End of September Posting

  Wow, can't believe we are at the end of September, this year is just flying by and while this wasn't a great stitching month, I did get something done.

This monthly update is brought to you by:

WIPocalypse. Where we work on all those WIP's we'd like to have done before the world comes to an end - which as my WIP list keeps growing thankfully this hasn't happen.

So the question of the month is How did you learn to stitch?  An interesting question - I actually started to hand sew as a very young child who loved to go to my Grandma Millie's house with my Dad (who worked in the family business out of her house).  I think the question was always how to you occupy a young child when there is no TV??  So my Grandma taught me how to stitch - first it was sewing on button's, snaps, hooks & eyes, then doing x's on gingham cloth and then surface embroidery on pot holders and towels.  I'm sure my grandma took out the surface embroidery I did as it wasn't very good and it seems like I work on the same design over and over.   When I got married in the early 1970's I got several different kinds of kits to try out - stamped, crewel and needlepoint.  I finished the crewel, tossed the stamped and have one of the two needlepoints done - the other is my oldest WIP.  then went to sewing clothes, some crocheting and knitting until I found counted cross-stitch and as they say the rest is history.

So what did I do in September?

this was a new start - Rose Wood Farms by Stacy Nash - it was an exclusive when I got it, but it may be out by now.  The picture on the chart was a much lighter color of fabric and the colors showed up so much better.  I like the design, but not really happy with the linen they sent, but alas I'm going forward with it now.  Maybe 10% done, would have liked to have more done, but that darn frog took up residency in my pond and I unstitched almost as much as I stitched.  I think it's back on track now.

 The next one up is an older chart that I found not too long ago - the 7 Virtures by La-D-Da.  I'm not using any of the called for anything on it.  I like my color choice, have tweaked it a little bit since starting and pulled out some 36 ct. linen from my stash - can't remember the name, thinking it's an Atomic Ranch????

This one is probably closer to 25% or more done.  I don't count stitches, so I based it on the pages and their finishes - This chart has 2 pages and this is a little more than 1/2 of the first page.

The next one up is my Four Angels Mourning Sampler by Scarlet Letter.  This one has a LOT of over one - the chart called for 40ct, which I started it on, but soon discovered that wasn't going to happen - the face of the angel was my downfall.  So I started it on a larger count - also didn't work, so took that one out and went with this 28ct.  It's going to be a lot larger than intended but that's OK at this point - it's going forward.  The smaller motifs that are over one are full crosses with one thread, the larger over one are done with a half stitch and two threads.  I just need to remember to so the half in the same direction as my top stitch - can't tell you how many times I had to take out what I did on the sun and re-do.  Really like the sun and can't wait to get to the moon.   I think I will keep going in the middle section until it's done then go back to the outer part.

This I my needlepoint that I'm doing for my niece, it is her wedding present (two years late, but at least it's done now).  I have to take and put it into the box top, which I'll do sometime in October so I can send the box to her.  In side the box will be filled with stories about growing up with her Mom - I got my siblings to add stories and she already has some stories that we did when she got married. 

I love this canvas, but glad it was done, the background was a lot of work!!  I have 2 other canvases in various stages and hope to get them done - or at least one of them done yet this year - maybe a picture next month of the one that is getting close.

Next up is an actual finish!!  Yeah, for me.  This is Inspire Others by Heart's Content.  

It is all done over one, which after working on my Mourning Sampler was a breeze - it's on 30 ct. linen from the kit.  

I had the middle part done and finished the rest this time around.  It really went fast, not sure why I let it linger so long!!  I will finish this one into a box top and give it to my granddaughter when she graduates high school next spring.

Last up is my Arc of White by Tempting Tangles.  Not the called for linen color - can't remember what I used, but it's a purple and I like it.  The threads are also not the called for, but similar in color.  This one is probably 40% done - I've been jumping around where I work, this last time I did the leaves and motif in the lower left, it's close to the bottom of the design.

There was one other that I started this month - Parker's stocking by Shephard's Bush, but for some reason I didn't take any pictures of it!!  I only worked on it one day, it will come out to play this week so I'll post a picture next month.

