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.

HQAL: Jane’s Quilt Update

Three weeks and here we are again, and I am ready to post with an update on Jane’s Quilt. There is never really much to show in the way of progress, that is nothing changes with the pattern and it looks quite the same each time. The photo below is from last time. I started working on the dark blocks. Finished them and have moved the hoop 2 times now.

As you may remember this was a gifted quilt top pieced by Jane Rogers and given to me by her granddaughter Raeleen, Jane was the mother of one of my dearest and closest friends, Jeanine. Both Jane and Jeanine have passed on now but through this gift, my relationship with Realeen, I feel like they are both still with me. Going through some of her mother’s things recently, Raeleen came across something of Janes and sent it off to me. I thought it would be fun to highlight it in this posting. It is a mailing from a quilt guild that Jane belonged to.

The mailing is from 1984. This was a guild she had belonged too prior to moving to her/our home town to be near her daughter. We are like a guild, a group of hand quilters keeping this art alive and if there had been no internet invented, we just might be mailing out a monthly flyer to our members with news and updates and cute pattern ideas to fit the season.

As we honor and uphold this craft of old, let us remember and honor those who have come and gone, who taught us and inspired and sparked our flame to hand quilt. Jane Rogers was one of those woman. I have shared this photo before but here she is again. Perfect timing with the Christmas season upon us. I remember exactly where we were and why. It was a luncheon in honor of Jane. Jane is opening a Christmas birthday card. She had a Dec. 27th birthday.

There are some beautiful projects in works and I am off to check in with the others.

You can join me by clicking on the links below 🙂

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. Enjoy visiting the other members of our group!

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

SAL: Snowman and Reindeer Update

It really does feel like winter here in the northwest corner of the United States. Spending more time inside than out certainly helps with steady progress on projects. At our last posting I was here with my cross- stitch

My favorite stitching time is an hour in the morning with repeats of Perry Mason on the TV. I’ve made considerable progress and I’am still hoping for a Christmas finish. Here is where I am now

You can see the progress with the background. I still have a bit of the side to complete and then all the backstitching. You might miss the green reins for the reindeer. I actually had and didn’t realize I hadn’t finished them. I still feel like Mr. Snowman needs some help – some fill in. But if I don’t get to that and decide to leave him, I think he will be fine.

Now I’am off to check in with the others in this SAL. You can join me 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

HQAL: Jane’s Quilt Update

The rain has been consistent and happily has kept me indoors crafting. It’s been another three weeks and time to update you on the hand quilting project I have been working on. I haven’t made as much progress as I would have liked but I am happy as I continue to get closer to a finish.

Just one picture of my progress this time. I completed the dark color cabin logs of this corner, which completes a bottom section all along the bottom or top, either way you look at it. You might notice the bottom and side log are not stitched and that is because I am not stitching all along the borders as there will be a binding that will cover them. I have moved the hoop to the next dark section and once that is done a complete half of the quilt will be finished. Actually I will be about 3/4 completed 🙂

I have been alternating with a baby quilt I am also hand quilting. Just a quick reminder of what it looks like.

Is anyone else feeling the crunch to get some Christmas gifts completed ? I can hardly believe we’re in November. I finished another hand quilted quilt that I haven’t shown as it is a Christmas gift. I have it wrapped and ready for mailing out for December 1st. I don’t want to ruin the surprise so I will show it in another update once it has arrived.

Also occupying my time and these rainy days are a few more junk journal pocket Christmas cards.

This card is so much fun ~ pic 1 has a vintage pin with monogrammed dangle attached onto the bottom ruffle. This has 2 pockets with journaling cards in them. Pic 2 the sweet framed golden song birds is the top tuck spot that holds the church card. There is gold glitter on the frame. Pic 3 is the back and these cards are attached with tiny clips. All of the printables are from RubyandPearlxo who you can find on youtube and she also has an Etsy shop.

This one is a favorite. Madonna themed and simple, the rose pocket holds 2 journaling cards and a vintage postcard. The rose pocket wraps around to the back framing in the rest of the printable. I should add the papers, also from RubyandPearlxo, are glued to a piece of sturdy card stock.

Now I am off to check in with the others and then get in some quality quilting time. Be well and see you all at the next check in.

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. Enjoy visiting the other members of our group! 

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

SAL: Snowman and Reindeer Update

Here is where I was with my Snowman & Reindeer X stitch last time we checked in. I was feeling fairly confident I could finish this for the holiday season. Now? Hmmm, just not sure with everything else I am working on.

I had quite a bit of encouragement to add the extra bird from the original pattern. I had been debating if I should. I took everyones advice and did. There he is on the top branch. I am continuing to fill in the background, I still need to add all the backstitching and there is still the snowman I am hoping to tweak a bit. Here is where I am now

Now and before picture

Below are the links to the others in this SAL and now I am off to check in on their projects.

Wishing you well and lots of laughter

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

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

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

What have been working on that takes away from my X stitching ~ hand quilting a kings size log cabin quilt top gifted to me, a baby quilt for a nephew, and crafting some Christmas junk journals for gifting.

Christmas Eye Candy

It never fails, before you know it, Christmas is just around the corner with thoughts of sugar plum fairies dancing in our heads, Through out this year I have been working not only on my hand quilting and cross stitch projects but on holiday junk journals for gift giving. I thought it would be fun to give you a sneak peak at some of the projects in the works and/or completed.

