Yes!!!

LOL! I'll give them another day before I call, UPS usually comes around 4ish.

The on-line store I ordered from has all the Fossil Fern fabrics. Here's a link to a block of the month that is absolutely gorgeous:

http://www.cottonclub.com/cgi-bin/St...menu-2100.html

Scroll down to see individual blocks.

Thank you so very much for that. You are just to good to us. My husband really admired the picture of your quilt. I would love to surprise him with one, one day. :roll:

In the software, how do you get your foundation papers to print with the light sections and dark sections? I either have all dark, or light and dark (which isn't very dark when it is actually printed)?

Make sure the "greyscale" option is checked. It's under the Options tab on the print menu. :-)

i was in the cotton clubs fossil fern of the month club for a few years and have an extensive stash of them because of it.

i love the fossil fern line - i'm a big benartex fan.

I cannot believe I have stumbled over your thread on this board. I just joined today and am so excited. I've had the DJ book and program for a year and just don't know where to start. Thanks for your guidance, I'm going to jump straight in. It's not too late, right? I think I'm a couple of weeks behind, but I'll work hard! Have you made the files yet to download? You are an amazing help, thanks again.

Welcome sonwest!!!

Thanks Blue - I'll try that.

Klue - I like benartex too. I can't wait to get the fabrics to start!

there's plenty of time to jump in - we're working on the first weeks blocks.

here are the links to the blocks we've been making

week 1 tutes for january 4th-10th

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-32590-1.htm

week 1 pics (you have to post pics of your blocks to be entered in the fabric give aways)

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-32596-1.htm

week 2 tutes for january 11th-17th

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-33338-1.htm

week 2 pics

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-33348-1.htm

week 3 tutes for january 18th-24th

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-33342-1.htm

week 3 pics

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-33350-1.htm


so as you can see we're still very early into this.

i've attached the Schedule of the Blocks - its details each week and the blocks/triangles that we'll be working on.

just click on the download button and you'll be able to save it to your computer for your records.

if you have any questions please feel free to ask everyone is very helpful and friendly.

welcome sonwest glad to have you join us

Oh welcome sonwest you came at the right time this is a blast your gonna love this group.
Cher

glad that you joined sonwest! this should be a great quilt to do and make.

Welcome sonwest! Can't wait to see what colors you are going to do!! You will have a blast with this fun group!!

I love the range of reproduction fabrics from Moda. Is it worth buying a fat quarter bundle (lots of $$$, including shipping to Sydney!), or do you think I can get away with a jelly roll or some other configuration?

Besides my stash I've been buying FQs because I will use the rest of the FQ in the plain triangles. The blocks take so little fabric. I have used some jelly roll strips on the smaller pieces though.

Prepare yourself for some "eye rolling"...this is one of those beginner questions that will surely make you sigh. You are trying to piece BR2 and my 20 yards of Kona cotton is in at the LQS. I have never bought this much fabric...like maybe 5 yards once or twice. So....the question...how do you wash that much stuff. Cut it? How big? Do you just cut and wash 6 yards or something and then do the rest later? Or what. I have looked at to wash/not to wash in the threads and am guessing washing is in order...cold water? Little bit of soap, or no? Really, I know, this is exasperating.

I don't wash. Just my preference. My Jane is going to be hung, so not really an issue for me.

If I were you, and washing, I would do a few yards at a time, and just let the bolt sit until you are ready for more. There are chemicals in the fabric that "preserve" it while it sits, and you are better off just waiting until you need it. My two cents.

Can someone tell me how to post pictures. I don't have a camera so what should I buy and what else is there to it. Talk about green!

I'm so happy we have another new friend doing Dear Jane with us!
I think amounts of fabric needed varies depending on which method of piecing your going to do. I am going to paper piece as much as possible and I think there is more waste with that method.
I'm doing red & blue batiks with Kona white background so I've started with three yards each of a few different reds and same with blues and I think Klue said we will need about 15 yards for background, and I've purchased 5 yards so far. So you can buy as you go depending on fabric choices.
Hugs to you, Sonwest!

Don't be silly! Everyone involved in this project are great and want to help each other. I'm sure nobody feels like sighing over your question!
I cut fabric down to manageable pieces. Because I'm using red/blue batiks and white, I washed my fabric twice (once with mild soap) and starch/iron as I go.
Oh what fun we're gonna have! I'm glad your doing this project with us!

You'll be OK. The first four blocks aren't bad.

