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. 

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

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

Week 1 of 2023!

 Hope your 2023 is off to a great stitchy start.

I managed a few finishes in 2022 and hope to mark off a few more finishes this year. 

1. Autumn at Hark Run Hollow

Block 3 is outlined and ready for some stitching.

2. Lady Justice

I'm almost finished with the lower right portion of her sash, then I'll continue with her dress.

3. Nevermore

Time to finish up the raven.

4. Cinnamon Stars

5. Outstretched Arms

6. The Game

7. As Life Wears Away

Are the WIPs that are now on the top of my stitching list. I also will be taking part in a few Challenges and SALs, again this year

WIPocalypse 2023

WIPGO 2023

Christmas Ornie SAL  and 

Halloween Cross Stitch Challenge are some that I'm taking part in so far.

Beading has also now a very prominent part of my crafting. I managed to complete a few projects last year as well. The inventory of beads and the pattern collection is expanding. Thus far I've been able to keep them organized so hopefully that will continue. Just need more hours in the day to get to everything.

Here's to a crafty 2023.

Thanks for stopping by,

GWEN

 

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

 

May 2022

May was Blackbird Designs Focus Month. My main focus was to be What Remains, I made some progress but not as much as I had hoped.

What Remains, Blackbird Designs

 I had started Secret Garden some time ago, and decided it was time for a revisit. I had made the most progress on the alphabet strawberry, with a modest start on the box top as well. 

before

I realized that things were not working out as charted. I couldn't find my counting error for anything. I finally gave up and put the whole thing in time out. When I took it out again I finally found my error. I restarted on a new piece of fabric with DMC 321. I managed to get through the counting this time and have an fully finished strawberry. I'm still working on the ribbon topper, can't seem to get it just right.   I will most likely frog the original strawberry and re-stitch. I want to have a strawberry to match the box top. Just need some more Turkish Red. 

Secret Garden, Blackbird Designs

DMC 321

I also worked on top of the drum for Peacock Pinkeep. I stitched the band for the drum but never started the top. I had a good portion done when I realized I was stitching on the wrong side of my fabric! Then came the question start over or continue? I gritted my teeth and frogged then restarted. I think in this case it was worth it. I'm loving it. 

(This fabric is not photographing well. It looks much better IRL)

Peacock Pinkeep, Blackbird Designs

40ct Vintage Autumn Gold

Belle Soie:Tortoise Shell, Peacock

A rocky start to my focus designer but not a bad ending.

I finished Hello Summer, by Plum Street Samplers. I did leave off the words.

Hello Summer, Plum Street Samplers

I also stitched and finished 5 Rings, May's ornament from Celebration of Needlework's 12 Days of Christmas SAL.

My new start was Winter Cometh, Summer House Stitche Workes. Hope to complete this soon.

Winter Cometh, Summer House Stitche Workes

Thanks for stopping by, I'm off to check out the new WIPGO numbers an update my board.

Gwen

August: What I Accomplished

This is the last stitching day in August. What did I accomplish? 

I worked on my Plum Street Designs, Hello Summer; The Game, by Artecy Designs; Tree of  Life Thimble Purse by Brenda Gervais; Hello Summer by FQS; Halloween at Hollyberry Farm, Stacy Nash; and Busy Hands by Kathy Barrick.

I made a mistake somewhere on Halloween at Hollyberry Farm border. I tried to fudge it without a lot of counting. Well that didn't go as well as I liked so....... I frogged all that I had stitched of the fence and bottom right side. I have most of the fence re-stitched and I'm working on the bottom right side, then I will re-stitch the fence posts. Fingers crossed for a better outcome this time.

The Game was one of the WIPGO numbers for August. I was to work on it for 5 days (5 hours this month). I only worked on it 1 day this month, so I missed out on a WIPGO in August. I hope to work some more on this one in September. The colors for The Game are muted as this is a sepia style painting. So I wouldn't be posting a picture just now. I really want to get to an area where the project is recognizable. My second WIPGO project was Hello Summer, by Plum Street Designs. I managed to meet my goal. I'm still working on the leaves, should be able to get a few more xs in tonight.

before

current progress

Yesterday, I started Busy Hands by Kathy Barrick. This chart was gift from by friend CarolB.

I started with an inside  border and wonder of wonders it met up, on the first try. Yeah!!!

I'm stitching this with NPI silks on 36ct Pioneer from Victoria Sampler Threads. The Spool of thread is stitched and the bird started. I'm loving this project.

I'm so excited! I managed two finishes. Yeah and double Yeah!

This has been in my stash since it's release. The Tree of Life Thimble Purse, is finally stitched and ready to be finished. 

The kit came with 2 pieces of fabric so I pulled out my alphabet books and stitched my initial on the second piece that will be the back of the purse. I did leave the alphabet off the front.

Hello Summer, Fat Quarter Shop 's June 2021 Stitch Quarterly Club.

To be finished as a flat fold or pillow for next summer.

WIPGO September : 15 & 25

My projects: 15 Starry Night, Prairie Schooler Completed June, 2021

25 Nevermore, Lila's Studio

This will be my starting point for September, WIPGO.

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen