Happy Dance - Deer in the Forest

 

Started: 2/23/2023

Finished: 2/26/2023

Total Stitching Time: 11 hours and 25 minutes

This is Deer in the Forest from the 2020 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Issue.  It was designed by Elizabeth Spurlock of Saving Graces Fine Needlearts.

It's stitched as charted on 14-count Antique White Lugana.   It called for DMC Light Effects and red beads.  I started using the Light Effects (green border), but got very frustrated and ended up frogging most of the inner border and starting over with the corresponding color of regular DMC.  I was planning to use the beads, but when it came time to add them, I couldn't find them so I didn't use them after all.

I will be making this one into either a pillow or flat fold ornament and will give it to the Ronald McDonald House.

 Next up: Mickey and Minnie Gardening

Smalls SAL - February, 2023

The Smalls SAL happens on the last Friday of the month and is hosted by Mary of Mary's Thread. This SAL is for posting any projects that we consider small in size.  You can click on the link to see more information and other Smalls posts for this month.

So far, everything I've stitched this month qualifies as a small so here is my stitching for the month.

Sugar Plum Fairy #1 - Lucie Heaton

Sugar Plum Fairy #2 - Lucie Heaton

Sugar Plum Fairy #4 - Lucie Heation

Wise Man #3 - Durene Jones

Variegated Heart - Designer Unknown

Symbols Bookmark - Jenny Barton

Reindeer Kitten - Marianne Savage

Santa's Hat & Boots - Linda Keske

Winnie the Pooh - Designer Unknown

Chocolate Bunny - F.lli Graziano

Happy Dance - Santa's Hat & Boots

 

Started: 2/16/2023

Finished: 2/23/2023

Total Stitching Time: 19 hours and 52 minutes

This is Santa's Hat & Boots from the 2018 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Issue.  It was designed by Linda Keske of Keslyns.

It's stitched mostly as charted with the called for floss on a scrap of 25-count Lugana, 1 over 1.  I did make several unintentional customizations though.

I will be making this one into a pillow ornament and will give it to the Ronald McDonald House.

 Next up: Deer in the Forest

Happy Dance - Wise Man #3

 Started: 2/13/2023

Finished: 2/16/2023

Total Stitching Time: 8 hours 26 minutes

This is one of the wise men from Durene Jones Nativity project in Enjoy Cross Stitch - Christmas 2021.

It's stitched as charted with mostly the called for DMC on white perforated paper. The only exception is that I stitched the beard in brown and his skin in 3770 as shown on the chart cover in Durene's Etsy Shop.  The chart itself called for chocolate skin and a white beard.

This is part of a set that will be given to the Nursery Coordinator (my daughter) at our church to help tell the Christmas story.  I won't be finish finishing them until I have a chance to see how she'd like them finished.

Next up: Santa's Hat and Boots

Gifted Gorgeousness - February, 2023

 Welcome to February's edition of Gifted Gorgeousness.  

On the 15th of each month, we're supposed to post about any items we've received as a gift and/or items that we're making as a gift for someone else.  To learn more about this SAL and see what others have posted, go to Jo's Blog.

Most of my stitching is done for others so I usually have plenty to post about.  This month is no exception.  Over the past month, I stitched eight Christmas ornaments, all of which will be going to the Ronald McDonald House in Orange County later this year.

Christmas Tree Snow Globe - Durene Jones

Gingerbread House Snow Globe - Durene Jones

Mr. & Mrs. Santa Snow Globe - Durene Jones

Present Kitten - Design Works Kit

Reindeer Kitten - Design Works Kit

Winnie the Pooh - Quick & Easy Cross Stitch Cover Kit

Witzy & Bauble - Cross Stitch Card Shop Cover Kit

Wreath Kitten - Design Works Kit

 

I also stitched six items that will eventually be going to Canada Stitches Work Group to be made into quilts for the Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer.
 

