Sunday, June 25, 2017

DEAR JANE, THE TOP IS FINISHED!!!

I'm very happy today!! I finished putting the top together yesterday, June 24, 2017!  Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!  Thanks for all your encouraging words.  When I first saw some of these quilts, it was at a quilt show in Fort Worth, Texas on Feb. 8, 2008.  Brenda Papadakis was there and gave a talk about her journey making the book and of course the book was for sale.  I didn't buy it.  I thought about the quilt for a long time and eventually put it on my Christmas list.

I received the book for Christmas on December 25, 2013, from my DS/DIL (after it had been on my Christmas wish list for a few years).  I had decided that if I ever got the book I was going to make it.  I  made the first block on January 22, 2014.  I pretty much made all the blocks in order or at least worked on the rows in order.  Sometimes, I didn't do each block in the row in order.  My plan was to make each of the 169 blocks with a different "main" fabric and not duplicate any of the "main" fabrics in the center square.  I did use background fabrics more than one time, but didn't really keep track of them except to try not to put the same ones next to each other.

I had a similar plan for the border triangles in that I didn't duplicate any of the "main" fabrics among them, but some of those fabrics might have been used in the middle section.  I bought some better quality muslin for the sashing and corner blocks (kites).  I will also use this muslin for the scalloped border around the edges.  That will be the next job - to sew on the muslin borders and mark it for the scallops.  Then, I will machine quilt it.  I plan to get it quilted before September.



Baby robin update:  The babies seem to be getting more feathers and they are being fed quite often.  We can see the adult birds flying into and out of the nest through our living room windows.



Now I can relax a little more!

24 comments:

  1. Your Jane is wonderful. Great story as well, bu sure and put it on a label..... My Jane is becoming a memory.... only have a few blocks done and it has been 9-10 years.

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  2. Congratulations on finishing Dear Jane. I admire both you and Claudia for you both accomplished that goal this year.

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  3. Ruth, it looks wonderful! Congratulations on getting this all put together, you must feel so good. September sounds like a reasonable goal, enjoy these last steps in finishing Dear Jane. Love the story, thanks for telling us. Three and a half years is pretty fast but you really stayed on track.

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  4. Amazing! Beautiful! Congrats! And I'm still here cheering you on for a final finish...quilting and all!

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  5. I AM SO DELIGHTED FOR YOU!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

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  6. What an accomplishment on getting the center of this monster made! How large is it? I am looking forward to seeing your quilting choice, both in color and design.

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  7. Your quilt top is gorgeous!!!

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  8. I had every confidence you would get it finished! It is gorgeous! I'm sure you will also get it quilted by September too, which will be another major accomplishment! Please don't put too much pressure on yourself! Glad you have a good view of the baby birdies; they will be a nice diversion from your quilting for a few minutes each day. ---"Love"

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  9. Hello Ruth
    Your Dear Jane quilt is stunning, well done on such a great finish.

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  10. What a great accomplishment and it's beautiful!

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  11. The best quilt ever! Congratulations quite an accomplishment
    And a stunning result!

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  12. Happy Dance time, Ruth!! So exciting to have completed this, I'm sure. It is lovely to behold. : )
    Are you going to custom quilt it? I have photos of one that a lady did for our county fair years ago. It is stunning and she won sweepstakes. I wouldn't know where to start!!

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  13. A great accomplishment!
    Your DJ is beautiful...

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  14. ***gasp*** it's more beautiful that I had imagined. I always say your quilts are heirlooms but this one tops the lot. What a stunning quilt. ***jumpy claps***

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  15. Fabulous! What an amazing undertaking, how large is the top at this point?

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  16. Hooray!!! It is wonderful. congratulations on completing the top. What an accomplishment.
    sweet little robins :)

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  17. I'm so excited for you! I remember well the day I finished my Jane Stickle top!

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  18. Congratulations! Wonderful that you finished this top, it looks beautiful!

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  19. Your Dear Jane is wonderful! What a great accomplishment! Congratulations!

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  20. Congratulations Ruth!! Awesome accomplishment this is. It looks marvelous, so gorgeous. ;^)

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  21. This quilt will certainly give your bragging rights...totally love it.

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  22. Love your Dear Jane top. It is gorgeous and more work than I am willing to tackle. Congratulations on the progress.

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  23. Fantastic! Your DJ is so beautiful. I love all the colors. You have done such a beautiful job!

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