Can't wait to see what others have done this month.  Hope you all had great stitching months.  

I have to tell you I am being pulled to the really dark side of the full coverage - I'm sure if I see a chart that I absolutely love I will surrender.  I just need to get a new tablet and program.  In the mean time I have decided to start a Long Dog, I have my silk threads and just need to pick out some linen that is big enough.  

Sandy

 So another month has slipped away and with it summer is just about over with - the kids are back in school, OK I don't have any kids, but my child who is a teacher is back in school.  A shameless plug - please if you can help support a school teacher, they do spend a lot of their own money on supplies so kids who parents can't or won't buy what they need, have what they need.  My daughter has not only gotten school supplies, but she has been known to also get clothing for kids.  OK, off my soap box and back to my daughter's wish list - I try to get her everything she needs.

so this month's question is - Do you belong to any stitching groups or guilds (either in person or virtual) and if so tell us about them.   I used to be active in the Southern California Stitchers - we would meet every Saturday in different locations - there were some that were a bit too far to go to, but I tried to go at least twice a month.  There is a group with the FB group for Michigan Stitchers and they meet up, but again not really close to where I live.  If I retire this time next year I will surely get more active in the group and set up a meet up closer to where I live.  Stitching groups are great and I've enjoyed the groups that I've belonged to over the years - if there is one near you or within a reasonable driving distance, join it and enjoy stitching with like minded people.

This is a month of new starts.  Usually I wait until December, but the new-start-ist has hit me and I'm giving into it!!   So there will be at least 2 new starts in August and maybe 3 - still deciding on the 3rd one, if it will be a start this month or in September.    I have so many things kitted up and ready to go, but I keep telling myself I should finish up some of the things that are already being worked on......and then I think nahhhhhhh it's the journey that is the adventure - not the finished.  The Finish is the end of the story and the adventure is over.

First up is Faith of the Heart - which is by Heartstring Samplery - I love the saying on this one - God finds a low branch for the bird that doesn't fly (or something like that).  I think this one can get done fairly quickly - but right now it's being put away - the frog really has enjoyed this one and has spent a lot of time messing with my stitching - you know one stitch in 10 stitches out sort of thing.  I think I'm on track with it now, but who knows.  That house is a biggie and found out I got the wrong thread for it, so will need to see what I can find in my stash, not going to go and get any more fancy floss for it.   I love the bird and that was one of the things that drew me to this design.  The greens are very close in color, you really don't see the difference when both are used in one leaf - oh well.

Next new start was Happily Ever After by Rebel Stitcher.  I have several of her charts, but this is the first one I've actually started.  Really love the colors and it's stitching pretty fast.  

This one will be a sampler for my middle daughter's new home after she is married in November - it probably won't be done until sometime in 2025, but she knows me well enough that she is really not expecting it anytime soon LOL.  But now that I've started this one, I want to start several other charts by this designer, so will be pulling fabric and thread for more starts, but those will wait for my annually start it all 2 weeks at the end of the year - or maybe I'll do 12 starts in 12 hours on December 31st!!  

Here is the progress, it's about 25% done and sorry if it offends anyone. Not something that I would hang in my home, but it fits my daughter to a T and she loved it when I showed it to her.  Even the border isn't too bad on it.

The colors are soft colors, even the darkest color isn't really too dark in real life.  Will be moving the q-snaps when it comes back out - need to get across the top so I can cut down the fabric, I'm loving this fabric - it's an Atomic Ranch.

Next up is one that I started a few years ago, and while I like the design I really am not enjoying the stitch.  And of course the frog has come and personalised the design to his liking - sometimes I catch him and can correct, other times I just don't have the energy to correct so let it go - let it go - let it go......(ok too much Disney with the granddaughter).  I managed to get the rim of the hat done and while you really can't see it, start to outline the face.  

I have pulled out another chart to work on this month, but it's been a busy week and really haven't gotten much done, so will post a picture next month.

Can't wait to see what others have done!!

Sandy

July is coming to an end and Summer will be too soon.........

