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........

Saturday, February 28, 2015

February completed.

Yay...cross me off Chooky and Susan!! Have enjoyed so far...even needle turn...and I have started on March ( trying to make it rain Chooky ;)  )

February blocks..my favourite is the red hearts.

January stitchery..on linen with brown/tan thread.
Have loved seeing all of my fellow stich-a-long friends work. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Suze.

February .... Tick



Phew that was close... Complete with 1 hour too spare :))

February Done and Dusted


After getting  my blanket stitch frames finished before we went to New Zealand at the beginning of the month nothing further was done till today.

Seeing as the appliqué pieces are so small I decided not only to use my stash but to dive into my scrap boxes.


I pulled out the pieces in the colours that suited and there were quite a few.  Some of them were quite small, just crumbs, but it was fun using the tiniest pieces that I could.


It was at about this stage that I had a visit from a certain whip cracker to check up on me. Fortunately I was working away.  It didn't matter that I was still in my jarmies and bed hair.  Just as well she is a tolerant friend.

I'd like to have used needleturn appliqué, but it was easier, if not that much quicker, to just use machine blanket stitch.




All finished by late this afternoon.

The basket block has a very special fabric in it.


I only had this tiny bit left, which is even tinier now. 

 

This fabric has a bit of a history.  My grandmother made a wagga/beadspread for my mum in the early 50s, which has a scrappy patchwork back.  There is some of this fabric in that quilt.  It probably dates from the 30s.  One of the very first pieces of patchwork I ever made was an English paper pieced coathanger cover, back in the early 80s.  I used this fabric in that, just a fabric I found in Mum's scrap bag, which then ended up in mine.  It is nice to see it being used over such a long period of time.

Now back to the grindstone to get on with March.

Cheers
Janice

February completed

Tonight I finished stitching the year block for Februarys blocks.



I am loving how these look all together.

Thanks Chookyblue for hosting this stitch a long - tick me off the list please.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

February Done (Susan O2S)

...with only hours to spare...I had a big sewing marathon - I rarely just sit & sew all day unless I'm on retreat...but a deadline is a deadline so I did what I had to do - I sewed  and had the TV going...




a few variations and I have "optimistically" sewn 2015.
Hopefully the March blocks won't be a last minute scramble again... 

Uh oh..... deadline looming today!!!!!!!!

but....
Phew - I can relax all finished




a few "dawnifications" along the way, but that is normal for me.



Almost ....


Almost finished the biggies ... Hopeful to finish the littlies by midnight :)) 
If not will be by tomorrow ....

Done it!!

Missed the whip with hours to spare!!
Having a retreat weekend at a winery!!  (just a little wine between stitches)....
Put in a big effort in the wee hours this morning..and wallah!!.... Feb finished!

Just a little setback....was that too much wine??

Cheers Lea

Making a start and cracking the whip.....


While I traced my shapes (making a start) I cracked the whip on my buddy...... She is going great really doesn't need me....but the pressure is on since it is the last day of the month..... Go girls.... Show us your progress even if your not finished...... 
Evelyne has a pass........
Chookyblue

Friday, February 27, 2015

Made It!!

Here it is the end of February and I made it! 
The blocks are all finished  -  ironing  and trimming them to size will happen later tonight.......


 I have done a little needleturn applique before and decided to use this method for the NJ quilt - my journey through this quilt I think will be perfecting the method - a few squared off hearts here - oops! 
Am enjoying seeing all the finished blocks... keep up the good work.

Happy Stitching!
Asta

Feb done!

Finished a few days ago and forgot to post!!! Here are the little ones all done, so that makes a good start for the year! (I already posted the bigger ones earlier in the month.)



I am loving all the different colors and fabrics that everyone is using! March here we come!!!

Lv,
Joy


Yay...made it with a day to spare :)

Looking at all of the lovely work coming through gave me the mojo to get stuck into the last couple of blocks and the threat of chooky's whip looming also helped.

