June 28, 2020

June HQAL Update

It’s that time!  Time to update on how I’ve been doing on the project that I’ve chosen for my hand-quilt-a-long.  The project I’m working on is called Grandmother’s Flower Garden.  I have a few more “flowers” complete and at the end a question (I need some advice).img_9777

Number one flower.  I love these little cats and I’ve now used that fabric to patch a pair of my favorite gardening pants.img_9781

Number two flower.  As you can tell, I’ve deviated from flower fabrics.  I’m just sewing whatever makes me happy at the time.img_9779

Flower number three.  I love these bunnies so much!  I also used this one as a patch on the same pair of gardening pants even though there wasn’t a hole to mend.img_9783

Flower number four.img_9785

Flower number five almost complete.  I’m having a bit of a challenge with sewing the white fabric – it’s a little thicker than all the rest and my fingers hurt.  I’m sure they will toughen up as I keep sewing!

I couldn’t help but do a close up of these hexis!!  Now onto my question:img_9786

That configuration of flowers looks a little odd.  Have I attached them strangely or do I just need to add another one in the middle right over the orange and purple flowers?

It would be good for you to know also that this will no longer be a quilt for the bed.  I knitted one right after my husband and I were married and that one is on our bed right now (almost 29 years later).  My husband is quite attached to it and does not want another one, he very much likes the one that is there.

I have decided that this will be a table covering (I’m open to someone telling me this isn’t a good idea)

And now the details of this HQAL:

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, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Kathi, Daisy, Monica and Sherrie

I’m also linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitch Sunday.

June 21, 2020

June SAL Update

It’s time for my SAL Update.  I belong to a group of stitchers online and participate in a stitch-a-long.  This stitch-a-long is different from most in that each member chooses their own project to work and posts updates every three weeks.  I’m working on a Christmas Stocking for one of my sons.  Here is where I was at the last update:

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5/31/20 – SAL Update.

And this is where I am now:

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6/21/20-SAL Update

I have been finding a little bit more time here and there to work on this and I’m quite pleased with my progress.  With a little bit of stitching time each day, I’m hoping to be done with this window pane by the next update.

If you have time, please take a look at the other stitch-a-long members and their progress (list below).

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne,  AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Sherrie, Helen

June 14, 2020

Slow Stitch Sunday

SIP hasn’t been all bad for me.  I’ve been getting together via zoom with friends and since they can’t really see what I’m doing, I’ve been knitting.  Usually there are two non-knitting groups I meet up with during the week for coffee.  I don’t bring my knitting because none of them knits and it just feels a little strange.  Now I’m knitting during these “coffees” and it’s great!  Once we can go back to normal, I will most likely bring my knitting again.

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Drachenfels by Melanie Berg

This is a super fun and easy knit.  I like the black and white color as well as the pop of blue now that I’m in the color stripes section.img_9662

I could be done soon if I were a monogamous crafter, but alas, I am not.  I bounce around between this project, a pair of socks, a cross stitch project, some hand quilting and of course gardening.  Today will bring a bike ride and hike with the family.  What will you be doing today?

I’m linking up with Kathy for Slow Stitch Sunday.

June 7, 2020

HQAL and Slow Stitch Sunday

Today it is time to update on my project for the Hand Quilt-A-Long.  I had chosen Grandmother’s Flower Garden and I am slowly plugging away at it.  For the past three weeks I have been working on putting all the green on the flowers that are attached to the main piece.

I don’t think anyone except me can tell how very many green pieces were added – even my husband, who sits right next to me on the couch while I’m working on this can’t see progress.  Oh, well.  I know I made progress because I ran out of prepared green hexis and now have to make more!  I continued working on another flower that I had previously cut pieces and sewn a few hexis together,img_9623

This is the project that I work on in the evenings after dinner.  The hubby and I like to watch a show or two and lately the kids have been joining us – so nice.

HQAL details:

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, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Kathi,  Bella, Daisy, Monica and Sherrie

I’m also sharing with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitch Sunday.

May 31, 2020

Sal Update for May

Whew!  Another three weeks gone by – another three weeks in SIP.  The weather has been so nice here and I have been gardening on most days.  Sitting outside chatting with friends (over zoom) has become the norm.  My last SAL post showed progress up to this point:

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4/19/20 – SAL Update

And now I am here:

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5/31/20 – SAL Update.

Th whole thing looks like this:

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5/31/20

Slowly, but surely!  Please take a look at all the other beautiful projects done by others taking part in this SAL:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne,, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Sherrie, Helen

I’m also taking part in Kathy’s Slow Stitch Sunday.

May 17, 2020

May HQAL Update

I find hand work of any kind right now to be such a relaxing balm to my soul.  I have been distracted from my HQAL project, Grandmother’s Flower Garden, by some knitting, crochet, cross stitch and of course gardening.  Yesterday I knew I was going to need to update on the progress for my HQAL, so I put a little time into it and realize again how much I enjoy it.img_9490

Before SIP, I was at a Walmart in Santa Barbara (we were visiting my daughter).  Both my younger daughters were with me and they fell in love with this fabric.  Both of them said it was perfect for my garden quilt.img_9491

They also found these two.  I know I have been making this quilt out of scraps, but since the girls picked these fabrics and were so excited, I decided to use them.  They have been cut but not made into flowers yet.img_9505-1

I have been adding the green hexis around and between all the flowers.  I really like the scrappy way all the different greens look.

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, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Kathi,  Bella, Daisy, Monica and Sherrie

Also sharing with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitch Sunday.

