Holiday Gift Wrap Up

I have just about finished up on my holiday gifts for this year. Now to get them in the mail or delivered. I wrapped up my cross stitched cards with this adorable Santa and I have to say, I am having a hard time deciding what to do with him. I just love him! Would it be wrong to keep him for myself ?

I made two Hanukkah dish towels for 2 dear (sisters) friends. But with the holiday almost over I don’t think I’ll deliver them in time. As it turns out – not only friends but DNA revealed we are distance cousins connected abt. 5/6 generations back.

Skye (our mini schnauzer fur baby) will head for one last groom for 2021. I always give her groomer a monetary tip at the end of the year and something yummy for the staff. Her groomer, Katie will be getting married in the spring and I wanted to do something a little extra special this time. I decided on a wedding junk journal and I could tuck her tip into one of the pockets with wedding ephemera. Below Katies journal.

Here is the cover of the journal. I photographed the cover of this on a 1935 copy of the Delineator Magazine. How perfect, looks like a wedding reception party for the background. A luscious satin creme ribbon and gold sari fabric ribbon holds a gorgeous envelope in place. Perfect for tucking any gift checks/cash they receive. Below is a few of the pages that I created. I had so much fun with this project.

Stashed in a pocket, ads I got off of newspaper.com papers, a sweet envelope, and Journalling card.

I used wedding photo copies from my collection of family photos. The black/white opens into a card for journaling. I love the vintage pearl botton

Under the book page ribbon is a wedding reception announcement from 1929.

I kept the signaturen for this all in the same white pages. There are 12 pages for writing in. There’s an envelope and tag clipped to this page. I used my sewing machine and zig zag stitched around the envelope.

And in this tuck is two wedding ephemera also from newspaper.com

More stuff tucked into pockets. A vintage Valentine postcard proclaiming her love.

‘Your Words’ is another writing pad to journal on.

Below a fun Christmas Journal ~ darn word press – as hard as I tried I could not delete this grouping. I decided I just wanted to show you a few pages from a bunch of journals but for some reason I couldn’t do that. So this grouping is of 5 photo’s from 1 journal.

The cover will be wrapped up in red sari ribbon

In all the journals I put in vintage photo’s of the Virgin Mary, as well as a vintage Christmas postcard.

Adorable paper doll cut out peeking out from the next page. She has a few winter outfits as well. I clipped on a few plastic holiday goody pages.

Below are just some random covers and pages from a few different journals I worked on. All of these were created out of 2 lunch size brown paper bags. Just like our hand quilting/quilting community, there is a huge junk journaling community that can be found on you tube and the ideas are endless…….

There’s a Theo Chocolate bar peeking out of this one.

I bought a lot of junk Christmas pins off of ebay and added some to covers.

This one is a boho themed journal for my next door neighbor.

This is a photo of a group of children (1950’s) caroling. It is clipped on and opens up to whole bunch of children, found in a random magazine. Theres also some stickers behind the picture.

I used fabric from my stash and created ruffles on some pages. A match book cover ‘ignite your spark is peeking out on this page.

Photo of the woman is from my adopting ‘Brown’ family. She just looks so wintery in her fur lined coat and hat. Who wouldn’t want to go for a sleigh ride in that outfit.

One of the boho pages. I had these Freda cards in my stash for years, finally a use. I used that great red button for a closure for the envelope I made,

I hope this post sparks some new and exciting crafting ideas for you. These junk journals are a totally new art expression for me. And as I said you tube was a huge help in getting me started.

SAL Update: Christmas Greetings

Hello everyone – here is my update on my Christmas Greetings cross stitch project. At our last posting I was near completion of my the project. Santa looked like this below.

Pleased to report I actually have a finish. I finished up with the blue snow around Santa added a snowflake, the leaves and saying.

The sizing was just perfect for a 8 x 10 frame, a bit snug. I framed it myself and in the photo it looks a bit lumpy but in person it is not so noticeable. I had a lovely day date with my friend to give her the picture and she was thrilled with it. She in turn will be giving it as a gift. The original design called for more leaves and snowflakes – on the sides and bottom. I debated on whether to continue but I knew I would not be done in time. In light of having to frame it myself, I usually have our local Joann’s (not framing now), I called him done 🙂

Now I am off to check in with the others in the SAL. If you’re not participating in the SAL, won’t you join me by clicking on the links below. There are so many amazing projects in the works. See you all at our next posting on the 19th December 2021.

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

About the SAL

Please note this SAL is not accepting any more new members until further notice but this is what it’s all about anyway. 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.

HQAL: Tori’s Quilt

Photo

Continuing to work on my quilt for my granddaughter Tori aka Torance 🙂 I am ready to update for our three week posting.

In my last post I had completed 5 out of 16 blocks and for this posting I have added 4 more blocks making a total of 9 blocks – more than half way there 🙂 With all the blocks basically the same there isn’t much visual change. I’ll just add the 9 block picture of now.

