HQAL: Two Project Updates With Smiles

At our last check in I showed you the baby quilt I had been working on.

Consensus ~ the satin blanket binding was way to wide, covered the green inside sashing and just had to be go bye bye

Changed and finished

 

No baby yet with a date of 31 October were not to far away now

 

 

My second and on going project has been the “T’ block quilt.

I had also shown you my first attempt at sashing using black and well

Yuk – all wrong again 🙂

With your help and suggestions I feel like I am on the right path again …although my photography skills are lacking ~

I am framing each block with a coordinating fabric. Five down eleven more to go.

Thank you for stopping in and please take a moment to enjoy the work of the other amazing hand quilters in the group.

Kathy, Margaret, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen and Kathi

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link above.

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SAL: Cactus and Owl Update

It’s check in time and I was actually anxious for this 3 week period to arrive. I made some great head way on my cactus and owl cross-stitch. Here is where I was at our last check in – a hint of the owl was showing.

ta daaaaa Owl is done and backstitching started

I wasn’t happy with the choppiness of the backstitching on the flower so I am going to try redoing it. Backstitching the owls head I realized once I got started that I had used double thread when single was called for. I wrestled with taking it out and then decided it will be fine. I think it gives a bit of depth to the head sitting on the body so I will leave it as is.

 

 

Remember the Barbara Lavalle cross-stitch I was working on for gift giving to my daughter up in Alaska?

Finished, framed and on its way

I was really pleased with the framing that I had done at the local Joannes. I’m sorry I didn’t get a better picture that showed the black frame all around * dark frame light background 🙂 With the present in route already, I had my daughter swear an oath to wait for opening.

Birthday celebration on the 25th.

 

Thank you for stopping by. Please take a moment to visit the pages of the other amazing crafters in the group. And if you would like to join along please contact Avis below and she will be happy to walk you through the process. See you next time 🙂

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah,Clare,Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne

About the SAL

This SAL (Stitch Along) is slightly different to other SALs in that we don’t all stitch the same design at the same rate. We choose ONE unfinished project, or ONE new one, and show progress of its completion over a series of three weekly updates. There are no deadlines and no set amount to stitch. The result is that the space in our drawers full of WIPs (works in progress) is gradually being freed up to store lots of new crafty goodness.

HQAL: two projects in the works

Can you believe we are entering into October already? I am ready and anxious for cooler weather. Colder weather means more indoor time and more progress on my hand projects.

In the works and closer to being finished is the baby quilt for our nephew with baby due in mid October.

I have her pinned and ready to sew in the lace and binding. Here’s the dilemma before I start. I had this great green border that disappeared once I added the blanket binding. Bad planning. I could move the binding out but I don’t have the extra batting edge left. Any thoughts on whether to proceed as is or rework this?

 

The other project in the works for this HQAL is the T Quilt. I had begun piecing it together. I had settled on a basic black sashing to frame in each block.

I am not happy with the hard dark look of the black. Then I saw on Kate of Talltalesfromchiconia her gorgeous quilt she is piecing together and I think I want to change up what I am doing. You can see her post below. I think the grey she used is so lovely.

https://talltalesfromchiconia.wordpress.com/2019/09/27/opal-2-framing/

I would love to have your input on this. Should I continue with the black and see how it looks, maybe go two rows or switch out to grey? Would the grey look to washed out with these bolder colors? What do you think?

Happy fall everyone! Please take a moment to visit the pages of the others in this HQAL. There is some amazing hand work going on. And if you have a hand worked project, we would love to have you join in on the fun. See you in 3 weeks 🙂

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen and Kathi

 

Needlepoint Turtle

Isn’t she just gorgeous? Goodwill find for only $4.99 

18 x 22 

Not signed  😦 

A beautiful piece that is going to make an awesome gift for just the right turtle lover in my life  

 

SAL: Prickly Owl

A sweet Cactus and Owl cross-stitch, a gentle rain, leaves turning colors and beginning to fall, a cup of tea, a great netflix movie playing ~ the perfect way to get lots done.

If only that were the case, but I did find lots of stolen moments this 3 week period to get  a quite a bit done.

At our last check in I was here

I fixed my mistake, the wrong color thread and continued on

 

He’s such a cute little owl and I am excited to be working on him

My last project is in the shop being framed and should be done by next posting, ready for gift giving.

I found a great live owl cam, although not yet its season and will be back on line in February, I thought you might enjoy taking a look

https://explore.org/livecams/birds/great-horned-owl-cam

Thank you for stopping by. Please take a moment to visit the pages of the other crafters to view all the amazing projects getting done.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Clare, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Susan, Anne

We live all over the world so you may need to allow for time differences. Posting takes place every third Sunday, local time. Our next updates will be posted on the 13th October 2019.

About the SAL

This SAL (Stitch Along) is slightly different to other SALs in that we don’t all stitch the same design at the same rate. We choose ONE unfinished project, or ONE new one, and show progress of its completion over a series of three weekly updates. There are no deadlines and no set amount to stitch. The result is that the space in our drawers full of WIPs (works in progress) is gradually being freed up to store lots of new crafty goodness. It’s surprising how much motivation I’ve gained from being in this SAL. If you’d like to finish a project you’ve left unfinished for a while, or start a new one with us, you can join us by sending me (Avis) an email. The address is on the right of this page. I’ll send you a few simple rules to agree.

