After the snowfall and back home to our winter wonderland. My first walk around the trails in glorious sunshine which was surprisingly warm on my back and everywhere looking so Christmasy!
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| Here, having to duck down to get through. |
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| The sky was the most gorgeous shade of blue/aqua. |
The cool air felt so refreshing. It's good to be home.
I have the cardinal cushion top finished. Hand quilting even straight lines can take up a lot of time. And to think there are folks who will hand quilt your quilt for you-can't imagine what I would have to charge according to the hours I put into this small piece.
I was going to use masking tape to mark the lines, then realized those dots are perfectly straight in the navy blue fabric so I used them as a guide.
I also used this part to practice making a line of stitches at once rather than my usual stab through one stitch at a time. I was surprised it looked as good on the back. However, the batting I used here is very thin so easy to pierce.
Maybe I could learn to get the hang of this rocking motion thingy.
I also finished the
Swirling Flowers cross stitch piece.
As productive as this week was, I still have UFO's hanging about. The Cabin tabletop piece needs quilting lines and I really have to begin sewing the Basket blocks together. Maybe getting those started this week will be a goal. I have started the large basket for the center medallion block- must show you that.
I'll also choose another pattern for my SAL project. I'm thinking of one I have in my stash,
A Year at Hawk Run. Maybe its time has come. That should be fun to stitch.
And speaking of showing- here are my purchases at
Mad About Patchwork-
a fat quarter bundle of Kona solids
and these Riley Blake neutrals that I took a fancy to
as well as a couple of brights, this time yellow bordering on cheddar (though it doesn't look like it in the sun). Yes I did well there.
It's Sunday in snowy Ontario where I'm hoping the cold will kill the germs and viruses.
Happy to link up with
Kathy's Quilts,
Elm Street Quilts,
Small Quilts and Doll Quilts,
Confessions of a Fabric Addict,
Home Sewn By Us,
Our World Tuesday and
Quilting is More Fun Than Housework .
I can't imagine charging by the hour for hand quilting either--can't imagine charging $10 an hour at minimum for a quilt that took me a hundred hours plus fabric/thread/batting - people just aren't willing to pay that. Some say to charge $25 an hour plus supplies - any takers? doubtful
ReplyDeletelove your snowy scenes but I'm glad it is about spring here
Your quilts and stitchery are beautiful. Love the cardinal cushion piece! The only thing I ever had hand-quilted was my Dear Jane and I think I paid around $250. I don't think they charged by the hour though. But it was long, long ago
ReplyDeleteYour quilts are so pretty and those snowfall photos look like they should be on a greeting card.
ReplyDeleteSnow is so beautiful when the sun comes out and the sky is blue! What a lovely place you live in, Jocelyn! I love your cardinal piece - that was a great idea to use the dots for stitching lines. Love seeing your fabric goodies, too!
ReplyDeleteWow 2 finished hand stitched projects... way to go!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful winter photos!
And gorgeous fabric purchases!
Beautiful snowfilled walk...Your cardinal is lovely--nice stitching,,,
ReplyDeleteI have to stop hand stitching for a couple days as my arm and shoulder
is acting up from pulling that thread through...ack!!
Love your cross stitchery, neat colors on those swirling roses......
Hugs, julierose
It is snowing in your area.Nice walking in the new snow...Your handwork is wonderfull.Who don´t know a handword-cannot know how many hours(and pain of fingers).I´m embroidering very much.But I give my embroidering as a gifts only.
ReplyDeleteMy best greetings Eva in Czech Republic
Those snowy scenes are beautiful even as I long for spring.
ReplyDeleteYour little world is indeed a beautiful, wintry wonderland! What a magical landscape in which to go for a walk. Your cardinal looks perfect. Fabulous idea to follow the line of the dots. I can't seem to get used to the rocking motion thingy either. Try as I might I just cannot seem to master it.
ReplyDeleteYour quilting looks great. Once you master the rocking motion you won't go back to the stabbing. I love the cross-stitch that you finished. It is beautiful. Your fabric purchases are wonderful too. It is so nice to see some snowy pictures. We haven't had any here and I miss it.
ReplyDeleteSunlight and snow is such a winning combination. How pretty! Your cross stitch is looking lovely. And that stack of fat quarters - oh, that looks so good!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you found some great stash enhancements - thank you for posting the link to the store in your previous post. I checked them out and now am drooling all over their selection of perle cottons.
