OhSewCrafty Blog

Well, before I get into the review of my initial goals, I’ll just say December was not the greatest stitchy month.  As I draft this on December 24th, I’ve stitched 12 days, so half of the time.  Actually that’s not bad, considering I had a week long vacation and general holiday merriment.  I worked on a few things that I started later in the year, like We Do Harry Potter, Prancer, and some ornies.  

Goal No. 1 was Charmed Santa by Sandy Orton/Leisure Arts Charms of Christmas.  I’m pleased to report it took 5.5 days to finish the backstitch, ninja stitches, charms, and I finished in February.  

Goals 2,3,4,&5 pertained to various buildings (the bottom row) in the Mill Hill Christmas Village.  I gave it a total of 25 days and finished in July.  

Goal 6 was Winnie the Pooh by MCG Textiles.  It took 22 days to finish the lower right quadrant, plus lots of petite point, backstitch, and french knots.  I’m not exactly in a hurry, but I do intend to stitch more of the Disney Dreams kits.  Perhaps now that I’ve worked out a DMC color conversion, the next one will be a little easier.

Goal 7 was Spooky House by X’s and Oh’s, which was sort of a heavy lift.  It took about 28 days to stitch the top half, including the huge moon in petite treasure braid, and do more backstitch and long stitch on the whole piece.  It was worth it.  And then, miraculously, I found the perfect frame, on the shelf, for a reasonable price.  

Goal 8 was Bird of Happiness, that was kind of special.  I timed it for a birthday finish in April and then enjoyed a birthday new start as well.  It only took 5 days to stitch the upper wing and the bird’s head, and do some judicious backstitch with kreinik (my mod).  

Goal 9 was Fantasy Triptych by Teresa Wentzler, which I started in January of this year, and my goal was to stitch half of it, which I did not quite manage even though I gave it 34 days, or maybe I did (the top half of the chart is not full coverage like the bottom). 

Goal 10 was Christmas Teddy by Joan Elliott, which I started in January.  It took a total of 25 days, and I even bought a frame for it.  It was my favorite WIP, and I’m very excited to start another JE for New Years.  

Goal 11 was Save the Stitches, which was a new start.  My plan was to stitch 12 (of 24) parts, and I did, in a total of 25 days.

Goals 12-18 pertained to new starts.  I did stick with the plan pretty well.  Celtic Winter was started in January and finished in May (28 days in all)

I started Spring Bellpull in April and gave it 27 days, it’s somewhere over 2/3 finished, maybe 3/4.  I am backstitching each panel as I go.  It seems to be taking a little longer than the summer bellpull, proably because I am using more hand dyed floss.  The Waterliles budding leaf for the letters is my modification, and one I am exceedingly happy with, though going stitch by stitch takes more time.  

As for Ornaments, I opted for my version of Monaga-maynia rather than start a bunch of ornies, but I did start a few ornies later in the year.  I even finished Gingerbread Boy by Medina Originals, and Winter White Sleigh by Fireside Originials, both from JCS Ornies 2019.  The other two WIPs are Batty Belinda by Brooke’s Books, and Toys Ornament by Better Homes & Gardens “Cross Stitch Christmas Needlework Treasures”

Gingerbread Grove by Glendon Place was started in July and got 15 days of love.  I probably would have given it more time and finished it, had I been able to procure the kreinik. I checked 3 local needlework stores, and ordered online (the colors are backordered)… I am still waiting.  It’s a lovely chart and I very much enjoy working on it.  Next year there will be a lot of filling in with Kreinik, and backstitching.  Absolutely everything in this pattern is backstitched.  And there will be beads as well.   

My one and only Maynia start was Twilight Bridge by Dimensions Gold.  I’ve given it 35 days, more than I expected.  It’s actually a lovely project and I enjoy working on it, very much.  The 18 count aida fabric that was included in the kit is quite nice.

As for Goal 19, it was knitting, and sadly, there was no knitting in 2019.  Oh well, can’t have everything I suppose.  I did finish a huge diamond painting (Kindred Spirits by Anne Stokes/ QS by Heaven & Earth Designs)  

Thanks for reading this mega post. It was a great year and I’m hoping for similar in 2020 (keeping a lid on my WIP count, and getting timely finishes)