the emotional life of sølje

I wish I had started off this quilt by choosing fabrics first for all the blocks. But I hadn’t even thought of doing this until I was browsing through flickr the other day (for other Dear Jane quilts in progress) and came across one quilter who had a picture of the fabrics she chose for each block all laid out. Brilliant!

I pinned the single squares onto stiff stablizer (I have a lot on hand and it was handy at the time), and then marked the row identification letters and column numbers. The first half is sewn together, the second half shows what fabrics I will use (or in some cases have already used in blocks already made). I will sew those fabrics together as I finish the rows.

For the first half of the quilt, I basically went with the colors that I saw from the original quilt. The problem is… colors fade after 100 years, and I wasn’t paying attention to the block placement as I dug into my box for a fabric. What has happened, I have ended up with some same fabrics side-by-side, or if not then they are in close proximity to each other. If that didn’t happen, I can scan quickly and see which fabrics I favor simply by how many blocks have the same fabrics.

The second half of my quilt is planned much better–heck, it’s planned unlike the first half! I have laid out the fabrics according to color (since the original quilt was made in a “Trip Around The World” style) and I don’t use the same fabrics more than twice. It actually feels pretty good to have a plan instead of off-the-hip as I had been doing. I wish I had more variation in contrast. If I do the quilt again (cough… not!), I would plan for that.

Tags: Quilting by Solje
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Today I finished two more blocks for the G row, and now I am officially finished with the center of the quilt. Yah. Six more rows to go, or 61 blocks left to make (still undecided about the triangles).

I also took a picture of how I keep my blocks together until I have the entire row complete. When I first purchased the book, I took it apart and slipped each page into page protectors and into a three ring binder. As I finish the blocks, I slip the block into the spot where the pattern is, mark it off on the chart, and write how many pieces I am up to (as well as how many blocks I’ve completed).

I’ve seen the program/file where the quilter scans each block as they’ve finished, and then it gets placed into the spot onto their website, but I noticed it takes a long time to download. I’ll stick with my dry erase markered diagram page instead. There is no reason for the two different colored X’s on the diagram–except I lost my blue pen during the long hiatus from Jane. The piece of paper on the opposite side of the diagram is my running count of pieces and numbers of blocks.

I thought I would share a close up of my papa’s star block. That was a difficult one, but I managed to keep most of the points in the tiny star. I made this one a few years ago. Also, when I added it to the quilt, I decided to turn it so the larger star didn’t look so straight up and down

108 blocks finished, 2092 pieces so far (not counting sashing or cornerstones).

Tags: Quilting by Solje
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I only have five blocks to finish in row G and then I will be over halfway finished with the rows for this quilt. For the rest of the rows, I don’t have as many single blocks finished so it will take me a bit longer to complete rows after G. I don’t like how some blocks look very similiar and stuck right next to each other, but oh well. With block F2, it came out much smaller than what the author drew up, but it was still a great looking (read: “points were awsome!”) block, so I added larger corner triangles to reach the 5″ size needed. I do know that Jane’s blocks weren’t all the same size, so I am thinking that I am just doing as Jane would–making do F8 is my favorite of this row. I prefer the pieced blocks.
103 blocks finished; 1995 pieces

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Darrin in his Eskimo Joe’s shirt from Auntie Retta… I think he may grow out of it within the week!

Tags: A Family Affair by Solje
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So, I need to get the full story. Family friends who ran a dairy, rented land here in Bothell. The land has since been sold and is currently a business park (Northcreek Business Park, Bothell WA), complete with walking trails that lead to the Burke Gilman Trail. We like walking along the business park trails, as there is always a lot of wildlife and neat things to see (always changing with the seasons). The hay barn was converted into an upscale/casual (figure that one out) restaurant.

Esther Hjorte made quilts for my cousins and I, for when we had our first child, totaling nine quilts. Esther has since passed away. So I thought I would at least get a picture of the quilt on the property. And now I should probably get more information from either of my aunts since I don’t really know a whole lot about the Hjorte family, and finding out information has been difficult since they rented.

At the time when everyone was still alive and getting together, I was a teen and really didn’t give a whole hoot about genealogy and our history. My grandpa drove milk trucks and knew a lot of the dairy farmers (if not all) in the area, and was well respected. But now nearly everyone has passed away, and I don’t know a whole lot but bits and pieces.

Anyway, there is all sorts of family history that is connected with Cherry Valley, Monroe, Bothell, and the farmers. I wish I knew more.

I love all the weathervanes, cows!

Excerpt from:
www.nwnews.com/editions/2007/070820/home_garden2.htm

The barn that captivated Lowell’s attention once served as a hay barn. Built in 1927, it rested on a 150-acre spread as part of a dairy farm operation. Giant poplars, a farmhouse and other dairy barns also occupied the property.

In the 1930’s, Lloyd Mitchell bought the farm from the original owners—the McWhirter family. As part owner and manager of Van De Kamp’s, Mitchell supplied the company with dairy products. Van De Kamp’s used photographs of Mitchell’s picture-perfect cows and lush valley for advertisements.

Eventually Mitchell turned the business over to his daughter and son-in-law, Eleanor and Vern Fortin. The Fortins are best known today as the founders of QFC and Vernell’s Candies (for Vern & Eleanor).

Tags: A Family Affair, Quilting by Solje
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Even through the imperfections and modifications I have made, I am happy with the progress and how it is coming along. Row F should be complete within a couple of days too since I have most of those blocks made. I think I only have one row where I haven’t made any blocks yet.

It’s amazing how much time some of those little 5″ blocks take to make. Some of the angles actually force me to think
98 blocks finished so far, 1865 pieces.

Tags: Quilting by Solje
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Four rows completed. Today I finished two more blocks to be able to sew row D together. Those two blocks had over 30 pieces in each. At 5″ a piece, sheesh! The one positive I am finding is that my sewing skills have improved nicely over the years, I can tell the difference between blocks from 7 and 8 years ago (yes, I started this quilt in 1999!). Plus, I am using a different sewing machine, so the seam allowances are slightly different in the sashing. Oh well… she’s still looking good!
Started: 1999 (haven’t narrowed down the month yet)
88 blocks complete
76 blocks to go

Tags: Quilting by Solje
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My darling Jane has come out of hiding After drawing a diagnal line for my corners of my Indian Hatchet blocks (for a list swap, so right now I am doing 100, hoping we’ll get more signed up), I decided that Jane Stickle needed some continued work done on her!

Today I managed to finish four more blocks, making my total as:
86 completed, 78 to go, and 1596 pieces so far. I am almost done with row D, then I will be able to add to the first three rows that are already put together. It’s my goal to finish up this quilt by the end of the year. I am a little burnt out on “bright”, so the Civil War repros are a little easy on the eyes right now.

I haven’t decided if I am going to do the triangles or not.

Onward and upward!

Tags: Quilting by Solje
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