Happy Dance - Little Miss Cross Stitch (Redo)

 

Started: 2/15/2025

Finished: 2/18/2025

Total Time: 9 hours and 43 minutes

This is the first Stitch-It Bundle of 2025 from Amanda Dion of Creatively Crafting.  Yes, I stitched it a second time.  I decided I'd prefer to do this set of charts on Aida instead of evenweave, because I wasn't happy with this finish.

It's stitched as charted on Vintage Country Mocha 14-count Aida with the called for DMC except that the floss skein was supposed to be stitched in bright yellow (not one of my favorite colors).  

Once, all 12 squares have been completed, they will be made into a quilt.

Next up:Little Mr

Happy Dance - Mer-Cupid

 

Started: 2/11/2025

Finished: 2/15/2025

Total Time: 10 hours and 8 minutes

Mer-Cupid is the February Mini Freebie from Creatively Crafting (Amanda Dion) and is part of the Mer-Things SAL.

I'm doing all 12 charts on one piece of 14-count Silver Moon Aida.  Mer-Cupid is stitched with the called for DMC, but there are several unintentional modifications and I cleaned up some of the back stitch since I don't like splitting squares when it doesn't really add to the design.

This one's for me and I hope to eventually hang it in my bathroom.

 Next up: A redo of Little Miss Cross Stitch - on Aida this time (Creatively Crafting)

GIfted Gorgeousness - February, 2025

It's time 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.

I rarely receive stitchy type gifts, but most of my stitching is given to others, the main recipient being the Ronald McDonald House in Orange, CA.  I have four pieces that qualify this month.  The first three will be going to the Ronald McDonald House this coming Christmas.

Christmas Cactus - Mill Hill

Santa Cruise - Mill Hill

Snowman Sweater - Cross Stitcher Magazine #377 - Emma Congdon

 

The fourth is a quilt square that will be added to others throughout the year and then be made into a quilt.  Not sure where it will be going yet though.

 

Starfish - Creatively Crafting (Amanda Dion)

Happy Dance - Mer-Maid

 

Started: 2/8/2025

Finished: 2/11/2025

Total Time: 8 hours and 55 minutes

Mer-Maid is the January Mini Freebie from Creatively Crafting (Amanda Dion) and is part of the Mer-Things SAL.

I'm doing all 12 charts on one piece of 14-count Silver Moon Aida.  I left off the bubbles with the year in them, but otherwise it's stitched as charted with the called for DMC.

This one's for me and I hope to eventually hang it in my bathroom.

 Next up: Mer-Cupid (Creatively Crafting)

Fully Finished Gallery - February, 2025

The Fully Finished Gallery SAL was created by Rachel at Ten Hour Stitcher to encourage us to fully finish our projects instead of just storing them in a drawer or box rarely to be seen again.  Click on the link to see more details and what other stitchers have posted.  

I had four fully finished objects this month. The first two were ugly sweaters stitched in January.  I added a hanger and backed them with felt.

The other two were the Mill Hill ornaments from my WIPGO board for February.  I made hangers from the leftover beads and backed them with felt.

WIPGO - February, 2025

I have joined WIPGO for the first time this year.  If you're not familiar with WIPGO, it's a Bingo Board with 25 squares, #13 can be the free square.  You fill each square with something you want to work on and the owner of the group calls two numbers each month. 

My board has 25 Mill Hill Christmas ornaments.  All are new starts and the goal for each is to fully finish as an ornament.  

The numbers for February were #7 and #8.  Number 7 is Christmas Cactus 

 

and number 8 is Santa Cruise

 

Happy Dance - Santa Cruise

 

Started: 2/4/2025

Finished: 2/7/2025

Total Time: 12 hours and 32 minutes

Santa Cruise is part of the Mill Hill Winter Holiday Collection.

It's stitched as charted using the materials provided and will be made into a Christmas ornament for  Ronald McDonald House in Orange, CA

 Next up: Mermaid (Creatively Crafting)

Happy Dance - Christmas Cactus

 

Started: 2/1/2025

Finished: 2/3/2025

Total Time: 9 hours and 31 minutes

Christmas Cactus is part of the Mill Hill Winter Holiday Collection.

It's stitched mostly as charted using the provided materials.. I did discover that my Santa hat has more white and less red than called for, because the two symbols were too much alike. (< and <, one is bold)

This will be made into a Christmas ornament for  Ronald McDonald House in Orange, CA

 Next up: Santa Cruise (Mill Hill)

Monthly Recap - January, 2025

January is typically a good stitching month and this January was no exception.  I worked on six projects, Four were new starts and two were WIPs carried over from last year.

First, I finished Santa Paws from the Mill Hill Winter Holiday Collection that had been started in December, 2024.

Next, I started and finished Gingerbread Lass from the Mill Hill Beaded Holiday Collection.

My third project was the Trees Sweater from Cross Stitcher Magazine #377 and designed by Emma Congdon.  It was started in November, 2024.

My fourth project and second start was the Snowman Sweater, also from Cross Stitcher Magazine #377 and designed by Emma Congdon.

 

My fifth project and third start was Little Miss Cross Stitch, the January Stitch It design from Amanda Dion of Creatively Crafting.

 

And my final project was the start and finish of the Starfish, the January StitchMe Bonus from Amanda Dion of Creatively Crafting.

I also FFO'd the four ornaments shown above and two that had been finished in 2024.

January Statistics

Days Stitched This Month = 26  Days Stitched This Year  = 26 (possible = 31) Total Hours Stitched This Month = 73 hours and 4 minutes
Total Hours Stitched This Year = 73 hours and 4 minutes
Number of Projects Worked on This Month = 6 Number of Unique Projects Worked on This Year = 6 Number of Projects Started This Month = 4 Number of Projects Started This Year = 4 Number of WIPs Worked on This Month =  2 Number of WIPs Worked on This Year =  2 Number of Projects Finished This Month = 6 Number of Projects Finished This Year = 6 Number of Projects FFO'd This Month = 6 Number of Projects FFO'd This Year = 6

February Plans

February's stitching will consist of new starts, most if not all of them, smalls.

WIPGO starts are Christmas Cactus and Santa Cruise, both Mill Hill kits.

Also to be stitched are the January and February Mer-Things from Creatively Crafting

A restitch of the January Stitch It Bundle on Aida and the February Stitch It Bundle

The February Stitch Me Bonus which is a dolphin

If there's time, I'd also like to stitch a Minnie Mouse baby bib and Let's Purr by Ursula Michael.

Happy Dance - Starfish

 

Started: 1/26/2025

Finished: 1/31/2025

Total Time: 21 hours and 26 minutes

This is the January Stitch Me Bonus from Amanda Dion at Creatively Crafting.  This year the squares are all sea creatures.

It's stitched mostly as charted on 14-count printed Dew Aida by DMC. I left off the bubbles surrounding the starfish and some of the back stitch because it didn't show up enough to add to the project.  It is stitched with all of the called for colors, but  the chart did call for E316 and I used regular 316 instead.

It took so long because I restarted it three times.  The first time was on 25-count Lugana, but I was having so much trouble seeing the holes that I restarted it on the Aida after about an hour of struggling.  The second time I was almost halfway done when I realized that it was badly mis-centered.

Once, all 12 squares have been completed, they will be made into a quilt.  The destination depends on who I get to do the quilting.

Next up: Christmas Cactus (Mill Hill)