So, it’s been a hot minute, and my stitchy time was a bit less than usual in recent months. Between holidays, birthdays, sickness, and travel… but I have made progress, even got a few finishes, so let’s delve in.
Focus piece Fairy Clouds by Joan Elliott was finished June 17. She is the last of the “atmospheric” series, and I very much enjoyed her with all the pretty pinks, purples, etc. She had about 5 stitchy days since March and 3,200 stitches. More detail in upcoming FO post.
Santa’s Gifts is coming along, the bottom half is finished with metallics and backstitching, excluding beads. He’s had about 7 days of love and 6,000 stitches.
Fairy Idyll is slow going, being such a large chart, but I have managed to work across the bottom. She’s received 10 days attention and 6,400 stitches.
Since finishing Fairy Clouds, I made a new start, Chaffinch in Summer by Lesley Teare. It’s my summer start- to -finish challenge with Semisane Stitches. So I got a strong start in June with 5 days and 3,000 stitches.
Secondary pieces, starting with Outlander sampler, I finished May 9th, after 3 days love and 1,935 stitches. More details in upcoming post.
Deadly Aquarium, I managed to finish the bottom tier with backstitching and started on the top half. The top pages are larger, but with much less coverage. With 7 days attention, I did 6,000 stitches.
Ghool School received 8 stitchy days and 5,750 stitches. The bottom half is backstitched but it still looks a little weird without the buttons.
Since finishing Outlander, I shuffled things around a bit, and started a new Christmas piece, Yes Virginia by ByGone Stitches. I started him in May and he’s about 2 days love and 2,200 stitches. It’s a pretty fast stitch with only 2 colors.
Tertiary wip St. George and Dragon had 8 days attention and 4,600 stitches. I worked on the horse, the dragon tail and the right side border, reaching the top and turning the corner.
Mickey Stained Glass was finished April 6 with a small effort and 155 stitches. More details TBP in upcoming post.
Now for my little ornies, I did finish Egg with Daffodils by Coricamo (etsy), on May 30th. It had 2 stitchy days and 1,860 stitches. I made a new start in April, Peace Dove by Les Petites Croix de Lucie/ Just Cross Stitch. It’s had 4 days and 2,400 stitches, and it’s pretty close, in the backstitching stage. Backstitching this is a nightmare, with fractionals, split stitches, barely visible colors. I think it’s really pretty but I’ll be ever so glad when it’s finished.
April Question: What is your oldest WIP? St. George and Dragon by Vermillion, (see above), I started in January 2024. Less is more with this project, it’s kind of challenging with all the quarter stitches and color changes. It’s finally getting somewhere, thankfully. I might finish it this year, or at least the border.
May Question: What are 5 projects in my stash that I’d love to start and why I haven’t yet. The Sorceress was Joan Elliott was a planned Maynia start, but I didn’t get around to it. Ditto for the Give Thanks banner by Stoney Creek. King Arthur by Nimue is a possibility for my history / lit category, which was called in WIPgo a few months ago, but I’ve got my hands full with St. George. I’d feel more comfortable with a smaller start, but I’d need to find the right piece, I’m picky. Camelot Sampler by Teresa Wentzler is on my radar, but I’m trepidatious of another fiddly piece. Ireland Mandala by Chatelaine is all kitted up, but it’s huge. In general, I’m constrained by the Focus X challenge with WIP Warriors (10 WIPs), but it is working for me, I’m racking up those finishes.
June Question: Half Year Recap. Well, I have finished 4 goals, Mickey Stained Glass, Fairy Clouds, Outlander Sampler, and USA 250. Also, Santa’s Gifts, Deadly Aquarium, and Ghool School are over 50% complete. I’m a little behind pace on St. George, but I’m catching up. As for ornaments, I’ve completed 5/12, so I’ll need to catch up, but Peace Dove is almost done. Overall, I expect to meet all my goals by December.
Now for July plans:
- Focus (3 k): Fairy Idyll, Santa’s Gifts, Chaffinch in Summer
- Secondary (2k): Ghool School, Deadly Aquarium, Yes Virginia
- Tertiary (1900): St. George & Dragon
- Smalls (600/finish): Peace Dove, Cuckoo Clock
Happy Stitching
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