Sunday 9 February 2020

Dear Jane, Scrappy Hearts, Peace River Honey,Cardinals

I've been doing lots of this...
after two snowfalls, but today we are in what we call Deep Freeze weather...-27C straight temperature. That's about -17 F for my American friends. Brrr...
But keeping our front steps all clear is one of my winter goals, so far, getting done.

I have to mention how much I'm enjoying this honey...Peace River which comes from Canada's largest organic apiary.  A little goes a long way, if you know what I mean.  Hubby prefers brown sugar on his oatmeal but I'm enjoying some of this honey on mine. I got this container at Costco. At the Peach River blog site you can find many recipes using honey including one for Valentine's Rice Krispies.

I must admit my enjoyment of quilting is getting a bit more complicated.
 In the beginning I seemed sure of my likes and dislikes.  Now not so much.  More of what is called modern quilting is appealing to me though some still not at all.  Those  I view with the same dubious eye I look at certain modern pieces at the art gallery.  I like when improvisation is welcome in quilt making and I guess you can do that at times no matter what kind of quilting you enjoy.

A quilt I've long found inspiring is the famous Dear Jane.  It was made by a bed ridden farm wife, Jane Stickle, back in 1863, as a way to pass the time.  So much geometry in a quilt was very interesting and the mixture of her own patterns with traditional made the whole quilt unique.
I've followed many of you as you have stitched these 225 blocks. In fact, Karen at Quilts, Etc. completed two of these tops in different colourways! That definitely makes Karen a Quilting Queen.

                                   
How do you feel about Dear Jane?

Now to move from the sublime to the ridiculous, LOL.
In my sewing room, I've been making some scrappy hearts mainly just to use up the scraps. (Not sure that is the kind of inspiration I should be tapping into!)
 A little hand applique for a table runner- maybe light stitching this week.
 I've been experimenting with using old phone book pages as backing.
It's great to play around with cheery colours and I did this last Saturday when it was a thoroughly blustery day with blowing snow and nowhere we had to be but right here.  The best kind of day.

I've been trying to capture a photo of our lone cardinal who visits us quite late in the day.  This is not a great photo and I think it was the bad weather that inspired him to show himself a little earlier in the day to grab a few nourishing sunflower seeds.
I watched carefully...my first thought, a one legged cardinal! But no, he had two legs, phew!  Just trying to minimize heat loss.

 Here is my redworked cardinal from Crabapple Hill Studio's pattern called Flight of Fancy. All twelve birds have been stitched and they are on my radar to get sewn into a quilt...soon. (I've been saying that for about 5 years now. :) )
 I hope you are making good on your promises to yourself.  I will be spending some serious time with my sewing machine this week reviving a very old project.
Take care of yourself.
Linking this post with Kathy's QuiltsQuilting is More Fun Than HouseworkPersimon DreamsViewing Nature With EileenHome Sewn By Us and I'd Rather B Birdin'.




34 comments :

Angela said...

I love you scrappy hearts!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

Oh wow you have it cold up there! and here I complain when it is 25 degrees. I'm so glad I made the two Dear Jane's but will never make another I'm sure. Have you decided if yours will be scrappy or certain chosen colors. I love cardinals and we have been having quite a few lately

Julierose said...

That sure is COLD! Brrr is right;)))
I love the "look" of Dear Jane but I don't think I would want to embark on such a long and difficult project. I love seeing all the colors different people choose though..Good Luck hugs, Julierose

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

That's way to cold for me!! Of course you might guess I love that stitched bird. We have a lot of Cardinals here and I love it that they nest in our yard. They visit all day long as late as when it's almost too dark to see them. Your scrappy hearts are cute. I have only made a couple of quilts. I don't much like quilts with little pieces to stitch together (traditional). I love Crazy Quilt, but not the frau frau type. I am really attracted to modern contemporary quilt...some of them. I just ordered a book about collage quilting. I'm hoping it has good instructions for the projects in it. I want to try collage, but not the kind that Laura Heine is known for.
Keep warm, xx, Carol

eileeninmd said...

