Colonial Women Finished

 Good Saturday morning,

I hope y'all are having a wonderful day.  The sun is shining and I am ready for a day of stitching.

I spent the first week of July rotating my patriotic wips.  In my last post, I showed Betsy Bunny from the 2023 JCS mag and that was a SAF (start and finish) for the month of July.  I have seen so many stitchers stitch her up, so I decided now was the time to work on her too.  I also worked on Colonial Women during that time also. It is a project I started in 2025 and it was closest to a finish.  This is such a classic design and perfect for my collection.  The only drawback is that it was an older chart, and I couldn't make a working copy because of the quality, so I had to mark up the chart. Oh well, that is just a hazard for liking older charts.

Here is a picture of my finish. I used the called for colors on some 28ct Linen (probably antique white).  I omitted the last row and I still think it looks fine.

Usually I never write down when I start a project, only when I finish it.  I am going to do better about which year I start projects. I sat down and went over various post from my social media platforms.  I go by MaryCatStitches if you are on Instagram and TikTok.  I have 4 projects from 2024, 3 projects from 2025 and 10 projects from 2026.  I say soon to be projects because I am starting a project for Blakley's girlfiend.  Her name is Paige and they have been dating for about 1-1/2 years.  She has recently got into Needlepoint and I am happy she found a craft she likes. She is a nursing student and likes cheeky sayings.  We thought this chart would be perfect for her.  I am going to start it this week.  I will use the called for colors on 16ct Aida.

I am also starting this amazing Halloween pattern that Briecrafty85 on TIkTok is hosting. I know I can't get much done this year, but it will be fun to start it with all the other stitchers. It is called Halloween Bottles by Emma Congdon and is in the CrossStitcher 2025 Oct magazine.  I ordered 16ct Aida and the floss. 

I am going to take pictures and organize my wips and post each one this week.  I will do it by year.

I also participate in Magazine Montly Challenge hosted my Carolyn at CZHook on Youtube.  The Theme and Acrostic for August is already out. So if you want to play along on your blog that would be fun.

Theme: Collaboration 

Acrostic:  F

                O

                R 

                E

                S

                T

I will show you this week which projects I will be working on specifically for this challenge.

Also be on the lookout for a special project I am working on for my friends Christmas present.

I am putting some of it together in the next week or 2 and I will share my journey with you.

Until next time.

Hugs and Happy Stitching

So glad to be back

Hey y'all.  

I can't believe it has been 2 years since I have last posted.  I know most people don't blog anymore but I thought I would come back and give it a go.  I tried YouTube for a long time but it is hard for me to do videos.  I perfer this format so much better.

I have completed 13 finishes so far this year.  I am sorry in advance for the quality of some of these pictures.  Now that I am back, I promise to take better pictures.

My 1st finish is O'Tannenbaum by KEB Studio Creations from the JCS mag.  I completed it on 1/20/26 while my husband was in the hospital.  He suffered a heart attack and other complications; luckily, he is doing well.

 My second finish was a freebie thay Miraly called Lucky Bunny.  I loved stitching this cutie.  I finished this on 1/22/26.

3rd was Sweet Sayings.  It was a freebie from Primrose  Cottage newsletter.  Finished on 2/8/26.

4. I love Valentine's Day so I stitched Sweet Heart by December Stitches from JCS Winter 2025.

5th was Foxglove Fairy by Nora Corbett.  She is absolutely gorgeous.  I finished her on 2/26/26.

6th was Rainbow Heart freebie by Sullivan USA finished on 3/1/26.  I stitched this with some fellow stitchers.  I omitted the ribbon at the bottom so that it could fit in this frame.

7th is US Air Force by Stoney Creek book 272, Colors of Freedom.  Finished on 3/8/26.  I decided that 15 years of procrastination is enough.  So happy to have it done and framed.  Not perfect; slightly crooked at the end;but I think it gives it character.

8.  Another Stoney Creek finish.  Manatees is from Book 114- Sea and Sun.  Finished 3/28/26.  They have so many color changes; but I cannot deny how amazing their charts are.

9. St. Patricks Day by Primrose Cottage freebie from their newsletter.  Finished 4/22/26.

10. Vegetta by Lasarcraftum finished on 5/31/26. This was massive but  I know my son loves it.  I know another Dragon Ball video game is coming out, so I will pick out a new chart for next year.

11. Bee-sy Spring by County Garden Samplings finished on 6/28/26. This is my 2nd finish from them and I really enjoy her projects.

and the final one for right now is Betsy Bunny by Hot House Petunia from the 2023 JCS Aug issue finished on 7/15/26.  She is adorable.

If you are taking the time to read this, thank you so much for sharing this journey with me. 

I will be back within a week because will have another finish plus so Christmas gifts I am working on.

Hugs and Happy Stitching!

Mary

A Patriotic Finish

 Good morning everyone,

I hope your June has started off great. I am sorry that I haven't posted this month but it has been very busy.

