While the cat is away the mouse will pplay I will play

Andrea is away on holidays so I am finishing reading the second of the Steig Larsson books The girl who played with fire and finishing off the stitcheries.

Just made it

Block A, done and dusted, and on time I might add,

amazing for me whose always running behind.

It must be the great motivation and encouragement  that I get from 

you girls.

So thanks so much, and I love looking at all your blocks and stitching.

Hugs

Mandy

Whew, talk about last minute!

Where on earth did May go?  I'm sure it was only yesterday when I was sending out birthday cards for those in early May. Maybe I've been preparing for Winter and slipped into a touch of hibernation, but not before a mad panic to get block A completed. This time I got fed up with being so picky about my colours going together so those little squares all got put in a bag and it was lucky dip when piecing them. Again I've put larger pieces of my border fabric in the block - hopefully it will all meld together in the end.
I hope you are all not so surprised by the end of the month as I was.  From a chilly New Zealand, warm hugs. - Miche'le

The Garden Party for a Gardeners Journal ........

Happy to show you: Yes,block A is ready! I have made a decision on fabrics,was quite easy in the end,deceided to keep my fabrics that was in that big lid I showed you in the start. Used most of that Moda range,and I like it. Well,there are so many lovely blocks among us and I almost could have chosen any of the fabrics :-)

I have booked space the professional quilting for later on. I am not a very good hand-quilter,so I think it is wise.

Oh,by the way: if you watched the Eurovision Song Contest,I am sure you agreed that the young German girl deserved to win.Hurrah for Denmark,they became no 4. I deleted the post here on the young Norwegian "Pavarotti" Didric.
He became no 20 out of 25,but I still think his sings wonderfully!

Lovely,warm and sunny here today. My DH is on this huge yearly Aircraft Show. I managed to finish this block and starting to pick out fabrics for the house block. A whole month to decide and changing the fabrics around. May be I am the only one that keep switching pieces around here and there?

Take care and Happy Stitching to you all.

Just in time .....

I have finally finished my first two blocks and just in time for the end of May. I have used Garden Party from Moda and I am really happy with how the fabrics are coming together.

I have finished the dog stitchery for the third block and have started the house stitchery.

It feels great to now be up to date.

I am really enjoying following everyone's progress and it sure does help to keep me motivated.

Keep up the good work everyone.

Take care

Kylie xxxxx

Looking for book...

I don't know if this will help anyone but Kayly and I saw a copy of the book on Friday at Crafty Lady's stall at a quilt show. This is actually the shop where I bought mine from and I think the price was $30.50 Australian. Sandi doesn't actually have it listed on her web site ( or if she does I can't find it) but email her and she will help you out I am sure. She is a lovely person to deal with. ( if you have any problems let me know and maybe I can source it for someone)
Lynda ( bettsylyn)

Remember this post back here by Mandy......

.........well LyndaC finally started a blog and joined the group..............

..........also we have Elizabeth searching out a book too so she can start stitching away......... 

Welcome girls............

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so close yet so far I won't get my block done for May by the end of the month but it is not far off so maybe I can get it together next weekend.............we'll see.........and I need to trace off that huge house......

hope you are all stitching away..........
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we just passes 200 posts!!!!............can you believe that..........Chookyblue

Dale's second block

This is my second block completed. I have started the third.

Finally...Block G....Done!

Wahoo!!!!  Finally...I've caught up...to April!!!!  Presenting...Block G...

Onwards to Block A...mmm, I don't like my chances of getting all the stitcheries done and the block pieced by Monday but maybe by the end of June I'll be closer to achieving the timeframes for the Plan of Action...oh well, it won't happen overnight but it will happen....

Loving everyone else's blocks...and all the different variations in colour/fabric choices.

Annette

Australia History/Culture Lesson, oh and Block A done.

Warning :- Please read this with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

One of the things I like about blogging is the chance to learn about cultures other than my own. So I think it is time for a bit of Aussie cultural history. This might even be a history lesson for any of you young Aussie city girls who may never have seen or used what I'm talking about.

While I was putting this block together (which I might redo as I've just seen two bits the same together), I was reminded of my childhood. I was looking at the potting shed, surrounded now by roses, just like the one I knew. Even the colour of its walls is similar.

Remember what? A potting shed? No. Our old outhouse or dunny as we used to call them. Don't ask, I have no idea how that name came about. Does anyone? You might have spelt it dunnie if you were posh. Most of us up here in Queensland didn't get an indoor toilet until the 1960s. We used to have a little shed in the backyard with a can - no flushing. The nightsoil man would come to change the can. Heaven help you if he arrived while it was in use! Ours had miniature roses growing around it. That's what trigger the walk down memory lane.

