Slow progress on Tis the season

I have finally pinned my Tis the season quilt and hope to quilt it soon...perhaps this week. The quilting is always the thing that takes the longest for me as it is the bit that I like the least!

 I have been collecting some fabrics for my Some Kind of Wonderful quilt. I bought these lovely ones, which are used in the original quilt, at Hatched and Patched last week.

 Then I have added a few more. I am not sure if I will use them all but they all seem to tone.

 Here are some of my backgrounds...they are a bit lighter in real life.

I am looking forward to starting but I promise I won't start until my Tis the Season is done!

Fabric choices

I'm underway as far as sorting out some of the fabrics I'll be using... it even involved a fun day with friends on a roadtrip of 2 1/2 hours each way to find some of them...amongst other things...

Already 4 finished

Hi girls,


I have already 4 blocks finished and the next one
is waiting to be applicated. I'm having fun doing
the applications. It's nice to look every day on the
blog to see what everybody is doing and to see
all of the progress.

I'm not very sure about the jeans, maybe I'll make another 
one??? What do you think???
I hope that everybody is having as much fun as me, making
the quilt and reading the blog.
Have a nice day or night,
Martine

Some Kind of Wonderful fabric chosen.....now to begin.....

Well Hi girls.....I am loving see everyone's fabric choices for the new SAL, and well done to all the 'starters'....you really are off to a great start......I have agonised,  pawed thru the stash, gone shopping at the Fair in Brisbane last week, re-agonised (!!!!), and come up with this..........

...........I love the fabrics all laid out in a rainbow .............

..........and I love them all stacked up too...............

..............really, pretty much you could say...."I just love fabric"...lol.................

So what do you think, girls?........Off to do some tracing.....I think Chooky's made a start....yeeks....if so, she'll be reaching for that whip.............lol.........

Old Blue Jeans

I have done my Old Blue Jeans and don't I wish I could wear long skinny jeans??
Here is the block:-

and a few detailed shots:

Couldn't resist the $1 jeans at the local Op Shop!!!

I hope everyone has had a great weekend and did some sewing.

Two blocks completed

Hi Ladies
I just wanted to show you my first two blocks (excuse the poor photo).
I am using Buttercup by Fig Tree. Ahh Fig Tree my new love.
This is my first attempt at needleturn and i am not using freezer paper or glue or anything. My cherries are a bit a lot wonky but that's OK, as you will get to know me you will often see me write "near enough is good enough" and Suzitee and Tracey can vouch that, that is my quilting motto. It has to have some mistakes on it or it wouldn't be mine.

I do love the puffy puffiness of this type of needleturn, so although my first attempt is by no means perfect i am very happy with the end result. (and hey, i can only get better right?)
Off now to start on the tea cups
Happy Sunday everyone.
Linda

Cardy's revenge...........

well...we all know what a harsh task master ole chookyblue is!!!!

i have been stood over to stitch my TTS blocks....harassed +++

but I have sewn nearly two blocks which is good! 

But while I was hard at work, what do you think the chookster was doing?????

NOT A LOT...except flapping her beak!

So in the name of all us embarassed slow stitchers I am hassling her to start her SKofW quilt...she must have scratched through every box of fabric she has ....and still was dithering....so now I am cracking that whip!

She is thinking 30's...looks good...now she needs to stop looking and START DOING!

Is that a cheer I hear? What do you think???

Cardygirl xx

My first blocks

As you know my fabric arrived on Friday so after catching up on the laundry I started :o)

This is my first attempt at needle turn applique but I think that I have found a method that is working for me and the more blocks I do I am hoping the rounder my curves will become.

Here is my progress so far.

No cherries yet. They might get added when I am a little more confident at the smaller pieces.

(Sorry about the dark photos. It is overcast here today)

and then all three

Looking forward to seeing every ones blocks,

Sharon

TTS update...

Hi to all you great girls :)
I just want to say my TTS quilt had stranded after my horrible qulting :(
I hate to unravel sewn stitches. Therefore, it has not happened so much more here. But tonight I will do it and hope it goes well. Then we'll see how it will be quilted. But as I said it's not Christmas yet ;-) and it must be clear before that ;-)

Take care girl and you all had done a great work on yours TTS quilt :)
Marica @englating.se

really cracking the whip..............

........had to crack the whip on Cardygirl while she is here visiting........she's fed the lambs and chooks.........patted Curly Pops the pet cow..........got stung by sting nettles.........played with some other fabrics....

FINALLY I told her she had to put a few threads into the TTS quilt........

....we're having a lovely time together...........

Does anyone else need to come visit to get there quilts finished????

Chookyblue (and Cardygirl busily stitching)

It's Here .....

and now my Postie thinks I'm Nuts!!!!

Even prettier in real life.

My poor postie. He keeps delivering me stuff (I have been Xmas shopping on eBay) but it has not been what I wanted .... until about 10 minutes ago!  I could have given him a big old cuddle .... lol

I have finished my Hexagon Quilt (see here if you like) this morning and to get it over the finish line I have neglected the Laundry so I am off to try and catch up there and then guess what I'm doing ........ :o)

I am really enjoying the blocks and fabric choices that are starting to appear for the SKOW and am so excited that I will have a block to add soon.  And all those Xmas and A Gardener's Journal quilts that the girls are still working on are coming together nicely.  Keep up the great work.

