August 2024

 The Summer Olympics 2024 was held July 26 - August 11, 2024. I took part in #stitchthesummerolympics on Instagram. I was able to stitch on all most all of the suggested prompts. I have completed the stitching on two of these projects and I’m in the progress of fully finishing one.

American Strawberries, Prairie Schooler

Soon this will be a strawberry, I just need to made and attach the top.

Prompts: Stitch something patriotic, Stitch with floss from a color in the Olympic rings

A Summer Road Trip, Silver Needle

Prompts: Stitch something related to Summer

I had some new starts, Peacock Pincushion, 12 Days of Christmas Stocking 7 Swans, and Slice of Harvest. 

Peacock Pincushion, Cottage Garden Samplings

Prompts: New start in 2024, Something round, and Something with an Animal

12 Days of Christmas-7 Swans

Prompt: Something with water

Slice of Harvest, Erica Michaels

Prompts: Something that is part of a series, and Something you can’t “weight” to work on.

Day of Jubilee was another of my SSO. I started stitching this with one strand but didin’t like the coverage so I’m stitching to 2 strands.

One Dozen Quaker, Rosewood manor was the project with the most progress and one of my finishes for August. 

One Dozen Quakers,

Rosewood Manor 

My other finish was Prince of Peace by Erica Michaels.

Prince of Peace

Erica Michaels

Thanks for stopping by, 

 Gwen

JULY Update

 June’s finishes included Monica, A pincushion doll, Flag of Stars and Anjour Pears. I started the finishing on Monica so far the skirt is stitched up, and the apron finished except for some apron strings or other form of attachment. Next time I work on her I  need to construct her body, and complete the  work on her apron and skirt. 

Monica, A Pincushion Doll, GPA

I’m not sure how I be finishing Flag of Stars. Maybe I’ll come up with something before Veteran’s Day.

Flag of Stars, Bent Creek

Fabric has been picked out for the finishing on my pears. I want to stitch at least one more before I tackle the finishing.

Anjour Pear, Annie Beez 

I was trucking along on Christmas Garden then noticed I had a counting error or two. Okay it’s really 3! Don’t know how that happened, must have been stitching late at night again. One entire motif has to come out. It’s too close to the basket of flowers. I also have one error on each side of the center. They may stay. Time will tell. I should work on this 2 more days to complete my July WIPGO but I’m not feeling it right now. Nine more days to go, there is still a chance.

Christmas Garden, Blackbird Deisgns

For 24 Hours of Cross Stitch Weekend (July 19-21) I concentrated primarily on One Dozen Quakers and Mabel Tuke 1779. I got more than half of the bottom panel done. Anxious to get this one in the finished column.

One Dozen Quaker, Last 3 big motifs are done as well as the border. Now to finish the personalization and add the remaining small motifs.

Mabel Tuk 1779, Sassyfras Samplers

#Stitchthesummerolympics starts on Friday. I don’t have all my projects selected yet but I’m ready for the first 4 days (challenges). 

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

May 2024

Finishes

 During May I managed three finishes, Slice of Summer, Be Like a Crow, and Anjour Pears-Swirl.

Slice of Summer, 

Erica Michaela’s

Be Like a Crow: Hop Happily

Erica Michales

                                                             Anjour Pears, Swirl

Annie Beez Folk Art

I have selected some trinm and backing fabric for Hop Happily and Anjour Pears; I will try for some finishing this weekend. '

WIPs: 

I’ve added the outside border for Prince of Peace as well as all the mini motifs on the inside. Coming in to the home stretch.

                                                                Prince of Peace

Erica Michaels

One Dozen Quakers is ahead of the suggested stitching schedule. The large motif I was working on is now done as well as the main motif for May. Next up will be some more initials and the smaller motifs in this top section.That will put me through suggested stitching through July.

                                                             One Dozen Quakers

Rosewood Manor

This month’s WIPGO had 3 numbers called. Since I had completed the stitching on one of the numbers that was called I added Prince of Peace as my number 13 (free space). I accomplished my additional 5 days on Prince of Peace and.  3 days on Lady Justice (#19). The numbers for June are 2, Cinnamon Stars and 25, Monica. If I complete her over skirt on this go round I can start putting her together.

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

More April Stitchng

With my April stitching, I continued to work on my Year of WIPS (YoW), and my WIPGO Boards. I’m  also using the Magazine Monthly Challenges to help me pick my focus pieces each month.

I did some frogging on this one and will most likely do some more. I’ve changed my mind about the colors in that top border. The border is repeated below ‘ A Son is Given’. This is my progress so far.

Prince of Peace

Erica Michaels

I’m working on the largest motif on One Dozen Quakers. A few more hours and it will be done. I’m not strictly following the SAL schedule but I’m still on track. The Zoom meeting on Friday helped my get most of the inside of the motif done. I’m switching the numbers for initials of my family.

