I am still playing catchup (again) 🤣 I never posted last week because it was quilt zoom day and then I just … forgot. Oopsie! So here we are making up for lost time.
I have a bit to share with you but first wanted to just let you know I have been on a hunt for the fabric I knew I purchased for the June WIPGO project Field Guide to Dragons. I searched in all my unpacked cross stitch supplies (and realized I am missing all of my 14 ct aida hmmm). Then I realized that I probably had put it in the tote bag of cross stitch haul that still needs to be scanned and organized. I looked in that tote twice. I went to put away some recent haul from 123 Stitch and my new FQS Stitch Quarterly in THAT tote. Guess what I found? Yep, the missing fabric. What a relief!
Yesterday, I went up to my new sewing/crafting studio and realized that where I have been putting all the cross stitch supplies just isn’t going to work so began the process of moving it from where I stashed it to the new stash area. Also thought maybe I should setup a cross stitch rolling cart with all the floss for ease of use. Something to look into. Where am I going with all this? I pulled all my floss for Field Guide to Dragons for my stash and kitted it up. Tonight, I plan to pull the haul from 123 Stitch to get the last few missing floss into the kit. Maybe even finally start the project. Definitely an exciting day.
Let’s get to show and tell!
July WIPGO
Wow! How are we here already? I was scrolling through my Instagram when this popped up. I thought shoot, I haven’t caught up yet. Oh well. Let’s take a look at what I will be starting before I see you next.
Project 2: Snowballs from Sale by Lori Holt (Bee in my Bonnet) started in 2022
I started this in 2022. I love snowmen and I love Lori Holt patterns. Unfortunately, they are very dense coverage and they take me forever. End results are very loved, just takes awhile. I last worked on this in February. I don’t have this project in my handy dandy MARKUP R-XP so the goal for this one is my standard 5 times during July. AND I already found it and pulled it to my active WIPs. I am ready to rock n roll.
Project 16: House on Pumpkin Hill by Hello Liz Matthews started in 2024
This was a free pattern from Liz’s Pateron site. I fell in love with this when I saw it and started it right away. Love Love Love it! This is another one that I have already pulled out and put in the active WIP stash. This one is in my little app so I set a goal for 2000 stitches (which would be 400 stitches x 5 nights). A worthy goal.
Starts & Finishes
A lot has happened since I shared with you two weeks ago. I have way more finishes than starts this month which is super exciting.
START: Pop of Patriotic by Bent Creek
START & FINISH: 2010 Prairie Schooler Santa by Prairie Schooler (APR WIPGO)
If you remember, when this came up in April, I had just moved and had nothing unpacked. Unfortunately, nothing happened with this project. I finally found this project in June so I am excited to share with you this wonderful finish that took me four days to complete.
I hadn’t intended on finishing it this week, but once I got started I was addicted to keep building Santa until he was complete. Love this series.
FINISH: February Month 2 Month by Stitching with the Housewives
After my last post, the first thing I worked on was finishing this stitch. I was just too close to stop. Here it is in all of its glory. When I was up in the Creative Studio yesterday, I searched again for my 14 ct aida stash. No luck. I figured it could hurt to go ahead order the white aida so I have another haul coming from 123 Stitch. They are usually so quick, I expect to get it before I share next week.
FINISH: Mr January, A Calendar Gnome by Charlie’s Needle
I kept thinking I was close to a finish. It felt like I was close but it ended up taking me two whole nights plus a little bit from a third night to finally finish Mr. January. I am still super pleased by my fabric choice. This was a speciality fabric I purchased for something else but hijacked for this project and now I can’t remember what I got it for. Oh well. He looks fabulous. I only have two more from the series to make – Mr. April & Mr. May. I have a lot of new starts for July so I think I will take my time pulling together the kit for Mr. April.
WIP UPdates
With two weeks to work on projects, I have a long list to share with you even with me spending extended time of Mr. January and the Prairie Schooler Santa.
MAY WIPGO: Winter Camper by Bobbie G Designs
I worked on finishing the right side (where there is no mistake) but as I go left, I have started running into where I have to improvise. Sometimes I think I would have been better off starting over. This was my second project when I picked up cross stitching during covid. So many mistakes, but I am determined to finish this. Once it is done, it will be cute. Just a reminder the original goal was to work on it 5 times during May. I only found it in June. This is the one down and four to go.
Snowman Collector: The Shepherd by Cottage Garden Samplings
I love working on this project. There is so much detail and color going on that I don’t seem to mind those moments of all white! I was able to finish the right side of The Shepherd and started working on his head (finally). After that I will just need to do a few sheep and snowflakes and he will be done! So very close. So fun!
Spring Stitching Season by Stitching with the Housewives
I was supposed to put this one away because the start of summer was June. But at the beginning of June, I had yet to locate all my cross stitch projects. So I kept it in the rotation. I have subsequently found Summer Stitching Season and marked my calendar to at least start it by end of month. Meanwhile, I have enjoyed working on this lovely evenweave. Each quarter has been fun. I like that I have completed 48% of this project. Until next Spring…..
Fruit of Plenty by Modern Folk Embroidery
I have been working on page 8 (of 9) and specifically working on the center medallion this week. I started this in 2021 and it was my first Jumbo project. I am amazed when I look at it. I hope to be able to afford framing this one. I feel like it is worthy of the cost but we shall see.
Christmas Calendar by Tiny Modernist
Day 4 was a quick work up. This is a 5 x 5 grid so only one more day across then I will be able to finish the Merry Christmas section easily. For 2025, I set a goal to finish one day per month (with the exception of WIPGO month). The history behind this one is lengthy. Once again it was an early project in my Cross Stitch Revival (Dec 2020). I have a half finished version of this same project that I have not decided what to do with. I restarted it 2022 when I ran out of fabric to stitch on. (Rookie error). Honestly, I am just tired of it hanging around. I am still finding linen challenging to work with but the Zweigart linen is easier than most. I am just slow.
MAR WIPGO: 2025 SJ Temp Moon Phases by Climbing Goat Designs
I was able to get six more days done – March 6th – 11th. Highly unlikely that I will be able to finish March this month. I am so far behind in this project. Still no rhythm with it. Despite all that, I will continue to plug away at this guy. It looks beautiful and it seems like it should be easy… but it isn’t.
Fabulous Houses: Santa’s House by Cottage Garden Samplings
The house is getting close to being complete. I even started on some of the border and snowflakes. This week I filled in the rest of all the red on the house part and started filling in the snowflakes on the roof with white and red. So much detail.
Reflections
Most nights you will find me in this position with this particular helper on my legs while I stitch on my project after dinner. She loves it when I am creating anything. She doesn’t hesistate to share her opinions on what I should work on either. Quite the enabler. Say hi to Nala.
Last night my enabler was in full swing and convinced me that I needed to do some patriotic stitches for this next couple of weeks. I placed a few orders and they are on their way. I also have a couple of free patriotic patterns that are adorable as well. What makes a stitch patriotic? Usually red, white, and blue but many times there is a flag involved. Starting the Pop of Patriotic last night sure did fill that itch for sure. Did you see that cute little flag that will be inside the tree?
Things in the new house are slowly coming together. I am finding the biggest thing in the creative space is to get everything unboxed, THEN I can get it organized. (Same with my kitchen).
I hope you have enjoyed this week’s long list of projects (because it was really two weeks worth of work). I should be good about posting each week for the next month. Feel free to share any thoughts whether on projects or creative space.
Have a great weekend!
Peggy Stockwell in Vancouver, Washington