April 2024 Statistics

April was a productive month with a lot of stitching and fewer finishes. There were 13 starts, 10 finishes, and 4 FFO's.   I decided to save some of the projects to FFO in May.  I'm loving using the Book of Days as my progress calendar.

Tiger Lily Make with Me - Herringbone Mini Project Bag

I did it!

I signed up for the "Make with Tiger Lily" (@tiger.lily.designs) kit for April.

We made a sweet 8" x 10" Mini Project Bag with fabric from the Poppies & Plumes collection from Riley Blake. 

This was a NEW original Tiger Lily Designs pattern with a simple technique to create the herringbone pattern. The kit came with everything you needed to complete the project bag, there were both print color directions and a video tutorial.

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I am not an experienced sewer, and I found the project and instructions very easy to follow and I successfully finished the project while watching the video tutorial.

I'm sure I'll be signing up for more!
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Stitching with the Housewives: Cross Stitcher

 I attended Anabella's Spring Pop-up Retreat with Priscilla Blain.  What a blast!  I started stitching the new pattern from Priscilla immediately and will admit that I stitched until rather late in the night because I was loving the piece so much.  I finished it!  I stitched it on a piece of DMC 28 ct. linen, antique white from my stash with the called for Classic Colorworks floss.  I finished it in the same frame as the Word Swap series from Hobby Lobby with mustard Chelsea's checks fabric. I noticed that in my haste (or the late hour) that I missed stitching part of the black shadow on the E.  I did go back and repair this mistake. :-)

Bee Farm SAL

 Started "Bee Farm" as part of a SAL from Helen D. (@eastcoast.crafter), Carla at Cobweb Corner (@cobweb_corner), and Erin Elizabeth Designs (@erinelizabethdesigns).  Stitched on 32 ct. lugana, light taupe with DMC floss.  Ordered the "bee hive hut" from Paisleys and Polka Dots (@paisleysandpolkadots) to do the FFO.  #beefarmsal

FFO: Châtelaine - Mini Mandala III

 I did it!  I finally framed my first Châtelaine.  

I stitched the Mini Mandala III last year to see if I liked the specialty stitches and beading.  Of course, I fell in love with the whole process.  

I was afraid to attempt my first framing project on this particular stitch.  I didn't want to mess it up, so I waited until I had practiced on a few other projects.

I plan on stitching all four (I - IV) of the mini mandalas so I wanted similar frames.  I saw these simple black frames and thought it would work for all four.

Although the picture looks dark, it doesn't show accurately.  I'm very happy with the result.  The stitching and beads just sparkle and pop and the frame doesn't take away from the design.

More Spring Stitching!

 

I have a few quick stitches to celebrate the spring season.  I'm loving all the pretty colors!

This is "Hello Spring" by Katie Rogers from Primrose Cottage.  

Be on the look out for a few more!  Coming soon...

FFO: Rabbits!

 Here is the FFO (Fully Finished Object) of the Word Swap: Rabbits from Stitching with the Housewives.  This was so much fun to stitch.  The frame was the suggested frame from Hobby Lobby and the backing fabric is Chelsea's checks: grey/black from Fat Quarter Shop.

Biscornu SAL - Week 1

I wanted to join the Biscornu SAL hosted by Nichol Spohr, but didn't want to start a new project.  

I already had Teresa Kogut's Dwelling Place biscornu chart kitted and ready to go, so I decided to do that even though I love the Hands On Design charts the others were using.  

I was able to start the bottom the night of the SAL (week 1) and finish it the next morning.  What a treat!   I'll stitch the top for next week.  

I stitched on 36 ct.Edinburgh Linen, Bramble with all the called for flosses, a mix of Classic Colorworks, DMC, and Weeks Dye Works.

Quick Finish: Word Swap: Rabbits

 Rabbits is the April design for the Word Swap series from Stitching with the Housewives.  

I stitched it on 28 ct. white Brittney lugana with the called for Classic Colorworks floss.  

It only took 3 days of off and on stitching to finish.  

I've got the recommended frame from Hobby Lobby and am looking towards a quick FFO.  I just got the next Word Swap: Daisies (May) in the mail, so I better get hopping!

Catching Up on the Hometown SAL

 I've been busy catching up on the Hometown SAL Mystery #3 - for the Teresa Kogut Patreon Tier #4 since the beginning of the month.  This SAL runs for two years from Jan 2024 through Dec 2025.

Fabric: I had difficulty finding the Up in the Attic fabric, so I tried getting a few other choices that weren't quite right either.  I eventually just decided to go with 36 ct. Vintage Country Mocha linen.

Floss: I am using the called for DMC but I did have to change the floss for the sheep to Ecru to brighten it up a bit, and I did make the floss switches for the Tarragon and Almost Auburn that Teresa did, but that's all I've changed so far.  I'm really enjoying this stitch.  

I'm all caught up and ready for today's release of Page 4.  Not bad for two weeks stitching.  I don't do my back stitches until the end, so the signs and other details do not show yet. I also wait to stitch some of the smaller parts that cross over into another section until I have that charting available.   Can't wait to start Page 4!

March FFOs

 Here's my first attempt at creating and uploading some video content to my blog.  This movie shows all my FFOs from March.  2 were finishes from February that still needed to be FFO'd but the rest were finished in March. You may want to expand the movie to full-screen to read the text.

Stitches included are:

Stitching with the Housewives:

• Monthly Weigh-In: March
• Stitching Seasons: Spring

Primrose Cottage:

• Be Mine
• Home Tweet Home
• Nine Patch: April
• Lindsey's stamp series: Happy Easter, On the Hunt, & Hippity Hop

Anabella's NeedleArt:

• Lucky & Blessed

Tinymodernist:

• Live in Full Bloom (Nashville 2024 complimentary chart)

Birth Records:

• Etsy purchases - modified by me

Live in Full Bloom!

This Nashville 2024 complimentary chart from tinymodernist was just perfect to stitch up for a smalls exchange.  

On 32 ct, it stitched up at 4.75 x 4.75".  (I moved the border towards the center by one all around.) The fabric is 18 ct. slate from Fabrics by Stephanie. The floss was the called for DMC.  

I was going to make a flat fold finish, but it fit perfectly mounted on foam core with batting and placed in a 5" wooden shadowbox from Michaels that I painted white. 

March Stats

 March was a very productive month.   You get a lot done when you are supposed to be "resting".  I'll post a video of some of the FFOs soon.  

For now, here is a photo of my "Book of Days" project tracker.  8 starts, 7 finishes, and 13 FFOs (a few left over from February).

My 'Book of Days' is modeled after the example that Nichol Spohr showed on her Flosstube Ep. 69.  at 59:00.  I just record what I have done each day.  There is a colored status key made with highlighters.  I just highlight appropriately and just count them up at the end of the month for a quick total.  Easy-peasy!  It's not planning, it is just to keep track of my projects.