Quilting in the Country Patterns

Jane is a Designer in
Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks
Click here to visit the Quilting in the Country home page.

In May I received an invitation to submit a block to QUILTMAKER magazine for a new publication, 100 Blocks. I was just recovering from cataract surgery and didn’t open the email immediately because I couldn’t read my email! When I did open it I was surprised and flattered to be included in the invitation to 100 Top Designers. Wow, I thought to myself that is really something! There was no way I was going to let that opportunity pass me by but at that point in time I couldn’t work on any projects—hand or machine! I couldn’t see to thread a needle…………and on top of that we were leaving for Alaska and I was trying to gather all my teaching supplies for the trip. I needed to move quickly.

Over the years I’ve always thought it would be fun to do some rendition of a quilt made by my step great grandmother, Nancy Jane Adair. Maybe now was the time. During the years of involvement with quilt documentation I’d try to locate a pattern for the quilt but finally decided it must have been an original design. My mother had loved her Grandmother very much and had been allowed to select the fabric for the quilt. I decided now would be the time to honor her and wanted to make my block based on her quilt.

With limited vision and time I needed to prepare the quilt block so that I could work on it on the Alaska trip. With quilt in hand, Bill and I went to Kinko’s. They were very patient in helping to enlarge the pattern to the desired 12” block size. It would be impossible to machine or hand piece the block, but I did think I could fuse the project and blanket stitch it to a background. I could thread the large eyed needle used for blanket stitching.

The amount of time flying to and from Alaska was adequate to complete the stitching. The deadline for the completed block was only three days after our return from Alaska. I was proud of the block. I had chosen fabrics from a new line of fabric we had received that repeated the colors my mother had selected for the original bed quilt. The fruit and vegetable motifs seemed appropriate as my mother and her grandmother were Iowa gardeners. The name, “Midnight Sun Garden”, came from learning about the prolific and enormous produce grown during the Alaska Midnight Sun season.

It is an honor to find my block amongst well known quilters. I’m anxious to learn the story about their responses to the invitation from QUILTMAKER. To learn about the inspiration and story behind the blocks of other designers, visit http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures.

I have decided to offer a Challenge! Just order the magazine from us. Call the Quilting in the Country shop (406-587-8216) to order. The rules are wide open --- Use the block that I designed on page 14. Alter it in any way that comes to your creative mind. Make it any size you like. Use any fabric you like!

Please send me a short email note expressing your willingness to participate in the Challenge. Return your entry before March 17, 2010! That’s easy to remember - St. Patrick’s Day! The prize will be a $100 gift certificate from Quilting in the Country.

best regards,
Jane

Call QIC at 406-587-8216 with any questions.

Click here to visit the Quilting in the Country home page.

In May I received an invitation to submit a block to QUILTMAKER magazine for a new publication, 100 Blocks. I was just recovering from cataract surgery and didn’t open the email immediately because I couldn’t read my email! When I did open it I was surprised and flattered to be included in the invitation to 100 Top Designers. Wow, I thought to myself that is really something! There was no way I was going to let that opportunity pass me by but at that point in time I couldn’t work on any projects—hand or machine! I couldn’t see to thread a needle…………and on top of that we were leaving for Alaska and I was trying to gather all my teaching supplies for the trip. I needed to move quickly.
	Over the years I’ve always thought it would be fun to do some rendition of a quilt made by my step great grandmother, Nancy Jane Adair. Maybe now was the time. During the years of involvement with quilt documentation I’d try to locate a pattern for the quilt but finally decided it must have been an original design. My mother had loved her Grandmother very much and had been allowed to select the fabric for the quilt. I decided now would be the time to honor her and wanted to make my block based on her quilt. With limited vision and time I needed to prepare the quilt block so that I could work on it on the Alaska trip. With quilt in hand, Bill and I went to Kinko’s. They were very patient in helping to enlarge the pattern to the desired 12” block size. It would be impossible to machine or hand piece the block, but I did think I could fuse the project and blanket stitch it to a background. I could thread the large eyed needle used for blanket stitching.
The amount of time flying to and from Alaska was adequate to complete the stitching. The deadline for the completed block was only three days after our return from Alaska. I was proud of the block. I had chosen fabrics from a new line of fabric we had received that repeated the colors my mother had selected for the original bed quilt. The fruit and vegetable motifs seemed appropriate as my mother and her grandmother were Iowa gardeners. The name, “Midnight Sun Garden”, came from learning about the prolific and enormous produce grown during the Alaska Midnight Sun season.
It is an honor to find my block amongst well known quilters. I’m anxious to learn the story about their responses to the invitation from QUILTMAKER. To learn about the inspiration and story behind the blocks of other designers, visit http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures. I have decided to offer a Challenge! Just order the magazine from us. Call the Quilting in the Country shop (406-587-8216) to order. The rules are wide open --- Use the block that I designed on page 14. Alter it in any way that comes to your creative mind. Make it any size you like. Use any fabric you like! Please send me a short email note expressing your willingness to participate in the Challenge. Return your entry before March 17, 2010! That’s easy to remember - St. Patrick’s Day! The prize will be a $100 gift certificate from Quilting in the Country. best regards, Jane