Wonders will never cease...

three of my favourite things

... I have started!!! I am so excited! I decided to go with 1930's fabrics the second after reading that that's what Chookyblue was going to do. (Not copying, just recognising a great decision the instant I see it!) I have a bunch of 30's fabrics in my stash so I wouldn't even need to buy any! (My Bradley was soooo proud of me.) Sat down to begin this morning (December 29, not last minute at all. I was busy, so busy, till today.) and realised that I would probably need a few background fabrics for the applique and stitching. Oh. (How I had not gleaned that from reading everyone's posts I don't know.) So, I googled patchwork shops to find out which one would be open today and then bought great background fabrics. I'm very happy now that I have a plan. Oh. And since this is "My Favourite Things Quilt", I am going to include some of my favourite things. (I love Anni, but our favourite things don't all coincide!) And since I don't actually like cakes I thought a trio of some of my other favourite things might suffice. Wish me luck! I'm late, but I'm working on it!!!

Kris from Rosemaryhill.

This is what I'm up to!

Closeup of my tablerunner

 These are some of my second lot of stitcheries. I have been thinking about whether, as an Aussie, I really need a second Christmas quilt. (There are some people at my house who question the value of the first Christmas quilt! Just because Christmas usually coincides with a heatwave here, what's their point?)

The first tablerunner, with blocks each way so as not to discriminate against any side of the table!

So I have decided the second set of thirteen stitcheries will become projects. Table runners are first on my list. The one above is for my daughter and her family. I have spent quite a bit of time visiting with them in Adelaide through July and August (I became a grandmother for the third time) and feel like I have done very little in that time! (Other than snuggle newborns and cute kids! Worthwhile, of course!) My plan now is to get these TTS projects finished off in the next couple of weeks or so. Watch this space!

Kris from Life at Rosemary Hill

Put together...

My blocks are together now and waiting for the borders. I have decided what to do for the borders and now I just have to see if I have enough fabric left! The new fabric I have introduced as the sashing looks black in this photo, but it is actually navy blue in real life. I'm hoping to quilt it next week!

Kris lifeatrosemaryhill.blogspot.com

I'm Still Here!

I have read with excitement posts of finished TTS quilts. You guys are awesome! I have also been inspired by tablecloth posts and the wonderful colours and fabrics you are all using. In case you have no clue who I am (Let's face it, there are a lot of us here!) I have finished my blocks (I'm the blue redworker with the bright green and blue fabrics) but had so much fun stitching them I traced a second set. And since I much prefer stitching to basting quilts, this month I have started stitching that second set. In my defence I must point out that it is winter here in Melbourne now and there is nothing quite so cosy as stitching by the heater while it hails outside. (I am describing today. Such bliss!) So, a photo of my second set! Four stitcheries done and another in progress. I have gone all conventional with this set and even have red and white fabrics for the borders. The weather bureau tells me there is more chilly weather ahead this week and I see more stitching happening.

Happy stitching wherever you are and whatever the weather!

Kris from lifeatrosemaryhill.blogspot.com

Sequential posts, but it can't be helped!

Finished the other six blocks this morning and now I am dreaming about how I will finish the quilt top. I'm thinking it'll be different from the one in the book. (I guess you're all getting the feeling I'm pretty different at this stage.) Will take a week or two to dream I think. (Dreaming is possibly my favourite part of the quilting process!)

Kris (rosemaryhill.blogspot.com)

Three more blocks for me.

These three. I got a comfortable sewing table and chair this week and it turned out I could sew after all! So I now have finished six blocks and I have also cut out the borders for the other six blocks needed for the quilt.

I must admit to being pretty excited about this quilt and I'm hoping to get it together tomorrow. We'll see! When I was halfway finished with the blue stitching I traced another 13 blocks, but when I finished stitching the blue blocks I thought I couldn't stitch another of these blocks ever. Just tonight I had the urge to stitch another, so you never know! Hmm... Now I have to think about borders, and backing, and batting! I need to go shopping!!!

Kris (lifeatrosemaryhill.blogspot.com)

Stitching finished!

I have managed to finish stitching all my blocks! These eleven, plus the three blocks I have previously finished means I have stitched 14 blocks all up. I have found them to be such fun. Any moment now I will border these and put the quilt together. Well, possibly not any moment. Mid May probably. I have plans for the next two weeks. I have a second lot of stitcheries traced out in case I feel the urge to stitch. Happy stitching!!!

Kris lifeatrosemaryhill.blogspot.com

I actually finished a block off, finally.

I was feeling a little despondent today about my progress this week (in life generally, not just TTS) and decided to get moving and actually finish a block or three. So here they are. My stitching has happened in seemingly no particular order and I have a bunch of other blocks already stitched waiting for similar block treatment. I also visited a patchwork shop this week and bought some more thread and fabric to make another of these quilts. I seem to be powering through the stitcheries and enjoying it enormously and felt I would miss it if I had finished (stop laughing all those of you who know me in real life!!!) and you guys were still going. Look out for more finishes!

Kris, lifeatrosemaryhill.

A Flurry of Posts!

So many posts this weekend! Must be getting close to the end of the month! I am really enjoying ALL of your posts. (How Chookyblue keeps up with it all I don't know. She is amazing! Thank you Chookyblue.) Just to prove that I am actually doing this stitch-a-long I thought I had better show you a photo.

These little stitcheries are such fun! As you can see I am still stitching my second. I will get these three stitched and start stitching April's, but turning them into blocks will not happen till April because I am going away. No sewing machine, but hopefully lots of stitching will be done! (I will update you by email Chookyblue at the end of the month as to my progress) Keep stitching girls!

Excited!

Ok. I know you have all seen this before, but look! I've got my book! I am so excited to be joining in with this SAL. I also have my background fabric and my thread, but they are at home in Melbourne. I am visiting my family in Adelaide at the moment. (I was so embarrassingly excited I brought the book with me so I can look at the patterns!) I have been doing a bit of stitching of late, you can check it out here, so this should be all fun. I am also excited to see some of my favourite bloggers' names on the "Tis the Season" sidebar. I'm planning to catch up with you all. See you on on your blog!

Oh. And thanks Chookyblue!