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

Easter Blog Hop 2024

 Easter Blog Hop 2024

Easter is early this year, so  it's time to participate in Jo's Easter Blog Hop.

Each participant will showcase some of their Easter/Spring themed stitching/crafting, a letter and a follow up link. The letters will spell out a phrase that should be left in the comment section on Jo's blog: https://serendipitousstitching.blogspot.com/

I didn't have any new stitching to match the theme so I pulled out a few tried and true pieces.

Left to Right: 1. Rabbit from Prairie Schooler, Bunnies and Chicks (book 121)

2. Egg, Prairie Schooler, Farm Fresh (book 108)

3. Chick/tulips, With Thy Needle and Thread, Jelly Bean Jubilee

4. Bunny pair, Scissor Tail Designs, Spring Topiary

Your next stop should be: http://astridxstitching.blogspot.com/

If you jump started here please visit Jo at: https://serendipitousstitching.blogspot.com/ to see all the participants.

Oh yeah my letter is P! :-)

Happy Hopping!

Since it's already Good Friday in Australia, I'll submit my post now (5:55PM Thursday Local time).

Happy Easter Everyone!

June 2022

 I managed a lot of stitching days in June, but I only have three finishes. 

Blackwork Angel, Prairie Schooler

Noah's Christmas Ark I, Plum Street Samplers

Six Geese, Celebration of Needlework 12 Days of Christmas SAL

My Second Fully Finished was Hello Summer a Fat Quarter Shop Stitch Quarterly Cross Exclusive from 2021. It's mounted on a board from Shantell 141.

My WIPGO Number 16 Hello Summer, Plum Street Samplers was finished. No progress on Ann Rogers, number 9. 

July's numbers are 11, and 18. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

 

First of 2022

 Hope everyone is having a happy and healthy 2022. Wishing everyone a stitchy year. I know it's late but I have decided to start this post off with a picture of my tabletop tree. I managed to finish my Starry Night Ornaments before Christmas and left it up through Epiphany. 

My other late Christmas finish was an Advent Band Sampler by iStitch Designs.

Advent Band Sampler

iStitch Designs

The stitching is done and the spool covered. I just have to attach the band to the spool cover.

This month my focus stitching is on  Mirabilia's Lady Justice. Sunshine Stitcher's, CZook, and The 614 Stitcher have a new challenge for 2022, Designer of the Month. Each month stitchers who take part will be working on their WIPs or new starts for the Designer of the Month. 

My progress as of 3 January.

Current status.

I've finished the shash on the right and now I'm back to working on her dress. I'm trying to work on her at least 25 minutes each day. I hope to get a few stitches in this evening.

My first finish of 2022 is 

 Scandinavian Heart from JBW's French Country -Hearts II.

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

 

September Take 2

 This will be quick. I was seconds away from publishing and my entire post disappeared. No problem, I thought, I'll just go to the default backup and finish up. Did you guess? The default saved copy was no where to be found. So here's my second try.

For Sampler September/Sampler September Soiree I started 3 new samplers, Busy Hands, Kathy Barrick, All That Remains, Blackbird Designs, and Luz Gonzales - 1851. 

Busy Hands, Kathy Barrick

I've made the most progress on this sampler. I'm stitching on this one for 25 minutes each day. Since this picture I've finished most of the border and started on the basket the bird is perched on.

All That Remains, Blackbird Designs

Got the border started but needed to see some more so I got one motif and one bird done.

Luz Gonzales - 1851, Samplers Remembered 

This is a small start on a sampler I've had my eye on for awhile. Lots of color and interesting motifs to look forward to.

The WIPGO numbers for September were 15 and 25. My number 15 is Starry Night, Prairie Schooler, and number 25 is Nevermore. I finished Starry Night in June so I concentrated on Nevermore. This is my progress. Still working on the top left motif, it's a big one.

Nevermore, Lila's Studio

I had two small finishes.

Sunflower Seeds, Stitching with the Housewives

I plan to finish this like I did the Zinnia Seeds project, as a seed packet.

The second was the Family Tree, Thimble purse by Brenda Gravis.

Hope to update my WIPS next time,

WIPGO numbers for October are11 and 5. Number 5 is Portrait in Red, Green Apple Designs and 11 is Hands On Designs', 12 Days. Portrait in Red is finished so I'll be working on 12 Days. I have 3 more days to stitch, Days 10-12.

Thanks for stopping by, 

Gwen

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.

`

Halloween at Hollyberry Farm

Stacy Nash

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