Happy 2026 everyone!
It's been a busy SIX WEEKS since our last check in. We just returned from Antarctica, which was amazing, but I still managed to get a LOT of stitching done.
First I want to share the secret projects that I couldn't share until after Christmas.
Here's the lovely burgundy beaded project I kept teasing:
And here's an "American Robin" ornament I embroidered from my sweet mother-in-law; we often laugh that robins are totally different in the US and the UK:
Okay, that's the past. Let's talk about the future.
I've decided to dive in to another big, full-coverage piece: DMC's version of Van Gogh's The Starry Night.
I am going to follow what I like to call "the Avis method" again, like I did on Great Wave -- and just stitch a column of the pattern every three weeks. That means it will take about two years of stitch-a-long to complete it, but I think that will still allow me to work on other projects.
So far all I've done is grid the fabric and mount it on the frame... it feels overwhelming but I hope to get the first "top half of a column" done in the next three weeks.
I have realized, however, that my roller bars are too short for this... so I am going to have to find longer ones. That will actually allow me to stretch the fabric taut.
Now, a little more history. I wanted to make a special notebook for my Antarctica trip. I found an amazing stitchable notebook, bought a pattern on Etsy, and stitched part of it on the front. I'm very, very happy with it:
I had planned to have the notebook as my "travel project", but it was so fun to stitch I finished it before we left.
So I dug up a few smallish projects that would be easy to work on while travelling. And, well, I finished ALL of them. (Nothing like 28 hours of travel each way to get some work done!).
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| an old "stitch and zip" kit that has been languishing in my stash |
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| a quick felt kit I picked up a few years ago |
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| a tiny cross stitch card kit |
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| gentoo penguins and a hungry gentoo chick |
Can you put the fabric on the roller bars sideways. I have had to do that with a couple of projects that were wider than my stretcher bars. It takes a little mind adjustment when looking at the chart, but works wonderfully. I am working that way currently. I love the Christmas gifts you made. That robin is adorable, as are the cat and the squirrel. Just seeing those penguins must have been wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI love the Christmas gifts you Made. What an amazing adventure you went on to Antartica. I excited to read all about it. Your new project is going to be a big one. I'll be cheering you on 🩵
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon! I'm going to try to carve out time to post once a week about the trip... I've been really lax with posting. The only time I manage to post is after Avis reminds me about the SAL!
DeleteGosh, you were a busy girl with all the secret stitching befre xmas. I really love your choice of designs, especially the black cat and tin of sardines ^^. Avis will be chuffed to hear you're planning on stitching the Avis-way on the next big project lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks Claire! I tend to be deadline-driven, so holiday stitching really works for me. I do love those sardines, and was happy to see that they were displayed where I pictured them: on a shelf in her kitchen.
DeleteWhat a lot of beautiful stitching! I love the tin of sardines :-) I'm not sure I can take any credit for the column method but if it works for you (and you know it works for me) then enjoy every stitch. I love the picture you've chosen.
ReplyDeleteAvis, most of the time I've been a "finish this color, then stitch the next color" sort of stitcher -- I had never seen anyone stitch by columns (so disciplined! so organized!) until I saw you do it. On these big pieces I think it might be the only say to stay sane. :)
DeleteWhat an amazing experience that must have been, and what a lot of stitch8ng you got done during your vacation! I look forward to hearing about it!
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