June into July

 I had the top portion ready to post  post on the 30th of June. I'm not sure how or why but after making some edits the post wouldn't publish so I've copied and pasted it here.

Today is day 181 of 2021. Half the year is officially over at midnight. I managed to meet my WIPGO goals for the month. I worked on Halloween at Hollyberry Farm, and Starry Night. My SAL stitching was on Just add Tinsel, Casing a Spell, 21 Halloween Cross Stitch projects in 2021, and Christmas Ornie SAL. I had one start, Hello Summer, It's Sew Emma  from Fat Quarter Shop's Stitch Quarterly. I have one popsicle stitched and started on the second of 6. 

I'm really excited that Starry Night is stitched. Now I have to make a final decision on how I will finish them. 

Ornaments 6 & 7 of Starry Night

The Prairie Schooler

I managed two final finishes.

Magic Kitty

Mill Hill Kit 

and

 

Spooky 2

Newsletter freebie from Heart in Hand

July's Numbers for WIPGO are:

12: Casting A Spell

2: Monica

Will be my WIPGO projects.

My other passion starting tomorrow will be Christmas in July SAL.

Thanks for stopping by, 

Gwen

*****

This past weekend was the Blackbird Design SAL. I worked on Casting a Spell. I stitched the alphabet  sampler and started the portion with the urn.

During July I'm taking part in the FB group 2021 Christmas in July SAL.I plan to spend at least an hour each day stitching Christmas. My first two projects will be Star, and Wish by Shepherd's Bush.

Day 1

Day 5 

Thanks for stopping by, 

Gwen

Mid June Progress

My stitching progress includes a few days working on Merry Christmas on Blackbird Weekend SAL, a finish on the band from Casting a Spell, an ornament from Starry Night and some more flowers for the top border of Halloween at Hollyberry Farm.

Merry Christmas

Blackbird Designs

My second Blackbird Design Weekend SAL project was this band from Casting a Spell. This doubles as my WIPGO #17 that was called for June.

This is number six of the seven ornaments in Starry Night. This just needs the Kreinik and it will be a finish.

Starry Night 

Prairie Schooler

I'm working across the top border. I have two flowers and the leaves to complete it. Keeping my fingers crossed that it will match. WIPGO #1 complete.

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Halloween at Hollyberry Farm

Stacy Nash

Thanks for stopping by,

Lots to Share

 As we head into June I've a few finishes to share. 

First up is a finish on Hands on Design 12 Days, 10 Ladies. This has been languishing for some time now. I was finally able to finish the stitching. That leaves just three more in this series. HOD, 12 Days and The Game were my WIPGO numbers (#19 and #22) for May. I was able to complete my 5 hours  of stitching on The Game. 

12 Days

Hands on Design

I also stitched the Halloween block from Casting a Spell.

Casting a Spell

Blackbird Designs

 
My second 12 Days of Christmas Series is the 12 Berries of Christmas, Erica Michaels. I completed the stitching on berry number 4 and stitched berry number 5.

12 Berries of Christmas 

Erica Michaels

 The Shepherd from Starry Night, Blackbird Designs is done. 

Starry Night 

Blackbird Designs

The fob for my Blue Ribbon Tax Day SAL on IG is stitched and I have a small start on the needlebook. I will need to decide about the container soon. I will not be doing the tree. It would require too much to get it just right. I 'll be opting for something simpler. I have a few ideas just need to decide on one.

Just Add Tinsel

Blue Ribbon Design

The main finish for May was Portrait  In Red. Love, love her. I've already started working on her companion Portrait in Blue.

Thanks for Stopping By.

May Days

I squeaked in two more finishes last week to end the month. In addition to last week's finish of Month Markings, I finished Starry Night, and Pumpkin Spice a freebie from 21 Halloween Cross-Stitch Projects in 2021. I really love the look of the WDW Autumn Harvest thread.

Starry Night

Prairie Schooler

Stitched on black 28ct Lugana (I think)

A tad too big for an ornament, possibly a pillow or flat fold finish.

Pumpkin Spice

Hel Panda Ross

FlossTube/Instagram made me do it:

I pulled out Just Add Tinsel, Blue Ribbon Designs to stitch along with Lorrie of Mischievousstitches and friends. I finished the front and back of the Star Pinkeep. I had to made a design modification (wink, wink) since I had made the stars' outline too small and didn't want to frog. (Full disclosure, most of these two were already stitched. I just added the flowers etc.) The next piece I will be tackling is the scissor fob. One of the birds is almost done. 