One Dozen Quakers

Rosewood Manor

My starts included A Slice of Summer and Swirl Anjou Pears.

I’m stitching with the called for Dinky Dyes. I started with the one on the left, Swirl. This will be a new to me finish. Keeping my fingers crossed that it will go well

Anjou Pears

Annie Beez

This is being stitched with some called for colors and some subs. The design came kitted with the fabric and a cute ladybug button. Wish I could find the other seasons.

Slice of Summer Kit

Erica Michaels

Nativity Row

Bent Creek

Nativity Row is the second of my 4 completions for the YoW. Two more to go by December.

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

March WIPs and Finishes

 Time for the March Check-In for the Fully Finished Gallery SAL.

The goal of this SAL is to motivate stitchers to get their stitched projects fully finished, banishing the stuffed drawers and under the bed boxes that are full of items to be finished.  

I only have one FFO to share. I completed the stitching in February and the finishing in March. Snowmen Are Cool is an older pattern by Waxing Moon Designs. The snowman button from Just Another Button Company was substituted for the one on the model. I wasn't able to find the featured one. 

Snowmen Are Cool

Waxing Moon Designs

I've worked some more on One Dozen Quakers. It's so much fun working on it that is hard to put it down and move on to the next project. 

One Dozen Quakers

Rosewood Manor

The right most motif is done, now to move to a larger Q-Snap to complete the right side border.

Christmas Garden

Blackbird Designs

I worked on the basket/urn of flowers on the top area of Christmas Garden. Hopefully I will have better success when I tackle the top border again. I've taken it out at least three times it seems. Need to work on that counting mojo.

This month I'm also working on 2 Ornaments for Challenges. I working on 2 of my 12 Days of /Christmas Stockings.

 

12 Days of Christmas 

Annie Beez Folk Art

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

Mad Stitching in March

Most of my stitching in March were for challenges. I doubled up on some and managed to get 3 finishes. WIPocalypse's March Challenge was to make at lease one stitch on a WIP each day of the month. Halloween Cross Stitch Challenge (HCSC) had a challenge to stitch at least 100 stitches per week on a project for their "Haunted New Orleans Tour Challenge". I used Nevermore, Lila's Studio for both of these challenges. Nevermore was also my project for  HCSC's Big Spooky 3 in 2023 Challenge, stitch 3 larger Halloweenish projects through the year. This was my project for the first quarter. As a result the bottom border of Nevermore (that I was dreading) is done.

My starting point.

My progress. 

Nevermore, Lila's Studio

I finished Spring Has Sprung, Country Cottage Needleworks, HCSC Year of the Rabbit SAL. I wanted to get this one done for Spring this year. I was able to complete the stitching. Now I'm on the hunt for a suitable frame.

Spring Has Sprung, Country Cottage Needleworks.

I also finished stitching the last three hexes from American Patchwork Quilt Magazine. 

Now that I have all six done, I'm all set to put them together. I think I will finish them on a pillow as Cathy Haberman finished hers in the magazine.

As Life Wears Away has some other colors (aside from green). This Carriage House Samplings chart is all cross stitch and packs a lot of stitches in to achieve the bargello look. It was designed for satin or cross stitch. I choose cross stitch. Carriage House Samplings was the Designer Focus with GaRon Stitchey for March.

As Life Wears Away, Carriage House Samplings

I will continue this one in April. My other plans include Blooming Tiny Town, Heart In Hand, Strawberry House, Scarlett House and my WIPGO #5, Prince of Peace, Erica Michaels, and #17 Mabel Tuke 1991, Sassafras Samplers

.

My final finish for March was my ornament.

12 Days of Christmas Stocking,

Annie Beez.

Thanks for stopping by, 

Gwen

 

     

31 January, 2023

WIPOcalpyse hosted by: Mesai

 My January focus pieces for WIPOcalypse were Hare's Spring, Nevermore, Cinnamon Stars, and The Game. I completed the body of the raven. Just a few more rows and my raven will have claws. Hope to get that done tonight. Then on to the bottom border.

Nevermore, Lila's Studio  

I stitched more of the stars on Cinnamon Stars. I can get on a few more before I will need to move the Qsnaps. I think I will work some more on the fence and pumpkins before I make my move.

Cinnamon Stars, Plum Street Samplers

Hares' Spring is under 100 stitches so I guess it qualifies as a small. It's finished and so is my stocking from Annie Beez's, 12 Days of Christmas Stocking Ornament Club. One down 11 more to go.

Hares' Spring, Plum Street Samplers.

12 Days of Christmas Stocking Ornament , Annie Beez

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen