Christmas Cards in January

You may remember that for Christmas 2019, I  wanted a little something extra special for my uncle. I had found at our local Goodwill store this cross stitch card and thought it was perfect and just what I was looking for.

He Loved it !

Browsing eBay for fun stuff, I came across a set of 4 similar cards being sold.

I was able to pick up these 4 beauties for $8.76. The cardinal is my favorite but they are all adorable and will make very special gift cards this coming holiday season.

As you know already, it is never to soon to get started ~ shhhh ~ before we know it, December will be here again in all it’s holiday glory 🙂

Winter Snow

Sunday night our first snow hit us in the great northwest corner. It’s been a constant battle to keep the bird feeders filled. We knew it was coming and I was prepared. A first light dusting and a shake off of the bamboo was needed and each day since (kitty cat path)

 

More snow everyday but I am not complaining. My daughter in Alaska just chuckles and says I love it. My daughter in Okinawa cries and says I miss it and I say perfect time to hunker down and get a lot of crafting done.

Backyard stream is running high and strong

Tranquility

Lots is getting done on the Ornamental Pumpkin cross stitch and I hope to have the Capital T quilt top totally pieced together for our next show and tells (last postings pictures)

My favorite guy ~ Dusty Doolittle Johnson

 

 

HQAL Update: Baby Quilt & T Quilt

This is our first posting for the year 2020 and I am

pleased to report I have a finish with the baby blanket.

I would have liked to have quilted around each of the triangles but with the time restraint to get it in the mail to the shower in time, I opted for only quilting the inside and outside of the square blocks. Originally I intended to add a small gray pompom embellishment with the border but it just didn’t have the look I had envisioned.

Simplicity won out. She’s in the mail for shower which is next Saturday.

My other hand project is the ongoing T block quilt. At our last posting I had shared I had begun stitching the blocks together. I really had no idea my direction with this but I was able to get a really good look at what was going on ~ a bunch of mish mosh un squared off mess of blocks.

Back to the drawing board, blocks squared off and sashing added,  much better. I feel like I have something worth piecing together. There will be two more rows for a total of 16 blocks. The blocks measure  15 X 15″  and the sashing is 1 1/2″ wide.

I hope you’ll take some time and visit the others in this hand quilt along group. There are some fabulous projects in the works. We post an update on our projects every three weeks. If you would like to join along, please contact Kathy at the link below.

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

2020: Starting the New Year

An invite to a birthday dinner party for a special friend called for something special.

After some thought, I decided on making a small pillow, using a recycled a vintage linen and a scrap from ‘Wishing You Goodwill’ the double wedding ring quilt I have been refurbishing (for years). It’s about 5″ x 8″

I used two different lace accents, layering one on the other for the edging.

 

Gift wrapped and ready to go

And to start the year off, some new tea towel transfers ordered off of eBay …. I love them all and can hardly wait to get started. Each motif has a specific person in mind.

Delight in the Desert

Who doesn’t love a chicken in kitchen and the chance to honor Native Americans for their cultural contribution to the world of arts and crafts

I love the little mouse and I was thinking an adorable felted holiday mouse ornament with him repeated as a border on it would be perfect!  The ideas are endless!

Wishing you all a year of fun, exciting crafting ahead.

 

 

 

SAL Update: Ornamental Pumpkin 1

2019 wrapped up with the completion of the Cactus and Owl cross-stitch for my daughter in Okinawa, Japan. While I missed my Christmas gift deadline, she’s been boxed and mailed to welcome the new year. With light shadows and a bit crooked, here she is framed…..

 

2020 welcomed the new year with a decision on what I would start for my next project. In our last posting, I needed to make a decision on what to tackle next. I had two choices .

After some thought, I decided on the Ornamental Pumpkin. With quite a few other projects on the table I wanted something a little easier, mindless so to speak, to tackle.

The kit called for this to be stitched on 28 count ‘Goldspinner’ Luguana from Silkweaver. Finished this will measure 4 1/2″ x 5 5/8″, its not large and one of the reasons for my choice –

I looked into ordering the fabric but while at our local Joann’s, I picked a Charles Craft 11 count Aida cross stitch fabric in beige. I wafted between 11 and 14 but decided I wanted a really airy look. (I haven’t tackled a 28 count ever 🙂 

I was able to find all the recommended DMC threads that were recommended with the exception of 3 out of 10. It will be my color choice with those.

Here is my start 🙂

I began with the middle column, a little less than half way down.

 

A big welcome AJ to the group 🙂

Please also enjoy the latest SAL project updates from the rest of the group by clicking the links below. 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 26th January 2020. If you would like to join with us, please contact Avis at the link below and she will walk you through.