Last time I shared my new passion – junk journals. I have been fiddling around with some ideas, working on a Christmas jj for a friend. I made a simple quilted cover for this one. It’s funny how when you look at your work in pictures you can really begin to critique and see what you could have done. I quilted around the bird and the single leaf under the bird button. Wow – what if I had quilted all the green leaves – that would have been better. It’s already glued in place and no changing it now. What I am going to do is create an entire quilted cover for my next try 🙂

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  the book is bound in red sari ribbon, along the spine is a piece of fabric that has been torn and glued in place.

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  you can see a hint of of the batting on the edging of the simply quilted sandwiched panel. It looks like the birds are sitting on a bed of snow.

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  Made out of two lunch paper bags, there are 6 main pages in the journal plus 12 page journal writing space.

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  Showing only 4 of the pages the snowglobeman is on top of one of the journaling pages.

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  Pinned to a page are 2 goody bags and peaking out of another page is a cute paper doll cut out from ‘thegraphicsfairy.com’

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  I have stashed all kinds of fun ephemera into the pocket tucks.
  

I always look forward to checking in with everyone in the group to see the progress on their creations. Won’t you join me by clicking on the links below. Wishing everyone well

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, and Daisy

SAL UPDATE: Christmas Greetings

SAL update with our three week posting. If you live somewhere with the time change don’t forget – I certainly have before. Here is where I was at our last posting. I was dreading all the backstitching. I just have such a tough time with it.

As you can see I have made a lot of progress. I have just a smidge to complete on the snow/ice surrounding Santa. Then I will go back around and fix some bare spots or spots that don’t look aesthetically pleasing to me. I didn’t follow the chart in working around Santa. It was just to difficult. If you remember I had to replace the floss and unfortunately I ran out of the blue I was using and tried my best to match it. The shade difference was almost impossible to see in my lighting and there’s a small subtle change. Perhaps you didn’t even notice it. I sure do, but I am ok with it. It’s a bit lighter and looks icy-er, if thats a word.

There is more to add – some holly leaves and some words. I’ll be giving this as a gift and I would like to have it done by our next posting. I love his skates. They remind me of the pair my father had, racing skates as opposed to figure skating skates. Growing up in New York we did a lot of skating in the winter. I wish I had my dad’s skates now to drape over the vintage sled I prop up on my porch in winter.

It’s time to scoot off and check in with the others in this SAL. I always look forward to visiting their pages. Sometimes I am unable to post a reply but please know if I haven’t left a note I have tried 🙂

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

About the SAL

Please note this SAL is not accepting any more new members until further notice but this is what it’s all about anyway. 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.

HQAL: Tori’s Quilt

Hi ~ At our last posting I reported on completing the Log Cabin I had been working on and introduced you to my new project which was to complete a children’s quilt I had already begun. Thats it below, in the pinwheel pattern ~ one of my favorites. I am calling this one Tori’s Quilts because it will be for my granddaughter named Torance (Tori).

Pinwheel

I had already had the top sandwiched and had started with one block. For this posting, I have now completed 5 blocks of 16. ( btw I have tried 3 times to get the pictures to load front then back – no can do 🙂

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  Back

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  Front

I am only showing the 2 squares as they all look the same and there’s not much visual appeal however, I am so in love with the backing of fabric. Those little lambs are just so darn cute.

I think I could have gotten a bit further with this but a new hobby has caught my interest. Junk Journals. I was watching an episode of The Chateau Diaries on YouTube and someone had gifted the hostess a junk journal. I was enthralled with the detail in this gift as ‘Stephanie’ – the hostess shared some of the intricate pages that had been crafted. This led to a search on junk journals – which you might already be aware of – I was not – and decided to give it a go. What I love about this form of art is the use of fabric, even quilted pieces, to create. The possibilities are endless. I have even started experimenting with fabric covers. If you’ll indulge me this diversion from my quilting project, I will post a few photo’s of one I have created as a birthday gift for a daughter.

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  The theme for this journal is vintage/ flowers and their use in perfume

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  The binding is some edging that had been on a blouse I had previously discarded and kept the trim

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  Peeking out is 1910 vintage birthday postcard. I have been collecting these for years

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  Tucked in a pocket is also a gift card to Panara Bread and I will add a gift check as well. The potpourri envelope has a few family photos in it

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  There are 10 pages for journaling included as well

I am excited to do something with hand pieced quilt squares to create a cover and the pockets for stashing goodies.

Now it’s time to hop on over to catch up with the others in this quilt along and see what they have been up to.

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, and Daisy

SAL Update: Christmas Greetings

I have continued to work pretty consistently on my ice skating Santa. With the exception of weekends and a few days this cross-stitch and along with Perry Mason reruns has been my faithful companion these last three weeks. I have put in a good 12 hours this report. Below is where I was at our last posting.

And here is where I am now. I have completed Santa and now on to the backstitching. I also need to add in the lacing on the skates. There is also background snowflakes and poinsettia leaves to add still. Those yellow spots in Santa’s beard will be stars.

