SAL: HAPPY CAMPER UPDATE

I had shared with Avis that I would be missing our last 3 week check in as I would be visiting with family. It was a special family visit as I was traveling from WA state to N.C. for the arrival of my great grandson. The timing was perfect with my granddaughter arriving home from the hospital the day I flew in. Waylon Gray Garnett arrived on April 11th. I was able to spend a week visiting with my daughter, SIL, grandson and granddaughter and Waylon …. I was in heaven! This is what greeted me

I know you will all forgive me for missing checking in. I was way too busy loving on this precious bundle of love.

Now on to an update on my happy camper cross stitch. At our last check in she looked like this.

I made so much progress I had to go back and check my last posting to make sure that was the right last photo I shared. Here is where I am now and ……. it’s a finish. I decided to gift this to friends of ours who this past summer actually bought a cute little camper like this, refurbished it and took it out on the road.

Spring is here along with the rain. I will look for a break in the weather and invite them over for happy hour = happy camper hour! to give them this.

Now I am off to catch up with you all! Please join me if your not part of the SAL by clicking on the links below.

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 28th May 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.

HQAL: Jane’s Quilt Update

It’s our three week check in and I am so excited to share the news that I have actually finished hand quilting Jane’s Quilt. It took me 1 year and 4 months to complete.

I have absolutely no place really to stretch her out to get a good picture. Even on the bed the room is not large enough to get far enough back to get the whole thing. I’ll share a picture of the back when I complete her. I now need to trim the excess batting and start on the border/binding. I’ll be using the backing to do that.

I am just giddy with love and happiness that this top was gifted to me. You all pretty much know the story and sentiment behind this quilt. For those new to the blog or might not remember, the top was gifted to me by the granddaughter of Jane, the daughter of my closest friend Jeanine. Both of them have passed but the blessing of their memories live within me. This quilt will be an heirloom treasure passed to my daughter who knew and was adored by her. I have another quilt that Jane herself had done and completed that she had given me some possibly 40 years ago and I will be passing that one on to another daughter who knew and has treasured memories of the family.

As I continue to work on Jane’s quilt I will add another smaller project I am working on which I have already started. I will catch you up on our next posting. Have a great 3 weeks and look forward to checking in with you then. If your not in this HQAL please take some time and take a peak at the others – there are some wonderful hand quilting projects in the works.

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, and Connie

HQAL: Jane’s Quilt Update

I believe it is time for our 3 week HQAL update. I have not seen or remember seeing or made note of seeing a reminder nor have I seen any other postings as of this posting from others in our group so I am going out on a wing and a prayer believing it is today. If I am wrong and its not today – thats ok too!

February 6, 2022 was my first posting on Jane’s Quilt. I have been working on her for 13th months now. A big thank you to all of you in the HQAL for all the encouragement through out this process. It truly is a game changer for keeping one on course and with an added bonus of friendships made built and bound with fabric and thread.

Jane is a king size beauty and at our last posting I was lamenting how I was so far from a finish still. My stitching was average these past three weeks, no push, no over achieving. I have been checking and rechecking and I am shocked to report – I am close to finish after all. The picture below shows what I have left to stitch. I have this strip of light colored and the few corner colored blocks left. Can this truly be happening?

Of course there will be the binding. Shocked and elated over here in Bellingham, WA.

Hopefully I will have a finish but I am not promising as I have an upcoming trip to N.C. on the 13th to be present and welcome my great grandson, Waylon, into the world.

Thank you for stopping by 🙂

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, and  Cathie 

SAL: Happy Camper Update

Checking in for the SAL that I am participate in with an update on my Happy Camper cross-stitch. This is my 4th posting progress for this project. Last time this cutie looked like this

She’s really beginning to look like a camper and I am happy with my progress. I’d love to have a finish within the next 2/3 postings. Although, she may need to be parked for a while when I make a trip east to N.C. from WA for the birth of a great grand baby expected April 8th. Until then I will keep working on her. Here she is below with her window awnings and door almost finished along with her bonnet – would you call the top a bonnet?

