October Progress

During October the WIPocalypse SAL Challenge was to select a WIP and do a minimum of one stitch per day, every day for the month. My choice was What Remains, Blackbird Designs.

This was my starting point.

I missed a few days but was able to make some real progress.

What Remains, Blackbird Designs

I worked on the left side and got most of the border done. The central flower also got some attention. Now that I have moved the QSnaps I will complete the flower and the pot. The flower in the upper left is done. I decided to wait and do the satin stitches later, I don’t want to snag them.

What Remains was also one of my WIPGO calls for October. The other WIPGO call was As Life Wears Away, Carriage House Samplings. And I have a finish.

As Life Wears Away, Carriage House Samplings

Very pleased to have finished this one.

My WIPs with the most progress were:

Halloween Delivery, Plum Street Samplers

Hares’Christmas, Plum Street Samplers

Just a few more snowflakes and this will be complete.

Mabel Tuke 1779, Sassyfras Samplers

The month was a very good one for my stitching. Along with the five large pieces I have several smaller projects that I made a lot of progress on. Hopefully I can continue with my progress in November. I also got a chance to visit two cross stitch stores, had a great time visiting with some stitching friends, and attend two classes. Yes, it was a very good month. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

August Progress

I started 2 new projects that took a lot of my stitching time in August. Book of Spells and Book of Shadows. Book of Shadows is a current SAL from Living on the Rainbow, Etsy. The covers of both books are full coverage. Book of Shadows got a little bit more stitching time, as I wanted to be in a good position to work on the pages for this book. I want to be able to complete at least 2 of the pages during the SAL.

Book of Spells, Living on the Rainbow

Book of Shadows, Living on the Rainbow

As Life Wears Away,  Carriage House Samplings is on track for a finish soon. 

I also worked on Hares' Christmas by Plum Street Sampler, and Halloween Delivery. Both are part of  year long challenges on FB's Halloween Cross Stitch Challenge. 

Hares' Christmas, Plum Street Samplers

Halloween Delivery, Plum Street Samplers

For Sampler September I will be working on Mabel Tuke 1779 and Margery Dean. 

Time for a Catch-Up!

Okay, let's be honest, it's way past time for an update. A portion of this short post has been on the drawing board since May. I did quite a bit of stitching but didn't post. I will sprinkle the summer stitching in as I try to get back to semi-regular posting.

 My focus piece for May was As Life Wears Away by Carriage House Samplings. I managed to complete the verse and made good progress on the bottom bargello portion. It’s been really fun watching this come to life.

Progress at the end of May.

Progress at the middle of August.

Junes’s focus stitching was on Strawberry House by The Scarlett House. This would be a sweet summertime finish.

I managed to finish Strawberry House. The kit included fabric for a scissor fob. I stitched the fob pattern 4 times and plan to make this a mattress pincushion. I think I have some fabric in my stash that I can use to make a fob later. 

Be Back Soon

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

 

     

WIPGO Progress Feb.

This past weekend was the second WIPGO weekend for 2023. I spent most of my stitching time working on As Life Wears Away. My goal was to finish the top bargello section and start the verse.  I also wanted to complete two of the houses on Blooming Tiny Town.

At the end of the weekend, I met my goal for As Life Wears Away and managed one house on Blooming Tiny Town.

WIPGO #7

Starting and ending points of

As Life Wears Away, Carriage House Samplings

WIPGO #11

Starting and ending points of

Blooming Tiny Town, Heart In Hand

Gwen

 

Twenty four Hours of Stitching

 The first 24 Hours of Cross Stitch Marathon of 2023 snuck up on me. I thought I had my calendar all set up but I missed 24HOC. I chanced upon a post and scrambled to get my projects together. I spent the weekend working on The Game, Nevermore, Hare's Spring, and As Life Wears Away. 

The Game, Artecy is my 25/7 project. My goal is to work 25 stitches or 25 minutes seven days per week. I've finally got started on Friday. I have a new plan for working this project and spent a lot of time working on the parked threads and setting up my new plan.

The Game

Artecy Cross Stitch

Nevermore is coming along nicely. I'm almost through with the raven.

Nevermore,

Lila's Studio

Hare's Spring is my Year of the Rabbit Challenge project, sponsored by Halloween Cross Stitch Challenge. I know, not Halloween but Ana knows we stitch other things as well. 

Hare's Spring

Plum Street Samplers

As Life Wears Away, what can I say. The top portion is my current goal. It has more stitching than I realized, but  I hope to get it done my my next stitching session on this project.

As Life Wears Away

Carriage House Samplings

The next marathon is April 21-23 I hope I can get at least get this much done again.

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen