Just Takes 2

Look what arrived in the mail today. I ordered it from Amazon.  I  never went to the exhibition and never heard of it until I discovered the Just Takes 2 quilt along that began Jan 2012 with Brenda Papadakis of dear jane and Gay Bomers of sentimental stitches. 
I had often wondered how one finds out about these quilt-a-longs and was pleased to discover it just 2 days before beginning. I was in the final semester of my masters and very busy, but wanted to join. So I did.

Gay and Brenda organized the Just Takes 2 QAL and chose patterns from the Infinite Variety collection. There were 100 blocks altogether of varying sizes. Several block patterns were released twice a month. I used them as my reward for completing the homework of the day and treated myself to an hour of bliss. We were given patterns like this.

And like this.

And these

But my favourite one was the feathered star. I did it on Feb 16, 2012. It took me just over 7 hours to paper piece it. I listened to the Minor Prophets and the entire New Testament on tape for school. You do that kind of thing in seminary.

But I got stuck on a the radiant star and the compass and I was working on my Dear Jane quilt so I did not complete it. Story of my life. Except that I did complete my masters that spring and I did complete the Dear Jane quilt 2 years later. So there is hope.

This is as far as I have gotten. I have about 12 blocks to do yet. Complex ones.  I did not have enough of one red fabric that I was willing to work with for a whole year, but I did have a half yard cut of about 130 different Jinny Beyer Pallet colours in my cupboard. I call it Serendipity. But I did use the one yellow three times. And I had bought the rest of the bolt of that lovely white. So I was ready to start.

Serendipity

I am going to Shipshewana in November to the Just Takes 2 Retreat. My sister Elizabeth is going with me. She has no idea what she is getting into.

Now to decide which of the JT2 projects I will be taking along to work on. I am considering taking all 140 buds and leaves for the Ben Biggs quilt to prepare. I still have not decided what colour to make them. And I might take along the 44 swags for that border. Those will all be green. I think.
I will probably take a few BTCT blocks for hand work. Brenda called me today and while we were talking she asked me to bring along my Dear Jane quilt but it is not yet quilted. I have no idea how I will do that yet.


Blessings,
Chris