Jane Austen Quilt

 For whatever reason, I never really got into Jane Austen's writings. My interests were more towards Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, My Side of the Mountain, Nancy Drew - you know, the adventure books where I could get lost and not in romance books. I suppose because I never really got romance when I was in high school. I thought I'd never have that kind of **starry eye** love, so they didn't appeal to me at all. I really should go read, or at the very least, listen to her writings!  I have seen some of the movie adaptations, and ... sorry ... but they were "eh" 😂. Maybe it's time to go back and watch one again - which one would you recommend?? 

That aside, in May 2024 we took a bucket list trip to the UK.  We started out the trip in Bath, where we visited the Jane Austen house. I am a huge history/historical/museum fan though, so I loved it.  Naturally, as I tend to do, I sought out a quilt shop, or as they call it, a patchwork shop.  I found one, and bought this lovely fabric, that has now been sitting here for a year and a half. It's time to do something with it.  

I'm going to head to the Quilter's Market today to get some coordinating burgundy. I already have some cream. I think I'm going to do a fussy cut around the larger motif, then frame it it alternating strips of the flowers/cream/burgundy.  I'm making a table runner, wall hanging and placemats out of it, and I think I should have enough for all that.  Stay tuned! 

Saturday - I found the fabric I need and while waiting to get it cut, talked with the clerk. She gave me the link to a strip quilt that will work perfectly. It's here: https://www.alandacraft.com/2024/07/02/lap-quilt-tutorial/  I just need to play around with the flowers and the solid burgundy and see which one I want where.  Two of the strips will be a bit larger than the pattern calls for, so the quilt will actually be a bit longer, and I'll decide on borders once I have it finished.  I'd really like to try to free motion this one using the template I got, but I'll need to try that out first to see if I can get the hang of it!  The table runner design is still a bit up in the air, I may still go with the fussy cut block with graduating width strips like a log cabin block.  First plan is to get the wall hanging done, then proceed from there.  And I think I've scrapped the idea of placemats, but will make napkins instead. 

Oh - my new cutting mat came, so I'm ready to go.