First up is my stitching for the SAL #idareyousal2023. I call this Joy (it doesn't have a name) and it's a freebie from the La Comtesse @ Le Point De Croix. I don't remember when I started it but at the beginning of this month, all I had was the star at the top and maybe the J stitched. Here it is...
Sorry for the wrinkles. There is a border at the bottom that I'm stitching below Peace. I'm trying to get it done before the end of this month. I used a creamy ivory evenweave, might be a 28ct, not sure, but it's kind of big. I'll measure it for the next post. I used DMC 221. I love a rich red floss color on this color of fabric. Like red on WDW Straw fabric. For this SAL I'm stitching on WIPs. On a FB group I'm with, an event I'm doing starting April is a WIP buster for the rest of the year.
However, I've been fighting the urge to start new stuff. So I think I'm going to do Maynia this year but start a new piece. I've stitched this before but sold it when a person saw it as I was stitching it at a swap meet. I couldn't not take up the offer. So this one is mine and it's not going anywhere. Jack's Bash by PSS..
I'm using a different fabric for this one but still 36ct. I'll start it May 1st. Can't wait!
So I mentioned a new Summer stitch. Here it is...
Summer Jubilee by BBD. Before these designs were reprinted, I searched high and low for the JCS issue it was in. I believe it was August 93? What I could find was that this issue was going for a lot of moolah! So I'm glad they were reprinted. Side note: for market this year I bought the reprint of a formerly OOP design from BBD, forgot its name though.
How about some WIP progress?
Tombstone Angel, designed by Kathy Barrick for a JCS Halloween preview issue. I don't have the magazine handy to see the date. I am stitching this in a SAL on Halloween Stitching Challenge group on FB. I'm doing the Haunted New Orleans event where we pick where want to visit with a corresponding number of stitches. I just finished the visit to Lafitte's Blacksmith Bar for 500 stitches. Here's my progress...
An old WIP, I'm about halfway finished. I'm using NPI silks on this. That medallion at the bottom is the very end. I still have lots of words to stitch in the middle. It won't be finished soon.
Now up is my finish. It's from the 2013 Christmas ornies from JCS. It's called O Night Divine by the Sampler Girl...
I'm not sure of the fabric, I think it's Monaco. I used the called for floss. It's pretty and big for an ornament but that's okay.
I'm still working out of that 2013 issue and here's what I have planned for April and May..
For April...
The stocking by Plum Street Samplers. I have a 123stitch order coming for 2 missing floss etc. I got my hands on the 36ct Cedar Plank by Lakeside which is not the called for, Vintage was, but I think it'll be fine. I felt like buying a lottery ticket after being the first to do the 'me please' bit!!
For May, the garland by La D Da...
I found Tin Roof gingham but in 28ct for this but I think I'll substitute the floss which is $7.90 a skein I believe, with something else. I hope to get 3 stars out of the fat quarter I bought. I already have big rusty bells in my stash.
It's like Carol said in my last post, you go through the older issues of this magazine and something strikes you this time around. It happens a lot with me.
Now we're up to some sad news. It's not earth shattering but it almost felt like it when I saw it. Ahhh, nothing like first world problems, hey! Here's Frosty Forest...
I started building the cabin there with the brown colors, and that's been going good. Buuuuut, a couple weeks ago I looked at it during the day and found I had used 2 different whites in the 7th and the current block!!!
Can you see the difference between the white of the snow under the pine and the border? Also in the block next to it, the white for the snow where the fox is is different than the border?! This is what happens when you stitch a lot at night. I'm so disappointed. I am not going to frog all that white out though. I'm not stitching for awards so the plan remains to eventually get it framed and hanging here in my house, warts and all! Lesson learned. I think a piece that remains a WIP for a long time is just ripe for a bunch of mistakes. I've accepted it now.
Annnddd, to wrap up my wordy post, my Mama had her 15th bday last week...
She follows me from room to room, and fights off her 2 kids to sleep on my feet. She is currently sleeping and snoring!
Well that's it, folks. I'm a bit surprised that I've lasted in these SALs I'm in. I normally stop doing them after awhile and do what I want. I'm committed to getting WIPs done though, and I'm committed to stitching all the Christmas ornaments from the issues I have bookmarked. I've always wanted to do that!
Oh, I'll be back April 7th for the Easter blog hop that superwoman Jo is hosting. I better find a finished something Easter-y or start something. See you then!
Take care!