I am excited to show you my latest finish. It is called Grand Old Flag by Wrought Iron Stitching. It was in the JCS Aug 2023 issue.

It was done on 28ct Belfast linen coffee/tea dyed.   This is my 14th finish for the year.

Thanks so much for looking. 

Happy Stitching!

Mary

Smalls SAL - May 2024

 Good Evening Everyone,

Thank you to Rachael at The Ten Hour Stitcher for hosting this Smalls SAL.  If you want to showcase your work, hop on over to her blog and participate.  We all love to see what everyone is working on, and cheer each other on.

This month has flown by like I thought it would.  It was lovely to see my college aged son and for all of us to hang out with each other.  I tried to cross stitch as much as I could.  I am sorry it has been a few weeks since I have posted anything.  

I do not have actual smalls but I do have portions of 2 projects that fit into this challenge.  The first one is from the JCS August 2023 issue.  It is called Grand Old Flag by Wrought Iron Stitching.  I love patriotic and hearts, so I immediately fell in love with it.  Here is the picture from the magazine.

I chose a 28 ct piece of random linen and some floss from my stash.  I am trying to stitch about 3 hearts a day.  

I also worked on Louisiana.  I finished the A N A in Louisiana.  I am really happy to have that done.

Here is a before picture:

Here is the after picture:

Well, June is my birthday month so I am excited for some new starts.  I had 4 new starts for May and I plan to do about 5 in June. My other plans are to finish Grand Old Flag by the end of the month, work on at least 1 ornament for my mom (I didn't work on one in May), and rotate some of my other wips.  

Thank you for looking at my blog and I have you have a wonderful stitchy weekend.

Hugs,

Mary

May 2024 Fully Finished Projects

 Hi everyone,

Thank you to Rachel from The Ten Hour Stitcher for hosting the Fully Finished SAL.  

Here in the United States today is our Mother's Day.  I hope everyone who celebrates the holiday has a wonderful, special day.  I am so excited because I have 4 fully finished projects to show you.

1st is an ornament I stitched for my mom's birthday present in December. It is just a really simple finish, but really cute.  It is called Comfort and Joy by My Big Toe.

2nd project is Patriot House by Calico Confectionary on ETSY.  I really enjoyed this project.

3rd project is the M Sampler I created as a SAL challenge with my Facebook stitchy friend, Mira.  It looks so much better now that it is framed.  It is not wrinkled that bad, I just can't take good quality pictures.

Last framed project is Snowflake Sampler by KEB Studio Creations from the 2021 Feb JCS issue.

Well that is all the fully finishes I have for the month.  I can't wait to see what everyone has been up to.  I hope you have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Mary

Smalls SAL for April

 Good morning,  

I hope everyone is doing well. It is the last friday of the month, so it is time for the Smalls SAL hosted by Rachel the Ten Hour Stitcher.

I haven't stitched as much as usual this month because I am waiting on my new glasses.  Unfortunately, my prescription has changed significantly causing eye strain.  I am looking into getting a magnifier/light to help me but I am undecided on what to get.  Hopefully, May will be an amazing stitchy month.

I did finish my mom's ornament that I showed in a previous post.  I will show it again just in case you didn't see it.

Christmas Woodpecker by Punochka from the JCS 2022 ornament issue. I used a scrap piece of 32 ct Joblean and random floss.

I am also participating in a SAL that Laura from Stitching By the Shore and Devi from GlitterDoveFairy with the hashtag of #springshowerssal.  The pattern is called Current Mood from Stitchyfish Designs and is in the JCS Spring 2024 issue.

I finished stitching the lady in the umbrella.  All I have left, is to backstitch around her and some rain. I dyed some 14 ct aida and used random floss.  

I hope you have a great stitchy weekend.  I have been ffo'ing some projects that I can show in the Fully Finished SAL in May.

Hugs,

Mary

  

IHSW - April 2024

 Good evening everyone,

This weekend was IHSW (International Hermit and Stitch Weekend) for April hosted on Facebook by the lovely Jo from Serendipitious Stitching.

I never know how much stitching I can get done over the couse of the weekend, but I try to get some in.  Friday I was unable to stitch anything at all.  On Friday mornings, my mom and I have a "Friday FunDay" where we go grab some breakfast or lunch and do a little shopping.  It is a time we both really cherish.  That night, my son had a track and field meet that lasted until about 8 or 9 pm.  I was really exhausted when we got home so I promptly went to bed.

Saturday and Sunday I was able to get some stitching done inbetween working on projects outside.  I try to pick out one of my larger projects, so I know that I am devoting time to them.  This month I chose to work on Blue Dragon Fairy by Kustom Krafts.  I am so happy with my progress.  I am missing a couple of skeins of floss that I need to get from the craft store, but I can do that on Friday.

Here is what it will look like eventually:

This was my progress last month:

Here is my progress for April:

I appreciate all the comments and support you give to me. It keeps me motivated.

Hope you have a great stitchy day!

Hugs,

Mary