Fully Finished Gallery - July 2019

It's time again to link up with Rachel of Ten Hour Stitcher to show the items that we've turned into Finished Finished Objects or FFOs.  I'm actually on time this month and I have five FFOs to show you.  Click on the link to see what others have finish finished this month.

Santa  has been in one of my "to be finished drawers" for several years since I don't remember when I stitched him and I couldn't find him in my finished files and it starts in 2014. He's finished as a small pillow with the same fabric as the backing (14-count gold dusted Aida)..

This festive reindeer, aka Rudolph was stitched in either 2016 or 2018--he appears in both years or maybe I stitched him twice!.  I finished him as an ornament using the same fabric for the backing (14-count Oatmeal Aida).  The hanger is a combination of red and green petite beads.

Again, this heart was stitched prior to 2014 since I couldn't find it in my records.  It was a free cover kit from one of the UK Magazines and is finished with the materials provided.  It didn't come with a ribbon (or I'd lost it) so I had to find my own.  I'd rather have used white and may replace it when I find some.

Again, this was stitched prior to 2014, probably at the same time as the heart.  It was also a free cover kit finished with the materials provided, except for the ribbon, which I will probably replace at a later date.

This is Love Hearts and was stitched in 2015, probably for a Valentines Card for WOCS, but it never made it to the group.  I trimmed and fringed it and attached it to a premade card.  I guess I didn't do a very good job though.  If I don't use it before then, I will probably send it to WOCS next year.

So, all finishes of old items this month.  I want to thank Rachel for hosting this SAL because otherwise these would still be sitting in their drawers with all the other items waiting to be finished.

June WIPacolypse

It's time for my WIPacolypse post for June.  This is a SAL run by Measi at  Measi's Musings where we try to finish all our WIPs by the end of the world.  You can see what others are doing by clicking the link above.

I've been using this SAL to keep track of my goals for the year, but since most of my goals, plans, etc. changed during the middle of June, I've decided to just report my WIP stitching which is what this SAL is actually for.  I'll report my modified goals in my monthly recap which is where they belong anyway.

The only WIP I worked on this month was Big Trees and I only got about four hours on it.

As of 4/4/2019

As of 6/30/2019

Question of the Month: Half-year recap:  How are you doing with your goals so far this year?
I was doing satisfactorily until this month when I decided it was time to reassess them. 

Smalls SAL

It's time again for the Smalls SAL hosted by Mary at Mary's Thread  This is where we share the small projects we've stitched during the previous month. Click the link to see what other stitchers are sharing this month.

Most of which I stitched this month are smalls so I have several to show you.

Palko Lap - May

Palko Lap - June

Special Delivery - 2018 JCS Ornament Issue (Pickle Barrel Designs)

Fabulous Pear - Cross Stitch Crazy #192 (Jenny Barton)

Fabulous Grapes

 - Cross Stitch Crazy #192 (Jenny Barton)

Happy Dance - Fabulous Grapes

Started: 6/23/2019

Finished: 6/27/2019

This is another one of the Fabulous Fruits designed by Jenny Barton for Cross Stitch Crazy #192.  It's stitched on white 14-count Aida with the called for DMC.  It's stitched as charted with one unintentional customization--both legs are one row longer than they should be.

I accidentally lied last time when I said I had four more to stitch; it was actually only  three.  There are currently a watermelon and a peach left.  I had planned to set these aside for awhile, but I finished the grapes at the Angels game last night and since I had all of these with me, I decided to start another one.

Next Up: Fabulous Watermelon; Goal: A finish

Happy Dance - Fabulous Pear

Started: 6/19/2019

Finished: 6/23/2019

This is another of the Fabulous Fruits designed by Jenny Barton for Cross Stitch Crazy #192.  It's stitched on 14-count white Aida as charted with the called for DMC.  I now have just four of these left to stitch before I can make them into a wall-hanging.

Next up: Fabulous Grapes; Goal: a finish

Thank you for the comments on my being overwhelmed and backing out of SALs, etc.  Part of the problem is I want to stitch everything which leads to trying to do just that and some of the SALs were to help do that.  As several of you mentioned, I only stitch SALs that can use the things I'm already stitching with one exception.   It's just that I've gotten so far behind in other parts of my life that stitching and the computer can't take up as many hours in the day as they have been.  Hopefully, I'll find a happy medium soon.

Happy Easter!

Our church does two services on Easter, a traditional one in the church at 7:00 a.m. and a contemporary one outside at 9:00 a.m.  The cross you see in the background of both pictures is raised during the first song, typically "Let it Rise". 

The Stage with the Praise Band

The First, Second, Third and Fourth Graders Singing

Janice helped decorate the stage on Saturday and helped transfer the lilies and palm fronds on Easter.  I helped with the palm fronds and the bake sale, accepting goodies and monitoring the water supplies.

Kyleigh wasn't with us for the first time this year.  Easter fell such that she spent the weekend with her dad and his mom and her husband.  Since it was just the four of us (David, Devin, Janice and I, we went to Golden Corral for brunch and got there just before the prices increased.

Then we came home and both of us took naps!  It was a good day!  Oh, and BTW, the Easter Bunny brought each of us chocolate bunnies.