Jenny of ELEFANTZ: Quilt Jane

Through 2015 I'll be introducing you to some very talented ladies whose work brings whispered 'gasps' to my blog reading each weekend.

Today I have an Aussie quilter of extraordinary talent for you to meet.
Say hello to Jane Davidson from QuiltJane...

What always gets me with Jane's quilts is how she takes an old or relatively 'normal' block and gives it a makeover that just leaves you in awe! Her eye for design, vibrancy and life in quilts is a gift. If you follow the 'Aurifil Designer of the Year ' projects each year you will recognise the quilt Jane designed and made featuring all twelve 2014 blocks...

At the end of this post there is a free block design Jane is kindly sharing with us, plus my tutorial for putting it together, but for now - grab a cuppa and meet Jane!

ABOUT JANE:

Who is Jane Davidson?

Mother, wife, passionate quilter and scientist.

Favourite bikkie to have with your tea/coffee?

Vita Weat with tomato and cheese.

What one thing sparks your creativity more than any other?

Chaos. I like to be challenged.

Whose quilts do you wish you owned?

So many inspire me but I love the originality of Victoria Findlay Wolfe.

What was the highlight of 2014 for you?

I always love going to Fall market in Houston.

ABOUT QUILTING:

When making a quilt as a gift for someone, what are five things we should consider in our planning?

1. How the quilt will be used and what size should I make it?

Is it to be placed on a bed, lounge, hospital room, nursing home?

2. Will it be washed frequently?

Do I need to heavily quilt it and machine the binding.

3. Is it for a child or infant or someone with an allergy?

Do I use all cotton materials or can I use wool or polyester wadding?

4. Do I match the décor of their homes or make it in their favourite

themes and colours.

5. What can I use from my stash?

I can choose a little bit of my favourite fabrics to inject a bit of my

personality into the quilt.

Which one of your quilts (to date) is your favourite? Why?

I have just made quilt for a magazine in all greys. Grey Matter hangs in my quilt room. A very simple design but the effect of all the different prints makes a very earthy and calming piece.

Would you advise a newbie to quilting to dive right in and make what they love or start small? Most useful advice for a newbie to quilting?

Slow down and enjoy making a quilt. Develop a sound technique for accurate cutting and piecing. It will simplify the assembly process.

Most favoured quilter’s tool you’ve discovered in the last couple of years? What do you love about it?

I am bit of a gadget girl and like to try new rulers and notions but the most cherished and favourite tool is my antique silver thimble that I received from a dear friend for my birthday years ago.

What’s your favourite quilt block?

I don’t really have one but I am always to drawn stars and blocks with curves.

ABOUT THE FUTURE:

What’s ahead in 2015 for Quilt Jane?

This year I am planning a year of designing and publishing. I am at my happiest when I can draw up a design, create a quilt and quilt it.

If you could choose one big adventure to embark on in your future (imaginary or real) what and where would it be?

I would like to travel the world and live with every culture and learn the art of textile crafts.

What legacy would you like to leave from your life?

That I could encourage people to find the community and love that is found in the art of quilting.

Jane's designed a large 15 inch "Shark Fins" block as a gift for you to download.

This is a twist on a 5-patch traditional block using the diamond in a square block as the unit...

Jane's "Shark Fins" block almost did me in 'cause I'm an embroiderer who flirts with patchwork occasionally, just not with blocks as fancy as this one.

However, I was trying to put it together whilst battling a developing migraine and that was a stupid idea, right? My friend Susan helped me (via email in the middle of her USA night) to see that my biggest problem was not dividing the block into 25 squares and 'creating' from there, so the next day this is exactly what I did.

Woo hoo - it was finally 'all systems go'...

Jane has written the block to include needle-turn applique for the fins, but I'm a blanket-stitch applique gal so I omitted the 1/4" allowance around the curve and just kept the extra along the straight sides.
If you're doing it my way, trace 13 reverse fins onto the smooth side of some Vliesofix or your preferred applique bonding paper.
(my tutorial for preparing a block for blanket stitch applique is HERE)

Fuse your prepared fins into a corner of each of the thirteen small squares...