Open your eyes woman....

In the midst of moving out of my sewing room (insert sigh) I lost my two nine patch borders for my quilt. In frustration I packed it all away...today I decided I would find it!!!! i opened its storage box and started to pull out the borders, counting as I went, then On my  #%]*+^ I found them.......

On the both sides of my centre, grrr I had already sewn them on...sometimes in life we just need to take a deep breath.....and count to three and look again... I would have had a completed top.......will iron all the pieces and attach tomorrow, whilst kid free.....thought you all my get a laugh from this especially Sonia and Khrissy, who I have whinged too lol

Cutting away....

Spent yesterday cutting all those 2" squares... I think I counted them 20 times as I kept getting interrupted lol tonight hope to cut out the last border...then away on holidays tomorrow where I plan to sew sew sew.....

We are almost there ladies....almost there.....

Happy Stitching!

Scrappy Sunday

Today's effort ... cutting all the fabrics for part 8. Boy did it take longer than I thought digging through scraps to cut 200 x 2" squares. I managed to have no more than 4 squares each of the same assorted fabrics.

Narelle @ Pins and Whiskers

Almost done...

I've worked very hard this last month to catch up, just a few more days and I'll finish Augusts block. We all have the flu here, and looks like another one will be home today.

Love seeing everyone's colour variations....not long now....

Happy Stitching....

Deb

August ... Made It Just

It's a good thing that August has 31 days and not 30 or I wouldn't have made it....finished off the last row this morning. The sun is so bright this morning it hasn't photographed very well.

NJ will have to go on the back burner for a bit as September is a super busy month here starting with DD's wedding next Saturday. With the ceremony at home there's all the last minute tidying and decorations to finish making. I hope to get all those little squares cut before school holidays at the end of the month so maybe then I can concentrate on the Journey.

Loving everyone's finished centres ... well done!

Narelle @ Pins and Whiskers

Unplanned August Sewing

Last Monday was such a cold and blustery day and I found myself with spare time ... what! ... after getting over the shock I pulled out my 4 'orange' pieces and also my scraps from the appliques. Lots of cutting later I have 51 little squares (spares in case 1 or 2 just won't do) for the diamonds ...

and laying out while I cut the next border, I left this as is sitting on the spare bed to sew together later in the week.

A message from DD on Wednesday meant extra visitors arriving Thursday and the spare bed was required. Some late night sewing after work and the 4 borders are sewn and pinned to the centre ... phew! Now on with the rest of August and admiring everyone's lovely colour combinations.

Narelle @ Pins and Whiskers

Frosty July Finish

What else to do when Jack Frost is outside?  Stay inside and sew by the fire of course. Can I have a "J" for July please ... amazed that I have finished the centre block and love how it has turned out. I found it very daunting at the start with so many little pieces but a little stitching each night and ta..da..

I enjoy seeing everyone's colour choices and how lovely they all look.

A Chilly July Start

My July block is waiting for an early spring for some colour. The left and right smaller branches/leaves are stitched and the centre branches/leaves are in place ready for needle and thread.

Then I couldn't help myself and started playing with all the pieces cut ready and waiting to "Spring" into action. There's a lot of work for July but I'm excited with how it's starting to look. A few more fabric pieces to choose yet. 

Happy Gardening ... Narelle @ Pins and Whiskers

May & June

Was determined to get back on track with this one so I have plenty of time for the centre block.... great to be back on track.

I check in here often and have read all posts, love seeing all the quilts coming together!

June Finish

I'm calling this project my 'sanity saver'.  When at the end of 'one of those days' (and they seem to be quite regular) I can sit down and pick up where I left off the night before ... and knowing that a NJ friend, somewhere, is also stitching away... maybe even on the same block.

Can I have a 'J' please ... so happy to be ahead again this month.

I have also made a start on July and pieced the background together. Might just have some time this afternoon to gather applique pieces.

Narelle @ Pins and Whiskers

Yay ..... Finally March Done

Well you can't see half my kitchen table as I have my Natures Journey stuff all over it.  If I left it in the sewing room it would not sit and look at me all day to move me along.

So I have finally finished March and half way there with April

I have come to yet another conclusion me, points and circles do not get along.

May ... Hooray!

Instead of  "make hay while the sun shines" ... I "stitched while the showers fall".

For the first time I can say I'm finished my blocks early ... I have no idea how that happened. Loving this quilt and this group ... thank you :o)

Narelle @ Pins and Whiskers

An "A" for me too please!

A for April of course, albeit a little late again!

A few adaptions, I made a couple more hexies and hearts for my small blocks.

May Progress

While I have a quiet moment, thought I'd pop in and share where I am up to for May.

Blanket stitch all done and I've been playing with scraps this morning. So far I've managed to find a different piece of fabric for each applique ... so I need to lay out the previous blocks first to check that I'm not repeating a fabric if I can help it. Loving how they look all together like this.

Sorry I don't get to comment very often as I'm usually making a quick dash through all the posts. I do love seeing all the various colour choices and have many favourites. It's also been a good push for me to keep at it ... happy stitching.

Narelle @ Pins and Whiskers     >^..^<

A is for April

Just a tad late but my blocks have gone from here (April 30)

 to finished.

Now I'm ready to start blanket stitching on my May blocks tonight.

Narelle @ Pins and Whiskers

Soggy April 30

Raining all day and we're in for a wet few days.  With visitors coming and going since Easter, back to work after school holidays and feeling like I live in a continuous whirlwind, I sadly must admit that I'm not going to make this month's finish line.

4 small blocks and 1 large block completed. The dragonfly block and EPP star are pinned ready to stitch tonight. That leaves 1 more flower and the cherry block but this wet weather should mean I get to stay indoors and stitch.

Narelle @ Pins and Whiskers

April Progress

Two thirds of the way through April and the blanket stitching is completed. I also have all the little applique pieces cut ready for needle turning.

I find it interesting to see how some ladies do the blanket stitching first and then add the appliques while others attach the applique pieces first and then stitch around them.  I'm curious to know if it is purely a preference thing or is there a benefit in one over the other?

Just realized I still need to make some stems so off to put the kettle on and play with some more scraps.

Narelle @ Pins and Whiskers

Mark me off for March!

Better late than never, as they say ..... that's what I'm saying anyway! March blocks finished.

There seem to be quite a few finishes for April already! I have done most of the borders, will make a start on the applique this weekend so I'm not ducking and weaving the whip again at the end of the month.

Am loving seeing all your progress girls.

Chooky's Part 2 as promised.....

Here we go as promised.............

all finished except the star block down the bottom.......

I need a lesson on very pointy points.........

I got a little mixed up when I was preping for Feb and Mar and some of April............I got carried away with the hexies so 2 circles became hexies.............and I did 2 of the curvy star blocks instead  of one...............one is fussy cut fancy centre the other has the circle on it...........the blue star block is fussy cut too..........

So girls look out now I am onto April..........

One is done and working on anything one tonight.........

HOW IS EVERYONE GOING??????

Happy Stitching.........

Chookyblue........

Chooky's NJ Progress..........

Yeah yeah I know you're all hassling me too..............well some more then others.................you know who you are..........it's a good thing...............

Colours were a big decision...............do I choose one or many..........I pulled out one of each of my colour piles of fabric and matched some threads........

So I am using 7 colours I think..............

I have a pile of blocks I am stitching at the moment................should be enough for Feb and Mar and maybe a extra one or two...........

I had been stalled on the blanket stitch...............the first 2 blocks were challenging to say the least but after that I got into a rhythm and I am loving it...............

I had tried a hoop after failing to start with but that was even more difficult........

how big are your stitches????..........mine go out about 1/4in out and are about the same length on the line.............loving the look of it..........

And I have one baby block finished but the rest will be done by easter................

well that's the big plan..........

&&&&&

HUGE thanks to all the girls who have made an effort..........

we all need a push at times and that's why you joined up to the SAL......

and I know that is the only way I will get this quilt finished too........answering to you girls........

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