Welcome to my monthly update of what I've done since my last posting.  I've been enjoying this year's journey and I'm enjoying updating what I've been doing.  Hard to believe that 2025 will be hear soon and I'll have another year of stitching in the books - but lets not get too far ahead of myself - it's only the end of July now.

This month's question is being asked by WIPocalypse very own MEASI'S MUSINGS - RAMBLINGS OF A GEEKY WITCH.  I'm enjoying her FB page and being part of her community of stitchers and hope she continues this for many, many years.

The question for July is - Which of your current WIPs do you consider your most difficult piece to stitch?

I don't have any that are technically difficult to work on because I have enjoyed doing speciality stitches and such for many years and have some excellent books that tell me how too.  I was lucky enough to model stitch for a designer who used different stitches in her designs.  I also enjoyed doing band samplers back in the 1990's (Just Nan, Shepard Bush Indigo Rose to name a few).   I also don't have any projects are difficult because of pattern itself, like a full coverage - which to me would be a difficult stitch.  I do have one that is difficult just because it was started for my oldest daughter who we lost to cancer 9 years ago.  I started it for her before her daughter was born, but it got sidelined for other things and just lingered for years.  When she got sick I thought, maybe if I work on her angel it will keep her safe, but it didn't and we knew she wasn't going to win her war.  She won a few of the battles, but in the end the cancer won as we knew it would.  So it's difficult to work on because when I do pull it out I think about her and miss her so much, so there are a few tears and it makes it hard to read the chart.

I also don't enjoy the thread, it's a rayon which is hard to stitch with, and has lots of blending threads that are added to the DMC.  I really love my conversation, and I do love the angel and it did come out this year for some love and I did get some progress.  It will be done at some point, maybe for a great-grandchild.  

Now for my update on what I worked on in July -

First up is my SB Stocking - Peter's Stocking.  I'm doing this one for our new great-grandson who arrived last week.  I need to add the name at the top and then get the embellishment pack to sew on it.  I will add a little something special but need to figure out what that will be, I have some ideas, but nothing set yet.  

This is an older stocking, so not as much detail.  There is supposed to be a row of flowers at the very bottom, but not fond of them, so going to leave them off.  

So I was going to do Christmas in July and thought I would start the other stockings I have kitted up and ready to go - I have 3 of them ready to go and a 4th one that I need to cut the fabric for and it will be ready as well.  Well I've decided I'm not a seasonal stitcher, regardless of what I tell myself.   I am very much a stitch what moves you at the moment type person, but I did start another stocking

I started Marie's stocking.  My niece is having a baby in October, so need to get another boy and girl stocking ready because they decided to be surprised with the baby, which I totally support.  Knowing what you are having is like buying your own Christmas presents and then wrapping them and putting them under the tree and trying to act surprise when you open them up.  I know there are things that they don't know, like eye color and hair color, but still the biggest part of the surprise is not a surprise.

Here is where I am - that dress was a lot of stitching!!  I need to move the q-snap so will pull this out again maybe in September.  Happy with what I got done.

Next worked on with my Rosewood Manor American Quilt Flag - I managed to get almost 3 more states done and started on the words under the one State.   This is another one that I really like the design, but not enjoying the stitch, a lot of back stitching and color changes and one stitch here and one stitch there.  

I don't think this one will come out again this year, but who knows if it will call to me again.  I figure at the rate I'm going it will take me about 10 more years to get this one done - so maybe it needs more than one week a. year of love.  

Next up is a new start and a time out!!  My Mom loves owls and so I got these charts several years ago and thought they would be a fun fast stitch and I would make her some ornaments for her tree. 

Well my mom has dementia and while she still knows who I am most days, she really isn't aware of her surroundings and wouldn't be able to enjoy the owls.  I've given her a few things over the past couple of years and they sit in drawers.  So my feelings aren't hurt because I understand, so figure I will save my stitching time for other things.

But I thought I would still love doing them and maybe give them to my siblings for their trees.  So why not start with Tribal Owl 01??   This is what it's supposed to look like - decided I really didn't want to do black and red, and I got pack of different colored linen and decided I would change the colors and do them on those linens - easy-peasy right?  

