Christmas Holly Stitch-a-Long, part 4

Hi everyone! Another three weeks have slipped away, but I'm pretty happy with where I've ended up. 

Here's where I was last time: 

I think the branches really helped the leaves feel like leaves. Here's where I am now, three weeks later: 

Berries! I love that top left cluster. I didn't finish the lower left leaves (or those berries, for that matter...), but it's fun to have the work so visible. Over the next three weeks I hope to finish these berries and the bluey-green leaves in the lower left.  

In the meantime, don't forget to check out the amazing projects my fellow stitchers are working on -- I love seeing what they're up to! Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Cindy, and Mary Margaret.

13x13, June edition

May's project was this super sweet pair from Satsuma Street. 

I love her designs, so full of vibrant colors. The charts and instructions are always easy to follow, too. In fact, you'll see more of her work in upcoming 13x13 posts (spoilers!).

It occurs to me now that I should have used WHITE paper rather than black paper for the backing... but I still like how they turned out. 

For next month I'm going to revisit a project I started in October 2021. (!!!). I ice-dyed some Aida and then stitched two of these lovely motifs from a set called Dark Shadows. And then, well, nothing. 

So this month I'm going to stitch another one -- these crows on a candelabra: 

Ideally I'll also "finish" all three and turn them into ornaments. This seems challenging; I'm not sure how I want to do that. But we'll see!

As usual, I'll check back in on July 13 to share my finished ornaments, as well as my next project. I still have a bunch all waiting in the wings! 

June OMG: Kaffe Fassett Jelly Roll

I didn't blog my May "finish", but my goal had been to finish the top and send it out for longarm quilting. I did that... but won't have the quilt back until the end of July. 

I decided to take it to Quilting Mayhem in Snohomish, Washington -- local quilty folks recommended it. So I made an appointment and met with the quilter and it was great. She asked lots of questions, helped me choose my pattern and thread, and made me feel like I had made the right decision. 

Of course, walking in to Quilting Mayhem was overwhelming -- it's a HUGE store. So, umm... okay, I bought MORE FABRIC. I also heard that Kaffe Fassett would be in town in October with classes and a lecture. 

I'm a fan of Kaffe's work, and have always wanted to stitch one of his patterns in needlepoint, or even to make one of his quilts. So I've done two things: 

1. Ordered a needlepoint kit that I have longed for for DECADES. Though I won't finish it before the lecture in October, it will look great on my couch when I do. 
2. Purchased a jelly roll in a bright colorway to make a simple quilt. A SMALL, lap quilt, mind you. 

So my One Monthly Goal for June is to organize my fabrics and make a plan for these beautiful pieces. A stretch goal is to start stitching the top! 

Longtime readers may be shaking their heads, thinking, "Didn't you say that Traffic on Safari would be the last quilt you ever made?" Well, it is the last BIG quilt I will ever make. But a lap quilt? That's pretty fun. And my longer-term goal is to have it finished so I can bring it to the lecture. Or at least think about bringing it to the lecture...

The One Monthly Goal link-up is organized by Elm Street Quilts and Stories from the Sewing Room with the idea that we can just focus on one task and make progress. You can see all the monthly projects on the June Link-up Page. 

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal June Link-up