December Day Thirty-One

2024 will start with a hiss and a bang with the introduction of the Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge. This challenge came about the other day when a group of Chookshed Chatterers (as I like to call them) were zooming and chatting. Thank you Deanna for creating the logo and volunteering to be She Who Keeps Us on Track. I understand there are several who are standing on the side lines who have been appointed Cheerleaders.

The Challenge follows a tried and true format. We list (and number) the 10 UFOs/projects we'd like to make progress on in 2024. Deanna rolls the dice at the start of each month and that is the number we work on.

Without further ado, here is my list (ahem, some of these have appeared on lists in the past!! Maybe this will be their year!)

1. International Sisters 

These were started in 2019 after Preeti shared a tutorial for the block. I think there is just joining the blocks to do.

I see I have interchanged International Sisters and International ladies throughout my blog. I quite like the name 'Sisters' as a few of us were making them and sharing fabrics at the time and there was a nice bit of comradery going on with them!

2. Antarctic Quilt. 

I believe I have never shared the startings of my Antarctica Quilt. As with so many of my projects, this started with a test-block I sewed for Juliet of Tartankiwi. Our son was in Antarctica at the time (and is back there now) so a quilt commemorating that makes sense.

3. Wings and Pretty Things. 

This is a lovely design Michelle of Rag-Tag Stitching kindly shared with me, and I haven't done it (and her) justice by finishing it in a timely manner. I have a couple of applique blocks to do, plus some EPP borders.

4. Birds on a Wire.

This is another project that started life as some pattern testing for Juliet of Tartankiwi designs. This has been on my radar for quite some time. I had a plan of how I was finishing this but I think I have probably forgotten all my clever ideas so will have to start again with the design process!!

5. Laundry Basket Quilts 2021 Mystery. This is another one I'd dearly love to finish - it takes up a lot of room (more than my little design wall) and to sort my colours/fabrics, I really need it all laid out.

My thought is, if I can get this finished I'll be 'able' to take part in another of her mysteries!!

6. My Scrub Stitching Bag.

I'm in two minds about putting this on the list as I'd really like to get this wee bag finished BEFORE the next Scrub Stitching retreat in April. 

If it is already done, I'm sure there will be another Scrub Stitching project I can put on this list instead.

I have completed the front panel and just need to assemble the bag so that shouldn't take too long.

7. Snowflake Land. 

I have accumulated a few Christmas UFOs but Snowflake Land is the first of them, started in 2016. This is a Quiltmania design and has been on a list before. I think there are only two blocks left to do.

8.Gingerbread Wallhanging.

This is a very recent UFO but I don't want to get to next Christmas and discover that I haven't finished it!

This won't take me long to finish so if it's a month where I get lots of sewing time, I will make some fabric Christmas gift bags as well.

9. Mod Bear Paw.

This quilt by Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts just needs a pieced outer border. This is another 2016 project!!

10. The Scrappy Star Quilt Adventure.

This was a QAL I led for the shop back in 2021. I made all  my blocks but didn't get them assembled. At the time the important thing was coming up with the block designs and letting participants be guided by their own creativity in how they used them.

However mine need something doing to them!

What a lot of fun sewing I have ahead of me!!!!

I am also starting to compile a list of the tops that need quilting. That's not a list I'm going to share right now as it's still a work in progress. But it will be a pretty scary one as there are so many tops that need finishing!!!!

And so this is my last post for 2023 and also my last post for my December post-a-day challenge! Thank you to all of those who have followed along, and to those who have commented. I appreciated your input, which of course helped to keep me going. I think I have covered most of the things I felt I hadn't blogged about during the year!

Some said I was brave doing it in a busy month - however it was the only month of the year left and I felt that it was Now Or Never!!! 

New Year's Eve for us will be fairly low-key. We have children overnight while their parents welcome in the New Year. We'll try and do something fun with them. But there will be cows to be milked in the morning so no late night hi jinx for us!!

Wishing you all a very Happy 2024. I hope the year is full of love and happiness and creativity.

As always I value your friendship and my time spent in blogland. Thank you for the inspiration you all give me.

'til next time,

happy stitches,

Raewyn