Variegated Heart

Sugar Plum Fairy #6 - Leslie Teare

Sugar Plum Fairy #4 - Leslie Teare

Sugar Plum Fairy #2 - Leslie Teare

Sugar Plum Fairy #1 - Leslie Teare

Chocolate Bunny - F.lli Graziano

 

And finally, I stitched a bookmark for my granddaughter's 15th birthday next month.

Symbols Bookmark - World of Cross Stitching Magazine #328

 

 

Happy Dance - Variegated Heart

I purposely held off posting this because it was part of the Secret Stitcher's Blog Hop and I didn't want to spoil the surprise.

Started: 2/6/2023

Finished: 2/7/2023

Total Stitching Time: 4 hours and 48 minutes

This is a heart that I found online somewhere sometime ago, but I don't remember where so I have no  information as to its source.

It's stitched on14-count white Aida with DMC 107. 

I typically stitch at least one Valentines Day square a year so it will be added to my other Valentines Day squares and eventually be sent to a charity group to be made into a quilt.

Next up: Sugar Plum Fairy #4

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop - 2023

Jo has again come through with another fun Blog Hop.  This time each participant emailed her a Valentine stitch.  In return, she emailed us each a different Valentine, but didn't tell us who had stitched it.  For more information and to see a list of participants, check out Jo's Blog.  

This is the very cute valentine I received.  Did you send it?

 

Happy Dance - Reindeer Kitten

Started: 2/9/2023

Finished: 2/13/2023

Total Stitching Time: 11 hours and 1 minute

The Reindeer Kitten  is the last of the six kittens in the Christmas Kittens kit from Design Works that was designed by Marianne Savage. 

It's stitched  as charted with the provided floss on 14-count white plastic canvas which was also provided. 

I plan on adding a felt backing and a hanger made of  some kind to make an ornament.  This is another  ornament that will go into the box for Ronald McDonald's House next Christmas.

Next up: Wise Man #3 (Durene Jones)

 

 

 

Sugar Plum Fairies #1 and #2

Started: 2/8/2023

Finished: 2/9/2023

Total Stitching Time: 2 hours and 32 minutes

 

Started: 2/9/2023

Finished: 2/9/2023

Total Stitching Time: 1 hour and 37 minutes

These fairies were part of the free cover kit that came with Cross Stitch Crazy #222 and were designed by Lucie Heaton.

They're stitched as charted with the provided DMC floss on sparkly white 14-count Aida, which was also included in the kit.  However, I did swap out the kit floss for DMC in my stash as I don't like the short lengths of floss provided in the kit.

They're supposed to be made into gift tags (finishing material were included in the kit), but I'm planning to stitch all eight and send them to Canada Stitches Work Group to be made into a quilt for the Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer.

Next up: Reindeer Kitten

 

Sugar Plum Fairy #4

 

Started: 2/7/2023

Finished: 2/8/2023

Total Stitching Time: 2 hours and 54 minutes

This was part of the free cover kit that came with Cross Stitch Crazy #222 and was designed by Lucie Heaton.

It's stitched as charted with the provided DMC floss on sparkly white 14-count Aida, both of which were included in the kit.  However, I did swap out the kit floss for DMC in my stash as I don't like the short lengths of floss provided in the kit.

They're supposed to be made into gift tags (finishing material were included in the kit), but I'm planning to stitch all eight and send them to Canada Stitches Work Group to be made into a quilt for the Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer.

Next up: Sugar Plum Fairy #1

Happy Dance - Chocolate Bunny

 

Started: 2/3/2023

Finished: 2/5/2023

Total Stitching Time: 4 hours and 56 minutes

This is a free chart from F.lli Graziano.

It's stitched as charted on 14-count white Aida, but I modified the colors.  The original design had the bunny in yellow and the flowers in orange.  I originally started stitching it on 14-count Lt. Seafoam Green Aida, but didn't like the fabric (I had trouble finding the holes.).