Hello, your temperatures are very cold, too cold for me. The Dear Jane quilt is lovely. I can imagine all the hard work that goes into making a quilt. I love the Cardinal both the live version and your stitched bird. The scrappy hearts are cute, they would make a beautiful quilt. I hope you have some warm weather soon, melt that snow. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Sunday, enjoy your day. Wishing you a great new week!

Sylvia@Treadlestitches said...

I like your cardinals, both real and stitched! I like honey in my oatmeal, too, and I can usually get local honey at the farmers market. As far as Jane goes, bless her, the quilt is lovely, but not for me, I'm too impatient. Stay warm!

Mary in Peoria Handmade said...

I cannot imagine it being that cold.! Makes me chilly just thinking about it. Haha. How do those poor birds keep warm when they are trying to get food. Sad.I need to try using honey in my oatmeal. I usually use cinnamon/sugar I keep in a shaker jar. The honey sounds healthier especially when I have local honey. Not gonna happen with the Dear Jane for me but I sure appreciate all the hard work anyone puts in to that kind of project. Whew.
I made scrappy hearts yesterday, too!! I’ll share my mini on Thursday. They were fun.Enjoy your day!

Mary

Deanna W said...

Although I like the farmer's wife quilt, it is not one I am rushing to put on my to-do list. Did you know a visiting cardinal is a sign that someone who has passed is sending a sign to you. I was told this one year when I had one all winter at my feeders.

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

I love Dear Jane. I have the software and intend on making one sometime in my lifetime. I don't do well with small blocks however. Your little hearts are so cute! It sure does look cold where you are!

Libby in TN said...

Dear Jane is what got me started over 20 years ago. I finished 2 blocks ... long story. I, too, have gone through the hate/love relationship with "modern" quilting. Some improvisation is just beyond my level of appreciation.

Kim said...

I have gone into apoplectic shock just at the thought of anyone living in -17 degrees Celsius! I suppose though, shovelling all that snow away from the doorstep each morning would heat you up very quickly. Such a lot of work in Dear Jane; I cannot imagine fashioning two! How pretty the Red Cardinal looks against the white snow. Your red stitchery of the Cardinal is beautiful. Your scrappy red hearts are sweet too.

Hootin Anni said...

Wow..that quilt is extraordinary! And you cardinal stitched quilt square will be a work of art I'm sure once it's complete. And your real time cardinal is an awesome bird, isn't it?

Thanks for visiting my paintings & also thanks for linking up at I'd Rather B Birdin' this week.

~Hooting Anni (aka Anni at I'd Rather B Birdin)

Ruth Hiebert said...

That sounds rather cold. We get that at times ,too, but I really do prefer a milder winter,

Jenny said...

You will be held to account now, to get those bird blocks all assembled and ready to quilt!

Brian's Home Blog said...

Oh that's way too brrrr cold but I'm sure glad your cardinal is getting some food, it's a pretty little thing!

Cheryll said...

I love the scrappy HeaRTs...and Dear Jane is a wonderful quilt to undertake... not for me... but still impressive... xox

MissPat said...

Oh my, you are in the deep freeze. Hope it retreats soon. While I admire the effort needed for a Dear Jane, I'm not about to devote that kind of time to tiny blocks at this stage of my life. Too many other projects to tackle. When we were in Houston visiting family, both my husband and I came down with colds. My step-daughter made us ginger lemon honey tea from scratch. It did seem to relieve the symptoms quickly. I've read that using local honey helps relieve allergies as well. Here's to more sunshine and less cold and snow.
Pat

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Hope you are figuring out ways to stay warm, Jocelyn - wearing lots of layers I'm sure! Dear Jane is definitely amazing - I have a quilty friend here who made one, and I enjoyed looking at it up close. But I love your scrappy hearts, and will enjoy seeing what you do with them!
Your lone cardinal must enjoy those sunflower seeds. We've noticed the bad weather brings lots of birds to our feeders - they must need lots of food to keep themselves warm.

