Progress

Progress feels like an appropriate name for this blog....I have had some luck with restoring some photos (the process to do this is unbelievably slow) - (wont go there)......anyhow I was able to put back a couple of my photos on my previous posts and I am able to put a photo here...so that brings me to the other kind of progress...
January's progress.....I have finished putting together my top of the wall hanging...If I can get it quilted next month. I know I am giving myself a bit a time for this but life is very hectic at the moment and I will need to fix the photo issue I am having first...
I am glad I am with this group because this would still be sitting here waiting for me to get around to doing it and if I must say myself - I quite liked putting it together, lets hope quilting will be just as fun...

The pink you can see around the edge is the backing which is actually red so just ignore that colour...
Catch you all next time....
Sandi

OOPS

So Sorry girls, I thought I was doing a good thing by cleaning up space on my computer - I had photos saved in two places -Picasa and in a file under photos, so I thought I would get rid of the ones in Picasa and just keep the other file...well I did that and Picasa wiped the lot, which I have only just realised has removed all the photos from my blogs as well...
Hubby has thankfully put all the photos onto a portable hard drive so I will get him to put them back on my comp...so please be patient while I fix this.....

Ok I am here to - GIVE IT A GO

So where do I fit into this little on-line stitch group...you know - that's a really good question...

I have just gone over the previous posts and am feeling a little out of my league...but I will have a go..

I spent the day before yesterday looking for the two patterns that I own...make a note here..they are wall hangings not quilts.  I have always admired the McKenna Ryan patterns and in my travels have purchased these two.  It took a little time to locate them...after thinking on it, I may have actually had these two for several years...Every now and then I would drag them out, look over them, toss them over in my head and then put them back with the idea that I needed to REALLY concentrate when doing them, wanted to make a good job of it...not be rushed and ruin them, but truly, it most likely

had something to do with no being familiar with raw edge applique...

So here I go...step 1.....find patterns - check

 Step 2...Buy some fabrics....I did own a couple but not this many... - check

Step 3.... Ponder over pattern to see how I want to tackle this.... - will need to get back to you on this..

I love what everyone else has done, the fabrics chosen, they are so pretty, inspiration is running around in my veins...
I have always looked at the Christmas quilts with envious eyes and you never know - this may be kick that I have needed to do that one...
Anyhow....I will catch you all when I done something more...
Sandi

My first blocks

I already fused these 3 blocks.

I don't know if:

- I will use monofilament as required for appliquilting or threads. I read some machine don't like the use of monofilament.

What are you using please ?

-I quilt as-you-go, block by block or all together... I'm afraid to ruin the design...

Susan's Plan

In 2000 and something I (and my bestie) bought 4 blocks of the "Sea Breeze" patterns.  I have completed these blocks and have an idea of how I want to put them all together.  I made the blocks and did the raw edge applique and for a while ...they sat... then I went to a "creative quilting" group for a few months (arty quilts - lots of creating texture & shading with a sewing machine) and picked up a lot of tips - like how to make seaweed with my machine using FMQ & wash a way stabiliser.
My plan is to make the quilt look like part of a large ship that is underwater, rusted etc and through the portholes, you will be able to see the blocks.....mmmmm..... that is the plan.

Here are my blocks:

and here are some of the various bits & pieces I have collected to make the quilt.. Some cottons, some chiffony sorts of fabrics, some pictures for inspiration, some practice pieces of seaweed etc....I found things I had forgotten about...so that was fun....and now I am keen to get going.

You will see of course a marked similarity to the blocks Maureen has ready to go....

The journey begins . . . 

Four Lonely Blocks

These are my four blocks that I fully intend to organise into a design for my brothers new island home.  Design still to be nutted out on paper but it is firmly in my head and it goes like this.......storm at sea background, mariners compass in the centre and my little sea creatures playing happily around in the foreground. He loves his boats so that is why I have chosen the components mentioned above. So I had better get started. Oh and by the way, I have chosen the raw edge applique method which I feel is best suited for those tiny weeny pieces.

Welcome to the Group Quilt-a-Long

The plan is to encourage those who have a McKenna Ryan project on the wish list, or started, to finish their project.  You do not have to have a blog to participate, you can post directly here.
The blog is open to anyone who wants to participate.
There is no set agenda, you are each responsible for your own commitment, and since we are all working on different projects it would be hard to set guidelines.
I think those who want to commit should set their own plan and publish it here if they like.

Please feel free to post as often as you can - pictures of where you are at now - even a picture from the pattern of what you are working on...or plan to work on.

Together we can encourage each other, and seeing how others are progressing will encourage you to keep going too.

Good Luck to everyone - perhaps by 31st December, 2014 we will each have a finished McKenna Ryan Project.

Susan