This and That

Hello everyone! I hope you're all well. It is 42 degrees outside right now and should be 62 this afternoon. I'm hearing birds chirping. 

I have a lot to talk about, so set down that laundry basket and get comfy!

First order of business is Stitch from Stash 2017-2022:

Starting balance was $48, expenses were (75.48), and I had finish credits for 39.00 (my 6 finishes last month!) for ending balance of $11.52. Thankfully, 2 charts that I bought from stitchyprincess on Etsy were excluded from reporting. I'll talk more about those charts below. 

My daughter, her boyfriend, and I drove down to Phoenix on Feb 26 for the Arizona Renaissance festival. You may recall we planned on it in 2020 but they cancelled as Covid blew up. It was closed last year also. We did our usual things, went through the Grotto of Torture which are medieval torture objects like the Iron Maiden, chastity belt, and other tools to get someone to talk! Here's just 1 picture I took..

I'm not sure what the Gibbet was used for. The sign on the left on the wall describes it if you can zoom in. It was high 60s there and very crowded.

Thanks for your birthday wishes to my daughter. I bought her an orchid and a gift card to Olive Garden. Love their lasagne, salad, and bread sticks!

Onto what you all came here for-stitching!

I have 2 finishes already..

Yup, Town of Halloween is finished. I saved all the long stitches for last! Especially that spider web at left. I have a blue-ish frame that will fit this but I need to paint it black and prim it a little. I'd like to try lacing this finish. Wish me luck!

My other finish is called Protect My Sleep..

It's a freebie by the Little Stitcher. On the model, it's a ditty bag with spruce tree leaves? hanging out from it. I think I'll make it a sachet stuffed with dried lavender.

Since March was the month I was supposed to stitch on old WIPs, I pulled out A Bee in Your Bonnet by Summer House Stitche Workes..

Last time I worked on this, I got up to that gold colored flower at top left. I've since stitched the left border and have gone past the other gold flower. I'm having fun with this and I think I can finish it this month.

As I mentioned stitchyprincess above, she's a Ukrainian cross stitch designer. Whatever she receives monetarily, she uses it to buy necessities for herself and neighbors. I can't do much for Ukraine but I can buy a couple charts that will benefit a few people. I can't imagine what they're going through. Here's the 2 charts..

And then a couple days ago I came across a SAL hosted by Dixie Samplar and another stitcher to stitch any stitchyprincess chart. I joined and I'll stitch the Rabbits Alphabet. I have the fabric and the DMC. That will commence on the 20th. I'm pretty sure there are lots of SALs going on right now in support of Ukraine and it's people. Please consider joining one.

Next ...

Here's February and March's Christmas ornament kits..

These are from the Celebration of Needlework club that I joined. When will I stitch them? I don't know, lol. I already have a plethora of un-FFO'd Christmas ornaments I need to get too!

And I'm still with the GaRon Tottenbags BOTM group and here's the February and March bags .

They're big bags and several of my WIPs will fit in one. I think I won't have to join next year since 12 big project bags are plenty enough! I can't wait for the October bag, lol!

And surprise surprise, I have an FFO!..

Oh I love it! I'm still waiting on the jabco buttons that were backordered so I used green and red pins for now. I also don't have the red pompom trim but I thought it overpowered the design. I like the red and white bakers twine that I used as it accents the design much better. I bought all of it from Hobby House Needleworks and it was the only expense for my Stitch from Stash.

I thought this was hilarious!

Well, I believe this is it. If I forgot something, I'll add it to the next post. What's on tap for the rest of this month? Continue stitching on Bee in Your Bonnet, and starting the Ukraine SAL on the 20th. Other than the trip to the Renaissance festival, we've been staying put since the gas prices have gone bonkers. I'm so glad my car is pretty good on MPG!

Take care! See you next time!