ScrapHappy - January 2023

 

This month lots of prep work was happening with scraps for the most part.

First up was taking a lot of strips and short bits of leftover binding and making prairie points for more blocks.

Next up was cutting up my black on white fabs into the backgrounds for the two sets of blocks I have in progress.

Then it was time to prep the remainder of the prints I need for the circles in the circle quilt.  More brights and novelty prints have been found as I've been going through fabrics in the stash to downsize.   They'll show up at a later time.

Last in the prepping realm was taking three pieces of leftover cotton batting (yes, with cotton scrim) and cutting 9.5" squares for bowl cozies out of it.

Thanks to having the strips and prairie points prepped I was able to get another 16 of these blocks completed.   That makes a total of 33 blocks made so far.   I'm doing a 7 by 9 block setting so I need 63 total, leaving me with another 30 blocks still to be made for the quilt.

Check out what everyone else has done this month - 

Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy,  Tracy, Jill,
Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Jon, Dawn, Jule, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,
Nanette, Ann, Dawn 2, Carol,
Preeti, Debbierose, Nóilin  and Viv

Gratitudes:

1. For the job at ASU, it truly has been and continues to be a blessing to work somewhere that is willing to work with me as I need time to help do things for my dad during work hours.

2. For the many good friends that are in my life, those here in town and those that are scattered around the world.

2023 - Status of the Cross-Stitch Stash and first finishes for the year

 After working through to make sure that I have everything listed in my quilting/cross-stitch spreadsheet for this year here has given me the following stats for what I've got on hand:

• 187 assorted kits
• 35 are beaded ornaments
  
• 152 cross-stitch or embroidery kits
• 129 assorted UFO's
• 28 are beaded ornaments
• 101 are cross-stitch or embroidery pieces, finished sizes range from about 3" square to 11" by 14" or larger

I've already started working on finishing up some of the cross-stitch UFO's that have been stitched for years (at least 10+ years ago!). So far this year I've finished up a 18 beaded ornaments that I had stitched at least 10 years ago and never finished.  Most are for Christmas, but some are spring themed.   Still have 7or 8 more to finish up.

Numbers above will change slightly as the three kits I've ordered arrive.   These will be worked up as gifts for Christmas gifts this year. Aiming to make more progress on getting things into finished pieces this year amidst everything else on my plate.

Gratitudes:

1. For finally having the time to make progress on the cheerleader quilt and for it going well.

2. For the rain over the weekend and today that made pulling weeds this afternoon easier.   Still have more to go tho.

2022 -- Cross-Stitch Wrap-Up

Lots of cross-stitch pieces were done this year, especially compared to the last few years.  This little 3" square hedgehog was finished early in the year.   Still thinking about how I'll use it.

This piece finishes out to about 5" by 7".   Will use it to make a mini wall-hanging for friends who have a pet-sitting business in Texas.

This little 3" square piece was finished mid-year.   Still thinking about how I'll use it.  Might make a little ornament out of it....or?   Anyone have ideas on what I could make from it.

This little 3" square piece was finished mid-year.   Still thinking about how I'll use it.

Old world Santa Ornament done on perforated paper.   Finished off and mounted on green wool felt.

This little 3" square piece was finished mid-year.   Still thinking about how I'll use it.

Saw this kit in a store and couldn't resist it because of the snail.   I'll finish it off as a 

This was a little kit that stitched out at 3" square.   I finished it as a little ornament and gave to a friend for Christmas in 2022.

Finished the stitching off on this piece.   I'm planning on finishing off and giving it to a friend for a birthday gift in 2023.

These little ornaments have cross-stitch and beading.   All were kits by Mill House Beads.   They were stitched many years ago, probably 10+ to the best of my memory.    I trimmed the perforated paper they were stitched on and then glued them to wool felt to finish them off.

I finished these 11 Christmas ornaments in December.   These were all stitched years ago, one of them was dated 1999!   About time I got them finished.   I machine button-holed stitched them to a wool felt backing to finish them off.

Gratitudes:

1.