I love quilts, especially antique quilts, either applique or pieced,
and I want to share my journeys in quilting !

But, my "Threads and Treasures" sometimes include embroidery, painting, or spinning wool
and weaving
.

It is great that you are visiting, and I hope you feel at home here.
I would love it if you left a comment.

My website is www.janequilter.uk




Thursday 14 October 2010

"Dear Jane for Dear Alan" is finished !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At last, after working on it off and on for the past 8 years, here she is:

If you click on the photo, you can see it larger. (Especially for Margreet!).
I still can't quite believe it, and I feel quite flat suddenly. After all, lots of people are making one - what's the big deal?
For 8 years, since October 2001, she has been an overshadowing part of my life.
First, our daughter got married, and I made a quilt for her.
Then I was diagnosed with breast-cancer, and a lot of the reproduction fabrics I used, were sent to me from all over the world, as I belonged to the Dear Jane Forum. They were a wonderful support.
Then we moved to Scotland, and after 2 years there, it was my cousin Hetty, who prodded me into carrying on with making the blocks, as I had been too busy with lambs and calves and hens to worry about this quilt.
Part of the problem was that I was re-drawing all the blocks, because I wanted it to be like the original. Nice idea, but it took a lot of time.
Then our daughter started producing grandchildren, so we went over to help each time.
After that our son got married, and I spent several months planning and making the wedding cake.
Finally, we moved to Wales!
So this quilt has seen a lot of changes!
I kept a journal, right from the beginning, with pieces of fabrics for each blocks, and notes of things that were happening when I made each block. One day, it will be interesting to read that again. But for the time being, I have had enough of this quilt. I shall have to keep seeing it though, because it was a present for my husband, and he wants to sleep under it!!!
Have a wonderful day
Jane

50 comments:

Unknown said...

marvelous Jane!

Unknown said...

That's wonderful!
It has been part of life for the past 8 years and I wish it will be for many, many more to come.
Congratulations for the beautiful work and memories.
Gina

Anonymous said...

Hoi Jane

Adembenemend mooi,ben er ook mee bezig maar is een tienjaren plan denk ik. Groetjes Annemieke

Margreet said...

MOOI!MOOI!MOOI!!!!!!!! In één woord geweldig. En dan na 8 jaar istie dan toch nog af, petje af hoor! Leuk dat je hem "speciaal" voor mij helemaal op de foto hebt gezet. Je mag er écht wel trots op zijn hoor! Groetjes, Margreet

Anje said...

Geweldig Jane, je hebt een onvoorstelbare klus geklaard. Een leven aan lapjes....zo kostbaar...
Ik ben stil van bewondering.
Lieve groet Anje.

mMum said...

Jane, te gek! Fantastisch dat deze quilt eindelijk af is, maar wat prachtig is je eindresultaat. Volgens mij is Dear Alan erg blij met Dear Jane :)
Groetjes, Mac

Janet said...

WOW!! What an accomplishment. Your quilt is gorgeous! The quilting is wonderful. Good for you for sticking with it for 8 years. What I recommend you do about that flat feeling is start something new! :0)

Irene said...

Wat een prestatie en wat is het toch bijzonder dat zo een quilt een groot deel van je leven vertegenwoorddig. Ik vind dat je hem erg mooi gemaakt hebt.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Congratulations!! It looks amazing! What an accomplishment!

Guusje, said...

Hij is werkelijk prachtig, wat een kunstwerk. Hier mag je zeker heel trots op zijn. Ik hoop hem ook ooit een zo af te kunnen krijgen.

Anonymous said...

Stunning Jane - an extraordinary accomplishment. 8 years! that's a serious relationship, no wonder you're a bit flat.
A new project will perk you up for sure - or - perhaps some shopping?
cheers, K

Cheri said...

What a treasure Jane, it is just wonderful. Eight years, this quilt is definately a part of your life and a great memory of the events in your life while you were working on it. It is just so beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh! Talk about dedication. This is a beautiful quilt and I admire you for finishing it. The colors are just gorgeous, you should be very proud of yourself. I am sure that it will be a treasured heirloom for years to come.

Cheers,
Bobbie

Miny said...

Hallo Jane,

Wat is het een prachtige quilt geworden. Ook zo mooi doorgequilt.
Een prestatie!!

Groeten Miny

Miranda said...

Wowie Jane, what a job is that quilt....I know now, since I've been working on it for 2,5 years and just past the half of it. You can be very, very proud of it....and you baby Jane has her own story to tell now. I got some black and white fabrics from quilting-friends and I love the idea of having them with me.....Big hugs and kisses for you

Carin said...

Hij is echt schitterend geworden !! Was die blauwe schulprand rondom niet moeilijk? Dat is een van het weinige waar ik tegen aan hik (en ik ben er niet eens aan begonnen).

Jeanne said...

Congratulations! It is simply gorgeous. Your workmanship is wonderful.

Quilt all day said...

Hi Jane ,
your quilt is goergeous and I easily believe Alan when he tels he is finally warm ...Philippe still says after sleeping under his DJ it is the most pretty quilt I've made
In 2012 Belgium will have a DEAR JANE exhibit ...maybe you can show of yours too?
Hugs from Brussels

Paula said...