HQAL: Check-in on the Baby Quilt

As the weather continues to cool and the baby shower looms as a reminder to get her done, I have been busy these last few weeks working on the baby quilt. I have finished with assembling the top.

If your eyes hadn’t noticed, I’ll point it out, top row (or it could be a side or bottom row) is off a bit. When I was placing it as a middle row it was very apparent I had made a mistake but instead of re working, because it was the only row off, I decided to use as an end row where the mistake, once all put together, would be less noticeable.

Mistake- no worries – be happy! I am very happy with the color scheme. At first I thought it might feel to grown up for a baby but with it’s satin ribbon border on and small lace trim I think it’s statement will be fine ~ here’s to love and a happy, healthy, strong and bold baby girl.

The backing is a brushed cotton flannel, baby soft! I doubled the batting for a extra cush and warmth. Not quite sure what I will do with quilting this yet. I’ll start out simple, stiching just outside the ditch around the inside of two of the coordinating triangles in each block and then go from there.

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to visit the pages of the other participants in this HQAL to see some wonderful projects in the works.

Hand Quilt Along Links

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Emma, Tracy, Deb,Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin,
Gretchen and Kathi

SAL Update: Desert Cactus

September 1st and I am feeling the crunch to get this finished. I had initially thought a Christmas gift for my daughter but a Nov. 10th birthday may be possible, maybe not, as she is living oversea’s in Okinawa (Military family) mailing times at best are usually slow and spotty for a timely arrival. Either or ….. time will tell on this one.

Where I was last time 

Where I am now 

Once I posted this photo I saw my mistake clearly, those last dark forest green crosses have to go. WRONG 😦  I’d also like to get some backstitching done for our next show and tell.

Where I was,  where I am now, finished project 

It’s not a cactus but it’s green. I caught diamonds nesting in a plant in the garden after a summer rain.

 

If you haven’t already please take a moment to visit the pages of the other crafters in this SAL. There is some amazing projects in the works. Thank you for stopping by 🙂

 

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Clare, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon

About the SAL

This SAL (Stitch Along) is slightly different to other SALs in that we don’t all stitch the same design at the same rate. We choose ONE unfinished project, or ONE new one, and show progress of its completion over a series of three weekly updates. There are no deadlines and no set amount to stitch. The result is that the space in our drawers full of WIPs (works in progress) is gradually being freed up to store lots of new crafty goodness. It’s surprising how much motivation I’ve gained from being in this SAL. If you’d like to finish a project you’ve left unfinished for a while, or start a new one with us, you can join us by sending me an email. The address is on the right of this page. I’ll send you a few simple rules to agree.

HQAL: ‘T’ Block Arrangement

At our last posting I had finished all of the ‘T’ blocks and showed the arrangement I had for them. I was not happy, in fact, I was pretty discouraged, this was not anything like my vision at the start.

Original arrangement looked like a mash mosh of nothing

Following the suggestions of the group, I placed the darkest blocks as corner stones, a dark middle surrounded by the lighter blocks.

Look at the difference

 

 

A second suggestion had the lightest grouped in the middle, a bit darker framing and the darkest as the corner blocks.

Here is the difference

 

 

I am leaning towards the first change with the darkest as the 4 center blocks. It just draws the eyes in and the 4 corner blocks really pop out. The second arrangement still seems a bit flat and none dimensional.

While I was extremely anxious to get this started I had to put it aside to begin another hand quilting project. Excitement is mounting with grand baby #1 due for my sister-in-law in early October ~ a girl! I am afraid a baby shower may be looming in September and I am hoping to get this done in time.

Deciding to shy away from something to juvenile, I opted for a more refined girlish look in dusty rose tones with green sashing matching the leaves. I will add a thin lace ribbon border with the satin ribbon binding.

For the backing I choose this rose colored geometric pattern in a soft brushed cotton. It matches the simple pattern of the quilt top.

 

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Please take a moment to visit the pages of the other amazing crafters and thank you for stopping by 🙂

Kathy, Margaret, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchenand Kathi

Quilting and Cross~stitch

Always checking in at our local Goodwill store for a treasure or two, I spotted the sweetest framed cross stitch project I just had to rescue.

Quilts and Cross~stitch, can it get any sweeter? 

Sadly this beauty was not signed and is a reminder to me to sign and date; somewhere! A lot of work was put into this and the backstory and maker has been ‘lost’ while she sat in the picture bins of this thrift store. Who knows how many Goodwill thrifts she sat in before making her way to our corner of the country.

Her new markings read: Found August 9th 2019 at the Bellingham, WA Goodwill store.

SAL Update: Cactus Hoot

Summer time is quickly wrapping up, a hint of fall is in the air, the cactus blooms are fading while mine have a way to go. Having fun with this new project. Here is where I was last time we posted.

 

Making progress

 

If you have a project and would like to participate in with this SAL please contact Avis at the link below and don’t hesitate to follow all the links to the work of amazing crafters and their projects.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Clare, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon

 

I also wanted to share another amazing completed project by Kate who some of you do know and follow.  I had the honor of participating in her amazing yearly on going quilt fundraiser project. The quilt is made for auction to benefit ovarian cancer. The amazing talented quilters are from all over the world (like us) Kate Chiconi (Australia) spearheads this project. You can read Kates posting on this quilt here
https://talltalesfromchiconia.wordpress.com/…/scinteallate…/