Where did the week go?! It has been a busy and hot week here in Vancouver, Washington. Worked on quite a few projects this week and attended a Virtual Cross Stitch Retreat (my first).
Starts & Finishes
I ended up having three finishes and one start this week. One of my finishes were unexpected and one start was unplanned but who can resist a new start?
START: Patriotic Quaker by Primrose Cottage Stitches
I couldn’t resist starting the Patriotic Quaker. I used the same floss and fabric as 4th of July Round. I hadn’t put it on my start list because I planned to save it for next year. It just kept calling my name.
FINISH: 4th of July Round by Primrose Cottage Stitches
I stitched this on 32 ct Lt Taupe Murano Lugana with Colour & Cotton floss instead of Valdani floss. I ordered supplies to do a finish and they have been slowly trickling in. I will keep you in the loop when I finally have a FFO.
FINISH: March Square Dance by Heart in Hand
I wrapped up March in my Yearlong Square Dance. I like all the birds instead of the normal four leaf clovers for March. Very cute. They were a lot of fun to stitch. I think it is cool that each border is a different color as well.
I pulled all the floss from stash for April and ordered what was missing. Happy mail is on the way.
FINISH: September Calendar Crates (Main) by Stitching with the Housewives
I finally wrapped up my September Calendar Crates. I have been working a few stitches each month for most of this year. I pulled out October and prepped it for starting next month. Can’t wait to see the next one. Working on a fall project always makes me happy! September was pretty with the blue, white, and orange pumpkins.
WIP Updates
I am on track with all my active WIPs this month. I am making plenty of progress on most of them. Let’s look:
July WIPGO Project: Snowballs for Sale by Bee in my Bonnet
This week I added the broom end of the broomstick and a few snowflakes. I also realized I forgot to add the fringe on the scarf so that was added as well. I have one more night and I will have hit my WIPGO goal.
July WIPGO Project: House on Pumpkin Hill by Hello Liz Matthews
Woohoo! I hit my goal of 2000+ stitches when I finished with 2,020 stitches. I have really enjoyed working on the hill this week with all the pumpkins. The shading has been awesome.
Fabulous House: Santa’s House by Cottage Garden Samplings
I continued filling in the snowflakes on the roof as well as the roof itself. The snowflakes have been surprisingly challenging. I am not sure what is making it a challenge but definitely has slowed me down a bit. I also worked a little on the border.
Field Guide to Dragons by Climbing Goat Designs
I am still catching up on my June WIPGO goal of 1000 stitches. I was able to add to my stitch count this week while working on page 1 of the chart. I am up to 769 stitches. Still have a ways to go. I am ready to start on the first dragon.
Midsummer Virtual Retreat
My first virtual retreat went well. I never got around to joining any of the stitchy tables or wip speed dating but I did join all the main stage talks as well as all the floss tubes. It was nice learning about different designers as well as a couple of fabric dyers. I meet a few of designers that I am working on their designs – Jacob of Modern Folk Embroidery and Tiny Modernist Cheryl McKinnon. Discovered a new designer who I liked her designs Sprouting Lupine. I especially liked her “nature walk” series and picked all 12 designs. Of course, I also picked up all of the charts made exclusively for the retreat as well as the fabric dyed for the retreat and a few other special items.
The theme was summer with a moth and flowers focus. So so very cute designs. It only cost $10 so I figured why not? Lindy Stitches was the host and there will be another one in September. It was fun and I would do it again.
August WIPGO Projects
The numbers have been posted for August. Let me show you my projects.
Project 12: Snowman Collector: The Shepherd by Cottage Garden Samplings
My August goal will be to work on it five days or to finish it whichever comes first. There are a few sheep and snowflakes left to do as well as finishing the Snowman’s head.
Project 15: Snapshot Series by Pine Mountain Designs
I get a bye this month as this project series is all finished now. Which is cool. I am still catching up on the WIPGO projects during the move months. Perfect timing. I have three to catch up with still:
I hope to work on all three of them but I think my main focus will be 2025 Temp Moon Phases since that is the one that I am the most behind on.
Reflections
It is hard to believe that there is only a week left in July. Crazy right? So here is the list for the next week:
- Start March Month 2 Month barn
- Start & Finish March Month 2 Month button
- Winter Camper
- 2025 SJ Moon Phases
- Summer Stitching Seasons
- Snowballs for Sale
- Crescent City Velaris
That will wrap us up for July. Happy Stitching and Have a Great Weekend!
Peggy Stockwell in Vancouver, Washington