1st SAL.....Peg, Dale and I committed to stitching Anni Downs - A Gardener's Journal in March. I blogged about this on my blog thinking maybe one or 2 others may join us and lots of girls indicated an interest so I decided to start this blog where we can all encourage each other to meet the goals set along the way....March 2010 -March 2011...........
2nd SAL ......well so many of the girls wanted to continue on with another project and some new girls joined us and now approx 91 girls are stitching Natalie Bird's Tis the Season. March to Sept 2011...............
3rd SAL....many girls want to stick with the SAL so now we have moved onto Anni Downs Some Kind of Wonderful - My Favourite Things Quilt.......Oct 2011-Oct 2012.........
Where are we now.....
4th SAL 2013...is numerous smaller projects from the previous 2 books Tis the Season and Some Kind of Wonderful plus some projects from Red Home by Natalie Bird approx 60 ladies stitching together.........
2014 we had the year off..............
5th SAL 2015..........inspired to continue we are doing another quilt project.....Anni Downs newest quilt Natures Journey.....
6th SAL 2017.............A Holly Cottage Christmas by Michelle Ridgway.......once again the pattern is in an affordable book so it is easy for everyone to join in...........and you can raid your stash for the fabrics........or lash out and buy a the whole lot........this SAL will be run by Fiona aka Bubz Rugz and Raewyn........
Chookyblue........

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Gardener's Journal completed

 At last I hear you all cry!!!
It is done- stitched, pieced, quilted, bound, and rod pocket!!
I have totally enjoyed making this quilt and am so glad I changed my fabric choice about a month ago....

Not the best picture, but here it is on my loungeroom floor.
It will be the first thing I hang in my sewing room when we move into our new house.... 7th of December can't come quick enough, I cannot wait to have my own sewing room!
Right TTS stitcheries next.....

A Snail's Pace

I am rather slow at the moment-- I have another 4 blocks to complete.  The Best Friends block needs  embroidery, The Stitching room is yet to be finished. I am going to do a Christmas tree instead of a chair, and an Apron instead of high heel shoes-- cannot walk in those!
Here is where I am up to.

 
 
 
 
 

I am going away for a couple of days, so I am madly trying to prepare the blocks so I can take them away with me. Hopefully, I will be able to get quite a bit done-- fingers crossed!!
 


a mess.........

Yesterday I worked on my SKofW...........
I got more appliqué done........
threads everywhere..........
more mess............
I should have been working on the strips as I have set a challenge yesterday morning with Susan to get the strips prepared and joined into strips...........I have some strips cut but that is about all..........
So guess what I am doing today...........stripping.............now don't take that the wrong way....lol.....
31 sleeps to go............
Keep Stitching............
Chookyblue...........

Finally an update!

After an absence of a few months, finally a little more progress! I know I've been missing in writing updates, but i have been reading and enjoying watching other peoples progress. Life has taken several different turns this year - unexpected ones. And not even awful ones, just unexpected! Anyway, despite not keeping everyone updated, I have been inspired by others and I have been making slow progress.

This is my latest - Home Block. Had great expectations of getting lots done while I'm on school holidays, but appear to have brought my sewing box but no book. I've just completed the current block and can probably put together one or two others without the book, but not too many.


Here is home block.

Without the pattern, these are the blocks I think I have left to complete - Tree, flower, Best Friends, Daisy, Rainbow, Sewing and Chair block. I've cut some strips for the joining.

I'm going to get this quilt finished - and that is mostly because I've joined this SAL and made the commitment. With how life has been this year, I would not have got this far without that in the back of my mind. Chooky's whip helping, too, of course!

Hopefully there'll be another block to show you tomorrow!

My Daisy block





Whoo Hoo my daisy block is finished,another block closer to finishing my SKOW quilt.
cheers shez xx

Top Complete


I had to chase this around the clothes line
 a couple of times to get these pics
 as it was a bit windy...HaHa!
I am so happy with my quilt top....
I was going to use the leftovers for a pieced back
 but I don't quite have enough so it's 
off to the shop to get some backing and then
 a trip out to see Belinda my quilting Angel....
I hope all the other Stitch-a-long girls are 
enjoying there journey as much as I have....
Don't forget to update me Chooky as I only have a
 D for dismal or is that December...Ha Ha....
Until next time, Happy Stitching

Kate

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Getting nowhere fast

I have done the first 5 blocks and then had stitchers block. I will get them done but much more slowly than I or Chooky planned. As I get blocks finished I will post pictures.
Sue S

Yay! The Top is Done

Seeing as one certain lady has been getting out the whip, I thought it was about time to show my progress on the SKOW stitch-a-long.  After plodding along, I’m delighted to announce that the top is all together…. and on time.


The best bit is that this was finally put together on a recent visit to “The Chook Shed” and Chooky actually was present for the “Ta Da” moment. 

I think she is being a little cheeky here –pretending it is her finished quilt.


The worst part was all the “Pesky Petals”, as I called them, on the tree block.  There are 55 separate petals, all needing to be started and finished and then tied off at the back.  For once machine blanket stitch was not the easiest option.

Now I just have to trim all the loose threads and will be delivering the top to my friend Val on Tuesday for her to quilt it.  I can’t wait to get it completely finished. 