I typically stitch at least one Easter/Spring square a year so it will be added to my other Easter/Spring squares and eventually be sent to a charity group to be made into a quilt.

Next up: Variegated Heart

Symbols Bookmark

 

Started: 2/2/2023

Finished: 2/3/2023

Total Stitching Time: 3 hours and 35 minutes

This is part of the Technology section of the World of Cross Stitch #328.

It's stitched on a scrap of 14-count white Aida, but I modified both the colors and the layout.  The original design was laid out horizontally, but I changed it to a vertical layout so that it can be used as a bookmark.

It will be given to my granddaughter on her 15th birthday next month.

Next up: Chocolate Bunny

Happy Dance - Winnie the Pooh

Started: 2/1/2023

Finished: 2/2/2023

Total Stitching Time: 7 hours and 20 minutes

This was the free cover kit from an unknown issue of Quick and Easy Cross Stitch..

It's stitched as charted with the provided floss and Aida.

It will be finished as a pillow ornament for the Ronald McDonald House in Orange, California.

Next up: Symbols Bookmark

 

Recap - January, 2023

January is typically my best stitching month of the year and this January is no exception.  I worked on and finished ten projects this month.  Since I've joined a group where you stitch exclusively on WIPs in odd numbered months and exclusively on new starts in even numbered months, all of my projects this month were WIPs.

I also stitched everyday except January 1st since we were on our way home from my Father-in-law's memorial service that day.

Christmas Tree Snow Globe - Durene Jones

Gingerbread House Snow Globe - Durene Jones

Jolly Jumper - Cross Stitcher Magazine #323

Lights Kitten - Design Works Kit (Christmas Kittens)

Mr. & Mrs. Santa Snow Globe - Durene Jones

Ornament Kitten - Design Works Kit (Christmas Kittens)

Present Kitten - Design Works Kit (Christmas Kittens)

Witzy with Bauble - Quick & Easy (Issue Unknown)

Wreath Kitten - Design Works Kit (Christmas Kittens)

Sugar Plum Fairy #6 - Cross Stitch Crazy #222

February Plans

February is for New Starts only and while my plans keep changing (mostly the order of the projects, not the projects themselves) here is my list for February. 

Winnie the Pooh Ornament - Quick & Easy Cross Stitch (Issue unknown)

Symbols Bookmark - World of Cross Stitching #328

Chocolate Bunny - F.lli Graziano Freebie

Variegated Heart - Unknown Designer

Wise Man #3 - Enjoy Cross Stitch at Christmas 2021 (Durene Jones)

Santa's Hat & Boots - JCS #2018 (Keslyns)

Minnie & Mickey Gardening - Leisure Arts (The Gang's All Here)

Sugar Plum Fairy - Cross Stitch Crazy #222

Reindeer Kitten - Design Works (Christmas Kittens)

Statistics: 

Days Stitched This Month = 30 

Days Stitched This Year  = 30 (possible = 31)

Total Hours Stitched This Month = 86 hours and 10 minutes

Total Hours Stitched This Year = 86 hours and 10 minutes

Number of Projects Worked on This Month = 10
Number of Unique Projects Worked on This Year = 10

Number of Projects Started This Month = 0

Number of Projects Started This Year = 0
Number of WIPs Worked on This Month =  10

Number of WIPs Worked on This Year = 10

Number of Projects Finished This Month = 10

Number of Projects Finished This Year = 10

Happy Dance - Witzy and Bauble

 

Started: Date Unknown

Finished: 1/31/2023

Stitching Time This Month: 4 hours and 20 minutes

This was the free cover kit from an unknown issue of Cross Stitch Card Shop.

It's stitched as charted, 1 over 1, with the provided floss on 18-count white Aida, also provided.  It does have some funky backstitching which I modified.

I haven't decided how to finish it yet, but it will be going the Ronald McDonald House in Orange, Califonia.

Next up: Winnie the Pooh