I have been working on my Dear Jane for a while off and on( months)...I will make a few blocks then move on to something else...I can't work on it exclusively...I have signed up to work along with all of you and I hope I can keep up...I started mine while the first group was in progress but I was never at the same place as everyone else as I discovered it late...I have deleveloped a system for myself that helps me a lot and makes it easier for me to keep track of my blocks etc, especially since I start and stop frequently...
1.

I was struggling with losing pieces of paper patterns as I was cutting them out and since the pieces can be so small, it can become like a puzzle to remember how to put everything back together...so I came up with this idea...I had a package of 4 cork sheets that I bought at Walmart for a bulletin board wall but never ended up using 2 of them...so I pin my paper pieces onto the cork sheet and then I cut my fabric pieces out to get ready for sewing...as I cut the fabric I pin the fabric close to the paper, or under it, so that I can keep track of which pieces belong to which subparts of the block..and then when I am ready to sew the subblocks together they are all there ready for me to pick up with the paper...


I keep my cork sheet in a large cardboard lid from a boot box that I grabbed when I started and it has helped me keep organized...(a tray would be good) This way my pieces don't get lost for each particular block...now sometimes I cut out all the fabric shapes for more than one block at a time, and if I do this, I use my second cork sheet...only 1 blocks really fits on the cork...if I need more I use the styrofoam flat plates that I get under my vegetables at the grocery store...

At the back on the cork I have copied the outline of the square and triangle and so when I complete a block I square it up and if it is a little itty bit smaller I can block it right on the cork board....I have really had to play with my seams as in the beginning my blocks were about 1/8 inch too small....getting better at that...

2.

When I print out the pattern I cut out the title of the block and I pin it to my board so I know which one it is...especially if time goes by I forgot which one it is...then when I am finished I pin it to the block

3.

I printed out a copy of the diagram from the Dear Jane computer program, and using coloured pencils, coloured it my colours for Trip Around the World Pattern...now I know by looking at my diagram what colour fabric I have to make each block...

4. Since i am only using 1 main colour for each block, I take a snip of that fabric colour and glue it to my chart...it helps my see what colours are next to each other and also to visually see which blocks I have done...I am do my blocks from fabric I have and want to try not to repeat fabrics so this way I can also see if I have used one of my fabrics already...

5. I now keep the completed blocks in a platic container..they were on my design wall so I could admire them...but after I lost one, (a triangle) (hoping it didn't fall into the garbage one day when I had the window open) I have put them away...still hoping it is going to appear somewhere as the little buggar took me a lot of time to do...

6. That Quilt has been a wonderful resource and helps me a lot...but there are many ways to complete each block...

7. For the pieces that involve applique, I am saving them as portable projects to take with me...I get them ready and have set them aside...

8. I have remade 2...just couldn't live with 2 of them...don't be surprised if some blocks take 2 hours or more...you can't hurry these little blocks and that is why I find I have to be in the "mood" for "Cara Gianna", as I refer to her..

I will post some pics if you like ...I am in the middle of recharging my camera battery

I don't know how I am going to quilt it...don't think it will be QAYG...but I will use very very thin batting...are any of you familar with batting called Cloud 9...I would appreciate your advice on this...as I would like to hand quilt this???maybe???

If you have any questions please ask and I will try to help...

I have officially started. I did two practice squares one at 4.5 and one at 6.5. Attached are my first 4 squares of the 6 for the first 2 weeeks. Trying to get a jump ahead as I know this summer I will get behind. Somebody earlier said they are addicting and they certainly are. I didn't want to stop last nite. I have decided to do CW fabric with a white muslin. I have plenty of the muslin and I've been wanting to make something with CW fabrics so this will work.

Echoemb, I can see with the first four blocks that I'm going to love your DJ! What's your secret to making such a bright and clear photo? Mine are always kind of blurry.

Thank you TellaBella! These are great tips. For sure I will be using tip #2, #3, and #4. I never would have thought of those on my own! Unfortunately, I can not advise you on the Cloud 9 batting since I have not used it. -Judy

well I have discovered that the camera "eye" on the back of my cell phone gets gunky. No wonder with being shoved in a purse, pocket of my jeans/coat, and thrown any number of places. SO out comes the q-tip to clean that little baby off when it it comes time to take a picture. Works wonders. I cussed my old cell phone for the lousy pictures it took but I would bet it had the same problem just a gunky "eye". Try that and see if it helps.

Took all morning to get to page 71 and didnt read all the blogs.
I want to take the class but unsure how to sign up and follow along.
Are we doing them on our own or will there be instructions and where? Not on this blog its to big.
I bought the software awhile back and found it confusing but will check it out again.

welcome Rose Marie. we will be following a schedule that cre8tvlwyr made up (see post #698). some will go faster some will go slower. we are not really doing a time limit just a group getting together to make this journey and help and encourage each other to keep going. you do have to have either the software or the book. since you have the software that will be a huge help. if you are still confused by the software then post your questions/confusion and someone will more than happy to try helping you understand it better. i know that during the first cyber sew one of the members and i chatted on the phone so i could talk her thru a problem.

hope this helps

Thanks, this will be fun.

Oh I think I will join in..I will be working at a different pace....but it will be nice to share our progress here. YAY!

This is already fun - just reading these posts! It seems like a great group. I'm eager to get my stuff so I can start.