April 19, 2020

April SAL Update

A SAL is a stitch-a-long.  This particular one is super fun because everyone has a different project that they are working and post about it every three weeks.  If you’d like to join us, please contact AVIS at the link below the post.

AND a big welcome to Sherrie!  I can’t wait to hop over to her blog to see what she’s been up to.

Whew!!  That was a quick three weeks!  It is still shelter in place where we live – you are not supposed to leave your home unless you are going on an essential errand or walking the dog.  Our dog now runs away when she sees us get the leash.  There are four kids at home — walking the dog has become one of the coveted chores!

I did not get all that much done on the Candy Cane Christmas Stocking.  This is where I was last update:

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3/29/20 – SAL close up Update

And this is where I am now:

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4/19/20 – SAL Update

I’ve been scattered lately, not really able to concentrate on any one thing.  I’m like a pin ball, bouncing from one activity to another.  I have lots of unfinished things:  weeding (done in patches), gardening (also done in patches), different areas of organization in our home (lots started, nothing finished).  I read somewhere about a syndrome called IGAD – I Got All Day.  I think in some ways I am experiencing that.  Each day is open and free, one very similar to the next, it is a very strange feeling.  I have never had my days look like this.  I’ve always been working, studying, raising kids, running a business, keeping things running smoothly in the home.  I’ve never experienced long swaths of time like this.  On the plus side, we are walking as a family at least once a day, playing board and card games at every meal (we eat them all together now), do puzzles and have lots of movie nights.  The time together as a family has been really nice.  OK… now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, I just watched a YouTube video on how to grow ginger from fresh ginger you buy at the store.  I have some here and I’m off to plant it!

Please take a look at the other stitchers in this group.  There are so many fantastic things going on:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Sherrie

I’m also sharing with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitch Sunday.

April 5, 2020

HQAL & Slow Stitch Sunday

I belong to a group called the Hand Quilt-A-Long run by Kathy.   We are to pick a project that we want to make progress and then update every three weeks.  This is my three week check-in on the Grandmother’s Flower Garden.img_9282

I finished the bee one from last week.  This still makes me so happy to look at!  As I sit here typing this up, it’s raining outside and our area is still practicing social distancing.  The flower above makes me think of spring, walking outside with friends, gathering for coffee and seeing my knitting and embroidery groups in person.  The thing I’m missing most right now… seeing my oldest daughter.  She lives in an apartment in another city.  We talk frequently, but don’t get to see each other (except on FaceTime)… I miss physically seeing her – and hugging her.  Hopefully soon!

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I sewed up another one.  This one still needs the white hexis attached.img_9284

And started this little cutie!  I had started out making these only with flower fabrics, but seem to have branched out a little bit!

Please take some time to see what the other stitchers in our group are stitching:

Kathy, Margaret, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Kathi,  Bella, Daisy

I’m also linking up with Slow Stitch Sunday.

March 29, 2020

SAL and Slow Stitch Sunday

It’s time for an update on my son’s Christmas Stocking.  This is where I was last time:

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2/16/20 SAL Update-closeup

And this is where I am now:

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3/29/20 – SAL close up Update

I’m kind of shocked that I got so much done.  I’ve been really busy since we’ve been sheltering in place.  I’ve got four kids home again (so nice!), which means tons of cooking, baking, games, puzzles and walks and talks.  I’m loving being with everyone although sometimes we get on each other’s nerves!

I also started a YouTube channel of fun sewing/crafting activities for kids or kids and their parents to do to help with being home so long.  If you are interested, you can find my youtube channel here.  It’s also on my business website, Let’s Go Crafting in the blog section.

I’m sure others participating in this SAL have gotten so much more done.  If you’d like to join our group of stitchers, please contact Avis at the link below. Take a look at all the progress the wonderful stitchers in our group have done.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda

I’m also linking up with Slow Stitch Sunday.

March 15, 2020

HQAL, Slow Stitch Sunday, and Scrap Happy

It’s time for my Hand Quilt A Long update.  I have been working on my Grandmother’s Flower Garden and have made quite a bit of progress.

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Left Section

It no longer fits on the table and also keeps me warm in the evenings as I work on it.

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Right section

The purple one in the upper left corner is the overlap flower in this picture.

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Last part that is growing

There are also some overlap flowers in this photo.  All in all, I’m very happy how this is progressing.  I have to prepare some more of the green hexis as I’ve run out.

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Latest flower

Here is my latest flower.  I am enjoying this SOOO much.  The bee fabric was used for dresses I made my older daughters when they were 3 and almost 1.  They are 24 and 22 now.  I still have them in a box in the attic.  I hope to have some grand daughters one day that will also wear those dresses.  The flower fabric was used for a pair of pillow cases I made for my mom no too long ago, it’s one of my most recent scraps.img_9018

Isn’t it so sweet?

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, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Kathi,  Bella, Daisy

I’m also sharing over at Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday.  This is all hand stitched and I am planning on hand embroidering and hand quilting it.  I work on this in the evening after dinner and clean up.  My husband and I sit on the couch and watch one of our shows, right now we are enjoying Alone on Prime, but you can watch it on Hulu or somewhere else.  We are only on season 2 and love it!  I find that ending my day with some hand stitching really relaxes me.

This time I’m also sharing with Tales from Chiconia for Scrap Happy Day.  We share things on the 15th of every month that are made from scraps.  This project really hits the mark!

Off I go, today I’m building 5 bookshelves and I’m excited to be organizing all my craft and cooking books.  The craft books are in cabinets in my studio and freeing up those is going to enable me to organize the studio better!  I LOVE organizing – not as much as stitching, but it comes in at a close second.