HQAL: Log Cabin

Here we are, half way through with April already. Gardens are blooming and projects are blooming too. At our last posting, I added the border to frame in the quilt.

For this posting I picked fabric from my stash for the backing. I had quite a variety to choose from but none were large enough for a solid backing. I decided on these three fabrics. Once that was decided and I debated on whether to hand stitch or use the machine. I used the machine.

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So now I have the quilt sandwiched together and ready for quilting. The batting is Fairfield, Purely Cotton. I could have started quilting – but the sun (absence of rain) and welcomed spring weather kept me outdoors on garden spruce up. I added viola’s and pansies to pots, transferred 3 lavender plants from pots to a fence edging and the lawn mower had her maiden mow for the season. There were more doggie walks and well, simply sitting in the sunshine daydreaming.

Time to head over to take a peak at the projects and their progress of the other hand quilters in the group. You can too with the links below.

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, Deb, Nanette, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Daisy, Connie, and Sherrie

SAL: Wildflower Update

Here we are again with an update on progress for our SAL projects. I have been working on Wildflower Jar a design by Maureen McCarthy for Janlynn needlecraft.

At our last posting I made some good progress getting the jar started.

Here is where I am now

It’s almost as lovely as the real thing. Enjoying every moment with this cross stitch and every moment of spring.

Time to start blog hopping and checking out what everyone else has been up to by clicking their names below. If you’d like to join me, 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 2nd May 2021.

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

HQAL: Log Cabin

At our last posting I showed you this picture of the my log cabin quilt. I had finished piecing all the blocks together.

As you can see above it looks like I created sashing but I haven’t. It is the blocks. In my construction of this I should have added that step.

For this posting, first I added on to the bottom and right side with the coordinating material of the block to balance the off balance look (of the photo above) I lost the look of a larger block since that light green material looked like the sashing once I pieced it all together. I am not unhappy with it, it’s a lesson learned 🙂 Next, from my stash I found the perfect fabric and added a (real) 3″ border. I now have the top portion completed.

Below is a close up of the perfect coordinating fabric I chose.

I have two different fabric choices for the backing. I may have enough of one to use but if not I am going to split down the middle and have the backing with two different fabrics.

I hope everyone is beginning to lean into glorious spring weather. I am looking forward to more sunny warmer days here. It’s still a bit colder than I like and far too much rain still. Now, off to visit the pages of the other hand quilters and catch up on all their wonderful projects. Until next time 🙂

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, Deb, Nanette, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Daisy, Connie, and Sherrie

SAL: Wildflower Jar Update

At our last posting I showed you a picture of my next project. A counted cross-stitch, called Wildflower Jar, a kit bought off of Amazon. The perfect project to have started with Spring making her entrance yesterday.

I have gotten off to a good start and below is where I am.

Now it’s time to take a look at the progress of the others in this stitch a – long. Wishing you all a spring in your step ~ stay well and smiling 🙂

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

World Wide Quilting Day 2021

It’s world wide quilting day 2021. I wouldn’t have known it unless on my facebook page a memory from last years day popped up on my feed. I haven’t really mentioned anything about the Pandemic we have collectively worldwide gone through this past year. It certainly has bound us together just as quilting binds us together as a community. Quilting this last year has taken on a new meaning, it has gotten me through a stitch at a time. At times of uncertainty – I quilted. At times filled with fear I quilted. At times filled with tears I quilted. When prayers were needed I quilted. I belong to two wonderful groups, a HQAL and SAL. Each posting at three week intervals our progress on your projects. Those involved are worldwide and I can’t stress enough what the groups have meant to me. Total connection when we had to isolate, quarantine and social distance ourselves. I can honestly say I never felt those things. I always felt surrounded and connected through 2020. Thank you quilting blog friends.

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Two I am currently working on

Because it is worldwide quilting day I thought it would be fun to post just a few pics of quilts I have worked with over the years. All of my work is hand pieced and hand quilted unless other wise written.

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Baby Quilts

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More Baby Quilts

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Children’s Quilts

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Velma’s Quilt squares were gifted to me by a neighbor, Velma (80 t years old) The squares had been machine pieced by her mother. I put them together and gifted it back to her.

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Fun Quilts

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A favorite – Water Lover – done in the 80’s for a male friend

Wishing You Good Will – a goodwill store quilt top find I backed and quilted.

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Holding my first quilt – hand pieced machine quilted. A glimpse of Alma Ayres left corner and me in front (1970’s)

1970’s – My quilting mentor – Alma Ayres (middle) that’s me seated on the end surrounded by her 2 sons, daughter and son-in-law and 1 grandson. Because of Alma – I quilt!

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It’s also the first day of spring and my crocus and hellebore are in full bloom. As we enter into spring and this time renewal I am reminded there is always something and someone to be thankful for. Thank you for all of you!

The Gift of Fabric & Pachanga Update

About a week ago a friend asked me if I would be interested in some fabric she had that she wasn’t and wouldn’t be using. She also had a Quilt ‘N Go Lap frame unused. My initial reaction was shipping fees. Was it worth sending or maybe just donating locally. Diane is in NY and I am in WA. No problem – she said. No problem – sure!

Boy was I surprised, blown away was more like it when the box arrived.

Back tracking a moment, I had been ordering ceramic patio table tiles. The box was so heavy and at first I was a bit confused. I thought the box contained tiles. Had I not received all the tiles and more arrived? My OH thought perhaps it was a replacement for returned broken tiles. No they had all been received. (yes I had forgotten the expected fabric box)

I was blessed by the fabric gods through my dear friend Diane. I have been thinking about our friendship. We met as young teens 56 years ago. We were next door neighbors growing up with a friendship that has stood the test of time.

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On January 11th, 2021 I started Scrap Dance Pachanga Mystery Quilt Along

hosted by Carole ~ From My Carolina Home ~ https://frommycarolinahome.com/2021/01/08/scrap-dance-pachanga-mystery-quilt-along/

The idea is that this is a mystery and I have no idea what pattern I will be making. Who doesn’t love a great mystery? Twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. Carole will post a new direction for the construction of the quilt. No deviating or changing the directions 🙂

I haven’t posted my progress and thought it was time to show you how the construction is going. While most are machine stitching, I am staying true too may passion and hand piecing.

Above my original fabric choices

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clues and progress

New instructions posted today and I am anxious to get started.

HQAL: Log Cabin

It’s our standard 3 week check in time. I always look forward to visiting everyones page and seeing what’s going on. This 3 weeks has brought us into March. Can you believe it? Three months into the new year already. Hoping everyone’s been well and enjoyed great progress. At our last check in I was here. I had all of the blocks completed.

For this check in I have a flimsy

During the night I started thinking about her and decided I possibly needed an extra border before going ahead. This morning taking a good look I realized before a border I still need to extend the border that was created on the top and left side to the bottom and right side. Then the additional border, perhaps. My thought for that is, I want make this a bit larger. She is measuring at 4′ x 4′

I am sure I have mentioned I have 3 panel quilts I am also hand quilting right now. Another Dahlia panel for a cousin and two Nat’l Park panels. I have been alternating between the four projects.

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Zion, Dahlia, Denali

Time to do a bit of blog hopping, visiting the other quilters. Have a great three weeks and see you next time 🙂

This hand quilt-a-long is organized by Kathy at the link below. It’s a great way to keep motivated on your project. If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join us please contact her.

Kathy, Margaret, Deb, Nanette, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Daisy, Connie, and Sherrie

SAL: Trick Or Treat Update

Three weeks flew by once again. It was June of 2020 that I began this Trick Or Treat cross stitch project. It was a kit by The Victorian Sampler, original design by Thea Dueck. I ran into immediate trouble with the directions. In fact, I am not even sure I had all the directions now as this was a kit purchased second hand at the Goodwill. There were design elements I had not anticipated, the addition of beads, and metallic threads, Hardanger, and my wrong choice of back ground cloth (the white ghost are invisible), even some needle point elements. But once begun I decided to see her through and make her my own. I tweaked much of the design, added more trees and leaves to the trees, color choices, borders similar but different.

For this 3 three week update I am calling Trick or Treat finished. She was a fun project but I am glad to call her done!

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Last posting ~ Finished project

I will frame her with 2 mats, like the original on the photo cover. A thin orange border on black with a black frame.

For my next project I picked a very simple kit purchased off of Amazon. I needed something less fussy and straight forward. I also thought this would make a lovely gift project, I have a friend in mind.

Also in the world of cross stitch, I have begun another Christmas Card series for 2021 and completed a 1st card. I really feel like these are the perfect card for someone you want to acknowledge as special in your life without gift buying during the holiday season.

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Have a wonderful next three weeks and I am off to visit the pages of the others in this SAL at the links posted below.

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

Pinwheel Progress

Back in April 2020, I shared these photos of pinwheel blocks I was working on. The material was left over from another baby quilt I had made the year prior.

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This photo highlights the true color of the material

Over the months I have continued – slowly – working on it. The blocks are all hand pieced however I decided to get some use out of the machine and to put her together.

white out photo 🙂

I didn’t have enough of the turquoise sashing to work the entire project. However I found material in my stash I thought would look ok mixed in. A sweet bunny and carrots on a very soft turquoise background. ( the color isn’t true )

It wasn’t until I photographed the flimsy that I noticed something. Have you spotted it yet? Last row – oops how in the world did I miss that? I am leaving it in, as is, a conversation piece 🙂 for the future and mentioning future; this is not for anyone right now but being made for a future grand-baby. This baby quilt reminds me of spring.

There’s 24 more days until spring. I live in WA state where we enjoy all the four seasons so anticipation of the change of weather is exciting. The daffies and crocus flowers are up. I have even seem tulips along my walks and while snow is most likely past, it has surprised us in April.

Time to get back to a few other projects on the burner.

HQAL: Log Cabin

At our last posting I showed you my progress on the Log Cabin Quilt. I had completed 7 blocks of a re-design of the kit Arbor Lane. Using the original material that was included in the kit, I added the green, a perfect online purchase match.

Winter weather is the perfect time for quilt creationing. I was able to complete all the blocks needed to now turn it into a flimsy. It is measuring a little over 4′ x 4′

Turning to my fabric stash I was delighted to find a few yards of a perfect brown patterened Concord Fabrics Inc material to use for the backing. One seam will do it. I was not able to get a ‘true color’ picture of the fabric with the poor lighting so I passed on showing you it. It is very similar to the brown pattern in the block only instead of tiny leaves it has a tiny flower pattern.

And now to spend some time visiting the pages of the hand quilters at the links below. Please join me 🙂

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, Deb, Nanette, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Daisy, Connie, Monica and Sherrie