Well this is the one I started.  The frog visited often (thinking he's set up residency in my home) and it's off someplace by ONE STINKING THREAD!!  So I either need to takeout back to the error, if I can find it OR re-start it.  I decided I really didn't like the colors I picked, in person the colors looked good.  Did a floss toss and on the material they looked good, but stitched they look too much alike.  So going to change to something else and probably start this one all over, just need to find the threads.  So this one got put into a project bag and put into time out.  When I pull out this project again, I might start with a different owl - I have 4 of them, so can pick and chose.  The are all about 50 x 60, so I think I can get them done in a week or less IF the frog stays at bay.

After that disaster I pulled out His Eye is on the Sparrow by Heartstring Samplary, which I really love.  I have a page finish and started on page 2, I think there are about 12 pages, so I have a long ways to go before this one will be completed.  While people complain that they don't like stitching the same thing twice on samplers, I figure by the time I get to the right side of the pattern I will have forgotten about stitching those motifs on the left side LOL.  And if I was off, it gives me another chance to get it right the next time LOL.  I generally work no more than 1 week on anything, but I keep telling myself, just one more motif and I'll put it away.  Since this picture I've finished up the vase at the bottom, the rest of the word Sparrow and more of the border at the top.  I might work on it one more day and then put it away.  Will see tomorrow.  I know I won't get another page finish as there is a big a** house that will take some time to get done.  I'm thinking I'm doing this on 40 ct, so while it will be big, it won't be huge and I should be able to get it framed and find a spot on the wall for it.

Now for a quick peek at my new great-grandson - how in the world did I get so old??  I am not as old as all those people who said they graduated with me.  But in my defence I was a very. young mother, I got married right out of high school and had a baby, then decided I needed to grow up, so got rid of the hubby, went to college with 2 kids in tow and got my degree in accounting.  So I'm not all that old LOL

My grandson says his son is a very easy baby and doesn't fuss too much, I just laugh and tell him that won't last long.  It's the quiet ones that you have to watch - they can get into the most trouble.   Griffin arrived and weighed in at 7 lbs, my grandson when he arrived weighted in at 12 lbs, so he was a wee one compared to his dad.

Enjoy your month and can't wait to see what others are getting done.

 

End of June

 OMG I can't believe we are half way through this year!!  Time just is flying by, wish my fingers flew as fast stitching as the days fly by each month!!  I'd certainly have more finishes!!  

It's time to check in for WIPocalyse which is hosted by Measi both in her blog and on FaceBook.  This group has helped to keep me on track - and has done wonders to limit the number of new starts, not that I'm getting anything done, but my WIPs aren't growing either.  You can find her blog here:

WIPocalyse

The question for June's posting is to recap how we are doing with our goals this year.  I really wasn't expecting any finishes but here is how I've done.  I started the year with 37 WIP - I now have 36 - one finish.  Of those 37 WIPs I've worked on 26 of them - so averaging about a week for each - the finish was less than a week and I just pulled a new one yesterday - so it hasn't had a week yet.  I'm happy with those stats, my goal really was to touch them all this year.  I do have about 10 things I'd like to start, I've decided that I'm good with having 52 WIPs going in 2025, so I will start a few things, over the next couple of months.  Thinking instead of Sampler September I'll have Start it all September :)

So what have I worked on in June?

Heartstring Samplery - Winter Comes - I managed to get all of the words done and the border finished across the top and down both sides - finished pages 1 & 2 now.  there is a house on 3 & 4 which I'm hoping will be fun to stitch, but not sure - lately the houses I've been working on have been really huge and taking longer than normal.  I'm not sure I really like the colors on this one, but I'm too far along to stop now, but I am wishing I would have done the black linen, the words would have popped more.  I'm hoping this one is done in 2025.

This one is by Whilest Iris Naps Designs - called Mary Gypson 1828.  I still am working on page 2 or maybe it's page 3 can't remember.  Not fond of alphabets and had to frog out quite a bit because I made a mistake that couldn't be fudged.  

