SKoW progress from Bears' Mum :)

Slowly but surely I am working my way through the SKoW blocks...I have completed the following three- and need to stitch on my pins and stitch down the hexagons and tape measure on the sewing block. Husband and son have gone to Sydney for the weekend, so I plan on setting up on the dining room table today!! Ironing board, cutting mat, machine and fabrics...I can't wait!

Changed words to " our garden "

Bear the labrador and Hazel cat :)

Kate and I...

Changed words to "quilting" and made hexies...just need to stitch them down, the tape and add my pins!

I have five more blocks to go. I am keeping the travel bag, but changing the other four. Last night I traced three blocks onto vlisofix, so will be getting them ready to stitch today. Have a happy weekend guys!!!

Cheers, Suze.

PS- Thankyou to Chooky for running this stitch a long. It is my first time and I have enjoyed it immensely. While I am dissapointed in myself for not meeting the deadline, I will not stop stitching!! I am not renound for finishing...cough cough...shutup Kate....but am on a mission as I am booked in to have it quilted. I have enjoyed reading everyones posts, commenting and receiving comments from other quilters. It feels really nice to be part of such a warm, friendly group of like-minded people. I hope that one day I will get to meet some of you, but until then will keep in touch via posts. Perhaps another stitch a long next year if it happens....please let it happen...  I have enjoyed stitching and sewing again, for probably the first time in 2-3 years, so for that "Thankyou." Love to all xo

Meg's quilt..........

 Part of my email from Meg

"A quick dinner at 8pm, off to bed and then my time.  I sat at my machine and worked until midnight on my SKOW, how much I love this quilt and it coming together.  I was so excited watching the quilt come together, wow it looks amazing.

Thank you Chooky for helping kick me along.  I so love being involved in this group.  Everyone inspires each other.  Everyones has an individual touch. 

My quilt is again being worked on tonight.  How I wish I could work the weekend and have the whole week off.  Would suit me fine, Id quilt all day long.

Hugs Meg" 

Meg your quilt looks great......so glad you made the deadline............always happy to kick you along...........

thanks for being part of the SAL...........

Chookyblue

Way behind!!!!!….Gorgeous Friend……

I have been totally blown away to see all the completed SKOW quilts….

well done and congratulations to everyone,

I am way behind, but, I will get there….I am now so motivated….

There is one thing that I would like to say and I am sure you will all agree with me….

How amazing is our Chooky……all her hard work, follow ups, chasing up, words of encouragement (cracking of the whip)….emails….

this women, my gorgeous friend, is totally amazing….

so to you Chooky…..

Peg…xx

Finished my top!!!!!

Hi Girls,

I finished my top last night before midnight, but my
son had my pc and I couldn't post my pictures.
So now I've got my pc, so I can show the pictures!!!

 I very happy to have finished my top, but now I've got to put 
it a side for a while. When I've got a little bit more time, I'm
going to quilt it by machine, wich will be the first that I'll be
quilting by machine. When it's quilted I'll post a picture.

I want to thank Chooky for organising the SAL, it was great
being a part of it!!! 

                                     Take care,
                                         Martine

Behind in the SAL

October has been an eventful month in our house hold. We had a leg break of 12 year old DD - but it wasnt really! Growth plate stopped a complete fracture, but we've had a few weeks trying to get everything right - ballet exams coming up, dance concert in a few weeks and netball try outs - not a good time for a knee injury, but its all coming together now!

Then we had the fire in eldest DS's bedroom. Burnt one of my quilts, his bed and into the wall. Thankfully we were all safe. If we hadnt been home at the time we would have lost the house. All started in a power board. Telling everyone now to be very careful of power boards. Apparently they start lots of fires. Insurance is sorting this out, so hopefully he'll have his bedroom back in a few weeks.

Then we had the suspected apendicitis of fourth DS. That was a few days of worry, but thankfully this turned out to be a blocked bowell. While nasty it was a better outcome than appendicitis. Of course, this happened when DH was away. Isn't that always the way?

So, not a lot of sewing done in the month, but I did manage two bears - gifts for my DD's netball coaches. She played on two teams - in a weekly competition and in a rep team. I'm pleased with how they've turned out.

Now, I have to get back into my SAL quilt - Annie Downes' My Favourite Things. It shoud, be finished by now. I'm determined it will be finished by the end of 2012.