As I keep saying, I would never have tackled a project this involved without the encouragement and accountability of the stitch-a-long. Thanks Chooky for keeping us on track.

Cheers

Janice

~A Gardener's Journal Quilt Top~


After much deliberation on deciding which border to use I went with the one below as the red just seemed too bright
What was to have been the backing is now the outer border
I had read I think on Anni's blog a while ago that a backing can be pieced using fat 1/4's and I have seen pieced backings using strips of fabric

So this weekend hopefully I will have a friend down who has offered to show me how to do it all
I was thinking I might even hand quilt it just around the blocks and squares and perhaps do in- the-ditch
around the borders
Did anyone else hand quilt this one?




This is what it looks like on the bed


and on the washing line
I just couldn't get a straight pic due to the wind

Thanks so much Chooky and to the Stitch-a-long gals for all the encouragement on this blog
Have a great weekend everyone......Dzintra

SKOW Update


Sorry about the pics not being so 
clear as they were taken last night....
Another column between row
 4 and 5 and an outer border....
One column to go and then 
the top and bottom borders.....
Yay! Getting a little excited girls....
What was that????
Oh dear it's the whip....Better go and get cracking....
Until next time, Happy Stitching

Kate

can you believe this..........

Just sorting something out on the SAL blog this morning and can you believe this little blog has nearly got 400 followers..................
That means they all call in to see what you are all up to on your SAL quilts................

32 sleeps to go...............
To everyone that reads this blog that isn't a member (and that's lots of you)
THANKYOU.............enjoy your visit

Happy Stitching Girls............Chookyblue..............

Friday, September 28, 2012

I did it!

Remember in my last post I set myself a challenge to have the top together by the end of this week!  Well.......

a sideways picture :(

My top is completed! I had a little frustration later this afternoon because I had mucked up with the measurements of a couple of blocks but I managed to fix it!

I will look and see what I have for backing tomorrow and hopefully might get it pinned sometime on Sunday.

DE


Still going strong

Well I am way behind but am still chugging along. I gave up just the other day on hand piecing all the 1 1/2" squares. I hand pieced all of them into two but once I got to the four 1 1/2" blocks I gave up.


Then I made a huge mistake and machine ALL of the two patch units into blocks of four - then I read the instructions........Only 27 (?) were required. doh!


I really wanted to see some of these squares attached to a block as my goal by the end of next week (I am going away on Sunday for four days and won't be by the machine) is to have the first row completed.




I have yet to stitch my little 'string' for my tag.....



Finding these chocolate blocks terribly difficult as I think I have used some 'drill' cotton scraps and its quite thick.


I have another two blocks already cut out with applique ready to be sewn to take when I am away. 
So my motto is slowly but surely. 

Keep up the great work everyone.

Happy Stitching
Susie

Taking Shape


Just a bit of an update on My Favourite Things Quilt.....
Another 2 rows joined with a column....
This is where I am up to so far....
They are looking a little like a 
stained glass window at the moment......
Well off to join more strips and squares....
Until next time, Happy Stitching

Kate

Whole Lotta Stitching Going On

Hello everyone!

I wish I had a better picture to share, but...

Now that I'm able to focus on my SAL, I've been working on all my blocks simultaneously - LOL. All my blocks are in different stages of undress.... er.. completion! Many are complete (I've shared those already). Some are appliquéd and half stitched. Some are appliquéd and marked for stitching. Some are cut out. Some just have their selected fabrics next to the pattern.

I can tell you that I'm going on a long weekend and this block (and, hopefully, one or more others) will be completed by the end of it.

Love seeing everyone's progress! Keep going, girls!

Hugs, Elisa

 

One Step at A Time .....

Thanks for the reminders Chooky - it really does help to keep me focussed

I have been working on finishing my quilt top.....

I made a backing using up left over fabric (and some matching metreage I had)


the quilt has been sandwiched and pinned....


... and quilting has started....


I'm expecting aching shoulders this weekend....

I wonder if you will too??

Hugz from Fiona Bubz

Thursday, September 27, 2012

6 more means 8/24.....

See here is the proof...............I told you i had done lots of stitching yesterday..........

the blue wash out pen still needs to be washed out...........
And as I never wear high heals I changed them to boots.............
i love my work boots and my good Baxter boots...........
the blocks sure are happening at the moment..........

how are your quilts coming along???
.....remember we need to hear from you before the end of September......
34 sleeps..........
Keep Stitching............
Chookyblue...........

5th Row Complete!

It looks like my computer glitches are fixed for the moment so here is the photo I was trying to post the other day.



I have finished my little blocks for the sewing block but just need to stitch them in place -
they are sooo cute!



I only have the best friend block to go and then I can put together the 4th row.

With only 35 sleeps to go ...........................I think I can .........I think I can!!!!

Until Next Time - Happy Stitching
Ann xox




Cracking on!!

Hi all just checking in with some of my blocks for SKoW that whips hurrying me along:)

It's Finished - It's Finished

My SKOW is finally finished.  I just finished stitching the binding on last night.  This is the first quilt I quilted on my longarm and I love it so much!

Thanks to Chooky and everyone else for their support to get this done!

Can't wait for the next Stitch-A-Long!


Close ups of the quilting!


Lori Leaskdale, Ontario, Canada