Happy sewing ladies,

Sharon

Fabric Selection

Thanks for the invite Chooky and hello to everyone. Im really excited to be Stitching A-long on this project.

Here is my fabric selection - all from my stash.............

Hopefully will make a start over the weekend.

D_E

Singing in the Rain

I finished my first block today - Singing in the rain.  I did the appliquing last night and stitched whilst at the hairdressers. 

 

 I have my blue jeans ready to embroider and the teacup is cut out - maybe finished by Sudnay night?? Maybe.

Yay I'm In!

I am a most happy camper at being allowed to join in on this stitch along....thank you Chooky for the invite...I have to pick my fabric and will start on it this weekend......I can't wait to see everyone's quilts when this is finished......

Wendy

I'm In!!

Yippee!  I'm officially part of the SAL. I'm so glad I can join in.  Thank you Chookyblue for organising and managing this SAL, and thanks so much for the invitation.

I'm looking forward to sharing my progress with you, and seeing all your beautiful work too.

Now if my fabric would turn up....!!!!

All the best
Helen

My choice of fabric

I went shopping on Tuesday for the background fabric, took DD with me.  I have also been through my stash and picked out the fabric.  Here is a pic of it all on my cutting table,  Some I will be using and some maybe not will decide as I go along.

The bottom three browns in the bottom of the picture are what I am using for the cupcakes and there toppings are just above them.   Today I am hopefully going to pick up some freezer paper so I can start.

I had a terrible migraine yesterday and decided NOT to cut anything out............LOL.

I love seeing the blocks posted.
Annette B

A Happy Newbie

Wow, i am so excited. Im in.
Thanks for the invite Chooky, I cant wait to get started on my first block. I have never needleturn before ( like some of you ) but I will give it a try and see how i go.
Im thinking of using a lot of the fat quarters i have in my stash, and maybe buying a few extras.
Looking forward to sewing with you all.
Thanks again Chooky.

Christine

Work in progress

Hope to finish over the weekend....

Hope to finish at the weekend...

Progress Report

I'm getting there... slowly.

After seeing all of your beautiful finished quilts, I'm putting in a huge effort and trying (hoping) to get my finished by the end of October. 

I only have one and a half blocks to go.

My fabric for the borders is ready to go too. I'm still going with these FQ's I'd won in a Homespun competition a while back.

Wish me luck for an October finish!!!

First block

Hello everybody !

Here is my cup of tea !!



It's green tea...very light brown !!
The one I like : Earl Grey !!!
And you ? what tea do you drink ??
Florence

Patty Cakes from Finland

Hey there,

I'm Satu from Finland (the 'old ones' already know me) 

and

I would like to share some cakes with you;)

I haven't yet stitched it, because I'm still thinking of use some finnish words in this quilt...

but I have one tiny problem, I don't know what are those patty cakes in finnish. I know they usually are salty delicious (=pasteija) here in Finland, but these cakes don't look salty at all...

Then shortly about my fabrics:

I'm going to use some colours / fabrics from Moda

3 Sisters' new range Etchings

and

French General's Pom Pom Paris

and

there is few tempting fabrics from Lecien and Red Roosters too...

So my quilt will be scrappy one... and quite romantic;)

I'm really looking forward to our new adventure, which we are going to share!

I WISH you ALL happy APPLIQUEING week!!!!

- Satu -

cupcake-icecreams

Ok I know they are Cupcakes but they kinda remind me of ice creams with a cherry slipping of the top...
I have never done needleturn applique before but decided this was a good enough project as any to learn, I have read books and tutorials on the internet and watched many videos-to give my "blanket stitch mind"..the idea it could do this..
I found out very quickly I needed a thimble..well pfft them solid ones just don't work for me so it was an expensive trip to spotlight to get a clover-leather coin thimble ouch-came home and bought another less than half I paid with frieght from the USA (that's what you get for wanting it NOW)

I share with you my first block,
Cheers Vickie

Ta Dah 'Tis Done!...

At last...Ta Dah!...'Tis the Season...a finished, quilted, bound and labeled quilt!!!...

Finished this morning at local quilting group...happy dancing!...hand quilted with a chocolate brown perle 8 thread, much happier than the aborted attempt at machine quilting, it really did not want to be machine quilted.  The 13th stitchery, the wreath, was awarded the supporting role of label. 

Now can I have my SKoW spot please Chooky...the book has been waiting since July and I have a couple of bundles of fabrics from the stash that are currently vying for the role of lead fabrics...

Annette

Jindi's Cottage

TTS Quilt

Phew....what a journey....it's been fantastic to be part of the SAL and to have this quilt as the result.
Thank you Chooky!
Good luck everyone with your SKoW adventure!

Cheers....Jane

Woohoo!!! I'm IN!!!