Just Add Tinsel

Blue Ribbon Design

Laura and Brenda of Laura and  the Serial Starter have challenged the lovers of  Blackbird Designs to stitch a Blackbird Weekend on the first weekend each month. I have several started and a lot more planned, Soooo..., this past weekend pulled out  Casting A Spell. This is also on my WIPGO board so thought I could kill two birds with one stone. I worked on the border for the Halloween sign.

Casting a Spell

Blackbird Designs

SPEAKING OF:

The WIPGO numbers for May were posted last week and they are:

 

My projects are 22: The Game, goal stitch 5 days this month (about 5 hours)

My minuscule start.

The Game

Artecy Designs

My progress on Sunday after spending some time wrangling my threads and attempting to get better organized.

This sepia toned cross stitch is from an antique print. I'll have to make it about a 3rd the way down the left side (top of the chair back/top of girls head) before I can see any definition.

19: Hands on Design 12-Days  I have only 4 more of these ornaments to stitch. I have been stuck on Ladies Dancing for far to long. Not sure what my problem. Hopefully this will get me over the hump and I'll get the last 4 at least stitched this year.

12 Days

Hands on Designs

I will see if I can fit any of these into the May Acrostic on 24 Hours of Cross Stitch. 

Thanks for stopping by,

<span style="color: 41383c; font-family: VIVALDI; font-size: 40px;">Gwen</span></div>

March 2021: Week 4

 Thanks to WIPGO Weekend and 24 Hours of Cross Stitch Acrostic I have some FFOs and finishes. 

With Easter being early this year I was pleased to finish a few seasonal pieces.

Spring Whirligig

Heart In Hand

Two egg flowers

Pattern from online

Spring Topiary

Scissor Tail Designs

My Christmas Ornament this month, was number 3 from Starry Night by Prairie Schooler.

I'm still working on Portrait in Red and Lady Justice.

This is my progress thus far on PIR.

I need to fill in these areas and continue with the front area of her shoulders.

I'm still working on the ribbon (bow) at the front of Lady Liberty's dress. There are a lot more stitches there than I first thought. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

 

March: WIPGO weekend

Last week I spent a lot of time stitching, frogging, then re-stitching. Luckily the areas that I had to re-stitch weren't very large and in the end I was able to make some progress. When the threads I'm waiting on arrive I should be able to make some more progress. I hope my order arrives tomorrow as projected by the tracker.

This was a WIPGO weekend. I got a late start but was able to meet my goals.

My start on Spring Whirligig by Heart in Hand

Two more blocks from Casting A Spell, Blackbird Designs.

And my progress on Portrait in Red, Southern Roots.

This week I want to stitch March, Monthly Marking; Spring Whirligig and Lady Justice, and working on my 24 HOCS Acrostic.

24 HOCS March Acrostic:

P-Portrait In Red (5 days)

R-Rabbit Spring Whirligig

O-Owl Mill Hill

J-Lady Justice (5 days)

E-Egg FFO

C-Crow Casting a Spell

T-Trees 12 DOC Erica Michaels 

B- Bunny Spring Topiary

A- Angel Starry Night

G-Initial Block 'G' Casting a Spell

S-Stars Block Casting a Spell 

February 2021: Week 4

      

      

       

February is over and this is what I was able to accomplish. 

My smalls were. 

Candy Corn, a Mill Hill kit, finished as an ornament instead of the suggested magnet.

My Second, ornament from Starry Night 

I also stitched 2 Easter egg ornaments.

This is not the best pic. I wanted these flowers to look like snowdrops. I may have to outline them so that they will show up better.

My three heritage projects for the month were, Lady Justice, Woman Silhouette, and Portrait in Red. Most of my stitching time turned out to be on Portrait in Red. I had a couple of visits from the frog, so I'm not done with the face yet. Hopefully, I'll be able to complete the face soon and move on to the shoulder area. 

I got some more done to the dress and the ribbon around her waist.

Started down the bodice of Woman Silhouette

Face almost complete.

Thanks for stopping by,

My First 24HOC

I'm not one to count stitches or track the time spent on project. However I am always looking for ways to increase completed projects. This past weekend, I took part in the FB group 24 Hours of Stitching Challenge. I knew I couldn't make the 24 hours of the challenge but wanted to see if I could make 12 hours. On Friday after work I hastily pulled my projects out, and started to gather the needed supplies. 

The focus piece I decided on was Lady Justice, Mirabilia. It was a piece I wanted to make some progress on and it was part of my WIPGo called number of January. I managed to complete most to the bodice and started on the ribbon sash at her waist. 

I also kept handy a smaller project. My Starry Night was close to finish. So that became project number two. 

I'm really please with what I was able to accomplish, and will try to take part in a future marathon. 

Thanks for stopping by,