Here are my completed Feb blocks


congratulations to everyone on their finishes for this month, hope I can keep on track (fingers crossed)

I've Made a Start

I have finally made a start on my journey to finish this beautiful quilt. I am trying to decide  whether to  blanket stitch or needle turn.   I am not very good at needle turn....  Anyway I have cut out most of the first stage....I know I won't make the end of the month target but maybe by next Friday it will be done. Life just gets in the way of what you want to do sometimes.

I found the bobbin  donut the perfect 5 inch circle..  I just one the work everyone has been doing.  Its storming here right now, hope it rains..a lot of thunder and lightning.  good night all....


Thursday, February 26, 2015

Here's look'in at you Chookyblue!

I'm over the finish line with 2 days to spare........


So you can stop waving that whip at me Miss Chook.... I'm a good girl I am (sometimes).

Now that I've got the bit between my teeth I can't wait for the next block to arrive from Aus.  Would you believe I'm actually considering making TWO Natures Journeys.   Nope... I haven't lost my marbles I'm just blown away by all the lovely blocks and fabric choices you girls are making and I'm getting overexcited.    Will someone talk me down from the ledge here.......:o)

OK... happy danced around the garden punching the air three times already.    I figure  that's enough aerobic exercise for one day.... back to my needle and thread then.....

Hope you girls are all as happy as I am today....

See ya soon......
Hugs
Josie  xxx  

Nearly there...

before I get a spanking I had better comment on where I am up to,
I have done everything except the small circle's in the centre's and will post a pic of the finished blocks hopefully before the clock strike's midnight :)

I think I can, I think I can...

Sorry to say I am not finished...hope to be by Saturday Midnight (and that's local time Chookyblue).

But some progress... I have realised that all my small squares have a square border and some should be round, so I will just swap them with blocks in the right month later on...


So, even if you are not finished like me - jut put up a short post and let us know you are working on it...otherwise Whip Cracker #1 will be on your case.....just sayin' . . .

Will I do the 2015...or 201 and leave a gap??

Natures Journey - February blocks

Whoot....whooot!  I'm finished my blocks for this month and I even figured out how to get my pic onto this blog and my own blog...what a challenge...if you don't use it....you loose it!  Shame on me!  I have not blogged in over a year and I was loosing it! LOL

So here we have it...my first attempt at this kind of appliqué.  I am so pleased with the outcome and I'm cracking to get going on March's blocks.  Hopefully I will have my Lynette Anderson aplisticks by then but if not my chop sticks will suffice!


I've used Primitive Snowman for the backgrounds with a few a couple of other fabrics from my stash and I'm using a few different French General collections.  I love collecting FG!
Happy Stitching Ladies!  From what I see so far, we are all off to a good start and have avoided Chooky's and Susan's whip!  Yippee!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

February Blocks

Well with a couple of days to spare here are my February blocks. Am really enjoying stitching these -

Month One Finished!

I have finished Month One just in time! They still need to be trimmed, but I prefer to wait until I am ready to put the top together.



Sorry for absence, computor needed repair.

Yep, just when you think things are all systems go Thunderbirds the computor has a melt down, so here we go take two.

February Stitch Along blocks complete,Yeah!!!



Well that feels better I am off the blocks with my part 1.
Yours in Stitches, Maxine

Working Hard...




I am having fun and will,probably be a wee bit late but as you can see Nature's Journey IS on the table!  I had a hard time starting the applique and I finally opted for the "water soluble stabilizer" method.  I am finally happy so it is full steam ahead!  So neat to see everyone's choices. Please don't whip too hard or I won't be able to stitch ;)

Peg from Peg's Place in Quebec, Canada

A different direction

Hello my friends,
I decided to change a few of my fabrics.
This was my first choice so kept with this 
using the colours to find the right fabrics.


These are my final choices but may add the odd fabric as needed.
They are `Collection for a Cause Mill Book Series`.
Plus some `Moda French General` fabrics for peek a boo border 
and binding. 
Then the `Vintage Rose` series for backgrounds.
My `Natures Journey` I am keeping this lovely box 
as I work on this quilt.


