Not a lot to report this time. After the last big rain here we discovered water on the floor of our sunroom (my studio) and when we pulled some of the cabinets away from the wall, we discovered mold. UGH! I’ve been packing up my studio trying to figure out what I will need in the immediate and what I won’t. HINT: I’ve already packed away some things that I needed! It’s very slow going and always with the use of a mask.
This is where I was the last time:
SAL Update 1/1/2023
And this is where I am now:
SAL Update: 1/22/2023
I managed to get a little more done on the bottom part of the stocking and although I took a picture of the top part, I realize that there is nothing new up there.
At first I was so bummed (I still am) but now I’m trying to look at this as an opportunity. None of the personal items are affected and for this I am truly grateful. In going through all the cabinets (yes, the whole room has to be emptied) I am taking time to organize (in boxes) and then give away things I’m not going to use. Today we have to take an entire wall of 8 foot cabinets off of the wall and move them – I’m not excited.
I know the others who take part in this SAL will lots of lovely things to look at!
I’m so glad to be back for the HQAL (Hand Quilt A-Long)! I took a break for a bit and am grateful that I was allowed to rejoin. I had been working on a Grandmother’s Flower Garden, but for many reasons that project is residing in the time out pile.
I took a class through Stitches On Line to learn how to do a Clamshell Quilt. It was really fun so that’s what I’m working on now.
HQAL Update 1/8/2023
I’ve decided to do mine with a row of white and a row of some rainbow colored fabric (I had fun picking out skads of rainbow fabrics!). Each stack represents 10 clamshells – so there are 20 white clamshells and 10 each of the other two fabrics.
I haven’t decided if the colorful rows will be all one design or if I will mix them up randomly. I also had the idea of making “squares” where each square had only one design so even that looked like patchwork. I guess when I have more clamshells cut out and prepared I can play around with placement.
The pattern
This is the pattern I am using. I bought it from the designer because I liked her as a teacher and wanted to support her and it came with the plastic template.
So far I am enjoying tracing, cutting and prepping the clamshells. It’s very soothing to sit and do this in the evenings.
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.
I have been a member of the Fox and Rabbit FB Group (previously known as Linen and Threads) for several years. The patterns are so pretty and I’ve always wanted to start one of their SALs.
Yesterday I jumped on the bandwagon and started this SAL!
Fox and Rabbit 2023 SALPart 1
This is a free SAL and can be found on the Fox and Rabbit website. I am using 18ct white Aida cloth and DMC #820. This project is being stitched 2 over 1.
Homemade Floss Drop
I saw a Youtube video on floss drops and decided to make my own. The paper is scrapbooking paper from Michaels.
Back of Floss Drop
I cut the threads the length that I usually work with and now am getting used to just pulling out one thread at a time with my needle. It’s actually much easier than what I usually do which is bobbinating the threads.
Happy New Year everyone! We have had a lovely vacation with the whole family. We left on 12/24 and stayed at a beautiful cabin in Tahoe – 10 of us for 9 days!! We head home today. There is no better way to spend the holidays than with family.
Now for the SAL update. There was quite a bit done this month. This is where I was last time:
SAL Update 12/11/2022
And here is where I am now:
SAL Update 1/1/2023Santa’s face, beard, hands, cuffs and part of his jacket.More done on the gifts.Just a wee bit done over here.
I hope your holidays were fun and relaxing! Here’s to a very stitchy New Year!
This SAL is hosted by AVIS and is not like other SALs in that we are not all stitching on the same project. Instead we work on a project of our choice and post about our progress once every three weeks. I really like this kind of SAL and am so grateful to be a part of this wonderful group of stitchers. If you get a chance, please check out their stitching.
I am so happy to be working on this project. It seems to be coming along nicely, I guess that’s what happens when it’s worked on regularly! Here is where I was at the last update:
SAL Update 11/20/2022
And this is where I am now:
SAL Update 12/11/2022
Since the canvas is painted, it’s pretty hard to tell what has been done.
The entire tree has been done (sans some of the ornaments), the fireplace, parts of the stockings and some of Santa.
The cat has been started and some more has been added to the presents. I might not get as much done in the next three weeks because of the holidays and family in town, but I’m still going to try to work on it most days.
The people in this group are what make this SAL so fun. We get to choose our project and then show our progress every three weeks. It’s super fun to see what everyone has been up to. If you get a chance, take a look at the others participants:
I’m excited about this update because I worked on the Christmas stocking!
SAL Update 9/18/2022
This is where I was the last time I updated. I have worked on this for about an hour everyday for the last three weeks and this is where I am now:
SAL Update 11/20/2022
The painted canvas makes it very hard to see the progress in a picture. The top portion of the stocking is done.
I think it’s a little clearer in this photo. It took me a little bit to get used to the “tent” (?) (half cross stitch). The dragging of the thread on the back to make sure everything is covered is also new to me.
Left side closeup
Right side closeup.
It’s really fun to see how much progress can be made in just three weeks. Providing I actually work on it!!
Please stop by and see what the other stitchers in this SAL are working on:
The Christmas Stocking that I am supposed to be doing for this SAL hit the back burner these past three weeks. I had another week long intensive course in Tambour last week and I spent the previous two weeks reacquainting myself with my hook. Last week was amazing! Our teacher, Bob Haven, is fantastic. Besides having to drive an hour and a half each way, this class was perfect.
Samples
This is my tambour frame. We were working on silk organza fabric. What you see above is our “sampler” of sorts. We learned different techniques and practiced them.
Wired Flower
This flower shape has wire around the edges so that when cut from the cloth, it can be manipulated and attached to something else to create a 3D item. There are two rows of sequins around the edges and beads done in open vermicelli in the center of the leaves. All are done with the tambour hook.
Flower
This flower has lace appliquéd in the center and then a row of beads around the outside to cover the stitches. Both were done with the tambour hook.
Leaves/Petals
These leaves are also wired around the edge. There are sequins attached to both sides (with the tambour hook – no easy task!) making them reversible. These will also be cut from the cloth and then added to the center of the sequined flower above. Once finished, it can be turned into a brooch, added to a hat or purse, anything really. In my future, I see dragonflies and butterflies done in this method.
Leaf
This leaf was no easy feat. It took approximately 2 and a half hours to complete. The thread was done in a method called Point Tiré which means drawn stitch. Completing this stitch with the tambour hook took lots of practice. I have not taken a picture of the lines of practice! The gems in the middle are called lochrosen and are flat on the back but have a raised center – yes, they are applied with the tambour hook.
Beaded Half-Circle
This was also done with Point Tiré. The line of beads on the outside of this semi-circle is plain tambour. The radiating lines are Point Tiré. By now the stitch was pretty easy; however, getting the beads to lay flat and where they were supposed to be was a challenge. The look is very nice though.
Leather and pearls
First we were given a piece of leather and told to stitch it down with needle and thread. The leather needed to be stitched so that there was a “hump” in the middle, it was not to be stitched flat. After that, small stitches were taken in the middle of the “hump” to create interesting texture from the folds. Shatong gems were added to the leather with needle and thread, then the pearls were done with the tambour hook around the outside edge.
Lace
The last thing we were given was a piece of lace and told to embellish it. There a several different techniques used and I’m quite happy with the result. For homework, we are to design something for a wearable. I have a few different ideas and will start to draft a pattern this week. It should be fun although I see lots of ripping in my future as I experiment.
The Christmas Stocking will make an appearance on my next post for this SAL. I plan on working on it every night while the hubby and I watch our shows!
Please take a look at the other talented stitchers taking part in this SAL:
I found fabric for the back and made it up into a stocking. The hanger is braided yarn.
It doesn’t show up very well, but the back is quilted. The lining is a very cute Christmas penguin fabric and my daughter LOVES penguins. It feels so good to finally have this done! My daughter will be so excited to see it hanging from the mantle this year.
This stitch-a-long has helped me so much in getting things complete. That’s definitely true for the last two Christmas stockings I have completed.
Please take a look at the other people participating in this SAL. They are such talented stitchers creating beautiful works of art.
Every month my local EGA runs a special program at their general meeting. The program for the night meeting in August was reversible blackwork.
The pattern provided is located on the EGA website (you have to be a member of EGA to access it). One of our members is an expert on blackwork and does a lot of reversible blackwork. After her demonstration, we all got started.
This is the front of my work. In total, I ripped this 3 times – this is my fourth attempt and so far, fingers crossed, it is going well. I am using a 28ct pewter cashel linen stitched over two.
This is a closeup of the pattern.
Here is the back of my work. It’s pretty much the same except you can see a darker, thicker line where I had to weave in my ends. At our next meeting, I’ll ask about that.
And here is the closeup of the back that really shows the ends woven in. This has been (I’m not finished yet) a very interesting experience and not one I could duplicate without help. The instructions are amazing with the stitching pathway clearly shown. I’d love to do more of this, but it’s going to take quite a bit of mental gymnastics to make it work.
I’m excited that I have made a decision on my next big project for the stitch-a-long! I waffled back and forth between several projects. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to start something else big or do a few small ones first. Well… I finally decided on this,
Christmas Stocking for Jack!
This is the kit I bought for my youngest child (now 17 years old!). It also marks the last of the stockings for my kids (I still have to do one for my husband).
Canvas
This will be a change for me as this is needlepoint. I have played around with needlepoint here and there. I’ve never tackled anything this big before, but I’m actually excited to do it.
SAL Update 9/18/2022
I dove right in. It appears to be going pretty quickly. This represents about an hour of work.
This SAL that I am a part of is so wonderful. The stitchers involved are so talented and supportive. We post once every three on a project of our choosing. If you have a moment, please take a look at what the rest of our group has been up to:
Connie's Creations 