Wow!  I was fully prepared to stitch/sew this quilt alongside the group, but ... lucky me, my invite arrived overnight!
I have had this book since it came out and was always (lol) intending on making the quilt, but was keen to do it with someone else for encouragement ... come in Chooky and the group ... great timing sweetie!!
I have decided to work with Moda's 'Grace' range and have a layer cake coming ... should arrive early next week if it's not here Friday, and then I can get onto some applique blocks.
I'm looking forward to seeing all the lovely versions of this quilt come together over the coming year ... and all the inspiration and encouragement to keep at it, lol!
Thanks for letting me join in with all the fun Chooky!!!

First block finished !!!

Hi Girls,
It's 1 o'clock in the morning overhere in Belgium,
but before I go to sleep, I want to show my first
block. I'm going to try to make my quilt with fabrics
that I already have. 

Good night for me and I think for the most of you, 
have a nice day!!!!


Martine

Youhou !!

I can't believe it !!! I'm in !!!!
I'm so happy !!!
I'll be back soon to show you my cup of tea that I prepared in waiting to be a member of this famous blog !! I can't wait to meet you all ...
Thank you Chookyblue !

Florence

Singing in the rain...

 Finally made a start of my quilt. 
Thought I would start with this block as it was nice a simple and a good one to get me teeth into.  I have chosen Butterscotch & Roses by Fig Tree for my fabric, I have started with a layer cake and will by some yardage shortly.
I am doing blanket stitch as I have not long been quilting so I wanted to stick with something that I know.

Can't wait to see how different they all turn out, its going to be fun.
Love me :-)

Whip Stitching!

Yep ... That's what I've been doing. No ... not the embroidery stitch of whip stitching ... stitching madly so Chookyblue doesn't chase me with her WHIP!! Tee! Hee! Hee! I know I'm a bit ... er ... quite a bit ... OK a LOT behind with my GJ quilt, but I'm still plugging along with it and this weekend ... to avoid that whip!! ... I locked myself in my sewing room. I'm happy to say that we have PROGRESS! :0)

Block B completed. Yay! :0) But wait ... there's MORE!!

Block I completed! YAHOO!! :0) The Annual Garden Show stitchery was the one that held me up for some reason ... it just kept getting put on hold, but now it's DONE! So ... this is where I'm up to ...

All my blocks ready to join together, just need to get some more uninterrupted time in the sewing room to get the top together ... and avoid Chooky's whip! :0) Can't wait til she lets me start My Favourite Things! Tee! Hee! Hee!

Thanks to you all for your encouragement throughout my rather drawn-out creation here! :0) Hope you're all having a fabulous start to your week! Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Let the Binding Begin...

I spent Sunday (yesterday) feverishly getting the hand quilting on TTS done and dusted...last night reaching this point...

The label was finished at craft group this morning...and now...

Comfy cosy on the couch, Big Bang Theory on the tele...let the binding begin...

Almost there...

Annette

Jindiscottage

tah dah . . . . . all finished

well finally my TTS is finished

and   i am only 24 days past the deadline

i have had a bit of a love hate relationship with this quilt

i loved the stitcheries

i put the border fabrics on as i went

then decided that i hated the red in the inside borders of the blocks so they were removed

and the blocks re-sewn

i struggled finding a border fabric in my local quilt shops

and end up searching on the internet for 2 hours 

to find this fabric

in the end i love it . . . 

so much that i took it into Newcastle for a photo shoot

i have really enjoyed this stitch a long

and all the people i have met along the way

Ciao

I've made the first cuts

Whilst I am patiently awaiting the arrival of my "Strawberry Fields" Bundle and in an attempt to keep myself busy I started ...... copying the patterns (for ease of tracing) and cutting my cream and beige's.

All cut and labeled ready to go as soon as postie brings me that fabric.

Come on customs... release it!  :o)

How is every one else going?

Sharon



I've made a start.....

I find the planning and choosing and first cut the most stressful part of quilt making.....

Today I started slicing..... and put together the pieces for some of the blocks....

I started learning needleturn this year and usually use freezer paper but decided with all the different shapes (and the fact that I didn't have any freezer paper on hand and it's 25minutes drive to the shop and my car is in the workshop for fixing the breaks....) I am going to needle-turn.....

..... starting with the "Old Blue Jeans" since there are nice straight lines to learn with....

.... only in my fabrics I chose there is no blue.... so I will have brown floral jeans....

"Old Jeans" or "Old Comfy Jeans" or "Hippy Jeans" - open to suggestions

My First Appliqué Attempt

Well, after pooling your knowledge and reading high and low, I finally made my first appliqué attempt. Don't look too close, but I'm pretty pleased :) I've already made notes of changes when I attempt my actual block for the quilt.

1. Need to be more patient and take smaller stitches
2. Need smaller seam allowances along the side - little more at the ends.
3. Making small "placement" pencil marks didn't work for me. Need to think that out.
4. Need to pin a little closer to each end - my pieces flopped around too much.

Now, my question to you. When I sewed on the body, do I sew the body to the wings or sew all the way down to the background?

Hugs, Elisa