September 2024

September turned out to be a very good stitchy month for me. For the first time I tried ABCingo. This stitching challenge is the brain child of CZook stitch and Robyn on the Facebook page Magazine Monthly Challenge. I selected 10 projects for this challenge; the goal being to stitch 1 hour or at least100 stitches on each project on the day it was called.

I was able to keep up and managed a Blackout!

For Sampler September, I pulled out Past and Present, Rosewood Manor and made some progress on it.

I think I’m working this on the called for 28ct Cream Cashel linen. Also using the suggested DMC and Weeks Dye Works, Pelican Gray. 

Will continue to work on the alphabets then the Blackwork and Darning Sections.

In addition to Sampler September I worked on a few Sunflower projects. I was able to complete a set from Creative Angle Crafting and Bumble Bouquet by Hands On Designs. 

Sunflower Star, Sunflower Beaded Scissor Case, Sunflower Scissor Fob, Creative Angle Crafting: Bumble Bouquet, Hands On Designs

I’m thinking of finishing Bumble Bouquet as a pillow.

Gwen

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

Hop Happily

This is my latest fully finished project. 

Hop Happily, 

Be Like a Crow

Erica Michaels

I'm working on finishing a second project but it's taking me awhile to get it done. Hopefully I'll have something else to share soon. 

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

Two Challenge Weekend update

Last weekend was WIPGO weekend. This weekend is the 24 Hours of Cross Stitch Marathon. WIPGO weekend is the second weekend of each month; 24 Hours of Cross Stitch Marathon occurs 4 times each year. 

While I was able to stitch on my focus WIPs  both weekends, I didn’t come close to the 24 hours of the marathon this month.  I completed the stitching on 3 French Hens on WIPGO weekend. This weekend I  was able to complete Dancer and 9 Ladies Dancing. I will add the beads to the ornaments when i complete a few more.

Dancer is my first finish for my Year of WIPS challenge. It was also on my WIPGO board, as was both of the ornaments.

Dancer

Barbara Anna

PNPS Magazine Christmas-Winter 2021

3 French Hens

Annie Beez Folkart

9 Ladies Dancing

Annie Beez Folkart

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

March 2024 Progress

Four of my Year of WIPs were the focus of  my stitching in March. 

What Remains, Blackbird Desings

Nativity, Bent Creek

One Dozen Quakers, Rosewood Manor

Another Year Creeps By, Ink Circles

I’ve been making good progress on each.

The latter half of the month was spent doing pre-stitching for an in-person class. The project, a huswife, was taught by Jackie of It’s Fine-ally Finished at Sassy Jacks Stitchery in North Carolina. It took me all of the 3 weeks prior to class to get my stitching done. There were 25 in the class and we had a great time assembling the project and decorating the wonderful box made by Mr. Miller.

Eternal Flame, It’s Fine-ally Finished.

A wonderful finish.

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!

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

One Dozen Quakers

 One Dozen Quakers

I’m stitching One Dozen Quakers with EJ and others. We hope to have this stitched by the end of the year. This is the proposed stitching order and my progress after our March Zoom session.

'

As you can see I’m not strictly following the proposed guide but I hope to get there in the end. I have a few changes that I want to include so I’ve left off some of the motifs for now. I’ll rearrange and add later.