I am off now to check in with the others in this SAL. Please join me by clicking on the links below.

*Just a quick side note – I am having problems previewing this post before publishing so I can not check it out first. Is anyone else with wordpress experiencing this? There seems to be a change with the format and look as well.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Renee,  Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, and Helen

About the SAL

Please note this SAL is not accepting any more new members until further notice but this is what it’s all about anyway. 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.

HQAL: Log Cabin Update

For this check up I am excited to say – I have a finish! A big, just in time Autumn happy dance finish!

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I started this quilt at the end of January 2020. Some of you may remember this was a kit that I found confusing. I decided to reconfigure and simplify the pattern. Changing it meant I had to add some material from my stash to what was precut and provided. Below is the original design with one of 6 directions pages, and the pattern I decided to use instead.

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For the backing I used material again from my stash. I needed to use three different pieces to make up the backing. I love the affect.

For my next project I decided to finish a children’s quilt I had put aside some time ago. I hand pieced each block, however I did use my machine to attach each row and for attaching the border. The top measures 43’X43′.

I found this adorable fabric at Joann’s. I love the name of the fabric pattern, Magic Moon – isn’t that sweet? I am using Hobbs 80/20 Bonded Fibers Premium Fibers batting. I actually doubled it up so this will be a nice warm blanket.

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I’ve got a start

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, and Daisy

SAL: Christmas Greetings

Christmas Greetings is moving right along. I have worked on her pretty consistently in the last 3 weeks. Perry Mason reruns keeps me on tract with an hour of stitching each morning. Here is where I was at our last posting.

Santa has his skates on for a spin around the pond and his beard is filling in nicely too.

Keeping with the Santa theme I alternated skating Santa with another cross stitch Santa Christmas card this reporting period.

It’s always a highlight of the 3 week posting to check in with the others in this SAL. You can join me by clicking on the links below 🙂

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

About the SAL

Please note this SAL is not accepting any more new members until further notice but this is what it’s all about anyway. 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.

Table Runner in Blue

Back in January of this year I had decided to participate in the Scap Dance Pachanga Mystery Quilt Along that was hosted by Carole of From My Carolina Home.

I had never participated in this type of project before but it sounded fun. The idea was that this was a mystery and I would have no idea what pattern I would be making. Twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month, Carole posted a new direction for the construction of the quilt or in my case I decided on a table runner. There was no deviating or changing the directions.

I was going strong at the beginning. But it wasn’t to long into the project that I realized I was in over my head and lost. In fact what I learned about myself is that I am a total visual learner. I don’t do well with written directions. I have to see it being done. I also need to see what I am making to see what I am doing. Anyone else craft the same way? It’s like a jig saw puzzle. You prop up the lid to see the puzzle while you work on it.

But I soldiered on and continued with each clue in the construction as best I could. I was working this project all by hand and not machine so a lot of work had already gone into it. When it came time for the assembly, I quickly discovered I had to many pieces, and piecing it together was not working. I had no idea what it should look like but I knew it wasn’t suppose to look like what I was doing.

So as the saying goes when life gives you a lemon make lemonade. I decided to continue with making the table runner and using the extra pieces to make coasters to go with it.

I’m happy with the way it turned out. But if you really take a look at it you can see lots of ‘interesting’ oddities to the 2 larger end blocks. I should have had enough pieces to have the same blocks.

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With more of the extra pieces I made the coasters to go with this.

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It was a fun project, I learned a lot about my crafting style and turning lemons into something sweet and wonderful. I have an idea what I will be doing with this project. I have some deep blue glassware, goblets, pitcher, water glasses that would look wonderful on a table setting with the table runner. Thinking this will make a nice birthday gift paired with glassware for someone I have in mind 🙂

HQAL: Log Cabin Update

I am happy to report at this 3 week update I have completed quilting the Log Cabin.

Hoping to add a bit more interest, I went back and stitched a X in each of the center squares. With the very first one I could see it would be lost and didn’t pop as I had hoped but what the hec – it stitched up fast so I went ahead and did all 16.

I really like the back fabric’s. The fabric was from my stash and there wasn’t enough of one to cover the whole thing so … use two and make one and I added some contrast to an other wise pretty flat backing. I should have doubled up or even tripled up on the batting but I am happy with a light throw. It will be perfect on the couch for fall.

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Hoping I’ll get her done by our next check in. Fall has definitely arrived. The mum’s are here in the stores and I purchased some for the garden in front. Pumpkins are showing up too. My mini tomatoes – finally – are ripening, I can’t believe how long it took them this year but they sure are welcome for a fall treat and I love the pop of color they provide. I just want to add my zinnias are prolific this year with reds, oranges, yellows and deep pinks smiling up at me.

Now it’s off to check in with the other hand quilters. And if you are a hand quilter I hope you will consider joining us.

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, and Daisy