CROSS STITCH DIARY: July Update

Hello My Friends! This is totally a crazy month. There will be nothing organized or normal for July or even August. You may remember that I got a new long arm but there was something wrong with the computer unit (darn computers!) so I am still waiting for the part. I could have started using the long arm anyway but chose not to.

My life is in total chaos finding an place for my daughter Caitlin to live in Seattle since she can not leave Canada until she finishes defending her Master’s Thesis. The date has finally be set for July 26th. I flew to Seattle in June and found a place for her (FaceTiming with her to get her approval.). Then had to fly back last week to get the keys and make a small run to Ikea for some basics. We’ve been coordinating when and where we will meet.

Meanwhile, I have been making all the arrangements for the road trip to meet her in Maine and be on the road for the next four weeks. While I am looking forward to the road trip, it is taking a huge amount of time to plan. You may not see much craft posting while I am on the road (no updates to share). Instead you will get some Travel blogs instead.

Now onto the only thing that has not suffered during this chaotic time and has been the one thing to keep me sane!

FINISH: May Snapshot by Pine Mountain Designs

I enjoyed stitching and finishing this cute pattern this past month. The garden theme mixed with the bike make it very adorable.

FINISH: May Sampler of the Month by Country Cottage Needleworks

The sampler of the month is fun and quick. Aren’t those bees just adorable?

FINISH: May Truckin Along by Stitching with the Housewives

I finished stitching May. It didn’t really take too long. Of course a yellow truck is a favorite of mine. That border is adorable as well!

FINISH: May Cottage of the Month by Country Cottage Needleworks

The May cottage is so far my favorite. I just love the CCW Frog Legs green it is fantastic!

UPDATE: Prim Stitch Series by Lori Holt

I finally started month 5 of the series. I even gotten pretty far in one time this month. I am also slowly getting caught up on the border. On the left side the border is complete, the other borders still need work.

UPDATE: Modern Folk Embrodiery SAL 2021

I’m still working on the January release. It’s already July! I plan on taking this one and one other project on the roadtrip in the hopes of finishing January at least.

UPDATE: Serendipity SAL by Fat Quarter Shop

I was able to knock another row. This was row 4 and there is 3 more that I need to download.

UPDATE: Butterfly Dream by Dimensions

I am still working on the back stitching which is not one bit exciting. Here you see my first butterfly done. It’s so cute!

UPDATE: Fresh Cut FQS Stitch Quarterly Club

This pattern is deceptively simple with just 6 colors. All these cool flowers and stars are just fun!

UPDATE: 2020 Feels Like Home Mystery SAL by Fat Quarter Shop

The bird is now done and I think no one can tell where I messed up. It just looks like a bird, right? I got a nice start on the house.

UPDATE: Mr. June, A Calendar Gnome by Charlie’s Needle

This one is going quickly. Mr. June is emerging with his beachwear. His “shirt” is so much fun. I love the colors that the designer picked.

START: Love My Cat Quaker by Romina Petrucci

The pattern only called for three colors so this was my first time picking all of my own threads. I love the colors I choose. I think they look fabulous on black! I am considering taking this one on the road trip, but am not for sure. You shall see….

START: July Cottage of the Month by Country Cottage Needleworks

Ah. this one has been giving me so many problems and I don’t even know how these problems keep arising. The windows are all supposed to be the same size. Did I stitch them that way? NO! I did not want to unstitch so I am improvising.

I’ve already changed out one of the blues because I felt there wasn’t enough contrast. The pattern said that DMC 158 was the equivalent. The two colors were no where near each other so I decided to use one strand of Blue Beatrice with DMC 158. That is that upside down L shape on the house. Where the rest of the house is in Betty Bluebell and the flowers in the border are Blue Beatrice. I like my change!

I also miscounted in the border which lead to miscounting the house. Once again, I am NOT undoing so I am fudging where I can. On the house. The border where I fudged looks fine.

START: July Calendar Crates by Stitching with the Housewives

This is the first in a 12 month series. If I get behind I tend to skip around so don’t be surprised. Speaking of surprised Part 1 above I was able to stitch in just one night! I love it.

I’ve worked on this part 3 nights and you see how far I got. I had to redo the white stripes when I got to the second wavy stripe. It turns out I messed up on the very first wave of the first stripe. I put in an extra row with one extra X. I like to try and reuse my thread when I frog (remove) the floss so it tends to take me a little time to undo and redo.

Looking at the chart, It looks like the hardest part. I am anticipating smooth sailing for the rest of this one.

START: July Sampler of the Month by Country Cottage Needleworks

I knew I wasn’t going to get far, but I feel good about at least getting this one started. I only have one more July project that I am going to start in August. I love how this one began!

Wrap Up

I wanted to share this beautiful bouquet from my daughter Caitlin to thank you for getting her place and keys in Seattle. It smells heavenly!

There is only a few days left before my roadtrip starts. I am looking forward to seeing Mt Rushmore, the Badlands NP, Cuyahoga Valley, Boston, Indiana Dunes, Teddy Roosevelt NP, and whatever we discover along the way.

Thanks for reading this far. Until next time my friends!

Peggy