A Mom and Her Car

Well, I've done it. I started a new Flosstube channel. It looked like so much fun, so I thought I'd give it a try. Here is my first video . You can see all my updates on there. So that I'm not redundant on my blog and Flosstube channel, I plan to highlight one project a week I'm working on here on the blog. This week I want to talk about this gorgeous sampler. This sampler is by Milady's Needle. I'm using Weeks Dye Works Parchment, 32 count, and the called for DMC threads. This sampler has given me the "sampler bug". Now I just want to go stitch about 100 more samplers--so look forward to hearing about that! The little lion gave me some trouble. I couldn't seem to get his eyes straight. I frogged and restitched him about 3 times, so that was fun. But the other pieces flew right by. I'm not about a quarter of the way done and can't wait to pick this one back up again soon!

This might be the only time I'll ever get to write this...but I'm ahead on my cross stitching goals right now! That means that I can do some WIP catch up. And we all know what that means... new projects! WIPs My original goals for the week was to get Row 4 of Sew by Row done. Well, I'm loving this one so much that I decided to keep this one moving along. I'm going to do a new row every week--originally I was going to do a row a month. I just finished up row 5 which are the irons. I even did the backstitching, which I had planned to save for the end. This pattern is just a joy to stitch. It's easy to read, well-chartted. And the pattern just makes sense. I highly recommend this one. It's a good evening-after-work stitch. I'm using Cloud 25 count lugana and the called for DMC floss. I really love this lugana. It is nice and soft, and the holes are easy to see. Then, my big committment for the month was to finish another part to my Spooky Hallow SAL ...

I'm moving along for the month--keeping up pretty well. I've even decided to speed up one of my planned WIPs--more below!   WIPs   My original schedule for January was: Week 1:Sampler of the Month (Country Cottage Needleworks)  Week 2: February Cottage of the Month (Country Cottage Needleworks)  Week 3: Sew by Row (Lori Holt)  Week 4: Spooky Hallow #5 (Little Stitcher Girl)   However, I had so much fun with Sew by Row, and it went so fast, that I decided I'm going to up my game and do one row a week! So for week 2, I've already done th3 third row of sewing machines...and since I was able to get so much done this weekend, I've even finished the fourth row of quilted stars.  For the rest of the month I'll follow this schedule:   Week 3:Sew by Row row 4; Spooky Hallow Pumpkin Patch  Week 4: Sew by Row row 5; Spooky Hallow Pumpkin Patch    FINISHES    I had a bittersweet finish this month. I completed...

 I got a decent amount of stitching done this week, considering it was a work week. Below I'll go through my WIPs, my one finish, and talk about stitchy things I'm keeping my eye on.  WIPs I have four WIPs I'm working on this month--and so far I've only been able to focus on one. I'm continuing in the Happy Little Stitch Shop's Sew by Row . We're doing one row per month, and this month are the sewing machines. I have a good start on this, and hope to finish it up by mid-week. This one is so soothing--I'm stitching on 25 count Zweigart white cloth. This cloth is so soft and thick--it feels luxiourious in your hands when you are stitching. I'm also using the called for DMC, and those colors are showing up nicely. This weekend we had a nice camping trip, very close to home. I got some good stitching in there. It was a bit cool, but we enjoyed ourselves.  When I finish this up, I'll begin work on my very last Country Cottage Needleworks ...

I was surprised to learn that I had 29 cross stitch finishes in 2020. That got me thinking-- how many could I finish in 2021. In some ways, 2020 may have given me more time to stitch, with the pandemic and working from home. But actually, I still kept long work hours, finished my PhD, and taught a class. I did save commuting time, and we didn't take as many vacations. But 2021 isn't looking much different, at least for now.  So here is what I have planned for 2021:  1. Spooky Hallow SAL by Little Stitcher Girl I am doing this SAL with Happy Little Stitch Shop , and I completed the first three in 2020. I just finished the 4th one--Dracula's Coffin Shop--yesterday, so it's my first official finish of 2021! I will try to keep up with one a month. They are pretty big stitches, so I'll do my best. The last eight in the series will take me through August, and will be a total of nine finishes. I am stitching these on Fabric Flair Hazy Grey 18 count, with Classic Colorwork...

My favorite project these days is my Boo Chalkfull by Hands on Design and Priscilla Blain . I'm supposed to be doing a daily theme, working on different projects each day, but I can't seem to put this one down. I struggled in the beginning because this is my first time using hand-dyed floss. Plus, the first two colors I used were white and...well, almost-white. My backs of my pieces are generally neat-ish, but only because it makes it easier to stitch. But this one...well, as you can see, I fought hard for these first few pumpkins! I bought this project as a "kit" from Fat Quarter Shop . I'm using Witchel 14 count chalkboard, and the called for Color Works floss, which includes: My favorite part of this project is stitching the jar. You only use one strand of floss, which gives ot a transparent look. Not only does this look cool, but it is quick and easy to stitch! I am SO close to being done. Maybe...