HQAL: Capital T Quilt Update

Three weeks hasn’t brought much progress on the Capital T quilt but I did decide on my backing material. I originally had thought I’d use a solid fabric in the cranberry, maroon color of the sashing material.

Finding the right coordinating color proved harder than I thought. In fact, it was impossible for me. I had taken a gamble and ordered a king size flat sheet but the color was off. I could have spent more boots on the ground time shopping but ultimately I decided on a pattern which I think will work perfectly.

It is from Joanns, one of the premium wide cotton fabrics @  108″ for 19.99 on sale at 11.99 . I bought 2 yards and will have more than enough to use in something else.

Hoping I’ll have her all sandwiched together next time with some quilting begun 🙂 Please take a moment or two and enjoy the projects of the other hand quilters in our group.

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 Update: Keeping It Simple

It’s been a crazy 3 weeks ~ I had thought my next project would be to start this Halloween holiday sampler. I never saw directions so tiny. My magnifier didn’t help nor lighting, so I put her aside again.

You may remember these little gems I picked up. I started and finished the Cardinal.

After finishing this and as an afterthought, I am now thinking wouldn’t these make darling tiny pillow ornaments?

While at Joanns, I picked up this simple Cactus kit and decided this would go perfect with  the Owl and the Cactus I did for my daughter a month or so back.

 

That about wraps up this SAL update. Please take a moment and enjoy the postings of the others in our group. Just click on the links below. There are some wonderful projects in the works.

 

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

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 contacting Avis. She’ll send you a few simple rules to agree.

Hidden in Plain View then stashed out of site ~ shame on me!

I was doing some light cleaning and came across a book I had picked up some time back.

Hidden in Plain View by Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard, Ph.D. 

Remembering I had started it, loved it, how could I have forgotten about it and not finished this?  Had I shared this with you? Checking back through my post I didn’t spot anything so here I am with a nod to this wonderful, fascinating book published in 1999.

I have been to Charleston, had we not thought to stop at the Marketplace? Shame on me.

We had admired the gorgeous sweet grass baskets that adorn the streets, the stands along the way that dot the highway, had we not thought to stop and purchase one? Shame on me. (Thankfully I had made time for a few pictures)

ahhh – sweet grasses (not my photo)

Just last year was my first time using the Flying Geese pattern. Called for in the blocks in  the Capital T quilt I am currently working on, I felt like I was on a drunkards path trying to get it right. I tried special rulers for the geese, 3 different ways to piece the geese together, you tube video’s…finally success. (blue block = successful geese 🙂

The book traces the flight from slavery to a place where a safe haven awaited through the use of quilts.

 

So with a good pair of reading glasses, time purposefully set aside to devour this fascinating book, I began again.

Fascinating, informative, historical, introspective, heartfelt, educational, fun ~ all words I would use to describe this.

If you have the chance to find this through any of your favorite bookstore vendors, used or new, I know you would love it ~

HQAL: Capital T Quilt Quilt Update

I am excited to share this 3 weeks update with you. Since starting this Capital T Block quilt over a year ago, I hav finally finished piecing all her blocks together.  Here is where I was at our last posting.

A week of heavy snow and home bound, I really got so much accomplished. Here is where I am now with the top totally put together.

I have ordered a flat sheet in the maroon and I hope the color I choose will be a good match. I have not added the two side border pieces yet but they are cut out and ready to be attached. On that bottom left corner block, a tad to small, I will add a small extension piece and it will be fine.

Not always thrilled with my color choices as I was working with this, I am happy with how it has turned now.

Thank you for stopping in and checking on my progress. Please take a moment to visit the pages of the others in the group. There’s so beautiful hand work being done.

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 Update: Ornamental Pumpkin

January and I am starting strong. At our last posting I had decided on and started the ‘Ornamental Pumpkin’ cross stitch and here is where I was at.

 

 

A snow storm kept us house bound for over a week. It was awesome! I got so much done, in fact I am all done 🙂

 

 

Not original in the plans, I added the word ‘pumpkin’. With a finished size of 6″ x 7″, its not much bigger than 4 1/2″ x 5 5/8″ if I had used the recommended 28 count. I used 11 count. It actually has one major counting flaw and is not symmetrical. I decided to leave the flaw and cross stitch on. Of course it is so visible to my eye but I am hoping not to yours. I still am unsure if I will simply frame or do something different with it. It was a fun little piece to do!

Now to tackle something a little more complicated, I will move on to “Trick or Treat”

Please spend some time and take a look at the pages of the other crafters in this SAL. There is some amazing projects in the works. If you would like to join in please contact Avis at the link below and she will walk you though joining – its easy!

 

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

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.

 

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