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

I started a Dear Jane quilt years ago and abandoned it quickly. I am just not that dedicated to such a long term project. Stay warm and thanks for linking up with Oh Scrap!

Nana said...

Boy, that´s cold at the other side of the ocean ;) Here it´s still mild and stormy right now.

Nana

piecefulwendy said...

A woman in our quilt group is making a Dear Jane, doing it all by EPP. Not sure I'm ready to tackle that one! I love your scrappy hearts - they are darling. In our house, the oatmeal additions would be the opposite; I'd go for the brown sugar and my husband, the honey. Either way, it's good!

Shiju Sugunan said...

The quilt is lovely. Always heartening to see the cardinal!

NADINE said...

Your scrappy hearts are sooo cute !
Aaaah, Dear Jane ! This is a looooong time wish quilt of mine. As I much prefer applique rather than geometry, I made the "Dear Hanna" of Brenda Papadakis, and very much enjoyed each and every stitch. But still, dear Jane remains in a corner of my head & heart….

XOXOXO
Nadine

loulee said...

I too very much admire Dear Jane quilts, but I don't think I would ever make one.

Louise said...

Your little scrappy hearts are just so darn cheerful! A nice pick-me-up in the cold, wintry weather, I'm sure. I have also found that my tastes in quilts is fluid. What I know for certain is they all look better in person, so the colors and textures can really be appreciated :)

Linda said...

I cannot imagine -17°. The coldest I've ever been in was just above 0°.
Can you imagine being bedridden and making quilts?
Love your scrappy hearts. I've resisted making hearts so far this year, but now I'm interested!
I hope you got my thank-you for the patterns! I'm so excited. :)

Denise :) said...

Your redwork cardinal is so lovely! I love your pretty hearts -- very fun! Dear Jane is lovely to look at and study, but I have no desire to give it a go! LOL! I know my limitations! :)

Radka said...

Oh, not snow! Keep it on your side of the pond :-)
Nice redwork embroidery,
xx

Jenn Jilks said...

What a change, over a day! Above zero. We played outside, though!
I love those quilts.

Lynn said...

Love the cardinal, your red embroidery and yes, maybe I'll try a Dear Jane one day.

Stitchin At Home said...

I like your scrap hearts! Do you have a plan in mind for them?

Angie said...

Jocelyn- whew. That's cold. So far this winter, we have had only one week of extremely cold weather. I like the Mary Jane quilt for its complexity and symmetry. I am using an old Christmas tree skirt to make some heart ornaments - fun and easy! Enjoy the rest of your week!

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Jocelyn! What a fun post with so many things to share, and now for me to comment on. Ahh, the shoveling followed by cold. Your nice chilly Canadian coldfront is heading our way tonight. First, six to eight inches of snow followed quickly by below zero weather for tomorrow. I am not a honey fan, although I should try it on my daily oatmeal once before I say that. How wonderful to have a bee farm to enjoy their harvest. I pass by a home that sells it just a block or two away from me. I adore the story behind the Dear Jane quilt but otherwise I am not a fan. I want to be, though! Just as you think you know what you like and don't, I am the same. I suspect it is the fabric tones or shades or patterns used that I don't like rather than the quilt itself. I am testing that theory right now by making a Kansas City Sampler using modern fabrics. We'll see how I like the quilt in the end. Some things you are just drawn to, and others you're not. It's not right or wrong - it's just not for you. I adore the cardinal photo and your redwork. We both need to get our redwork projects finished. I will if you will?! Thanks for linking up. ~smile~ Roseanne

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I can admire the artistry that goes into Dear Jane quilts but not something I would ever attempt for myself. Just the mere thought of matching all those itty bitty points is enough to make me have to go and lie down. I'm not a sane quilter at the best of times and far prefer crazy quilting and landscapes. Love your lucky cardinal photo - something I've never been able to accomplish.