Many were converted into potting sheds when indoor loos were built. I remember renting an old house with 2 girlfriends in the early 1980s. The dunny had been retained as a potting shed and the real toilet was in a tucked away, hard to find spot. We, straight faced, sent many a young man 'out the back' to our dunny only to fall about laughing when they returned very confused.

A friend of my father's blew his up with a stick of dynamite. Townsville was close to being a frontier town in the early 60s.

Anyway I hope I have not offended anyone. :-)

As for the quilt, I have decided to try but not get too stressed about my corners matching. And I know this block has turned out a bit too yellow in the corner. So what, I'm enjoying doing it and I'm not entering it in any competitions.

Take care everyone,
Kayly

My First Block is FINISHED!!!

Yippee.  My first block is finished and I am so happy with it.  What do you think?  Also, the inner and outer borders (I think) I am using are shown.  Should I add some of the inner and outer borders to the quilt blocks also?  I have the stitcheries traced for the next block and only 6 days left to complete it - won't happen - but at least I feel like I am in the game!

Thanks to everyone in this stitch-a-long for their comments, advice, support.  It is so much fun to be making this quilt together.

Block A is finally done

I have had the stitcheries completed since April, but its taken me until tonight to actually getting around to putting it together

Quilting????

I know it's early days yet, but has anyone given any thoughts on how they are going to quilt their GJ.....professionally, doing it yourself on your domestic sewing machine or hand quilting? I will be stipple quilting on my domestic.
I would love to hear your quilting choice!

Lisa

more again.....

Mereth is quilting this version for a customer...........pinks and yellows..........

need some motivation..........

Look here if you need some motivation............thanks for sharing your quilt Rebecca - Homestead Quilting it is beautiful............just makes me want to stitch faster to get mine completed...........

Chookyblue......

Couldn`t wait...........

Well,it is so long since I wrote to you all,that I just couldn't resist showing you my progress. As you can see these two blocks are still waiting for fabrics,although I almost have made up my mind.
You might also notice that I use stem stitches when embroidering. I have yet to learn the back stitches properly,as I find it difficult to make a straighter line if that is to be done.
Anyway, suppose I am following the plan of attack suggested by Chookyblue. And thanking you ever so much for letting me into the group so a Gardener`s Journal one day will be up on my wall. I am looking for a space almost every day;must really reorganize to find a super place!!)
We are having more and more spring up here closer than most of you to the North Pole!
Summer is just around the corner. Looking forward to be sitting outside with this stitching on my lap,glasses on my nose and a nice cup of tea close by(+ a little biscuit). I do enjoy belonging to this Stitch-A-Long group:-)
Happy Stitching to all from Oslo in Norway.

Just a stitch missing, to finish block A!!!

Rita borrowed me these book...

I really need to learn English, because I want to comment yours beautiful blocks and it's very difficult to express everything  I want!!Maybe until the end of these group I learn a little bit more English :))

I think these time I will not finish in time my block, I have a lot of Work! Latter I will catch you.

See you...

 Have a great week  :)

Sofia

Borders.

I am prompted to post this by Satu's post a bit earlier.

Today one of my local quilt stores had a special day for their loyalty members, with 20% off. I have been waiting for this day to get my border and backing fabric. I had some tough decisions to make. If I had just been using fabric from my stash or a mix it wouldn't have been as important but as I am using only Moda's Garden Party I knew that I would need to buy the fabric soon so that I could get what I wanted. If I waited until when I finished the quilt I might not get my choices. I decided on the green large flowers for the main border - this design really does lend itself to the wide border - you can see in Satu's post she has chosen the darker plum colourway. I was tempted by the pink spot which Satu has but decided that it was a little too busy and went for the pink cross stitch fabric. The pattern won't show up too much as the inner border is fairly thin, but the colour seems to lift it. The light fabric in the right bottom corner will be my backing fabric. Now I can happily stitch and know that I have everything now to finish my quilt.

I have finished my stitching for this month and I only have to sew it now. So hopefully there will be a photo soon.


Lynda ( bettsylyn)

www.bettsylyn.blogspot.com

Stitcheries done, now to sew the block.

Last stitch put in this afternoon. I'm off to wash them and to pick which fabric I want to use as the framing. Looking forward to seeing this block made up.
I've been enjoying seeing everyone's efforts.
Kayly

May Block A finished

I managed to finish block A for May with a few days to spare. I am so pleased with the way it turned out. I invested in a seam guide for my machine and it is well worth the money.