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

HQAL: T Quilt & Baby Blanket Update

In my last post I shared I had finally and joyously finished all of the blocks for the T Quilt

Beginning to piece it together I ran into some problems with the block sizes. They are not all uniform. I tried adding and removing borders on some of them. Using my design wall curtain, (the only work space available in my home if you can believe that other than on the bed) you can see I had run into some serious construction problems.

Initially I decided to not use sashing, thinking maybe a patchwork kind of feel would work because of the 4 different T patterns along with my lack of uniformity in the size of the blocks. But it was simply a mess. In looking back at when I began this project it is evident now that the basic 2 color choice was called for: red & white, blue & white ~ something traditional

This T block quilt has been a claw in my side since I began but a true skill stretcher for me. Wanting to get her done, I have told myself – no rush, take your time, get her right, as right as you can and then get her done.

Starting over I squared up the blocks and went with a maroon 2″ wide sashing.

This just may work.

Baby Quilt

I have also been working on the baby quilt and I may have it completed in time for the baby shower in mid January. I have finished piecing it together.

All three layers are together and I have begun the hand quilting process.  I am stitching  around the inside square of each block with the plan to then stitch around the inside of each larger square by the sashing. I’m using a light gray thread. All the inside squares are done and I have begun the outside squares last night.

 

Wishing everyone health and happiness in the coming new year and a big thank you to Kathy for hosting this Hand Quilt Along. Thank you to every one for your encouragement over this last year.

 

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, Kathi,  Bella, Daisy and Connie

SAL: Project Choice

 

Last posting of 2019 ~ I can hardly believe how quickly the year has passed. At my last posting I had finished ‘The Owl and Cactus’. Sadly it is still in the shop being framed. I had hoped to have this done and in the mail to my daughter, living in Okinawa (Military) for Christmas. That didn’t happen but something else did. My daughter surprised me the other day and I learned she is actually following the blog. I had no idea! In fact I said “you never comment and say nice job mom” lol ~ her surprise became my surprise.

I’ll be sure to post the framed finish before I send it off.

Before moving on to my next project for this SAL, I finished up a few gift giving projects I had started. A cross stitched greetings card for my favorite uncle and a bunch of lavender infused 3.5 sachet pillows. Bagged in baggies to let their fragrance steep 🙂

 

Now to decide on my next project for the SAL

I thought I should get a jump on projects for next fall because considering how fast this year went by ….

The first is this Pumpkin cross stitch.

The second choice is this absolutely adorable “Trick or Treat” Victoria Sampler

Notice the bottom section ~ Hardanger, I knew I should joined in when Kathy (below) hosted her Hardanger stitch along ~ darn it ~ this just might determine my choice.

To everyone ~ I wish you lots of great projects, good health and lots of laughter in the coming year.

This stitch-a-long is organised by Avis, we post our progress on our chosen project every three weeks, please follow the links to see what every one else is stitching.

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

 

 

Lavender Christmas Dessert Plate

Holiday dinner out with friends called for something a little extra special to say how much their friendship meant to me. 3.5 x 3.5 these tiny sachet pillows are stuffed with lavender infused stuffing along with lavender grown in my garden this summer. I edged with a string of pearl beads to capture that winter falling snow feel.

I wanted material that said ‘you light up my life’

I kept it simple and wrapped in a plastic sandwich baggy to both catch falling lavender buds and help the infused lavender scent steep.

Christmas Card Cross Stitch

 

In a world with virtual cards for every occasion, I still send out Christmas Cards, do you? I picked up this sweet kit at the Goodwill for $1.99

Setting out straight a way to get it started, it took me some time, extra strong reading glasses, and good lighting.

Recipient is my one and only Uncle who is extra special to me

What is really funny about this card is he loves virtual cards, and I mean LOVES them. In fact, starting Dec. 1, have been sending him a virtual card every morning almost like an advent calendar of sorts. He may love virtual cards but I think he may like this one better.

HQAL: T Block Update

Time once again to post our progress. Looking back, it appears I started working on this  in November, 2018. Wow – I can hardly believe a full year has flown by since beginning this.

I have completed all 16 blocks for my “T” block quilt. Below are the last 5. (Actually I miss counted and I have 17 blocks in all, 2 of the same one)

 

 

All the blocks

 

 

Now to begin to think about putting her together

Please take a moment to blog hop and check out the amazing hand work of the others in the group ~ enjoy!

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

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate each another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. If you would like to join along please contact Kathy above.