Dear Jane Journal

Welcome to my Dear Jane Journal pages. I am very excited to be on this journey and I had the best possible start by taking a weekend workshop with the one and only Brenda Papadakis at Linda's wonderful Quilts in the Barn.
Brenda Papadakis Dear Jane Quilt Quilts in the Barn
Brenda Papadakis at Quilts in the Barn
It was a fabulous two days in the Barn surrounded by gorgeous quilts, including three Dear Janes.







I came as DJ virgin (that's what Brenda called us newbies) and learnt so many techniques and tips for these fabulous little blocks. I did my first block using reverse appliqué with freezer paper on top for the circles and needle turn for the melons. I had done reverse appliqué but not with the freezer paper, it works a treat for placement and accuracy. 

Pattern printed out on freezer paper.

F-13 Tour de France
This technique was also used for Maria's Majesty. I followed Brenda's advice to use a feature in the centre. You might see that the melons are marked as they are not symmetrical - I never would have noticed this.


I was lucky enough to get the gorgeous blue fabric by swapping with Lynette. She also helped me with the background when I left mine behind on the 2nd day. 

I-5 Maria's Majesty
We did paper piecing using fine 'newsprint' paper that was folded back in parts rather than having to sew through the paper.I was lucky to have Brenda demonstrate with my Florence Nightingale block, which she then signed.


A-8 Florence Nightingale
I also learnt how to do back basting which I had never really understood or tried before. Brenda shared one of her Benjamin Biggs blocks that she is currently sewing, to show us how it's done.



We used this technique for Four Leaf Clover, I really like this method too!


G-3 Four Leaf Clover
We were also thrown fairly quickly into the deep-end by tackling Papa's Star. Brenda counselled that if we could make this we won't need to be afraid of any other block. The centre star is unspeakably small but Brenda had a great trick that involved folding fabric for the inner points (flying geese). I came a DJ virgin and went home with a baby!

The centre of G-6 Papa's Star with an Australian 5 cent coin
I'm still to complete this block using freezer paper piecing by machine.


Here are some of the blocks at end of the second day.


And then we had show and tell!
Sorry I haven't included names - let me know if you want to be acknowledged.












Here we all are at the end of the weekend, it was such a wonderful unforgettable experience. Thanks again to Linda and her helpers Meredithe and Glenda (I haven't even mentioned the delicious food), check out their DJ aprons! And to Brenda - I'm so glad you came all the way to the Barn in Australia.


Don't forget - if you want to win my Liberty giveaway leave a comment to say how you would use the fabrics. The winner will be drawn on Friday 10th October. 
Overseas entries welcome!


Phew! Too much blogging, off to make another DJ block.
Cheers
Carole

37 comments:

  1. Wow Carole! What a wonderful opportunity. The workshop seems to have set you up for the rest of the quilt. I am hoping to get a DJ started soon, but need to finish my Nearly Insane first.

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  2. Fabulous blocks! How exciting to learn some new stitching tricks as well. Your fabric is lovely--I would probably use in a little mini quilt just for me.:)

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  3. What a wonderful workshop! I am collecting Liberty prints to make a bag from hexagons.

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  4. Carole, it has been wonderful reading of your Dear Jane class. You must feel very privileged to have started your quilt with the master herself. I know how dedicated you are to completing your projects, and I look forward to following along with this journal. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  5. Oh you lucky girls! I'm just working my own way through DJ, but what a wonderful start you have had. Very sweet giveaway.....obviously they are the wrong colour for my DJ, but I don't have a single scrap of Liberty fabric. I'd use them for a little miniature I have in mind.

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  6. Thanks for the wonderful coverage of your workshop. It was very instructive with all the applique techniques - and means you can approach each block in whichever way is easiest. I love your little blocks! Beautiful show and tell too!
    How generous of you to give away some precious Liberty. I would feature these pretties in a small project - in applique or paper piecing I'm thinking...

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  7. How lucky for you to be able to attend such a wonderful workshop! You learned so much! I can't wait to follow your journey with this wonderful but challengine project. If I was fortunat enoug to win the gorgeous liberty I would put it into the Emma Mary quilt by Judy Newman. I am sure it would be perfect in the hexagons in the centre star and in the hexagon border. Thanks for the give away!

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  8. More beautiful quilts! I think Liberty fabric would work well in English Paper Piecing.

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  9. I really enjoyed reading about the Dear Jane quilt. A quilt I am starting to become more familiar with. It looked like such an interesting weekend and you managed to make quilt a few blocks. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway. I would like to use them in tiny hexagons with some paper piecing.

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  10. Holey Moley--what a stunning group of quilts and blocks! So tiny!! I would use those fabrics to make baby hexagons by hand...thank you for the chance to win...hugs, Julierose (Boy you sure did well love your Baby Jane start....)

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  11. Just Love all your DJ blocks sounds like you had a fabulous time. I am envious. Wish I could have been there. I am making the shelbourne Calico Garden quilt in Liberty. I just love all the gorgeous color. Will be watching your DJ progress with interest. I love how Liberty holds a crease and find it much easier to applique tiny pieces. Cheers Lynne

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  12. Now I am so envious . . . I would probably not be able to decide how to use the liberty fabrics and pull them out once in a while to pet them.

