Chookshed Challenge #1 - Christmas Stitchery - NOT

Like a number of the  Chookshed Stitchers - I selected a Christmas Stitchery for Project #1...a great idea at the beginning of the year , , , but at the end of the year, I decided I really didn't have a particular Christmas Stitchery I needed or wanted to sew . . So,  I decided to swap this one out for some of the Christmas stuff I do need to do.
I got some of it done.....there are still 3 months to Christmas??? correct???   NO??? oh well.

One thing I did get out of the way is a Christmas themed placemat for the Night Group of Queensland Quilters.

I have also made several decorations - but they are for people who may read my blog so you will just have to trust me about them.

And I put some work towards a cross stitched Christmas Tree.....I am not too sure I will be able to get it done for this year . . but I might!

This is the last Challenge Number for 2025.  I've been very happy to tag along as part of the Challenge - organised by Deana - but supported by many of the Chookshed crew, all over the world.  Thanks to Deana and all the bloggers who make this possible and fun!

I have done fairly well - I did make some changes to my plans during the year...but plans are just a guide...right??? LOL

Time to start thinking about the 2026 list . . . .maybe starting with leftovers from 2025???

Chookshed Challenge # -3 - Sashiko Project

Ooops - I am late - but it's still 30th September in Deanna-land and she hasn't posted the final Linky, so I figure it's a pass!

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Last year, in November at the Glenrose Retreat, Chookyblue gifted us all some sashiko panels.

We (the group...or was it Madam Organiser...not me...) decided to set the challenge to have that project finished by the next retreat, so I added it to the Chookshed Challenge and this was the month to do it.

I was given the red version of the Devonstone Sashiko panel and decided on the baubles.  De had the same panel in green, so we swapped half our baubles.

De and I had several conversations about putting them together and she ended up making a vertical wall hanging. I decided to go horizontal.

I am disappointed it is so puckered...but . . .
WAIT!!!
It's not puckered - it's textured!
(Thanks to Helen @ Nannas Sewing Room)
or as Ma Betty says - it looks like Christmas trees texture!

I appliqued the baubles - added the braid and then quilted it - using serpentine stitch and a twin needle (size 4).  It took a bit of testing to make sure I didn't set the width too high. 
(If you are interested - 9mm machine, Size 4 and a width of 4 is OK... I think I could have gone a little wider...)

I added a flange binding - I have always known this as Susie's Magic Binding - which I found on a blog in 2012.   Read about it here.  Although making the binding takes longer than normal, it is machine-sewn, so that saves time.  It's great for children's quilts.

On the evening of the 29th, I was adding the bows....BUT....ran out of the braid!!!!!!!
So, a quick trip to the local bargain shop and I was able to finish them.

Good planning, Susan!!! (NOT)

The remaining Challenge Number #1 - it was to be a Christmas Stitchery.   I don't have one crying to be completed, but I do have a few decorations and a Christmas placemat to make, so I will make those my October Challenge.
Plans are just a guide...LOL....and can be changed as needed.

Thanks Deanna - I love the motivation of the Challenge - it certainly makes me get things done.

Chookshed Challenge #7 - DV Nature Blocks Quilt top

My August Chookshed Challenge was to finish making my Nature FPP Blocks into a top.

I had made a start and had put the blocks together at a retreat earlier in the year....So, to complete my challenge, I added the blue border and the brightly coloured squares for the outside border.

Quilting it may not happen til next year....

Only 2 projects to go - #1 and #3.... which will it be???

Chookshed Challenge #9 - Fishy Business - Top

My RSC project for 2024 was to make fish blocks with the aim of finishing them for a DV donation quilt.

Wanting it to progress to at least a top stage...I gave it #9 on the Chookshed Challenge list.

The top is finished - I think I have managed to turn some of my fish upside down...so it's a very unregulated school of fish!

It's fate is "under advisement".  My husband thinks it would make a good raffle quilt at his Mens Shed....

Only 3 projects to go - what number will Deanna find for August??

Chookshed Challenge #5 - Mini House

Bestie Maureen gifted this to me in 2022 as part of an Advent Swap we did.
So, I thought it was time to get it done - it didn't really take long once I started.

And ready for Christmas!

Glad to have Chookshed Challenge #5 project done & dusted - thanks Deanna for keeping us on track!

Chookshed Challenge #8 - Progress on Chapel Street

In 2023 (I think), Chooky tempted me to join her making Chapel Street.
Over time and particularly in November at our retreat at Glenrose, Chooky and I cut some fabrics that we were sharing.

I have worked on it here and there since then, cutting the black pieces and joining to the odd shape. I have not blogged about it at all.

