands off Vancouver Island BC

 

Jenny out for a walk on the shore.  Jenny has taking to boating quite well - we are pleased.  She loves to go to shore and knows that a ride of the dingy is a trip to shore.