I do love that design on the left side- there is another one on the right side - it was fun to stitch and reminds me of a lady bug for some reason.  this one won't be done for several years unless it comes out to play more often.  But I'm OK with that, I'm a process stitcher.

I really love the colors and like Winter Comes this one also have a huge house on it, what was I thinking?  I guess I was swayed by all those floss-tubes where people say how much they love stitching housed.

Next one up is by Heart's Content - Wicket Was Here and it's an one over one on 30ct.  

I have a witch's hat to put on the tree that is one page one - which is the main page, but right now I'm working on the roots of the tree.  this one is stitching surprisingly fasts - it should be finished in 2025, or the next time it comes out to play.  I'm really liking it and finding stitching over one on 30 ct isn't too bad!!  I have one other over one in my WIPS that will most likely come out in August to play.

Nesx up is Frankenstine Sampler by Stitchery Posey (?), it was part of a mystery box that I got - but I waited for the box to be opened before I decided if I wanted it or not.  Under this square it says "I am fearless, therefore I am powerful". I love that saying and that is what sold me on the box.  

This section probably has the heaviest stitching, there are more little stitches that should go around the tree at the top and down the side of the house, but not sure if I really need to do those - got tired of doing those smaller sections of stitches - they really didn't flow well and I wasn't going to stop and start each one - so I carried the threads, but tried to keep that carrying as short as possible.  

The next section going across the top is Frankenstein himself - he has a lot of stitching, but mostly fill in, so shouldn't be too bad.

This last one is a Shepherd Bush Stocking - Peter's Stocking.  I have the Santa or maybe it's supposed to be a shepherd done.  This is an older stocking so not as much detail in it as the newer ones.  I will work on the bottom part of this stocking this week and hopefully will basically get it done by the end of the week.  

My grandson is having a little boy, so want to have this stocking done as well as other male stocking and will let him pick which one he likes.  I have 4 other stocking basically kitted up and ready to start.  I will start a girl stocking and another boy stocking in July - I are doing Christmas stitching in July.  While I'm not a seasonal stitcher, I know I need to get these done as my niece is having a baby in October, so I'll need to have 2 stockings ready for Christmas this year.

So that pretty well wraps up on June stitching - my folks are doing better and we have them both in one spot and more care arranged so I'm not trying to do it all.  I love my siblings, but they all live out of State and don't have time to come and help.  I just figure it's more time I get with my folks, some days are better than other but we are finding a new normal.  My Dad has decided that each day should start with Starbucks - I may need to keep working just to afford his Starbuck's habit!!  It costs more than his depends each month LOL - oh well, it's only money and with our kids all grown and doing well, we can afford to help my parents right now.

But I am thinking about retirement - and have planned 3 things to celebrate it when it comes - 

1. - 2000 piece puzzle - love doing those but get sucked into working on them for hours at a time.

2. A Witches Patchwork Quilt - I have the kit so it can be started at any time.

3. A Long Dog Sampler - just need to get the silks, I keep seeing people doing these and love them!!

Can't wait to see what others have done this month.

Sandy

May -be it came, May-be it didn't

 I guess we are at the end of May, I know this because my son had his birthday today as well as one of my best friends - easy to remember her birthday, my other friend's birthday is on my youngest kid's birthday - how is that for picking friends.  My other friend is harder to remember - she was born on the day man first stepped on the moon - so know it's in July, but have to goggle the exact date each year.

So the question of the month from Measi's Blog who is our wonderful leader is:

Question of the Month:  How do you personally distinguish between a Work in Progress (WIP) and an Unfinished Object (UFO)?

Well that is an easy question - the location of the project - if it's upstairs in my small cubical or footstool, it's WIP because I will work on it at some point.  If it's been relocated to the basement in one of my bins, then it's an UFO :). And yes there are projects down there that haven't seen the light of day in years, but at some point they will, I've only actually totally abandon one project in my life - and that was a wedding sampler I started when I married my first husband - I decided it wasn't something that I ever wanted to finish as the marriage only lasted 3 years.  Second marriage has lasted 40 years and still going strong.

