Monday 6 June 2011

FINALLY ... Some GJ Progress!!

Yes ...  you read correctly ... I've FINALLY made a bit more progress on my Gardener's Journal quilt. Chookyblue has been cracking the whip of late and since I'm already about three months behind, I decided this last weekend was the time to get stuck in and do a bit more. So ... out came everything I'd done so far ...


OK ... spread it all out ... now ... where was I up to?!?!


Let loose with a rotary cutter, ruler and mat ... cut a few bits, mutter quite a lot about 1 1/2 inch squares (must have a word to Anni about that one day!!) ... scratch the ol' head a bit over which bit goes where and which way to press seams (did I mention I'm not REALLY a patchworker??) ... some whirring of the ol' Husky and ...



Et VOILA!! Block E finished. I just love how the little bits of satin stitching add an extra 'something' to the blocks ... even though stitching those apples nearly sent me round the bend ... a short trip in my case some would say! Tee! Hee! Hee! Do you see there's one GREEN apple in amongst the RED? Just like me ... it had to be a little different to the crowd! :0) Now ... I'd really only planned to finish one block ... you know, show Chooky that I'd made some progress, without stressing myself too much with 1 1/2 inch blocks. But ... well ... I had some more squares already cut and it was warm in my sewing room, so ...



... Block F also got put together ... maybe I was wishing I had a nice comfy spot to sit in the sun with a cool drink and a well-behaved puppy-dog. Hmmm ... winter, so not warm ... Sunday was overcast here, so no sun ... cold weather doesn't really lend itself to a cool drink ... two dogs, neither of whom are well-behaved! SIGH! You can see why I just stayed in my sewing room, can't you! :0) So my sewing achievements for the weekend were ...



Not bad, if I do say so myself. The dark blue border around the Resting In The Garden block was actually supposed to be around The Dovecote ... but I had a bit of a 'Spacewalk, Miss Jane!' moment and picked up the wrong block. OOPS! Ah well ... looks OK and I'm sure in the overall quilt it won't matter. So ... thus far, this is what my quilt is looking like ...



I've laid the blocks out in their order, as best I can with the missing bits, and have also laid out the stitcheries for the remaining blocks. I'm still not finished the Garden Show stitchery in the bottom right corner ... I seem to have a bit of a block with that one, for some reason!! Well ... that and too many other projects, new design ideas and deadlines creeping in to crowd my creative space! :0) I really want to get this quilt finished by the end of the year, though, so I'll just keep plodding along.

Hope your weekend was productive, whatever you got up to. OPAM gals ... thanks so much to all of you who emailed Peg and I with your finish tallies for May .. it really is greatly appreciated! I promise I'm slowly working my way through replying to your emails ... it may take a few days, but I'm getting there! :0)  There were 519 finishes for May - WELL DONE EVERYONE!! And I know a few people were like me and plodding along with some longer-term projects ... which is also great. Remember ... it's not really the tallies that count, it's taking the time out from your busy life to do something you enjoy, to stop and count the stitches, as it were! :0)

And now ... I'm off to find something inspiring to cook for dinner ... when I win lotto, I will be employing a cook, I think, so I can just disappear into the sewing room and not have to think about mundain household chores like what to cook for dinner! :0) Enjoy your week !! Til next time ...


BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

your quilt looks great Kris and i love the colours you are doing well

simplestitches said...

well done Miss Kris!
you just keep on plodding...one step at a time...you'll get there.
It's looking great!

Chookyblue...... said...

keep up the great stitching.......you're nearly there....those ladies sure do take some time to get it together.....keep plugging away here and there you will have the last bit done in no time..........sure are a lot of tiny pieces.........lol......

Annie said...

Ahhhhh Miss Kris - leading by example...you took time out of your busy life to do what you love - and doing a fine job too!!! xoxox

rubyslipperz1052 said...

Oh...you really made some GREAT progress! You deserve a big round of A-plause!! and a big yeee HAW!!

Sadly...no stitchin for me this weekend...maybe this coming week.

hugZ,
annie
rubyslipperz106.blogspot.com

Anne-Lise at Rag, Tag, Bobtail said...

You're nearly there and it looks lovely!
Wouldn't mind the well-behaved dog ......

Anna Rosa Designs said...

Hi Kris,
Oh wow, what a lot of fabulous work and detail here!
You inspired me to buy the book however Ummm, lol
I admire your stamina.
Creative hugs,
Anna

Joy said...

Wow Kris you've got lots done, your quilt is looking fabulous!!!! Keep on plodding along dear one, you'll get there ;o). Don't feel too badly, I've got a BOM that I started over 4 years ago that's STILL not finished LOL.
One day .............
Love n hugs,
Joy :o)

BubzRugz said...

Its lovely Kris... I just commented on the SAL blog....
Hugz

Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique said...

As long as you are enjoying your creative 'ME' time Kris, it's not a race to the finish. Your quilt is looking so lovely and will be divine when finished, so enjoy this creative journey.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Look at you go .....The blocks look fantastic...well done Kris...

Bec said...

Oh Kris, you are nearly there! You must be getting excited with this now and keen to finish....it is looking fantastic! keep at it....

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