Update for September 1-7

 Good morning everyone,

For those of us that celebrate Labor Day I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  We really didn't do much, but Bill got to watch lots of Football.

I still accomplished my goals for the week but I had to make some changes.  I got sick on Friday so I didn't stitch.  Because of that, I didn't do the Fiesty Focus challenge because I knew I couldn't get a lot of stitches in over the weekend.  However, I did use this as my theme wip for MMC and completed 203 stitches.

If I have time this month, I will try to put more stitches in her.  She is so pretty.  The cover photos never do Nora Corbett's work justice.

I also stitched for the Sampler September weekend challenge.  The theme was monochromatic and  I chose Arabesque by Jan Hicks.  I stitched 250 stitches and am now at 40%.

Week 1 of this challenge I chose Salem Halloween Quaker by WitchGardenCrafts on Etsy.  I completed 550 stitches and am now at 56.42%.

I worked on Macarons by Riolis yesterday as part of the MMC challenge.  I stitched 332 stitches.  I love working on this project.  

I have been suffering from burnout.  I like my projects but am bored/unmotivated.  I decided to do a biscornu for Paige.  Blake asked me if I could make her one and so I decided to do it.  I found this book at the thrift store a few weeks ago.  I am sure I had it at one point, but when I moved a few years ago, I donated all of my hard copy books.  

Here is the front picture:

It is suppose to be an ornament but I am choosing to make it a biscornu.  It is the pattern in the blue. 

 

I chose Diamont white metallic, Kreinik purple metallic, dmc dark purple and an old Mo's sale floss called African Violet.  I am using 28ct white evenweave. 

Lastly, I started to ffo Paige's gift.  I purchased a 9 inch hoop and washi tape from Amazon.  I wrapped it in black and will use the red fabric to make a backing.

Front:

Back: 

I hope you all have tons of stitchy time.  Thanks for looking and commenting.  I really appreciate it.

Hugs,

Mary

Hello September- We have a finish

 Good tuesday morning,

I want to thank everyone for viewing my blog and voting for which project to do this weekend.  I now have a solution since we all want me to stitch Halloween.  I added another challenge for this month.  I decided to do Sampler September in Wip Warriors.  I only have to stitch 500x per week rotating 4 projects this month.  

So this week I will be doing Salem 1692 Halloween Quaker Sampler by Witchgardencrafts on Etsy.  It was also worked for day 30 in Arbitary August.  Here is my progress.

That allows me to spend time on Jasmine Fairy this weekend for Fiesty Focus.  

Day 31 was Snarky Nurse by StitchRiotDesigns, and guess what?  I finished it! Now my son has to decide how he wants me to fully finish this for his girlfriend.

Speaking of gifts, I have some other goodies to show you.  I got lots of inspiration from watching crafters on TikTok.  I decided to try my hand at bag charms using motel key chain.  This is for my sister.  

I think it turned out cute.  It reminds me of junk journals.  

I also got inspired by the Hobby Lobby totes crafters were making for Mother's Day gifts.  Instead of buying patches, I cross stitched smalls and turned them into patches and put it on the bag.  I also made another bag charm.

My husband Bill was so cute.  He couldn't wait for me to finish stitching all the smalls so we can make the bag.  I hope she likes it.  I will add some charts and goodies for her gift.

Day 29 was Christmas Sampler by Durene Jones.  I am also going to work on it the last week of September.  I am at about 79% completed and I want it done this year.

Well thanks so much for taking the time to look and comment.  It means a great deal to me.

Have a wonderful day and Happy Stitching.

Mary

Arbitary August Days 23-28

 Happy Saturday,

Well here we are at the end of August.  Did you get a lot of stitching in this month?  So far, I have stitched a great deal but no finishes yet.  I have been working on Snarky Nurse, and with this weekends challenge, I have a shot of finishing it.  I have 1 more day in Arbitary August plus I have it as a focus project for the Strident event in Wip Warriors.

Day 23- I stitched 200 stitches on Macarons by Riolis.  It is so fun.  I worked as much yellow as I could.  I started the yellow macaron at the bottom, finished the yellow half-stitches and some of the flower.  

Day 24- I stitched 218 stitches on Cinnamon and Honey by Ink Circles.

Day 25- 150 stitches on Celebrate 4th of July by Madame Chantilly.  I worked on only red.

Day 26- 246 stitches on Christmas Sampler by Durene Jones.

Day 27 - 194 stitches on Panolpy of Posies by Tempting Tangles.

Day 28 - 120 stitches on Jasmine Fairy by Nora Corbett.

I was just reading Ann's blog here about putting in a strand or two for Sampler September. That seems managable since I have other challenges for September.  This is where I need your opinion.  Next weekend is Focus on one project for the weekend.  I have 3 that I want/need finished.  Let me know which one you want me to focus on and I will work on it.

The Choices are:

1. Christmas Sampler by Durene Jones.  I am about 85% complete on this project.  It was started in 2024 and I want it done this year.

2. Jasmine Fairy by Nora Corbett.  This is for my sister Dawn.  Would like it done by 2027 if possible.

3. Salem Quaker - I am about 40% done and it is from 2024 too.

Well thanks for checking out my progress and I appreciate the kind comments.  I hope you have a great week!

Happy Stitching,

Arbitary August Days 17-22

 Happy Saturday everyone,

Gosh, time really gets away from me.  I can't believe it is time for another update.  I have really enjoyed this challenge and the ablility to work on most of my projects.

Day 17 I worked on Celebrate 4th of July by Madame Chantilly.  I know I will love the finish but the progress is soooo slow.  I am not sure if it is because it is a paper pattern or not.  I was able to get 200 stitches in.

Day 18 and 21 was A Royal Alphabet by Rosewood Manor. I completed 458 stitches total.  Not bad for working on a paper pattern.  I am trying to finish the red stitching in the upper right hand corner and then I will do all the gold bits.

 

Day 19 was Funny Bunny by Riolis.  I love working on this because the bunnies just make me so happy.

I completed 220 stitches.

Day 20 was Arabesque by Jan Hicks.  I stitched 205 stitches and mainly concentrated on the large motif in the right-hand corner.  That is the most detailed part of the chart.  The alphabet should go much faster.  I doubt I will finish it this year but I am hoping for an early finish for 2027.

Lastly, Day 22 was Snarky Nurse.  I am working extra on this project so I can get it done next month.  I am over 50% complete.  I am going to finish the white in the nurses hat and the bottle cap lids and the bottom of the needle so that the first 2 pages will be done. I am getting frusterated with this project because my stitches are getting loose.  It is hard for me to do the pin stitch on Aida fabric so I just try to anchor it like before.  I think I am just worried about the tales showing through on the white fabric.  Maybe I will put it in a nurge hoop so I won't put my hands on it as much. Oh well.  

I have decided not to participate in the ABCingo in Magazine Monthly challenge this year.  Primarily because I am very active in the WIP Warrior Facebook group and I don't want to overwhelm myself.

I will be doing the acrostic for September in Magazine Monthly Challenge.

The theme is Destination.  I chose Jasmine Fairy by Nora Corbett

Acrostic:  B R I G H T

B - Funny Bunny - Riolis

R - Macarons - Riolis

I - Cinnamon and Honey - Ink Circles Design

G - Garden Lady - Dimensions Gold Petite

T - Panopy of Posies - Tempting Tangles

Well I hope you have a wonderful stitchy week.

Mary

Arbitary August Days 11-16

 Good Monday Morning,

I hope everyone had a great week.  We didn't do much, but I got a lot of stitching in.

Days 11 and 16 was a new start.  It is Halloween Bottles by Emma Congdon.  It is in the October 2025 CrossStitcher Magazine.  I did a total of 554 stitches.

Day 12 was Cinnamon and Honey by Ink Circles Designs,  I was able to get 255 stitches completed. I love this color pallet and the cute bees around the borders.

Day 13 was Granny Sunflowers. I have been working on this almost every morning as my 50 stitches a day project.  I would love to have this finished by October.  The black Aida is challenging but the results are so pretty.  I don't have an accurate stitch count but I am over 51% complete.

Day 13 and 14 was Snarky Nurse.  I stitched a total of 606 stitches and 37.16% complete.  I have been working extra on this project also so I can have it done next month.

Well that is all for now.

Thanks for looking and Happy Stitching!

Arbitary August Days 7-10

 Hi everyone,

How are you doing?  I hope you had a fun weekend with lots of stitching.  I have been looking forward to watching the 2026 Football Hall of Fame for several months now.  Even though no one from my team went (TB Bucs), I always cry and find their speeches inspitational.  My husband's team is the NO Saints, so we watched Drew Brees induction.

Well I can't wait to show you what I stitched.  I really enjoyed each project.

For day 7, Garden Lady by Dimensions Gold Petite was chosen.  I switched out the 18ct Aida to 28ct antique white evenweave.  Here is the cover:

Start: 

Stitched 212 stitches.

This chart was a Mother's Day gift from my sons.  They are always sweet and try to get me crafty things as presents/

Day 8 was snarky nurse.  Next time it is called I will finish filling in the white in the nurses hat.

Start:

Finish: 340 stitches completed and 14.7%

Day 9 is Blue Dragon Fairy by Kustom Krafts.  It is funny, I am not eager to pull this out to work on it but once I do, I don't want to stop. Part of my problem is that I don't do a lot of full coverage and I need to invest in easy grid next time.  I am sure it will help a great deal.  Anyway, I hope to finish it in 2027.  We will see.

Here is the cover photo.

Here was the start:

I stitched 315 stitches.

Day 10- Arabesque by Jan Hicks.  I love Art Deco,  Art Nouveau and stained glass designs, so I was instantly drawn to this design.

I don't have a start photo but here is the end.  I completed 243 stitches and 36.72%

 Well that is all for now.  I hope you have a great week.

Happy Stitching

Arbitary August Days 4-6

Happy Friday everyone,

I hope you had a great few days with tons of stitching.  I am happy to say I have managed to complete each day on time and with at least 200 stitches. It is so satisfying when I compare the before and after photos; the difference that even 200 stitches make is wonderful.

Day 4 project is called Panoply of Posies by Tempting Tangles.  I have had this in my stash for a few years and decided this was a perfect time to start it.  This is one of the projects I started during my birthday month of June.  As a tradition, I try to pick out a few projects to start as a celebration.  I went through my kitted up projects and decided to pull this one out.

I am choosing my own DMC colors that are different than the Dinky Dyed floss Deb chose.  I love these kinds of charts where you can pick your own colors.  I am doing it on a 32 count Belfast Linen.  I love stitching on 32 count but my eyes don't.  

Here is a before picture:

I was able to complete 220 stitches and is at 1.8% complete.  I am so glad I have Pattern Keeper because otherwise I am scared how much I could potential mess up.

Day 5 was Granny Sunflowers by Carolyn Manning Designs. You can buy PDF’s and all of her current  designs here. She is so talented. I am stitching this on 14 ct black Aida. 

I stitched 213 stitches and am at 47.52%.  I hope to get in stitches at least 5 times a week as my daily 70.  My goal is to finish it by the end of September or early October,.  This is a start from 2025 and I feel confident it will get done before the time change.

Day 6 was a kit from Riolis called Macarons.  This kit uses cotton floss instead of wool/acrylic.  

I was able to complete the pink cookie, work finish the pink part of the ribbon and start on the pale yellow of the daylily.  

Every time I pick up this WIP, I think of my husband Bill. When I first started it, he thought they were colored hamburgers.  He cracks me up.

Well that is all for now.

Have a great weekend and Happy Stitching!