I've not been very proactive this month - like April this month was filled with trips to the emergency room with one or the other parent.  Hopefully we have found a good solution, my Dad is not happy with the solution, but it is giving me some relief, as I'm only running to the assisted living 2 or 3 times a day vs. 4 or 5 times when they were at home.   I did get a week off of parent duty and got some snuggles in with my youngest grandchild which was so nice.  Hopefully June will be better and more projective - so what did I do?

This is Rosewood Manor's Autumn Quaker - I made a major mistake on it, and had to re-do some, but fudged the rest and I'm OK with it.  The top is pretty well done, and while I think wow I have a lot done - I'm not really more than 33% done - so a long ways to go.  this one most likely won't come back out this year, but it will get finished.  the gap at the top is for the date, leaving that for last because who knows what year it will get finished.

Next one that I worked on is My Family Tree by Thistle Design.  I have the top row down, again, this is now about 33% done.  Not sure where I'll go next, but my hope is to get two more houses done on either the left or the right side.  Not sure if I'll pull this out again this year, but I would like to get it done sooner rather than later.  I know I will need to get more thread, there is a tree in the middle and I know I don't have enough overdyed thread to do it and finish the outline - so would rather get new thread for the tree so if the dye lots are really different it won't matter :)

The Last up is Simple Gift - Courage by Praise Worthy Stitches.  This one is based on people who have had cancer, the chart is done in pinks for breast cancer, but doing colors that will range from blue to purple to teal for different people in my family who had had cancer and survived, or who have had cancer and lost the battle.  

I will put their initials in the design where I can and then add their names.  Basically the 1st page is complete.  I've done a little bit more and have started page 2 with a new color, but didn't take an updated picture yet.  This one will go away and I'll be pulling out something new to work on which will be part of my June posting.

This picture is an oldie but goodie.  I did this for my Mom probably back in the 80's.  I found it in their basement with some water damage done.  Washed it and through I had most of it out, but some still shows.  I'm re-framing it and had this frame in my stash.  So will mount it and lace the back and get some glass to go on it.  Not sure why my Mom took it down, but thinking it was because my sister gave her an owl that she got and had framed for her.  Oh well, not easy being the middle child.  

Hope you all have had better stitching than me this month.  Need to get back into a routine, it helps with the stress.

Sandy

April Showers - just brings tears

 Wow life can change in a blink of an eye and all of your plans are out the window and you are looking to see if you have a Plan B in place - well think we are working on Plan XYZ now and will see if we'll ever get back to plan A.  Not to belabour the point, my Dad fell and ended up in the hospital and now rehab, so we are looking at what the options are from here.  I just love that the siblings who don't have time to come and help with their care are all of sudden wanting to be involved in the next step.....not that they want to actually come and help implement it, just want the decision making part.  At the end of the day, it really is up to me as my Dad left me in charge of things, so will work through it and see where we end up.  He will be discharged most likely next week and life will change for him and my Mom.

Sorry for the above, but it really has impacted my stitching this month - it was going really good and then it wasn't.  Might stitch a little bit this afternoon after I get the laundry done at my folks house and lunch for my Mom made.  

This is the monthly check in for WIPocalypse - you'd think after all of these years participating I'd learn how to spell it, but alas spelling has never been my strong point in life - as me to calculate how long it will take you to get from point A to point B at a certain speed and I'm there LOL.  

WIPocalypse is the brain child of Measi's blog and can be found here. WIPocalypse. Each month we post what we have accomplished and answer a question.  This month the question is What designer have you discovered lately?   Well that is an easy one - I've not been in a cross-stitch store since February when the shop was having their Super Bowl sale to get enough cash for market.  I missed the market lease event, so didn't get to see anything new - and to be honest I've not really been looking at any of the websites that post new releases.  My focus this year has been to work on the things I have in my stash, I have so many designs that I really would love to stitch, even the older ones.  The funny thing is, when I'm stitching I have no desire to purchase anything but maybe floss, when I'm not stitching, then I want to purchase everything.  The last couple of years I've been stitching more and my desire to purchase has gone down.

OK so now for what you all really want to see, what did I do this month....

