May Stitchery Progress

I never did get around to sharing my April stitchery progress for one simple reason  - there wasn't any!  Due to a combination of reasons, including some travel and a bit of minor illness that made it uncomfortable to try, I just stopped. And then waited to be in the mood again, and it never came back.

So for May, I decided I'd better get myself a plan to get back into the habit, and decided I'd join the Facebook group Stitch Maynia's annual signature event - StitchMAYnia!  Those crazy people actually do 15 new starts in 15 days - but I already have around 23 Works in Progress (WIPs) so decided that instead I'd work on those, switching them out each day.

Big Ol' Bag O' WIPs

All together, I spent some time on 13 pieces, finishing 2 of them, starting 2 new projects and getting myself re-interested in them all.

And I was pretty amazed because I thought working in swift daily rotation like that would feel chaotic and drive myself nuts, but instead it was very motivational and kept things fun.

So I'm tossing my 'plan' for the year, and work this way for awhile to get through this big bag of WIPs (including the 7 or so I didn't manage to touch this past month), adding one or two a month as I feel like it.

I don't know that it will get any of them done any faster - but a bit of monthly progress is better than a half done stitchery project sit untouched for 10 years. And some of these have.

Here's a tour through what I worked on this month:

KITS

Celestial Gathering

128 x  198

Navy Blue 14 ct Aida

Todd Trainer / Dimensions

This represents about 1/6th of the finished work, and I first started it around 7 years ago.  What I like about it is the composition itself, and the colors that create both bright and subtle effects.  Much of is half stitch, using colors very close in hue to the dark fabric - and that is the challenge. My eyes and ability to concentrate both have to be in good working order to deal with this one.

Dolphins

138 x 138

White 14ct Aida

Roger W. Reinardy / Janlynn

This one got abandoned by me about a decade ago, after the dolphin-loving person I was making it for told me she no longer liked dolphins. Oh.  I left it untouched for a long, long time but I think I like it fine for myself and in spite of all the variations of blue requiring me to have good lighting, it's an easy, relaxing stitch.  There is a fat border of shells that get stitched around this center section, so I still have a long way to go here.

Mediterranean Mares

80 x 75

Navy Blue 28ct Linen over 2

Laurel Burch / Mill Hill

More blue, more dark fabric - so another challenge here!  This one is a new start - I picked this up in a local craft shop in Delaware at the end of April, when we took a trip up to Bethany Beach for the  weekend.  When the stitching is done, there will be a lot of beadwork, and I am looking forward to how pretty this will be once done.

SMALLS

12 Days of Christmas

63 x 49 ea

14c Aida

Satsuma Street

FINISHED: 3 French Hens

NEW START: 4 Calling Birds

I began this series at the beginning of this year, hoping to get one done each month - so I'm a little behind, but I'll keep plugging at it. These are really fun to stitch, and low energy compared to some of my other projects.  Adding in finishing time (I plan to create a banner garland out of these), I hope to have it ready for display by Christmas 2018.

Boo! (Freebie)

43 x 35

White 22ct Hardanger over one

The Pure Palette Baroque Silk Thread

The Stitcherhood

Really fun floss to use - I expect this will be complete by Halloween. I started this last fall, mainly to see how the floss worked on a finished piece. A bit fiddly working it over one, but otherwise, I like it!

By the Full Moon

48 x 43

Lt. Blue 28ct Linen over 2

Ink  Circles

Just Cross Stitch Sep-Oct 2010

Begun in January 2017, I have the rest of the trees and the large full moon to go.  A very fun little stitch I will make sure to have finished by Halloween this year.

Tropic of Cancer Mini Mandala

45 x 45

beige 28ct Linen over 2

roll your own colors

Ink Circles

This was started about two years ago, when I needed something small to play with while on a trip.  I didn't put a lot of thought into the colors, and I honestly don't think I chose that well.  There are four optional corner pieces that could be stitched, turning the finished item into a square that is 59 x 59, but I think I'm going to call this complete, and perhaps try it again at some point with a better eye to my color choices.

GRAPHS

One Hundred Years

243 x 75

28 ct. evenweave over one

Lizzie*Kate

Started two years ago as a gift. It may get done this year but I'm making no promises.  I'm a bit less than half way done.  A fun, easy stitch, although working it over one means my eyes have to be in the mood for it.

ABC Lessons

207 x 136

28ct Oatmeal Linen over 2

Lizzie*Kate

I started this about 3 years ago, and am nearly halfway done - I had lost some of the flosses, and had to go reclaim them (cannibalized for other projects). Lizzie Kate's patterns are always relaxing to do.

Mountain Bluebird and Blackcurrent

100 x 100

28ct Sand Sable Laguna over 2

Ajisai Press

I love this project! Started in January, this is a combination of cross stitch and blackwork. I clearly have a thing for using lots of blues, but as long as my eyes aren't overtired, this is a fun and relaxing stitch.

Metamorphosis

359 x 47

18ct Burlap

Threadworx floss (my choice)

Ink Circles

Begun two years ago - I expected to have this done by the end of last year.  Then I lost my floss for it. (!!!)  Once I figured out what I needed to proceed, I got to that last mandala and wow, it is so much more complex than the previous one.  There has been much frogging and gnashing of teeth and I make no predictions on when I will finish it. But when I do, this will go to a professional framer and I will hang it with pride.

1873 Elizabeth Taylor Reproduction Sampler

100 x 118

tea dyed 28ct Linen over 2

Gift of Stitching Magazine, May 2010

I've had this in my WIP bag for about 4 years - I've had a desire to do a reproduction sampler for several years, and the small size and the name of the 11 year old girl that worked it charmed me.  And then I abandoned it.  I was so happy to find myself enjoying it again.  Parts are worked over 2 threads, and parts over 1.

Tree of Life

28 ct evenweave over 2

various flosses, my choice

The Stitcherhood

I love this graph, and started it a couple years ago as a way to 'doodle'.  I use a variety of variegated and overdyed flosses and basically grab one at random for each curly branch. It's one I tend to save for trips and other low-concentration stitching times.  Will be finished whenever, and I'm not sure what I will wind up doing with it - I sort of see it as a journal cover?

So that's it - I managed to get some done nearly every day this past month on one or the other of these.  In June, I plan to take a crack at the remaining WIPs in my bag, and take up a couple new starts, as well as try to catch up on the 12 Days of Christmas.

I also have a plan to start a daily stitch project on my birthday, which is Friday - with luck, I'll have something to show off at the end of the month.

Until then, take care and I hope you've doing something to include some creativity in your life!