February`s blocks complete.
I am so pleased how they look.


Till next month,
Happy Stitching,
Clare.

Nearly there...

Hi Ladies,

Gosh where has the month gone.. got to confess I am not sure I will finish all by Saturday.  Only got home late last week from holidays and parcel awaiting me... so have been trying to get what I can done, but had two job interviews yesterday and 5 friends from the UK are descending on us tomorrow for 2 weeks holiday so ALOT of time been spent cleaning and tidying and not enough on stitching.. but I am doing my best.

I did finish the Christmas Wish stitchery a few weeks ago... I used Cosmo 104 (reddish-pink colour).  Havent decided what I am going to make it into as yet..






Here is where I am up to with Part 1:

Two completed stitched blocks (gee just noticed my pressing is not the best!)





Appliques cut and ironed and ready to cut out and turn under tonight.  I am using the Hugs and Kisses iron on applique paper and Lynette Anderson's applique technique to do my applique.  Its the first time I have done this type of applique and I thought it would help me keep the shapes better.. so its a little more fiddling in the preparation but I hope it is worth it in the long run.




Will post more pics once I am done!

February - Tick!...

Part 1 ticked off...and with days to spare! wahoo!!...
Not sure about the basket handle but I'll revisit that if I can't live with it when the time comes...my applique is kinda wonky anyway so maybe it will fit in nicely at the end with the rest of the wonkiness...

Happy Stitching...
Annette @ Jindi's Cottage

29/73.............

Good but NO where near good enough...................
COME ON GIRLS......
you can do it..........
3 more days to go...........
The whip cracker who is going to be whipped............
aka Chookyblue............

Part 1...

... is done. (The blocks are not trimmed yet.) The colours are much better in real than what the photo shows. I put the blame on my camera.  Hopefully the needle turn method will improve during this journey :-)
                It's so interesting to see all the lovely blocks that are made.
                                                 Happy stitching!
                                                     Oddbjørg

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Missing page!!!!


I have misplaced Page of Part 1
It is the numbers of 1-7!!!

any chance of someone emailing this page to me??
Is ok if not, but thought I would ask.
I have them buttonholded and half stitched, just annoying I can't find this page!!

February Done

February made...........the next two weeks, i will be away, hope to find Spring,with us it is still cold,i like winter less and less  Greetings from Switzerland

My Feb Finished!

Have really enjoyed stitching these. As you can see, I opted for blanket stitch applique (its my favourite!). Although I bought most of my fabrics its lovely to be able to incorporate some old favourites from the scrap pile into the small appliques.
Great to see everyones versions! Will have a break from this one for the next week or so now. Keep up the good work stitchers!


Marlene (Oz)

Month 1 done

My month 1 of the Nature's Journey is completed. Lovely to see all the different colourways. I am using my stash for my fabrics and just bought a few extra blues for the backgrounds.

Me too !!

I'm on time !



It's hard to have the right colors on the pictures… so this is a try by daylight :



See you soon !

February finish !!!!!



They where almost ready a few weeks ago, but....
I had to work on another project and I'm also
making the Gossip in the garden;
I went to l'Aguille  en fête in Paris....
Is there somebody who knows where I can buy
Time
????????
Have a nice day,
Martine 


Monday, February 23, 2015

Now for March!!!

IMG_1494

February is done….!!!!!! …..

january finished and still waiting for the pattern

..... january is been finished for a while ..... but I'm still waiting for the pattern ....... probably I'll get it next week so that will be lots of work in march ....

evelyne

WOOT WOOT PART 1 DONE!!!

 
Beat the deadline by 6 days!!! YAY!!!
 
 
After a lot of serious thinking I decided to do the applique with buttonhole.
I have way too much on my plate at the moment and as I have never done needle turn I decided to go the easier way.

 
Part 2 cut out and applique ironed on ready to go!!