I believe this is Ann Kirby by Needlework Press.  that house is a monster to stitch, I think I calculated it about 4000 stitches.  I'm close to a finish on it and then can move on.  I did get the birds in and started the border.  I found that it is off, but at this point I'm not going to re-do it!!  Nothing really connects, so I can fudge the mistake.  I will need to figure out what/where is a good counting point - the border was started in the wrong place as well,  will figure it out, this one most likely own't be out again this year and by the time it is I will have totally forgotten there was a mistake at all LOL.

Next up is my Ice Angel by Lavender and Lace.  I coverted the blues to purple and started this one a long time ago.  I've ranted about the rayon thread before, really don't like that thread, and almost all of the other threads are blended with a blending filament, so not a lot fun to stitch.  But I did work my way up to the wings and got them started and hope to get over to the face and hair soon and maybe once those are on I will be more motivated to finish it...who am I fooling???   Also found out that I didn't totally kit up this one - no floss in my bag for the face or hair - not sure if I took it out for something else??  or just never put anything in to begin with - thankfully I had floss to start the wings.

I was going to make April - Angel - April and work on only my angels, but that only lasted a few days and I was over stitching on angels.  I have 4 of them going, so maybe I'll pull out another one in May to work on and make some progress.  

So when I got tired of working on my Angel I pulled out Awake my Soul by La-D-Da.  I finished up the words and started on the flowers.  Not a lot of progress, but enough that you can tell I stitched on it for a minute or two.  I really like this one and would love to have it done this year - it is relatively small compared to most of my other projects.

Next up is Walking to St. Ives by Indigo Rose.   I was working on this one when I blinked and my life took a turn in another direction.  My hope was to get the 7 wives done and the words below it, but just got the wives done, except for their shoes.  And I brought the border down on the left side a little bit.   This one was started almost 10 years ago, and has been in my stash even longer.  I really like the sampler and would like to get it done.  But decided I'm not a blackwork person and not really enjoying the border as much as I thought I would.  So this one won't be finish anytime soon, but it will come out at least once a year for some love.

The last one is a Mind Independent and Free by Carriage House.  I finished up the zig-zag, which was a lot of stitching and the motifs underneath it.  I really like this one's staying and really want it done sooner rather than later as I think it's something my granddaughter should read every day - don't remember all of the words but the jest is that it's better to have independent thoughts than to have worldly goods.  In this day and age I thought it was appropriate.

I started on Autumn Quaker by Rosewood Manor, but didn't get enough stitching done to really show anything.  Hope to get more done on it today and maybe tomorrow and then will show it off with May's updates.  

My parents house isn't set up for stitching and I don't have a comfortable place.  So not sure how much progress May will have either.  I am hoping to finish a needlepoint and get it off to my niece for her 1st wedding anniversary in May.  It is almost done, just need to actually work on it to finish it up and then mount it on the box I got.  If I get it done I will post a picture with May's update as well.

Until next time - don't blink.....

Sandy

Time Marches on, and so does the month of March - time to check in

 Dear Blog

How are you doing?  Life has been Ok this month, busy at work, but all deadlines met, so can't complain.  Now time to move to April and see what that month brings.  During these busy months I so enjoy my few hours a day to stitch.  I think I stitched about 28 days this month, which is great.  

So it's time to check in with WIPocalypse, which is hosted by Measi Musings.  Each month we post what we've done and answer the question of the month.  If you want to see/learn more go here:

WIPocalypse

So the question this month is what color or brand of floss do we love and what is our favourite color.  

I'm not a brand snob, I will use anything BUT rayon, really don't like rayon hence the angel that has been in process for about 20 years now.  If you look at what I'm stitching you'd think I love muted colors, the warm browns and tans because I've been doing a lot of reproduction samplers lately, but in all reality I love bright colors - reds, blues and purples are my favourite.  I do have charts that use those colors, I just haven't started them yet.  maybe one year I'll have a bright color year.  I do love to stitch with silk threads, it feels like butter, so when given the option to use silks I will (ok when the budget allows), but otherwise I use DMC, anchor, Weeks, Gentle Arts and others.  There are some I would love to try, but they aren't carried by my local shop, so haven't tried them YET, but I will.