I have finished several of the stitcheries for future blocks. I forgot to check and see which block we were doing next before doing some so now I am working on the 'No Place Like Home' and the dog house for the June block.

I am enjoying this blog so much, reading each one's post and watching their progress.

Happy stitchin'

Mama Bear

:0)

Cold Inspires Creativity!!

I really think the onset of cold weather here on top of our 'hill' has inspired me to be creative and get stitching. You see ... the warmest place in our house is in the lounge room, in front of the heater, so I've DEFINITELY been inspired to sit and stitch! Tee! Hee! Hee!

Today was a little warmer, though, allowing me to leave the comfort of my heater-side seat to venture into the sewing room, where, amidst some grumbling and mumbling about slippery-sucker rulers and rotten one and a half inch blocks, I managed to piece together Block "A" of my version of "A Quilters Journal" ...

Ta Da!! Despite the bad-tempered muttering at my lack of measuring and cutting skills, I'm really happy with how this block looks. So, my quilt so far looks like this ...

I'm having fun searching out bits and bobs from my stash and although it's turning out to be a bit brighter than I'd originally planned, I'm LOVING it! When I'm finished, it's going to be SPRING time all year round at our place and for someone who HATES the COLD ... that's a WONDERFUL thing! Tee! Hee! Hee! I'm pretty proud of myself for managing to beat the end-of-month deadline two months in a row ... now if only I can manage to keep it up!! Perhaps I'd better go and take a peek at NEXT months' stitcheries now ...! :0)

Hope you're all having a fabulous weekend and enjoying being part of the Stitch-A-Long as much as I am - a big thanks again to Chookyblue, Peg and partners-in-crime associates ... for encouraging us all to dig our "A Gardener's Journal" books out of the cupboards and get stitching! Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!
CHEERS!
KRIS

Block C Completed

I've been sewing on and off all day and didn't think I'd get to my Gardener's Journal Block today.

But, I got my second wind after dinner and "Wahlaa" It's finished !!!

Gosh these blocks keep your brain active !!

Now for some relaxing stitching while watching movies.

Happy Stitching Fiona@Dragonfly-Crafts

Almost forgot to show you

Greetings from Finland!

Satu's Block A is finished!


Before I fetched my camera, Fenix was already inspecting the block A.
I'm not sure, if he approved it,
but he said something like this: Mniau... mniauminau...

Which one of the border fabrics is better...
...green or red?

I would be happy,
if you could help me with the decision.

See you and lovely weekend!

Block G finished at last.

Well it's been a bit of a struggle but I have at last completed my first block for the Stitch-A-Long. I have just had a new kitchen installed so my stitching projects have had to wait for a few weeks while I tried to get that sorted. I found the stitchery part enjoyable to do but must admit, all that cutting out took me a lot longer than I had anticipated, anyway it is done now so hopefully I will be able to catch up and complete the next 2 blocks by the end of June. Here is a photo of my block.

I was a bit concerned when stitching the embroidery that the background fabric was a bit dark and the embroidery detail would be lost, but after making up the block, am quite happy with how it looks.

Bye till next time

Noela.

Block A's done and dusted!

Yes that's right, I'm still keeping up to date. Block A is now complete Yey!

A couple of minor alterations to suit the jelly roll and charm pack I'm using but all in all it looks pretty much the same. So now it's onwards to Block C!

Cheerio
Jo

If all I have time for is stitching....

then I'll be happy with that.

I've got all my stitcheries finished for my next block.

Looks like this doggy needs some more washing...

I should get it finished on the weekend. All going well.

Happy Stitching - Fiona@Dragonfly-Crafts

Anothe Block completed

Tonight I have been again sewing the block pieces together to make Block F.
A better photo of Block C

The starting of Block H.

I am making great progress with the blocks and every day when I visit the site I am amazed at all the wonderful blocks being made and the comments everyone is receiving.
This is such a great project to be part of.
Cheers for now
Andrea

I'm on a roll

I have completed the stitchery's for Block A, very happy that I am ahead at this stage, as last month I hadn't finished the stitchery's until the last day of May,

not sure if it will stay this way. 

Now to get cutting.

                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                

 

Do you think using a pigma pen for the mouths and eyes is cheating,

or is it better 

to stitch them in?. I would love your opinions on this before 

I decide what to do.

Happy Stitching!!

Mandy

The Garden is Watered...

...both stitcheries for Block G done - yay!  Now to construct the block....at this rate there is a chance that I'll get April's block finished before the end of May!