I tossed my two. I don't know how it happend with PP, but one of them looked like a crooked picture hanging on the wall!

i've been using whats called "strip it" fabric. its basically a jelly roll across the width of the fabric.

each strip is 2.5 each and its different designs.

there are only a few blocks/triangles where the 2.5 each size is just to small to cover the sections like block D6 for example.

so if you have some FQs or yardage for these few blocks you'll be fine to buy the rest in jelly rolls.

i am doing my jane in 2 focus fabric colors (red & white) i have 2 yards of non jelly type fabric in each color for a total of 4 yards.

this should be enough to use in the blocks that aren't jelly roll friendly.

trust me, no one is rolling eyes, we've all asked this question at one time or another is our quilting career.

i too only wash what i'm going to be using for a project and leave my stash unwashed until its going to be used.

with my jane stuff, i washed huge sections of fabric as one piece.

since you have an entire bolt and i'm going to say you might not use the entire bolt to make the jane - so i would cut it off in sections and wash it like that.

the amount you cut can be anywhere from 4-8 yards depending on how much you can fit nicely in your machine.

i do the following when washing any fabric for use.

i put the fabric inside a pillowcase and tie a knot in the pillowcase to close it.

i'll wash on gentle cycle and i use what ever water temperature i think the final quilt will be washed in later in its life (read here: baby fabric i wash in hot water because some parents like to be extra careful with the baby stuff).

i toss in a color catcher and some laundry soap.

when done, i open the pillowcase, pull the fabric out, and toss all of it in the dryer along with the pillowcase.

when i wash large yardage that i use a little at a time, like the jane stuff, i just fold the fabric and put it away in my closet.

then when i want to use it, i cut off about 1/2 yard at a time, and use spray starch and iron the fabric for use.

i'm not an expert with digital camera but i'll try to help.

the actual posting of the pics is easy.

the next time you are typing up a post you'll notice 3 file attachment sections just below the box you're typing in.

this is where you would upload the photos. you would give it a name in the first box (here's my blocks) and the box with the browse button is what you click on to upload the pictures.

you would just click on browse and a file upload window will open, just click on the picture file and click on open.

thats all you have to do to upload a pic.


now for a camera, i prefer things that are easier to use when it comes to electronics. so i would go to a Best Buy or something along those lines and select an inexpensive easy to use camera.

if you find that you love digital photography you can always upgrade to a more fancy model at that time.

LOL, don't actually toss those rejected blocks.

we're all going to have a collection of rejects by the time this is over.

i've been thinking of using my rejected jane blocks to practice how i want to quilt my acceptable jane quilt.

i'll put the rejects together into a quilt top and do some quilting on it to find which designs i want to use on the real thing.

I'm going to take my week one pic to post and then put it aside to re-do. I don't quilt but your idea for blocks you will not use is the final quilt is a good one!

LOL, don't actually toss those rejected blocks.

we're all going to have a collection of rejects by the time this is over.

i've been thinking of using my rejected jane blocks to practice how i want to quilt my acceptable jane quilt.

i'll put the rejects together into a quilt top and do some quilting on it to find which designs i want to use on the real thing.[/quote]


That is a fabulous idea! I will do the same thing and maybe make shams or something else that will coordinate with the quilt.

I am having problems with some of the printing! I'm using foundation paper and when I print the triangles and some of the others, it doesn't fit on one sheet I have to match the blocks! Is this normal?

Vellum paper ladies! I need some quick advice please... I just went to Staples and they do not have the exact vellum paper you all said to get. They have one pack and it's inkjet white, 50 sheets, 29 lb for $12.95.

I bought it as it's the only thing they have, but I can return it if you all say that will not work at all.

I ran to Office Depot real quick and they only have 1 choice as well, and it's 30 lb. paper, 50 sheets, $9.99.

Here's my quilt so far...

Sorry about having to download it.

Sorry Brazen, I can't help with the paper. It does sound a bit thick. Is it as thick as regular paper?

Nor - OMG you are so far ahead!! It looks GREAT!!!

donna, how long have you been working on that? It's fantastic!!

*sigh* I can't seem to look at the knowingly gorgeous quilt! :(

Thanks Rachael! I started last June and did most of what is there. I was hand piecing so I was only doing a couple of blocks a week. When we decided that we would do it as a group I put it away so I could do it with everyone else. I am now machine piecing so I can keep up with the group.

Klue do you know how I can export the image from the DJ software as a jpeg or other uploading friendly file?

Nor, that's beautiful.

Vicki, have you gotten your fabric yet?

You have the patience of Job, Klue. I can follow directions, and that was a very definitive answer...thanks, thats what I needed. So now, do you do anything differently when its dinky pieces...I bought alot of 9*11 pieces, and several Fat Eighths bundles online. Same deal on the washing? Thanks in advance. My fabric will hopefully arrive via post by Monday. I am doing the DJ Lessons on the software...and will start the online tutorial by amma and somebody else after that. It is great to see new people hopping on the bandwagon. Welcome! Its going to be embarrassing if you all get ahead of me. LOL.

Hey Bettia!! I just called, it did go out priority on Monday, so it should be here today or tomorrow. Which is good, I didn't want another weekend to go by without the fabric and me falling even further behind!

Return it, I bought some at Staples not for paper pieceing however and 29 lb is too heavy. I tried it when I first learned about the vellium paper. The weight needs to be around 17 I think. I know anything 20 or higher is too heavy.