I have two weekends planned to just sew and sew on the quilt. I plan to have the quikt finished by Xmas. To keep to that commitment i will aim to post onto the blog as often as i can. I know I've been a bit slack in this side of things. But I know that without the SAL (& Chooky!) i wouldnt have got as far as I have. So I WILL do it!!

Of course, it will have to be fitted in between costumes for dance concert. 3 girls in it this year. 11 dances plus the finale. So lots and lots of costumes.

Eldest DD is graduating from primary school. So grateful she is making her own dress!

Cheers.

Marg

Posted via DraftCraft app

Still Plodding On...

Well done to all those who have met the deadline or are ever so close to the finish line...I still can't see the finish line although I know it is there somewhere and I am still plodding along working my way towards it...I have no intention of abandoning this quilt I've just not been able to dedicate as much time to it as I would have liked...

Status at the deadline (yes I'm working on Canada deadline time!)...

These blocks are appliqued and the stitchery is done - doesn't look like it in the photo but with one strand of floss the embroidery doesn't photograph well...

These blocks need the stitchery parts - the suitcase stitchery has been started it just doesn't show up in the pic (one strand + close colour = not good photography subject)

Applique to be finished...or even started...the designs are all traced on the back but the faeries haven't been doing a very good job of getting the back basting done...Chooky the answer is this many!...

The strips and squares for the top construction... prepped at the start ...

I'm hoping to get some more of the applique and stitchery done over the next two weeks - I'll be taking the project box on the road with me as I travel up to a friend's in northern New South Wales...of course I can't stitch and drive but as I'm taking two days to drive up and 2-3 days to drive home I'll need some hand stitching to while away the overnight stay hours...let's see if I manage to get any more done...

Happy Stitching...

keep me in please...

I do plan on finishing this quilt and was hoping to do it this year, so I need to be kept whipped LOL

thanks Chooky

here is where I am up to

The Last Post!

My Some Kind of Wonderful Stitch-a-Long journey is over....

My Favourite Things Quilt is complete....

The quilting was done by Belinda Betts from 

Eucalypt Ridge Quilting

 and as usual Belinda has done a fantastic job.....

I did my usual run around the clothes line 

today to get some pictures for this post....

It was quite breezy and took me a few goes....

Quilting really is good exercise...Ha ha!

I just can't show you enough pictures of this quilt....

It really is lovely and was great fun to make....

Here is a close up of some of the quilting....

Just perfect for this quilt....

This shot of the back shows up some of the detail.....

All flowers and vines.....

And last job was to sew on a label....

I used one from Anni Down's Favourite Things range...

So as usual I am excited about a lovely finish

 but also a little sad that it is all over....

A big thanks to Chooky for all her whip cracking

 and many hours that she spends behind the scenes

 encouraging us to get a move on....

I thought I might have had to crack the whip on her but

 she has come through with a gorgeous finish as well....

Congratulations to all the ladies that have finished on time

 and to all the others, keep stitching girls

 because you will be so pleased with your finished quilts....

I do so hope that we may be able to start another Stitch-a-Long...

Please Chooky!!!!!!

Until next time, Happy Stitching

Kate

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!

Just thought I had better let you know where I'm at with this SAL.  Unfortunately I have not met the deadline, even though I set myself a goal at the beginning of September to get back on track and finish on time.  My blocks are sitting on the coffee table waiting for me to do the back stitching.  Once I get going it really shouldn't take all that long, so I will set myself a new deadline - I will have the top done by Christmas at the very latest.  I have no idea what to do with it after that, as I've never made a quilt before, and I don't know who I would get to do the quilting.  But that is another chapter.  One thing at a time.  First of all I need to buy another pair of magnifying glasses, because I'm stuffed without them!  Then watch me go!  I owe it to myself, Chookyblue and everyone who has participated in this SAL to pull my finger out and get this quilt finished.  And I will - promise!!

Congratulations to all the finishers, and all the best to those of us who still have WIPs.  We can do it!

Helen B

good morning girls!

well, i am far behind with my skow, I've had very busy months, but I dont mean to miss the next stitch along, so... these are my really poor progress so far:

 

 

 

even if i am so late, i do love this quilt.

 

thanks Chooki for being such a wonderful guest.

hugs

Kokina

 

 

 

 

No finish--- Naughty!