I decided to add this project to my Chookshed Challenge List - as "Progress on Chapel Street", knowing it was unlikely that I would finish a top within the month.  Just as well as this month we took a bit of a trip away from home and no Chapel Street sewing happened for a week.

After a bit of a chat with Chooky, I decided to arrange the pieces in a colourwash fashion.  She is also taking the same approach - go here for a look.

I started by separating the blocks into colours...counting them and making up a graph of how it could work....(gotta love a spreadsheet...LOL)

Always good to have a plan...right??  Remembering it is a plan and plans can change . . .

Then I sorted the yellows into pairs and laid them out, then the reds...and so on...

Then started sewing the rows.
I was quite pleased I got to this stage by late Saturday afternoon...As my eldest daughter is in town, I couldn't sew into the night...

It is now too big for my Design Wall (??)   so two pictures will have to do...

The top section

and the lower bit....missing the top 6 rows.

As you can see I am a bit short of blocks...I knew I would need a few extra and had planned around that ....but as I matched pairs I found a few duplicate fabrics that I didn't want to include...mmm...I will need to find some more green I think...but as the Design Wall is sliding doors to a wardrobe where my fabric lives....I can't look yet!.  I guess I will need to continue on in June and then add borders.

So, not a finish - but I met the goal of "Progress on Chapel Street"

Thanks Deana for pushing us along.

Chookshed Challenge #4 - Lanarte - 3 vases cross stitch

This has been a very very long term project.  
(And as it's already the 29th - I'm just scraping in)

Back in 1985, I finished one of a set of 3 vases of flowers - designed by Lanarte.

It appears I finished the second one a fair while after that - I'm guessing 2018.

For the last couple of years, I have added this project to challenge lists and made some progress on it each time.

Finally, it's done:

and the other two:

  

I will need to add initials & year to the second one and stitch the frame.

I really think I may need to get these framed...

Chookshed Challenge #2 - Placemats for Meals on Wheels

My #2 for the Chookshed Challenge was to make placemats to donate to Meals on Wheels.  I didn't specify a number, but wanted to use a pile of fabrics that had been lingering . . .

I made 6 of these:

and 7 of these

Thanks Deanna for hosting our challenge...it is really motivating!

Chookshed Challenge #10 - Sashiko Table Runner

Another longish term finish.

I started the stitching on this in June 2020...originally purchased May 2018) and finished it in February 2021.
I found the fabric I wanted to use as a border to finish it off....but then it sat...I don't really use table runners, so that kind of explains why it didn't get finished....but it's time to wipe it off the list, so it was included as one of my Chookshed Challenge Projects.

RSC 2025 (Pink) & Chookshed Challenge 2025

Rainbow Scrap Challenge

I deliberated about joining RSC again - I've done it a few years and it is great motivation to get some blocks made, . . but do I need yet another project???   NO

So, I decided to combine it with another project and the Colourwash blocks seemed ideal.

Maureen found this idea on You Tube and the plan was to motivate each other to make blocks from our stash....
The quilt on YouTube is finished with 3" squares, and there are probably 400 or so blocks. Ummm. I decided on a 4.5" cut and the total number of squares??? I have no idea yet. It depends on how it pans out, and it may end up as a colourful quilt.

I hadn't planned on any fixed number of blocks for RSC, so I just used what was easy to cut from bits I had "sitting around" ...I ended up with 16 for the first run, but decided to make 20 each month.
I will probably need a lot more for what I have in mind - and I may spread this over two years.

Obviously I tend to buy bright pinks in a similar tone.....but I am sure over time, my pinks will become more varied.

I also have quite a collection of cut strips . . . Previously, I've made string blocks for quilts for donation to DV...and I like to make placemats to donate to the local Meals on Wheels organisation...so I grabbed the pink strips that were long enough and made a simple placemat

Chookshed Challenge

For the Chookshed Challenge, #6 was the project for January, so I combined my RSC Commitment with the Challenge.  Off to a winning start

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone!

May 2025 be happy, healthy & peaceful.

In preparation for my quilty workload in 2025, I have planned my challenge projects for the year for two separate groups. 

The Sunday Stitchers Number was drawn at our Christmas Party and is 6 

Today (31st December) the Chookshed Stitchers gathered cyberally and we drew the number for January...LOL...it is also  6 

Looks like a busy month ahead, because other projects need some TLC.

And, in case you thought that was all that I have on my plate....have a look at the sidebar under "Planned Projects for 2025 - Not the Challenges"
And there are a few more left over from 2024...

It's all fun and not to be taken too seriously.