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........

Monday, October 24, 2016

Lovely dragonfly




Too much busy, a difficult year because of illnesses of the little ones and too much job, but I do love Annie Downs and this wonderfull project!!! So, trying to find out an hour a week, on Sunday, sewing in multitasking while listening at the recordings for my job... one stitch little by little!!!! Falled in love with this sweet dragonfly!!!

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Plodding Along

Progress is happening...

Last month I spent a weekend away in Bathurst.  I took along my box of Nature's Journey.  I was able to sit down and spent the good part of the 2 days stitching on my squares/diamonds.  

While I was stitching I was admiring Sonia (Forever Always) quilting her Nature's Journey.  

This week I am on leave from work and after I did some jobs I decided I would once again pull out my Nature's Journey box.  I reached in and grabbed the bag of small squares and well.....

I sewed into pairs, these became, sets of 3, which grew into nine-patches and then into rows.  I couldn't help myself so before I even hit them with the iron I laid them against my centre block and thankfully I am still in love with the quilt.

So inspiration has hit and the machine is out I am going to continue to work on these and who knows before the end of 2016 I may start quilting......





Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Almost there


After seeing Maria's post today, I'd thought I'd try and inspire those like me that are almost there. I'm on the last 2 borders, I'm loving the dimples I'm creating in my hand quilting. I'm working a little every night. My poor Lucy Boston is very jealous.

Back to quilting.....

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Happy Dance !!!!!

I am delighted to be posting my completed Nature's Journey........














Thanks heaps to Chooky and the whip cracking Susan for keeping me on track....

Look forward to the next SAL Ladies........

Hugz  Maria.

http://maria-lifeontheblock.com.au

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Saw this....


On the 16th July I went to a quilt show by the Schoolhouse Quilters Kenmore. This is their raffle prize. It is a collaborative quilt and beautifully made. The photos are not the best because the quilt was hung up high and I only had my phone. I thought you might like to see it though.

The next question is - if I win this one do I have to finish mine?  Only joking because I wouldn't waste all the work I've done so far.
Enjoy.
Lynda (bettsylyn)

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Quilting done

It was very exciting to head to my lovely quilter's place to pick up this quilt, Nature's Journey! She has done a wonderful job of the quilting! Now to bind and add a label.



Monday, April 18, 2016

My Journey Finished.


The night before "Girls Day in The Country" with Anni Downs my friend Gail( not in the photo) Kate and myself were trying to get the bind stitched down.  Betty Field from Cowra quilted it for me ...the quilting is so nice.





Ta Da here it is Natures Journey finished.... Thank you Chooky for running the stitch along and thank you all out there in blogland for keeping me motivated. It would not have happened without you all.

Displaying my quilt with the designer Anni Downs






Saturday, April 9, 2016

Great seeing so many finishes....

I too have completed  including binding....
I am however going to hand quilt this - so that will take some time.
It is as good as finished having been stitched in ditch already!!!!

It was also great to see some of the finished ones in Nundle.
they all look terrific and I am sure Anni loved seeing them all too

Friday, April 8, 2016

a finish

Well I looked over at the side bar and realised I was down as a top!!… but I have a finish!!….
Checked by Anni at GDITC and passed inspection!.. :)…I'm happy!!  Xx Lea

Friday, March 25, 2016

Finished - Susan Oh 2 Sew

I had this finished by the end of February, but wanted to keep quiet until after GDITC in Nundle...so here it is all done.
sorry the photo is a bit lop sided ...I'll replace it one day,,,


I had Anni sign the label too.

Thanks everyone who participated in the SAL - and a huge congratulations to the "Champions" and well done to the "Toppers"!
Without the SAL I wouldn't have got it finished.

I'm sure know there are another few tops & quilts ready to be posted...just waiting to update the side bar - so please post!!!


Saturday, March 19, 2016

Gardeners Journal Done

Hi all well its been nearly 6 years but I am done .Thanks to Chooky and all the girls that did this quilt I have loved making it and have learnt a lot .I even learnt how to hand quilt to get it finished .so here are a couple of pics for you  hugs to you all Beth

Monday, March 14, 2016

hello sorry

Hi  Everyone

So sorry I am missing from here.
I am behind in comments and so sorry about that. You have been doing some amazing work...........well done.....so many amazing quilts happening.............

Sadly I was hoping my NJ would be finished by this weekend but it is still in a million pieces. So lost I don't know where to start. I as so sad about that but I did some work on it yesterday............reinspired a little and actually had some time.

I will try and catch up some posts in the next few days.

A massive thanks to Susan who has done HEAPS to keep this SAL going when I wasn't able to............

Chookyblue............



Saturday, March 12, 2016

That Great Feeling!