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  13. Well, this is so cool! First, I didn't know you could make a tab on your blogger blog! I'm thinking of making one for each of my big unfinished projects! Also, have thought about making "that quilt" but just have so much going on. I see now why you haven't started Love Entwined. I can't wait to see what you do with this quilt. So, here are my requests (hahahaha). First, that you do a tutorial on how to put tabs on your blog. Second, that you do little tutorials as you go along for things like
    "back basting". Nothing too time consuming, just photos and detailed instructions for everything you are going to do (hahahahaha). I love your wonderful blog even more now! XO

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  14. Looks like a very talented group of women. Good luck on your journey.

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  15. I have never owned, touched or seen Liberty fabric in person. I think that I would sit it on the shelf above my sewing machine for awhile and just look at it, then decide what to do with it; probably incorporate it into a quilt for me. sarah@forrussia.org

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  16. Your DJ blocks are wonderful! I'm embarrassed to admit that I've had the book for years and have yet to make a single block! Lovely fabrics--I would make some sort of hexie project, for sure.

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  17. Happy DJ journey, you've chosen lovely fabrics and your sewing skill is top notch!
    I finished mine in 2004, but the tops (I made a double sided one) were finished 1998...slow hand quilter :) If you have the DJ software from EQ? My quilt, 'toid tins, and journal are on it. Am still friends with a number of the ladies I met on the list. In fact next September we are coming to Australia to stay with one of them.
    Happy Janeing! (not entering for the fabric, just hailing you on!)

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  18. I would love to win this prize! I have joined a club and we are going to be sewing clothes for premature babies and would use the pieces to make kimono gowns for them! nnonaihr@hotmail.co.uk

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  19. Wow, wonderful! Delicious food for the palette and delicious fabric & quilts for the eyes. Depending on the sizes of the pieces, I'd love to do a patchwork dress for a little girl. Such lovely fabrics.

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  20. Congratulations on beginning your Dear Jane. Liberty fabrics have long been some of my favorites, and I would use these to make a gift for a friend in treatment for cancer. Thank you for this very nice give-away!

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  21. I would use the fabric to make a patch work bag (purse) for a local charity fundraiser.
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

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  22. Wow! Great blog post and great pictures! I feel like I learned a lot just from reading this. I would make some small clamshells with that fabric...and then probably frame them! Haha I've been wanting to play with liberty fabrics for some time now, my fingers are crossed!

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  23. Wow what an amazing workshop you experienced with Brenda, so many new tips and techniques learnt, makes me keen to start my Dear Jane Quilt. I would love the opportunity to win the Liberty fabrics as I am making a quilt using 1" hexagons and they would be a perfect addition. Thank you and happy stitching and I will be back to see your progress.

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  24. I have 1 piece of a Liberty fabric that is so beautiful and has such a hand to it. I haven't found any companions to go along with it. Maybe your give away will force me to use it if I was the lucky person to win. I love reading your posts as well as Quilts in the Barn. If you're taking votes on offering tutorials for the techniques you learned count me as one vote.

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  25. Wow! What a nice workshop and very inspiring. I would make a makeup bag, since I'm really in need of a great bag to stash all my makeup and have them all in one place ☺

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  26. I loved your post! Thanks so much for sharing it! I've been thinking about a Dear Jane quilt but have been a bit intimidated about it. So your post may change that! I would love to play with some Liberty fabrics, and would use them in a cosmetic pouch and a pincushion. Thanks for your incredibly generous giveaway!

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  27. Wow, so many talented people. I love the picture quilts, so beautiful. I have always been a big fan of embroidery and applique. I think those scraps would make some cute little coasters.

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  28. Great quilt show on your site. Wonderful seeing Dear Jane done in brighter fabrics. I would use the fabric in a scrappy quilt. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  29. What a beautiful style of quilts! If I win the fabric, I will use it in a quilt project for which I am collecting fabrics.

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  30. Simply stunning..what a fabulous weekend to be able to attend..gorgeous blue fabric..I haven't used Liberty fabric before so I think I would make a small project..loved the little hexies on the sewing case and the clamshells in your other post

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  31. I would use them in addition for my Dear Jane quilt that is under way

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  32. Everything here is so lovely! I would use the fabric for Mommy and Me patchwork skirts for me and my daughter.

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  33. Wow! Fabulous quilts!
    I'm using liberty scraps to make hexies for a small purse!

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  34. What a gorgeous bunch of quilts!
    If I won, I would use the fabric for a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. Gorgeous fabrics!

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  35. I am collecting Liberty prints to make a bag from hexagons. ... makeupcasewheels.blogspot.com

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  36. 5/15 Just now seeing this. Great start to your Baby Dear Jane. I found a Shop Hop flyer yesterday where I bought the book and fabric in 2006, (in my sewing room notebook). I have made several blocks. I am doing them in order. I have found the Blog "That Quilt" very helpful. I LOVE your fabrics.

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