ReplyDeleteI love to hand quilt, but couldn't see myself hand quilting for anyone else. The snow is so pretty and it looks very cold. Keep practice that rocking stitch!
ReplyDeleteYour Swirling Flowers piece is gorgeous! What do you plan to do with it?
ReplyDeleteThe landscape takes my breath away! Thanks for sharing. And Swirling Flowers is magnificent. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteYour swirling flowers are beautiful What a great finish.
ReplyDeleteGreat shopping.
As much as we enjoy time with our families, isn't it always great to be home? I love your cardinal top. I could not master the rocking motion but I love to watch people do it on YouTube! Oh the swirling flowers is so beautiful. I have it on my list as soon as I finish my Vintage Christmas cross stitch - can't wait!
ReplyDeleteSnow depresses me. It's a good thing you like it, living were you do, lol. I just love the pattern you will stitch next. 12 blocks for 12 months. Swirling flowers turned out great.
ReplyDeleteStay warm.
xx, Carol
Great fabrics. Good luck on the UFO. Spring is starting to show its lovely head in my neighborhood with 70 degrees yesterday.
ReplyDeleteYou do such lovely work. I adore cardinals!
ReplyDeleteSnow? Oh no, you can keep it, it is March! We want SPRING! :-) :-)
ReplyDeleteYour cushion top looks lovely,
xx
All that snow! It looks pretty but I'm sure it's freezing cold. Hopefully your Spring is on the way. You have some lovely projects and did well on your shopping spree!
ReplyDeleteThe snow is pretty. We have had a few days of cold, but it's warming up nicely now.
ReplyDeleteLots of fun projects, the stitching is wonderful and your quilting the same. I do love to hand stitch but can't seem to take the time but once I do, I enjoy it. I do know what you mean about paying someone to hand stitch.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to view your snowscape from warm, sunny FL. We're still 3 weeks from returning home and I hope spring will begin showing up, though I know snow will still be possible. I haven't mastered the rocking stitch either, but I don't practice very much. Do you have a plan for that solids bundle?
ReplyDeletePat
Hi Jocelyn! Oh, those snowy photos are so pretty. I'm not sorry that all of our snow has melted (maybe for good for this season??!!) but I still appreciate the beauty. I'll bet your boys were happy to have you back home! Your purchases are pretty - I love Riley Blake fabrics. Did you use a thimble on the underside of the hoop when hand quilting? I think that would greatly assist in the rocking motion stitching, and no poking of any fingers. It's definitely a learned skill but I am certain you can master it! It's a lovely project. Thanks for linking up today. ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteI've started Year at Hawk Run Hollow twice already and abandoned it both times. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteSo great hand quilting! Thanks for the tips on using masking tape. The cross stitch embroidery is also very beautiful. Fantastic photos of the beautiful snow-capped landscape. Here I live in Norway there has been minimal snow this winter.
ReplyDeleteJocelyn - as a child, I remember ducking under snow laden branches, only to have one of my brothers shake the branch and send snow down the back of my neck! You can imagine a snowball fight then ensued! Your Swirling Flowers piece is so delicate and lovely - evokes thoughts of St. Patrick's Day!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and good luck on your project.
ReplyDeletelotsa snow there! Your solid fabric colors are so so yummy. I like the dots too. You are right on the money with hand quilting... the point is even stitches on front and back. It becomes zen like doesn't it, doing line after line of stitches loading the needle and pulling through.
ReplyDeleteI find the length of the needle is very important in hand quilting.
Jocelyn, I am trying to teach myself to hand quilt, and it is tough going. The rocking motion will come....the rocking motion will come.....I keep telling myself. Your hand stitches look very even. Good job.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful snowy shots.
ReplyDeleteIt's always a pleasure to see snow pictures.And, Jocelyn, you have captured that well indeed. I understand that quilting does require more time, but the joy of seeing that piece finished is comforting. I loved the yellow Cheddar piece from the new purchase. Hope your cabin tabletop piece gets finished soon. Waiting to see that!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty article on quilts and stitching! A lovely piece with such great ideas embedded in them. It has neat colors to make it look perfect. It is a good read on stitchery. We can learn how to do the enhancements. The flower pieces are gorgeous!
ReplyDelete