Category: Doer

Dear Jane: Block A-8 – Florence Nightingale

~ Terry Whitmell ~ Leave a comment

If you have read my previous post, you will know that I am starting a quilting journey. This journey is expected to be measured in years rather than days. Today I took the first step by choosing a simple block, or at least one that appeared to be simple.

I am used to working with my rotary cutter and ruler to construct blocks. So I chose that option first from EQ8.

It looked straightforward, so I converted the decimals to fractions, cut my pieces and prepared to sew.

The blocks are to be 4.5″, so I found my only 4.5″ ruler, and checked it out. As you can see, it’s a little wonky. I definitely don’t have a quarter-inch seam allowance to use when I connect blocks with sashing at the end.

So, I then thought I should try out the foundation paper piecing (FPP) option:

I printed it on regular printer paper, and used the same fabrics:

This one is MUCH more accurate. Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) should give me the ability to retain my points when I piece the quilt top.

Successes:

  • lovely contrast of white and red
  • final block that is large enough to be trimmed to finished size

Challenges:

  • I will have more waste fabric using FPP rather than rotary cutting
  • I destroy the pattern when doing FPP, so I have no paper to file and document the block

And here’s what my quilt looks like so far:

I’m awaiting delivery of a new “Add-a-quarter plus” ruler, to help with the Foundation Paper Piecing. And I have also ordered liquid starch to use when tackling my needle-turn applique blocks. I have joined three Facebook groups and subscribed to several YouTube channels, in order to research techniques for each block as I encounter them. Hopefully this will speed up the process on some blocks, and ensure that I don’t need to make more than one version each time!

Documenting My Dear Jane Quilt Project: A Quilter’s Diary

~ Terry Whitmell ~ 1 Comment

Every New Year I vow to use what I have, and not purchase new, for my studio. This year I am hoping that this purchase will support me in this endeavour.

I have loved doing the HundredDayProject over the past few years, and have successfully reduced my stash of yarn by crocheting 100 granny squares, have learned how to use my Cricut by making 100 boxes, and last year I worked my way through Tula Pink’s 100 Modern Quilt Blocks. However, I found myself having to “work ahead” in order to consistently post one item per day, when I was going to have to be away from my studio for several days.

So, for this year, 2026, I propose to follow a similar model, but to not use “day” as my unit. Instead, I propose to complete the 225 blocks of the Dear Jane quilt, posting each as I complete it. To that end, I have purchased the EQ8 add-on, and will be developing greater understanding of this software through this project.

Having been inspired by the Quilt Alliance, I am also going to document this quilt (having never done so over 35 years of quilting), and will reference this blog when I put a label on the completed quilt (which I have only recently begun to do with my quilts!).

Here are the rules I have set for myself:

  • I will use only fabric from my stash.
  • I will “tackle” the blocks in the order that inspires me.
  • I will photograph each block, and add it to the layout, providing me with a virtual “design wall” that I will be able to utilize as the quilt progresses, and to determine the final block layout.
  • I will document each block in a separate blog post, and for each I will note technical details, as well as the challenges and successes that I experience completing the block.
  • I will accept that this could be a multi-year project!

Here are some useful links, relating to this project:

Let’s hope that my WordPress skills, my EQ8 skills, and my quilting skills all benefit from this Dear Jane project.

Wish me luck!

Peel DSB – Teaching and Learning in a Digital World – 2016 – #tldw2016 #peel21st

~ Terry Whitmell ~ Leave a comment

What an amazing 24 hours it has been!  Yesterday at this time we were networking, and preparing to listen to Dr. Reshan Richards (@reshanrichards, The Constructivist Toolkit) share with us his six moves:CqvnHmlWIAA76Rq

  1. Look out for your classroom by looking out of your classroom.
  2. Care for all learning spaces:  physical and digital.
  3. Share Relentlessly!  You never know what doors might open for you and your students.
  4. Save & respect time to develop and share talents.
  5. Align to your mission or throw out & rewrite your mission.
  6. Keep the offramp open & use it frequently.

And then this morning we were inspired by Will Richardson (@willrich45), who asked us “are you a teaching culture or a learning culture”.  And in examining that culture, he asked us to consider our:

  1. Beliefs
  2. Context
  3. Practice

Alignment and coCqyp9a6UIAA51k4nsistency is necessary to move education from a Traditional to Transitional to Transformational.  He quoted Seymour Sarason:  “Productive learning is where the process engenders and reinforces wanting to learn more.  Absent wanting to learn more, the learning context is unproductive.”

 

After three breakout sessions, where I learned about Peel’s new assessment app, GAFE, and collaborative tools for student assessment, we were treated to Jennifer Gonzalez’ 10 Ways to Nurture Student Growth with Technology (@cultofpedagogy, Cult of Pedagogy):

  1. Start SmallCqzrLILUkAAuXHS
  2. Step Aside
  3. Present Problems
  4. Share Stories
  5. Provide Access
  6. Make Time
  7. Iterate
  8. Expect Problems
  9. Publish
  10. Participate

Can you tell that Reshan’s #3 and Jennifer’s #4,9 and 10 have inspired me?  My blog has become like my lifelong struggle with my diet:  I begin with great intentions, but Jennifer’s advice #1 and #6 fall by the wayside when let my busy schedule and grand ambitions stand in my way.

As we head into the coming school year, I again will be making my “new year’s resolution”, and will consider Jennifer’s invocation to Iterate and to Expect Problems, and the will continue to Publish and Participate.

I’ll use Will as my model, and adopt his eclectic approach, so you should expect more frequently, but possibly shorter, blog posts over the next months.

See you back here next week!