13x13, September edition

In August I made another of my beloved Mill Hill kits. As always, it was fun to stitch. Somehow, however, I only managed to take a crummy, dusky photo of the finished product: 

This time -- number 13 of 13! I'm making a Satsuma Street kit. I love her designs, the colors she chooses, and how spooky/whimsical they are. This one is called, simply, R.I.P.:

I'll be back on October 13 to share my finished ornament, my little glass pumpkin patch, and my now heavily laden Halloween tree. I also plan to talk about my next ongoing project, as I've really enjoyed having these little distractions from my larger pieces.

Lily Pad Frog Stitch-a-Long, part 3

Hi everyone! Just back from a weekend of camping and I forgot to schedule this before I headed out. As such, I can share this lovely view from Lincoln Rock State Park, where we camped: 

But back to the stitching!

Last time I showed how I was progressing on Mr. Frog: 

It's still such a pleasure to stitch this piece -- gorgeous wool and those seemingly gigantic 10-point holes. As such, I've made a lot of progress and I'm really happy about it. 

All of the confetti work on the frog is done, which means stitching those little bits will go quickly. The lily pad really only has confetting around the edges, and most of that is already stitched. So I feel like I can finish the frog in the next couple of days. 

That means that stitching the background in that lovely teal is just around the corner ... but what stitch to do? I've decided I'll play with a few different things. I'd like texture that doesn't overwhelm the lovely, delicate colors in the frog. We shall see!

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.

Lily Pad Frog Stitch-a-Long, part 2

Why does summer move so fast? Suddenly it's mid (late?) August and Labor Day (the traditional end of summer in the US) is right around the corner. 

In an attempt to show him to Kaffe Fassett when he's in town in October, I started stitching lovely Mr. Frog on his lily pad: 

And here's where I am now: 

It's always so hard to see on needlepoint canvas (especially printed canvas!), but I've done a bit of work around the edge of the lily pad, the "shadow" behind the frog, as well as all the brown and the two darkest greens. I still worry about being able to spot the difference between the two lightest greens, but maybe when I get the middle green done it will be more obvious. 

I decided there was no point in worrying, yet, about the background. There's a LOT of frog still to be stitched! By our next check in, I hope to have most of the frog stitched. I'm working on the confetti stitching now; relatively soon I'll have larger expanses. More boring, I guess, but less "I wonder what color that should be?"

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, August edition

In July I kept things simple -- I stitched a Mill Hill kit. I always enjoy stitching on perforated paper and these kits are always fun to do. Eyeball Martini -- so playful! so brightly colored! -- did not disappoint!

For next time I'm going to make another Mill Hill kit -- this one's called Spooky Cage:

As usual, I'll check back in on September 13 to share my finished ornament, as well as my next project. I'm already excited about the spooky season!

Lily Pad Frog stitch-a-long

Hi everyone! I've decided to make a switch in the hopes that I will finish my new project in time for Kaffe Fassett's lecture in October. But before that, I decided to get my Christmas Holly piece past the halfway point. 

Here's where that was last time: 

There wasn't much stitching needed to get through half of the pattern. 

I'm going to set this aside until mid-October, which probably means not finishing it in time for Christmas. But Christmas happens every year, right? 

As I mentioned last time, my new project is this lovely Lily Pad Frog, an Ehrman kit. 

I started working on it a couple of weeks ago, and the stitching is GLORIOUS. It's 10-count fabric, which is huge... and it's just one stitch rather than cross stitch. The wool is lovely, too. Sure, identifying the different greens will be challenging, but so far I'm really enjoying it. 

By our next check in, I hope to have finished the pale yellow stitching, and the next darkest green as well. I also want think about what stitch to do on the background... I love the idea of adding texture and not just a sea of tent stitch... but I don't want it to overwhelm the frog. We shall see.

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, July Edition

June's project was to revisit a project I started back in 2021. I ice-dyed some Aida and then stitched two of these lovely motifs from a set called Dark Shadows. And then, well, nothing. 

This year I decided to stitch another of the motifs -- the crows on a candelabra -- and make all three of them up into ornaments. I didn't really know how I would finish them... little pillows? Mounted in tiny frames? In the end, I mounted them on and old cereal box and then on some black felt. I added some fancy trims from "the weird box of fancy trims" and, well, here they are. 

Of course, I look at them now and think how uneven they look, but I actually like them. I still have one more piece of purple Aida that I might use to stitch a fourth, but these were my three favorite motifs so I might stop there. 

For next month, I'm going back to my beloved Mill Hill Beads kits. These are so compact and so satisfying, and I always enjoy stitching them. I like how playful and bright Eyeball Martini looks!

As usual, I'll check back in on August 13 to share my finished ornaments, as well as my next project. I'm really pleased with all the projects I have completed so far this year... I'm already thinking I could extend this project into next year, too. Heaven knows I have plenty more things to work on, and I love making them!

Christmas Holly Stitch-a-Long, part 5

Hi everyone! Summer gets so busy it feels like I don't make the time to stitch. But I've had a good couple of evenings at home, stitching, so I'm happy with my progress. 

Here's where I was last time: 

I love these berries!

And here's where I am now: 

I still didn't finish the berries in the lower left -- I ran out of floss and only just got more. But I really like the greeny colors of the new sets of leaves. I'm missing a couple of berries and a little bit of the leaves toward the bottom, but other than that, this piece is halfway done!

Now, normally that would mean that I would feel pretty positive that I could get the top finished before Christmas. 

But I've found a distraction. 