So what have I done this month?

First up is a Summer's Basket by Symbolic Gestures.  It is an old kit that I go maybe 20 years ago and decided it really need to get stitched.  its about 1/2 done now and if it comes out again it can be a finish.  

I'm not crazy about the colors on the linen, but it's in process so it will be finished at somepoint and then we'll see if it gets framed or not.

Next up is All Creatures Great and Small by Barbara Ana Design.  

I really love this one and I'm thinking I have a page finish and the start of the next page.  I love the pigs.  

I saw this one at a shop and decided I had to have it, but they were out of the charts, so I got another one - Eye of the Sparrow instead and at the time thought it just wasn't meant to be, but then I saw this chart at another shop and decided I really like it, so I got it, and now both of these BAP on in works.  It will be several years before they are done, but that's OK I'm a process stitcher, I love the journey and the end is just icing on the cake.

The next one is a finish - it's Vexation Sampler by Plum Street.  I started out using the colors called for, but then decided to go for it and added other colors. 

They don't all melt together real well, but I'm OK with that, I love it just the same.  It has many personal changes (AKA frog visits that didn't get ripppppp out), but in the end the corners met up somewhat.  

I'm hoping to take this one to be framed in April and then it will go to live with my granddaughter in KY.  Never too young to learn your time-tables!!   This was my second multiplication table, and I have a third one in my stash to start....I love math what can I saw, every room needs to have the table so visitors can practice .

Next up is All things Unseen by Lizzy Kate.  This was a mystery - 3 parts, but in my true fashion I waited for all parts to be released so I could see the end results and decide if I liked it enough to stitch.  

Obviously I did because here it is.  I'm working on pages one and two together.  Again it is personalized by me with using the wrong colors in the wrong places and some counting mishaps, but unless you had the original next to it, I don't think you can really tell where all the mistakes are, so I'm letting it go!!  I love the saying on this one.  I would like to have this one done this year, but most likely it will be a 2025 finish.

The last one I worked on in March is Coming to America by With Thy Needle & Thread.  It was originally a market exclusive release in 2020, I got the kit from my LNS, but didn't start it right away.  When I did, I tried out several different linens in different counts and finally settled on this one.  The creams and whites don't show up too well, but decided I just wanted it done, so there it is.  

I'm ready to start the section with all the names, which I'm hoping will go faster than the rest has gone.  Don't know anyone who came over on the Mayflower, my ancestors all came afterwards, some through Ellis Island, others through Canada.  But I like the chart and though it would be fun to do.  I liked the middle section, but not real thrilled with her rest of it.  It will get done, but it's not a top priority on my list.

I have one more that I've been stitching on, but no pictures yet, I only take pictures when I'm ready to put it away so I can post my progress on my WIP Warrior FB album.   I will show off that one next month.  I've put in a lot of stitches, but it really doesn't look like it because I'm working on a house, which is on the biggish side, but not as large as some I've seen.  I think I figured it will about about 4,200 stitches, on 40 ct.  Will be glad when the house is done - two more days and it goes back in its project bag for another day.  The house won't be done.

Leaving you with a little smile and hope for summer to arrive and this year not be full of rain like last year.  My granddaughter is learning how to swim.  She loves the water and looks forward to her lessons each week.  This summer should be fun in our pool with her and I'm sure she will love the parks with the sprinklers.   I grew up spending weekends at some beach with my family as my Dad was a scuba diver and they scheduled dives in different lakes around Michigan all summer long.  

Hope you all have a wonderful stitchy month and made great progress.  I love seeing what others are doing.  I so envy all the full coverage people.  I would love to do one, but given my epic failure on a chart that was about 60% full cover, not sure I'd ever get through the confetti stitches that really make it look so great.  Maybe when I retire I will venture with a small one.

See you all in April :).  for those in the path of the eclipse would love to see pictures posted - maybe I need to pull out one of my charts with plants or moons on it to work on that day.  We aren't in the path in MI, but our house in KY will have 98% totality, unfortunately we won't make it down there to see.

Sandy