Month: December 2019

December 22, 2019

December QAL and Slow Stitch Sunday!

Today is the day to update on progress for the Grandmother’s Flower Garden Quilt.  This is worked on at night while watching a favorite show or two with the hubby.  We enjoy a little down time together at the end of the day and this stitching both relaxes me and keeps me awake!img_8355

This flower was put together and most of the white border added.

And the pieces for this one were cut and started.  I have a plan for the next pieced hexi and will try to work on that for the next update.  Please take a look at all the others who are participating in this HQAL – this is such a group of talented and creative stitchers!

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

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 above. 

Also linking up with Kathy’s (a different Kathy!) Slow Stitch Sunday.

 

December 15, 2019

December SAL and Slow Stitching Sunday

I am so grateful for this SAL!  On the Gingerbread House #5, this is where I was last update:

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11/24/2019 SAL Update – Gingerbread House #5

This is where I am now!!

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Gingerbread House #5.

The stitching is finished!!  I actually finished it over our Thanksgiving break and blogged about it here.  I haven’t decided what it will be yet, but am leaning towards an ornament.  I think I’ll try to have that done for our next update.

Also, I made time to work on my son’s Christmas Stocking.  Here is were I was three weeks ago:img_8083

and a closeup of the area I’m working on:

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Before

This is where I am now:

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12/15/19 SAL Update on Ty’s Christmas Stocking.

I’ve been getting up every morning and putting a few stitches in while I drink my coffee and start the day.  It’s been so relaxing.  This is what the stocking looks like now:

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12/15/19 SAL Update

Slowly, but surely, stitch by stitch, I will finish.

Please take a look at all the other talented stitchers taking part in this SAL:

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

About the SAL

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. If you’d like to finish a project you’ve left unfinished for a while, or start a new one with us, you can join us by sending Avis an email.

I am also linking up with Kathy for Slow Stitch Sunday.

December 14, 2019

Scrap Happy

 

Kate has a fun Scrap Happy Day that I am participating in this month.  Most people I know, are aware that I love to use up my scraps and recycle as much as possible.  Well…

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T-shirts galore!

I have lots and lots of t-shirts that my kids (all 5!) have grown out of.  The t-shirts that were suitable to donating we donated; however, many of them had stains or rips or were just too worn out to donate to anyone.  I knew I wanted to use them so I started making t-shirt yarn with them.

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1″ strips

I use the rotary cutter to cut one inch strips.

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Lots of shirts!

I usually cut many over the course of a day or two and then…

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t-shirt yarn!

Turn them into t-shirt yarn.  It does make a bit of a mess!!  But these are ready to use.  Sometimes I crochet hats, bags, bowls etc with them.  This time I am making some more rag rugs.

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Rag Rug

I’ve been trying out a bit of clasped weft for this one.  In the winter we use lots of rugs what with the dog, students and my own kids traipsing in from the rain.  I love these because they have a nice feel to them, are very sturdy, hold up to tons of washing and drying AND it’s a repurposed craft!  Now, back to weaving!  I’ve got some t-shirt yarn to use up.

December 12, 2019

Feeling the Holidays

Yesterday I was at JoAnns getting some fabrics, yarn and other things for students in my classes when I saw this:

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Ornament Kit

Immediately I thought … Earrings!!!  This morning I decided to put this thought into action.

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All the buttons and rings lined up.

First I lined up all the supplies.  And then added them to head pins.  Well…it made the earring too long.  I took out all the rings and they are perfect!

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Being worn!

Close up. I LOVE these!!

I love these earrings and will be wearing them ALL day!

December 1, 2019

HQAL and Slow Stitch Sundays

For the Hand Quilt A-Long run by Kathy, I am still working slowly on the flowers for the Grandmother’s Flower Garden.  At the last update, I was putting together the pieced hexis for some of the petals

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5 complete pieced hexis and my messy work space!

All those pieced hexis are finished and the flower is complete!!

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12/1/2019 – HQAL update.

I really like the way these pieced hexis look; however, they were super, duper fiddly and I can’t say that I enjoyed putting them together.  Some of them are a little wonky – the pieces didn’t always fit together smoothly so I had to “force” some of them.  I’m hoping that once I press the life out of it and then hand quilt, it won’t be so noticeable.

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

I’m also joining up with a different Kathy for Slow Stitching Sundays!