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.

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

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?

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.

SAL: Snowman and Reindeer Update

We have entered the ‘ber’ months and its time to update once again. You may remember I missed last months posting as my daughter and two grandchildren were here visiting after living in Okinawa for the last 5 years. The visit was wonderful, filled with lots of love and hugs. I’ll share a picture after I update you on my progress. I began working on the snowman and reindeer in January and I can hardly believe I am still stitching away. I think I am close to completing this and hope to have a December finish for the holidays. Here is where I was in July at my last posting.

Since then I got very little stitching in and didn’t pick her up until this week. I have to admit, regardless, it’s been slow going on this project. Here is where I am now

I have added a bit of the background along the right side. Finished a bird that doesn’t look like a bird and added a 3rd bird along with some background stitching in the middle. I also got in some backstitching around the reindeers nose and facial area. I have discovered I have made a few counting errors around the antler area but have decided to leave it as is. I am not happy with the snowman and will probably work on him some more. I don’t like the way he is so open in the middle. Any thoughts on that?

It is so close to October now and is anyone else feeling the crunch to get these holiday themed projects completed?

As promised a photo from the visit.

Daughter Marissa taking the selfie, Liam, Me and Tori

Wrapping up this post please join me in visiting the pages of the others participating in this SAL. We will be posting again on October 9th. Stay well and see you then

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

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

Christmas In July: Week 3

I am continuing to make progress on my Christmas In July project, a panel quilt from Hoffmans Dream Big Collection. This is actually the third quilt I have done from that collection. I just love those panels 🙂

Here are three of the petals I have completed this week.

some wavy lines

open star

hearts

In addition I did some outline stitching on the leaves as well as some I had not yet done. I have one more red leaf to complete and then it is on to the background green leaves.

Project panel I am working on

Looks like next week will be our last check in. I am not expecting a grand finish but I can say I sure have made head way for a possible August finish.

SAL: Snowman & Reindeer

I am continuing to work on the Dimension’s kit, Snowman & Reindeer for my SAL project. At our last posting I had finished the partial body of the reindeer.

For this update on my progress, I have begun the task of his antlers. I haven’t gotten as far as I would have liked, but I am certainly moving forward and making progress.

My time has been split between a very large quilt I am hand quilting and working on a ‘Christmas in July’ project I am hoping to complete by the end of July. Here’s a sneak peak at the project for those of you who don’t follow my page. It’s a panel from the Hoffmans Dream Big Collection.

Thank you for stopping by and checking in on what’s been going on. Now I am off to look in on the others in this SAL, please join me by clicking on the links below 🙂

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

Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie

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: Snowman & Reindeer Update

I have been working on a Dimensions Kit entitled Snowman & Reindeer since January. I am sharing this project with a bunch of other crafty bits ~ some hand quilting and junk journal making. Add in summer and lovely weather finally and it’s really hard to get to the projects but I made a huge effort this last week before posting. Here is the kit I am working on

This is where I was last time we checked in. I had gotten the reindeers head started and I felt like I had accomplished quite a bit.

And here is where I am now

I have the green reins to finish with all it’s sweet bells and then I can move up to the top. I was noticing also this time that the color floss given for the reindeer is considerably different then the packaged picture which is more on the gray/blue side. Not a big deal – just different 🙂

Now I am off to check in with the others in the SAL. Please join me. We live all over the world so you may need to allow for time differences as we post at our local time.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, 

Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie

Our next updates will be posted on the 17th July 2022.

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.A

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.