CONGRATULATIONS Jane what a wonderful accomplishment. It must feel soooo good, finishing DJ. I'm on my way but slowly. And it is very encouraging to see someone finish it. Congratulations.

Take care.
Paula

Retrogirl said...

CONGRATULATIONS, Jane!!! How is official Goddess status?? =)

mzeitz said...

I've been following your Jane Journey for many of those 8 years. Congratulations on completing your journey and achieving goddess status. Don't forget the label :-)

Gail said...

Simply stunning! Congratulations!

viridian said...

I am blown away by this. Wonderful wonderful.

Cyn said...

fabulous... congratulations. It's wonderful that you kept a journal. I didn't in the beginning, but do now... it's so important. I have been following your progress thru the DJ list... love the name of your quilt, too!

Dinkydii said...

Congratulations on such a beautiful quilt. You have inspired me to keep going & finish my quilt also. Well done !!

Anonymous said...

Too beautiful for words! Congratulations!
Sandy

Ivory Spring said...

This post is such a treat! Congratulations on the beautiful finish - you ought to be so proud of yourself.

Plum Cox said...

How wonderful! Much quicker than me at making it - I've still got three rows of square blocks to go, and I'd always thought that I'd ignore the triangles, but seeing yours has almost made me change my mind!

Well done!

Linda said...

You do incredibly beautiful work! I am currently working on DJ and enjoyed seeing the close-ups of your quilting. Also, your Baltimore Clipper Ship block is absolutely amazing :) I've really enjoyed reading your blog and viewing the pictures.
Linda

Featheronawire Sally Bramald said...

Dear Jane, what a journey this quilt has seen you through. Tell Dear Alan he can have it for Christmas and not before. That way if gives you a little break to fall in love with it all over again and your Hanukka present to him is sorted. It's so wonderful it should cover birthdays and Hanukka for the next 5 years/

Featheronawire Sally Bramald said...

I put Hunakka in because I saw your countdown widget. Christmas is more appropriate..

Mary Ann said...

Fantastic, Jane! I've been following your progress for some years now! I'm still at the hand-quilting stage, but hope to be done one day soon!!
All the best from Denmark!

Rita Martine said...

Your Jane is wonderful Jane (and how lucky you are to have that name!) ;) I love that you made your fabrics so close to the original Jane. I wish I had done either that, or at least started out with Civil War repro's. I have since amassed a LOT of CW's, enough even for more than one large project. But whether or not it will be another Jane, or CW Diary, or SBS, I don't know yet. I just love those fabrics though.

Love your blog and I'm a follower now.

Rita Jane
PS: What does that make you, Jane Jane? :)

Donna in SW PA said...

Congrats1!!It is just beautiful!! You should be so proud.

Annefred said...

Hallo Jane, heel erg mooi! en gefeliciteerd, de aanhouder wint denk ik dan maar. Maar het is wel een "familie stuk" met alle verhalen erbij geworden. Meer dan "alleen maar" een Dear Jane.
Groet,
Anki

Anonymous said...

Jane
That is just beautiful You are right to be so proud of it! I have the book and keep meaning to try but am too daunted at present. Seeing yours makes me itch though!
Anne Styles (from the Yahoo quilt group)

Una said...

I am completely in awe!! Congratulations! I love your colours and fabric choices. Warm greetings, Una in Norway

Wenche said...

Congratulations on your beautiful quilt! I found that all the small blocks and seams made the quilt heavier and warmer than other quilts that I have.

Lee Prairie Designs said...

Beautiful thank you for sharing!
Carolyn from Des Moines, Iowa :)

Hennie said...

Prachtig Jane wat een plaatje ! ! !

Groetjes Hennie

Brigitte said...

What a beauty, and one with a long history. Congratualtions!

Britta said...

Jane,

I am awestruck! This is a fabulous work of art and eight years is still a great achievement. I know it would have taken me much longer! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Congratluations!

Greetings from the Rhine,
Britta

Susan said...

Hello Jane,

I'm catching up on a lot of emails.

I was so excited to read your email on the DJ List. I came by to see and ....WOW..... just beautiful!!

Well done on such beautiful fabric colours, piecing and quilting.

I started mine in 2005 and stopped around March last year. Recently I've made some more DJ blocks and just loved doing them.

I've been busy doing many other things, including being involved in a community project of making a quilt for our towns centenary. You'll find it on my blog.

So once again. Well done and congratulations.

God bless,

Susan
W Australia

Chookyblue...... said...

so wonderful to see you have your quilt finished.........I see many in progress online..........it is such a long journey.......

Annelies said...

Congratulations.What a very beautiful baby Jane !!

conny's quilts en creaties said...

Super mooie quilt !

Miriam said...

Wow!!! Breathtaking!!

Congratulations on completing such a huge undertaking!

mamifleur said...

Bravo! Your dear jane is wonderful with troubles and Joy !
Friendship ; Evelyne

Teresa said...

Your quilt is absolutely beautiful...and the story behind it equally as beautiful. Quilts should tell a story and yours certainly does. It is a big part of your life. Enjoy it!!!

Carmen María said...

Congratulations!!!! Great Job!!! Very well done.

Number of pieces?

Happy stitching, Carmen María.

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