Yes!! My Nature's Journey is finished :) ... What a great feeling of accomplishment :) .... I really enjoyed making this quilt.... I learnt to do needle turn applique, learnt to be patient and not hurry things and  met so many fellow patchworkers while on this "journey"! 

Yes,,, I know my label says 2015 and after some deliberation over the issue decided on 2015 as the top was finished last year (October) but it took me a while to decide on hand quilting it or getting it quilted - having made the decision to get it quilted decided not to add it to the quilter's pile of quilts required by Xmas..... then came the binding job just as the very warm weather arrived and well.... it's very hard to get motivated with a quilt draped over your lap! 
A big thank you to Chooky and Susan for organising our Stitch-A-Long :) :) 

Will be popping by to see progress on all those other beautiful quilts..... and look forward to meeting up again.....(perhaps on another Stitch-A-Long?)
Happy Stitching
Asta

Finished!!



Sammie
Bears at Home

Monday, March 7, 2016

Progress!!!!! A Quilt Top completed!!!!


Well it has been a busy couple of weeks...
but this is how my Nature's was looking two weeks ago today!!!
centre not done, but  appliqueborders finished.....


 but I have been sewing......
 and stitching......
 and stitching..... even 3 at a time......
 and sorting.......
 ... and sewing
 and sorting........
 and sewing.....
 and sewing.......
 and sewing.......
 and finally .... I have made it up to the backing stage - all ready and joined!!!!!!
Now - the massive task of getting top/wadding and base together........
before the quilting starts.....
but hooray - the top has been completed !!
a long way from the first pic here which I took two weeks ago!!!!!


so.... for anyone out there who has put their quilt on the backburner, now is a good time to
get it out  and try and do some progress on it.... cause - it can be done.

you know the tune..... when we want to get something done.... we just do it!!!!.

posted by Dawnie...

Friday, March 4, 2016

Border question please!!!!!

After the "diamond applique" border instructions say trim to  27.5 x 33.5.  Then  - Part 8 says side border measurement  is 30.5"????? (Is this a typo)

I have only  just looked at this hurridly  now and will need to double check ,but  thought i would do a quick post now  before I trim back border 7.

Thanks heaps in advance, will re measure tonight  but thought I would do a quick check first

Edited by Susan
The measurement should be 30.5"
Try this post:





Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Progress...ish!...

Catching up on reading posts yesterdaySaturday Chooky's in which she asked the question "Anyone else working on the SAL at the moment?"...impetus to get the camera out and show where mine is at...
On the design wall...with a bits from the scrap basket that are auditioning or have been cast but still learning their roles...it will get there...one day!...not abandoned just going at its own [slow] pace...

Great tops  being shown Ladies...well done...loving them all...

Happy Stitching...
Annette, Jindi's Cottage 

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Hip, hip, hip….

My top has come back from the quilter !
I've basted it… so…
It's finished !!


Some details of the quilting...


I like how it looks like...


I'm so happy to have done all this journey with all of you !
Thank you so much Chooky and Susan to have been such kind guardians of our needle work, even if sometimes  you have to use a whip ;) !
and thank you to all the members of the SAL to have been so inspiring !
Maybe we will meet on another project one day ...

Thursday, February 18, 2016

My top is off to be basted.

So after deciding on that extra border making it a queen-sized quilt, I realised that basting is the only thing I really hate about quilting.... I just detest it, and such a large quilt was so daunting.

After seeing a machine basted Lucy Boston at my sewing group last week... I didn't even know this was a thing. I've just dropped my baby off at the quilters.....to be basted.

So I am another step closer....

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Almost there...still!


To be quite honest, I've been "almost there" for a few months now.....ooops! 

I've pondered and pondered over how I was going to quilt this top, but finally decided to just go with the flow, and let it happen. I've pinned it (with a little bit of help from my puppies) and quilt a little each afternoon after work.


So far it's going quite well, and I hope to be binding by the weekend.

Congratulations to all of you who have beautiful quilts to show...even though I don't comment much, I love looking at all your gorgeous work.

TTFN
Susan (aka suzitee)

Monday, February 15, 2016

Nearly There!

Just a quick update... my quilt is now back from the quilters..... (sorry about the sun in the top corner)......
A couple of close ups of the quilting.... done by a lady called Jenny in our embroidery group......


And... after a trip to my local patchwork shop some binding was purchased.... I would have gone for a brown of some kind if it wasn't for the helpful assistant who suggested we look around for some other options.... love the one she came up with (an Anni Downs fabric - from her "Under the Mistletoe" range) ..... 
seen here along the bottom of the photo. 

So.... just have to cut up the binding, sew it on and do my label!....I'm getting there not long to go now!

Happy Stitching
Asta