Also in this posting I wanted to share with you a finally finished project. You might remember my Snowman and Reindeer project I finished back in December. I had showed you some border fabric I was thinking of using and after that put everything to the side. Well I finally did finish. The picture is positioned slightly off center because of the glass glare. I think it came out just the way I wanted it, fun and whimsical. I think the bright framing fabric is the perfect compliment to the muted softness of the picture.

And one last share ~ this 1929 NeedleCraft magazine – and only 10c I actually found two, 1931 issue and bought them both. I just love the cover photo on this one!

Now I am off to check in with the others in this SAL. If you would like to join me please click on the links below. There are some amazing beautiful projects in the works

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, 

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, 

AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie, Cindy, MaryMargaret

HQAL: Update on Jane’s Quilt

I am calling this posting the triple three’s. Not only can I not believe were we are in the year 2023, it’s hard to believe we are in the third month of the year and three weeks have gone by.

So here I am with another update on my hand quilting project. At our last posting I had shown you another project I had been working on so that I could finish it.

I am back to Jane’s Quilt and have continued to make steady progress on her. I have moved the hoop a good two times and third smidge move over and I used her to cuddle up with on a few cold days. She is so warm and toasty.

Pic 1 – not even close to a full view … I am working my way around the outside of the middle medallion and just when I think I am getting closer to the finish line, I am shocked to realize I am nowhere near a finish. More importantly I am enjoying the process. Working on this brings me closer to her quilt top maker, Jane and Jane’s daughter Jeanine, both have passed on and are deeply missed.

Reading through this before posting I was thinking – is this like a memorial quilt? No, I am thinking of this as a living treasure and a testament to friendship and life eternal. Jeanine, her husband and family were one of our closest friends and I thought I would just share a very quick story on how we met if you don’t mind. Jeanine and her husband Don owned the Christian Book Store in our once small town of Yucca Valley, CA. Her only employee was a mutual friend named Vicky. She was battling cancer and needed to go home but could not get in touch with Jeanine (out of town, no cell phones in the 70’s) Not knowing if she should close the store, she called me and asked me to come in till Jeanine got back. Of course Jeanine was shocked to find me there, returning back that day. Thank you ‘s all around but even more surprised to see I sold a couple of items that had been in the shop for a long time (years) which she had given up trying to sell. This led to her asking me to work part time – just a little here and there – which led to a beautiful long lived, amazing, family friendship. ( and just a thought now looking back – it was not about selling the items ~ sometimes we lose site of the beauty or uniqueness of something and I imagine after hanging on the wall for so long she had lost seeing the beauty in the items since no-one bought it/them. I remember they were wall pictures. For me, I had never been in the shop before, they were new to me and beautiful so they were easy to recommend and sell ~ when you lose the luster for something or someone try looking through new eyes)

Now I am off to check in with the others in this HQAL, please join me, there are some gorgeous projects in the works.

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, and Connie

SAL : Happy Camper Update

Here we are in March already and I am moving right along with my project. I am working on a small project called Happy Camper by Zweigart . This will be my 3rd posting. Last time it looked like this

I’ve gone back to my proven plan for working on her which is mornings, 9am with Perry Mason on the T.V. It’s working well. I am able to get some stitching in most days. I had to do a small bit of frogging once I realized I had made a mistake by the tire and undercarriage. Here is where I am now

I finished the tire and added the small back window and moved to the top. You can see the beginning of the awning for the door just starting.

We are feeling spring here although there’s been lots of rain and even snow. Daffies are up and blooming, the crocus are not far behind and my little happy camper is itching to get out onto the open road

Our next update is March 26 and I have to ask myself how is that possible? Three weeks is like three blinks and then we will be at the end of the month posting again.

I live in SAL time 🙂

Excited to visit the other members in this SAL – please join me for some beautiful Sunday eye candy.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, 

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, 

AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie, Cindy, MaryMargaret

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.

SAL: New Project ~ Happy Camper

At our last update I had shared the new project I would be starting. It’s this cute camper cross stitch.

Nothing exciting to see but I am off to a good start.

This project splits her time with a Log Cabin and baby quilt I am hand quilting. Oh, and some junk journaling too. I think this will be fairly simple and shouldn’t take too long to do. I am already thinking about what I want to work on next.