These first 2 are Charles Dickens themed. The covers are made from recycled cereal boxes and bound with 1″ rings. This one below measures 4.5″x 7″. She has 10 pages filled with tags and ephemeral for journaling on.

This one below is also Dickens themed and is slightly larger measuring 6″ X 8″. Most of the digital prints are from The Graphic’s Fairy and some from The Digital Collage Club. Music pages from old piano sheet music books from the Goodwill. I also use magazine photos I find, like the horse & sleigh above. Ribbons ties are from my fabric stash. Shhhh – and you might have noticed the December 20th, not 25th, this is for a daughter (her birthday).

This next one is an envelope style with journal pocket card placed in front of the envelope. Both was made using a file folder. Angel themed, it measures 8.5 “x 5” I am not entirely done with this one. I am planning on adding some glitter edging to some of the cards. It is filled with all kinds of angel ephemera. All of the gifts have an original vintage Christmas postcard inside.

Simply made using a legal size red envelope this one has a tuck spot for journal cards in the front. This gift is bird themed with most of the ephemera inside and out having some sort of winter, bird, or Santa picture. Red sari ribbon and taffeta lace embellishments. The inside is filled with Christmas eye candy.

All of my journals have been made with a person in mind. This one is for a childhood friend who I share a special bond with. Measuring 5.5″ X 7.25″ this envelope is packed with 12 journaling cards, one for each month of the coming year. I love the red and gold sari remnant. I have not added a closure but I am thinking some white dotted swiss tule for a wintery effect. I will of course add a personal note to each journal before sending them off.

This hold in your hand cutie measures 3.5″ X 4″ and is Angel and Madonna/motherhood themed. Lots of lace and wispy threads are poking out and it is jam packed with goodies. The cover was made out of a jello box and there are 5 signatures with 10 making 20 pages in each signature.

The last photo I’m sharing is of envelope style journal pockets. These were made with cereal box or file folders for covers and I have 8 of them ready to go. I mostly used pages from Little Golden books that were Christmas themed, as well as other collected photos and ephemera. These are mostly for grandkids and their young families. I will tuck in a gift check and a restaurant gift card.

I am making it a bit easier on myself this year with no big gifts to ship with expensive post office fees. I hope you enjoyed this sneak peak.

What crafty holiday projects have you been working on?

HQAL: Jane’s Quilt Update

Things are settling down, finally. Just a quick update on my BH and how he is doing. Not all testing has been completed, but the consensus seems to be that after a broncoscopy he suffered a severe bleed which led to the blood loss and consequently hospital stay. He is feeling much better with that resolved now.

With that hurtle over, I have made some real headway with Jane’s quilt. I am not showing last posts picture but starting with where I am now

What you are looking at is the bottom half of the quilt. I had completed 9 white/light logs on the left side of the picture last time. I have now completed all of the white – yay – with the small section of colored blocks still to finish, in the corner and up above, then I will be able to say – I am more than half way completed.

Below are the inks to the others in this HQAL. Now I am off to check in with the others and see how they are doing. Stay well and smiling and I will see you at our next posting.

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 Update: Snowman and Reindeer

October has come in like a lamb here in the northwest corner of the states. It’s been so lovely. I have been enjoying the weather and some outdoor cross stitching. At our last check in I was the on the tail end of family visiting and did not get much accomplished but managed to get in some stitching. Here is where I was last time.

I have been working steadily in the late afternoons and after dinner getting some consistent stiches in. I finished the antlers and have been filling in the background now.

There is actually another bird to go onto the top branch but I am debating whether I really need to or want to add it. I still want to get Mr. Snowman filled in more and there is quite a bit of background and all the backstitching to do. I am feeling a time restraint for getting this done for Christmas. I guess I’ll wait and see how I do in the next three weeks and then make a decision.

Please check out what everyone else has been up to by clicking their names below. We live all over the world so you may need to allow for time differences as we’re posting today at local time.
Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, 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 30th October 2022.

Baby Boy Quilt Update

Back in August I shared a picture of a block for a new baby quilt design. It’s a simple nine patch. I had been gifted some fabric scraps and was hoping I could get a nice size quilt out of one. I just love the fabric with the children, it’s so precious – and scraps it sure was. It was touch and go to get enough squares cut out from it. I had enough of the blue print on hand that complimented the other perfectly.

But I managed – I framed in the the blocks with solid blue for a bold baby boy statement 🙂

The blocks measure 10 x 10. The sashing is 3″ with a 1/4″ seam, with the quilt measuring 40″ square.

I found a fun children’s print at Joanns for the backing. Now to sandwich it with the batting and get started. I think these whales are the perfect match. It may be hard to see but the children are at the sea, there is a boy fishing too in the blocks above. You can see in this block I have 2 of the children with their sand bucket and shovel. I am showing you my ‘faux pas’ of placements. It happens and you just go with it and smile…. in fact it may never get noticed!

The quilt is for a nephew who is expecting baby #2 in January.

Quite soon now, I will begin another baby quilt but I am waiting on the gender reveal before I start. This one will be for ….. a new great grand baby due in April. Soooooo excited!