2March,2023

My February Smalls Finish were three of the six hexes from Hands on Design. Hope to complete the others in March then work on the pillow. Well at least I think I will finish them into a version or the pillow that Cathy did.

Petals and Plume, Hands on Designs

WIPocalypse: Goal to work on and share the projects we want to complete before the 'End of the World. Our host on this quest is Mel of Measi's Musings. 

Mel's February question to fellow stitchers was:

 

What stitch-a-longs (SALs) are you participating in this year?

1. Magazine Monthly Cross Stitch Challenge

2. Halloween Cross Stitch Challenge

3. WIPGO 2023

4. Christmas Ornie SAL 2023

5. Cross Stitch 25/7 

This Month I will also add GaRon Stitchery Designer Focus of the Month. I am already working on a project by Carriage House Samplings.

I managed to get in a few more stitches on Nevermore and Blooming Tiny Town.

Nevermore, Lila's Studio

Blooming Tiny Town, Heart In Hand

I have a few new starts that will be popping up in a post soon.

My WIPGO projects for March are:

#2 Monica

#22 12 Days of Christmas Stocking

Thanks for stopping by,

Gwen

 

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

 

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

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