HQAL: Jane’s Quilt Update

Hi everyone ~ living life in three week increments 🙂 and getting stuff done. Time once again for an update on Jane’s quilt and I am afraid that this week I am reporting not one additional stitch. Jane has taken a back seat to the baby quilt I have been working on along with her. Baby due date is quickly approaching – April 8th – and if these past three weeks is any indication of how fast time went, April 8th will be here in a blink. I need to get this one in the mail.

You may remember my last posting on baby Waylons quilt, it looked like this below. I had finished piecing the top and sandwiching the front and back together, then began quilting it. This posting was on January 8th.

This week I finished quilting her. I’am stilling toying with the idea of adding a few mini

heart outlines in the sashing squares .

I made my own seam binding using the backing material. While I love the slim accent on

the front, I am wondering now if a solid complimentary color would of helped add

a bit of a pop, for the backing especially.

The beginning of a label is in the works with a few ideas still swimming in my head,

like a solid background material to mount this label on before attaching.

That’s it for now, time to check in with the others in this HQAL and then get back to work on this quilt. Our forecast is for some snow in the next week so I am feeling confident I will be able to get some quality quilting time in on Jane.

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, Daisy, Connie, and  Cathie 

SAL: Happy Camper Update

Welcome to another three week update for this SAL. I have been working on the artiste mini counted cross-stitch called Happy Camper by Zweigart. I picked it up at our local Goodwill for just short of 1/2 price. I love the red door and the sweet awning on this. Friends of ours picked up a vintage camper last summer just like this to fix up. I have camper envy 🙂

At our last posting I had just begun this project. Here was my start

I got in some good stitching time, not as much as I would have liked, but good progress was made.

I am excited to see her grow and get her on the road for this summer ~ hopefully. Spring fever has come to the northwest with the crocus, tulips, snowdrops and daffies peeking out already. The grocery stores have these spring beauties potted and welcoming us into their stores. But there’s still time for snow and frost to cover the ground.

Please join me in visiting with the others in this SAL.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan,

Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie, Cindy, MaryMargaret

Our next updates will be posted on the 5th March 2023.

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.

Journal Junking

There never seems to be enough time in a day to pursue all my crafty habits. Three week intervals calls me to updating on my hand quilting progress alternating with a cross stitch roll call update for the SAL and HQAL groups I participate in. But in addition to those two passions, I have been working on and creating lots of junk journaling journals, envelopes, cards etc.

Add in Dr. appointments, daily activities like making the bed, cooking meals, walking the dog, grocery shopping, talking with family (phone), friends, gardening (not so much with the winter weather) life is full.

I thought I would share some of the latest with the journal making. Most recently I worked on Valentine themed birthday journal for a cousin turning 60. It will be going in the mail today. Technically not really a ‘junk journal’ as this was made with some beautiful printables, sari ribbons and pieces and lace . Below are a few of the pages. This has a two ring binding and the cover was made using a lemon cake mix box. Each page has a border that is machine stitched as is all the added ephemera. It measures 8 X 6″

One of my favorite things to create right now are prayer cards. These sweethearts are made out of file folders. There is writing space on the backs of the cards as well as the small card inserts to write down a prayer or intention (anything you like).

This one below is geared more for Christmas giving with a lace tuck space for the journaling card.

These last three posted have vintage religious metals attached. They are also made out of file folders, vintage music and book pages, sari ribbon and vintage lacey bits.

I’ll finish up this posting with two pages of a mini Valentine themed journal. This measures 4 X 4 1/2″ and is a real tweet heart of a jewel. It’s really chunky and with a big crocodile mouth kept closed with some jute twine.

Time to get this day going, there’s still our mini schnauzer patiently waiting for her morning walk and a post office visit for my cousins birthday surprise.