I feel like a very naughty girl who is now in BIG trouble! I have to confess that I still have 3 blocks that are partially completed. They have gone on hold temporarily as I am madly painting brooches and buttons-- in my spare time (instead of sewing)-- for a couple of shop orders--and I do have to get them to the shops well and truly before Christmas-- actually, in the next few days! Once they are done, I will concentrate on the quilt. Mind you, I do have a lame excuse-- at least I tell myself---I joined the SAL in January and therefore had a late start--- I know-- it is a poor excuse!!
Chooky-- I do intend completing my quilt this year.
Congratulations to those who have completed their quilts or quilt tops by the end of October.
Cheers,
Yvonne

Where I'm At

Well the deadline has arrived and this is as far as I manged to get.

I will get it finished in time but work and family always take priority

Thanks to Donna and everyone for your encouragement and blogging posts through the year but I will sign off so someone else can have their turn in the Stitch-A-Long Blog.

Happy Sewing everyone and I'm sure I'll catch up over on my blog and yours through next year xx

TOP IS FINISHED--

and here in the states on the east coast it is only 8:30 pm--
so I am not late yet?????

here is picture of the last two blocks--

I just had to add one with snow--
and I found that there was enough room to add this to row 4--
and as I love to do alot of handwork things--
here is my sewing block--

the counted cross stitch block is my initials and the year!!!

Now are you ready for all the rows together???

I am sooo happy that Chookyblue got that whip out a month ago--
at that point I only had the first two rows done--period--
but have worked really hard to get the the last 3 rows done--
and I did it---
as I only hand quilt -- I have kept these in rows and will hand quilt them that way--
it is easier for me on one this large---
and I hope to start that process in the next day or two!!!!

So me my quilt send a very Happy Thank You to Chookyblue and friends--
Hugs, Di and kitty Miss Gracie

SKofW final summary.........

Wow what an effort from the girls..............some late nighters last night..........

CONGRATULATIONS SAL GIRLS

you have done such a great job..........

summarising the last few days

while we haven't gained any more tops over the last few days we have got 4 finished..................

congrats Holly, Cherise, Me and KateS

I wiped a couple more girls off the list.............we lost about 10-12 along the way...........some pulling out because life changed, some just disappeared and never replied to my emails, some who knows what BUT

the final tally is about this............

61 girls

19 FINISHED

12 tops

30 girls in various stages............I do hope you all get to the top stage girls as the quilt is wonderful and you will be so happy once you achieve this...........please don't stop now cause you have got to the end of October............

I have been thinking about another SAL...............I have a idea.............

one thing I can say is that if your not at the top stage by the time I start the next one if it goes ahead you won't be able to start...........

&&&

One thing I am so excited about it that all the Gardener's Journal girls who have remained in the SAL have got to the top stage..........congrats to Lynda and Noela who were the last girls to work on their SAL tops as they made this deadline too..........

&&&

thanks for making the SAL what it is............

some SAL stats

we are 15 posts short of 2000 posts

 we have left (I have read ) 12939 comments

we have 405 followers

about 150-250 visitors each day..........

So this is where you will find me......resting from all the whip cracking

Thanks Susan and KrisP for your help thru the year

.......I will keep an eye on the blog but only update weekly............

maybe we will see you in 2013

Thankyou 

Chookyblue....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

One Hour

Well that's what it said on the side bar - even though even in Brisbane its already after midnight!

Even though I am not the official deputy whip cracker now - I just want to say what a great effort from so many people over the last few days.  I sure Chookyblue's emails and posts have worked some magic!
Its not too late to keep posting - even if it's only a few blocks.

Really what I want to say - as a first time SALer - how much I have enjoyed doing this as part of a group - how it has kept me going - even when I had other projects on the "Must Do" list and although I don't have a totally finished quilt - it IS a top and quilted - still needs binding and a few embellishments - but that wouldn't have happened without the "group" incentive / pressure - whatever you like to call it.

So, Chookyblue - a HUGE THANKS for doing this blog.

We know you need / deserve a rest but there is a big crowd out there who will join you again should you find yourself in a position to do it again.

Thanks & hugs & mwa
Susan

My progress

The quilt deadline is here, but my quilt is still in pieces - and still lacking 3 blocks.

Life has given my quilt life an unexpected fender bender this year, but I am still wanting to finish this quilt, as I so love the blocks and the look of the finished quilt.

I promise I will keep on keeping on, one stitch at a time :-)

When we started the quilt I decided this project should be my needleturn applique learning experience, and it has been a nice journey!

Thanks to Chookyblue for keeping check on us :-)

Thanks to all sharing their journey on the blog.

Smiles from Hanne in Norway