I've been a fan of Kaffe Fassett for years and years. I've never actually made any of his quilts or any of his needlepoint pieces (let alone knit anything...), but I have acquired books and tried to decide what to do FIRST. This resulted in not doing anything. Ah, the paralysis of choice!

I didn't let myself buy any of the needlepoint kits because, well, I had a lot of kits to get through. But you all know that I have diligently been stitching them up ... since 2018 when I joined this SAL I've completed (and made up!) Fox, Swans, Acanthus, and Tiger. 

But it turns out that Kaffe Fassett is coming to do some classes and give a lecture at the giant amazing overwhelming (and aptly named) Quilting Mayhem. I decided against taking a day off and going to a quilt class (one pattern felt really simple, the other really complicated), but I think I'm going to attend the lecture in October. The event info says "stay after and get Kaffe's autograph" which seemed sweet and silly. 

So I decided that I am going to ask him to autograph a piece of fusible interfacing, that I will then use as a pattern to embroider it on the back of something. But what?

Well, what could I do but decide to add to the green-tinged menagerie in my living room? I have loved this fellow for years, and he seems like he'll fit right in: 

Amusingly, it's 10-count fabric. TEN COUNT. I think my eyes are doing their own happy dance at the prospect of 10-count rather than 18-count. 

I've decided to go full-on fangirl and attempt to complete the stitching before the lecture on October 8. At least to complete the frog and his lilypad. I don't know why I think he'll find it amusing, a stitcher showing him a project at a lecture hall full of quilters. But I am hopeful. 

So I'm going to spend a few days getting to halfway on the holly piece, and then set it aside to stitch Mr. Frog. I haven't stitched tapestry since... February of 2021! I think it will make a nice change. I'll report back in three weeks with my progress!

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.

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

Christmas Holly Stitch-a-Long, part 3

Hi everyone! Not sure where the last three weeks went... perhaps I was abducted by aliens??? But I did do some stitching. 

Here's where I was last time: 

And here's where I am now:

I finished the first color leaves, and added some of the branches to help move me across the fabric. And, frankly, the branches really help the leaves feel, well, like leaves. I also started a bluey-green leaf at the lower left, so I'm hoping to get those stitched by next time. 

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

13x13 May edition

In April I finally tore open this (faux) Vintage Halloween kit from Bucilla. The felt-and-sequins vibe is right up my alley!

My play was to make just the skull and the cat -- I didn't think I could get all six done, and those two were my favorites. So I did!

Cute, right? When I eventually go back to this kit I think the pumpkin or the ghost is next. We'll see. 

However, for the next month I'm going to stitch another lovely Satsuma Street kit, appropriately titled "'til death": 

Her work is always so pretty and the colors so vibrant. These are stitched on perforated paper, and the hat / headpiece are stitched separately and attached after. 

As usual, I'll check back in on June 13 to share my finished ornaments, as well as my next project. I'm thinking of something new!

Christmas Holly Stitch-a-Long, part 2

Hi everyone! It's been a busy three weeks -- amusingly, I felt like I hadn't gotten much done, but when I compare my "before" and "after" pics, I feel pretty good. 

Here's where I was last time: 

And here's where I am now:

Thanks for the feedback from my last post -- where I didn't like the colors and thought the leaves felt washed out. I think you're right, that when I get more of the leaves stitched I'll feel happier with it. The different leaves represent different types of holly, and by our next check in I'll have finished all the leaves in this color, and will be moving on to another type. 

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

May OMG - Traffic on Safari

I've been working on my first large quilt -- queen-sized! -- in years. 

So far -- with the encouragement of One Monthly Goal -- I have stitched most of the top, and I am THRILLED by it.

In May my goal is to finish the top (which is close, I just need to trim it up and sew on the top and bottom sashing) and... and this is the "hard" part... arrange to have it quilted by a longarm machine. 

I'm absurdly anxious about finding a longarm quilter. Not the cost (though I know it's expensive), but finding the "right" person, doing the "right" things feels daunting. That's why I'm setting this as my goal, to keep myself accountable. Any tips from the quilters in the house?

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 May Link-up Page. 

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal May Link-up

April OMG - Traffic on Safari Top Almost Finished

In April my OMG was to take all the blocks I stitched in March (which felt like a HUGE accomplishment!) and stitch the top together. I started the month here:

I know I'm coming in just under the wire, but I'm happy to report that the top is almost done -- I've stitched most of the columns and sashing together, but still need to even out the top and bottom and then sew the final sashing pieces on. 

It's a queen-sized quilt, so I had to ask my husband to hold it for a picture: 

I'm really really pleased with how it's coming together! 

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 how everyone did in their April projects on the Finish Party page! Or choose an OMG project of your own and join us in May. 

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal - April Finish Link-up

Christmas Holly Stitch-a-Long, part 1

Hi everyone! Last time I had just gathered all the pieces to start on a project that I tore out of a stitching magazine in December 2000. I had already acquired the fabric and organized the floss, so I was raring to go.

And now, after three productive weeks, I'm here: 

Weirdly, I'm not so keen on the colors so far... I will say that the fabric in real life is more midnight and less royal, but this set of leaves feels... washed out? Flat? The pattern doesn't call for backstitching so I'm a little worried. But there is a LOT of stitching left to go, so maybe I'm jumping to conclusions.

I realized that I said last time that I wanted to make up the pillow from the cornflowers project; however I wasn't able to get a better look at her new couch to make sure I got a backing fabric that looked right. So that's a project for this next stretch.

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