Seeing all those lovely finished blocks sure is a good motivator...makes me want to see how my fabrics are going to look.

This morning's task before going to sewing group and work is to cut out the fabrics...I wasn't sure how to proceed as I want to do all the cutting in one go but I have more than the 10 fabrics specified in the book and could not decide which ones to use - it takes me longer to make decisions about what than it does to actually construct at times.  Yesterday I had a light bulb moment...add up the number of patches that are needed in total and just start cutting from all my fabrics until I have that number and go with the less controlled and scrappy, albeit all from the same range, approach.  Right, off this computer and into the sewing room!

Enjoy your day...

Annette

update done...........

Hi Stitchers.........after a busy weekend of sheep work I managed to have some time on the lounge with the laptop this afternoon..........(truth is my body is stuffed from the sheep work....lol)............

 I hope I have updated everything correctly...........I had to catch up on about the last 20 posts.......left lots of comments.......it is wonderful to see you all posting.............in all this we had another 9 blocks completed.........fantastic effort........esp Sylvia as she has finished 2 in this time.........

&&&&&

The quilt below is Kerri's 2nd round of A Gardener's Journal I helped her get the top together earlier in the year and this is the quilt to blame for me committing to Peg and Dale to make my own and hence starting the blog..........

anyway after visiting on the weekend she is starting her 3rd quilt......yep she loves it that much.........she has to catch up on last months but i am sure she will have that done in no time............she is a wizz on the stitching........

(photo borrowed from Kerri)

a couple more girls have join the group...........Laura and Dot I have added to the sidebar and I am just waiting on replies from 2 other ladies..........

&&&

oh and Lori who started a blog when she joined the stitch-a-long has finally got a post up so head over and welcome her........

&&&&

also it is great everyone is leaving lots of positive comments on each others posts......

....not sure if you all aware but some posts get comments up to a week later so if you have done a post make sure you check back and see what comments others have left for you............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

Cold Snap & Some Stitching!

Here on top of our 'hill' in Toowoomba, winter is starting to snap at our cold toesies, with temperatures already dropping down to 4 and 6 degrees Celsius several nights this last week - BRRRRRRRRR!! Did I mention I HATE the cold?!?!?! And since our old heater was big, ugly, sounded like a  Mac truck driving through the lounge room AND all but gave it's death rattle at the end of last winter, my Beloved Geek Boy and I decided to bite the bullet and hit the heating stores to buy a new one. Here's the hot little number that came home with us ...

Aaaaaaahhhh!! WARMTH! :0) And what does any of this story have to do with Stitch-A-Long, I hear you ask?? Well ... since the lounge room was so toasty warm ... guess where I've spent most of my weekend? Yep ... in the lounge room ... STITCHING! Here's the result ...

I've now finished all of the stitcheries for Block A, though it DID take me a bit longer than anticipated. You see, I had one of those 'bright ideas' that we all have from time to time ... you know ... the ones that half way through you think, "Who's STOOPID idea WAS this?!?!" Tee! Hee! Hee! You see ... I decided to add some little patches of satin stitch to my blocks to add some interest , some extra colour and to make mine look a little different to other's. Well, mission accomplished, it just took LONGER to do. Ah well ... never mind! :0) I'm hoping to get the piecing for this block done this week ... it's always good to at least START with a plan, right?!?! :0) I shall pop back and show you when I get Block A all together.

Whether you're curled up in front of your heater, or sitting in the spring sun, I hope you've all had a fabulous weekend of stitching. Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Woohoo block A finish

Its so nice to be up to date with these blocks.

I'm also very happy with the way my fabrics are coming together.... which is always a worry.

Its fabulous to see so many finishes on this quilt and so many great colours and fabrics.
Keep up the good work girls.

Helen

15th of May

I'm in the half way of the block A...
it means that I have stitched the little blocks and
sewn those (difficult for me) little squares together.
And tomorrow I'm going to piece the whole block A together
...I'm quite happy and proud of this;)

It's so stimulating to make this quilt together!

Greetings from Satu;)

Starting to Cut

Okay - I finished stitching the bird bath and am almost done watering the garden.  I am starting to cut fabric.  Just wondering - did most of you use the 10 fabrics and cut all of your squares at once or are some using more than 10 fabrics?

Two Birds A'Bathing...

It's a start!  Now to Water The Garden...

Annette

first block

I have finished my first block and I love it. I am all set now to get some more stitching done so I can do another one yay
hugs Beth

Block A for me too....

Still hanging in there and keeping up to date. Love the stitcheries in this block.

Teresa