Now I am off to check in on the others in this SAL. We post every three weeks to encourage and cheer each other on to a finish. You can join me by clicking on the links below. There are some amazing projects in the works.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, 

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, 

AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie, Cindy, MaryMargaret

SAL: Snowman & Reindeer wrap up

Happy New Year to all. I couldn’t think of a better way to start the new year then to wish you the very best, a healthy and happy coming year filled with lots of crafty excitement and finishes.

I am entering 2023 with a wrap up on my Snowman & Reindeer cross stitch. (It only took me the entire 2022 year)

At our last posting I had pretty much thought I had a close finish and was ready to set aside and start something else. But with a bit of encouragement from all of you I soldiered on and did most of the little finishing touches I was going to put off. Here is where I was.

I had not done any of the backstitching around the birds and had not filled in the snowman. In the directions the white unstitched sections were left unstitched. I had originally wanted to fill them in. Looking at this now I can still see where improvement can be made. The bird on the hat, the bridal…I’m feeling ok with it for now. I love the fabric I photographed him on and am thinking I may use it as a type of frame/matting for this.

Something fun like the photo below, then framed with a red lacquered type frame – shiny and bright.

I am putting this aside now and will be starting on a new project. (showed you last posting) It’s time for a break and new start for this year.

Please join me in checking out the others in this SAL by clicking on the links below

Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, 

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, 

AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie, Cindy, MaryMargaret

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: Jane’s Quilt Update and another finish

Our last posting for the 2022 year, and I wanted to say thank you to Kathy for hostessing this quilt along.

I have been working on Jane’s Quilt since January 16, 2022. It’s coming up on a year and I feel like 2023 will see her finished possibly. Hand quilting takes time, good lighting and heart. Heart because there is so much love put into this art. When I am quilting, I sometimes find myself drifting into thought and then I realize I have stalled and have just been sitting with nothing getting done. It’s easy to do that with Jane’s quilt as it was a gifted heirloom quit top filled with so many personal memories. It’s easier to machine quilt and often I think how much quicker it would be to create a machine quilted beauty. Don’t think I haven’t thought that with this 🙂 she is massive and time consuming, thick and heavy and not lending to summer quilting in the heat. Here she is and you can see that the pattern repeats on the back side slung over the fence.

I have been working on the dark colored logs these last 3 weeks and gotten 12 done moving the hoop 1x.

Another hand quilted project I have been working on was a baby quilt for our nephew who is having a boy. You may remember this quilt.

It is finished, gift wrapped and ready for pick up, actually today 🙂

I am wishing you a magical holiday season filled with lots of love and laughter. Wishing you good health and happiness in the year to come.

The HQAL is an opportunity for hand quilters to share and motivate each other. The talented quilters below post every three weeks to show our progress and encourage one another. Stop by their sites to see what they are working on. If you have a hand project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Deb, Nanette, Sharon, Karrin, Daisy, and Cathie

SAL: Snowman and Reindeer Update

I was so excited to post that I had a finish with my Snowman and Reindeer cross stitch. I have been working on this since January and I was ready to frame and dance a jig. Then I realized I had not done the outlining stitching. I am still dancing though, this is a finish to a very long project.

I have decided not to fill in Mr. Snowman which I have toyed with doing. From a distance he looks just fine and frankly, I have run out of steam on this project.

While my fur baby was enjoying a spa day I popped into our Goodwill to look around. I had a few things I was looking specifically for, one of which was Scotty Christmas ornament for a neighbor…. the GW didn’t let me down and I found exactly what I was looking for. Bonus – I spotted this X stitch kit. I picked it up for my next project and just might start this and leave the backstitching on Mr. Snowman for later. I can use the wording as is or personalize it differently for gifting if I wanted. Either way it’s cute and will be less fussy to stitch.

I must admit I had never heard of Zweigart before so I did a quick google search on this brand and learned this company is Germany based and was established in 1877.

With our next posting on January 1st, I look forward to starting 2023 visiting with you all. I am wishing you love and laughter as we finish out this year.

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 1st January 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.