Cross Stitch Update

I’m writing this Wednesday evening. I didn’t want to leave you without a Friday cross-stitch update. So I’m writing now and scheduling this to post then.

I really should be packing for the cross-stitch retreat. I leave in the morning…but I didn’t want you all to be home with no blog posts to read so I thought I would quickly leave a little report for you on what I got stitched before I had to leave.

I have a desire to finish some things because I have many things to start on this month. Cross stitcher problems for sure. HA!!

I did a little assessment to decide what I had that was closest to a finish. Top of the list was this piece…

Good Intentions from Kathy Barrick. I love this one. I am stitching this on 40-count Fawn by Picture This Plus linen. I am using DMC. Here is where I was last week.

I worked on this several evenings but my stitching time was short…only an hour or 45 minutes each time. I am closer to done though. I do have it in mind to work on this at the retreat. The face is stitched over one so I’m not sure if I want to tackle that at the retreat but I’d happily settle with everything except the face and then come home and finish that one evening. Here is where I am now…

All I have left if the girl. Hopefully, she won’t take too long! I’m really itching to have something finished.

The next piece I was pretty close to finishing on was Birds of a Feather by Blackbird Designs.  I’m stitching this on a 40-count Dubloon by Picture This Plus. I am using the called for DMC. Here is where I was last week.

I wanted some easy stitching at the retreat so I worked on outlining the flowers and getting them in place. That way I can do some fill-in stitching at the retreat. Fill-in work is nice for times when you want to chat and not have to concentrate so much on the conversation. Here is where I am now…apologies I didn’t take time iron.

I have to fill in the flowers and stitch the bird and then the left half will be finished. I have the bones of the right half all there. I really think if I concentrated only on this at the retreat, I would have it finished…but I’ll likely switch out projects. Who knows!

I did a tiny bit on my Goodness and Plenty chart. In July I stitched the bird. In August I want to get the little ABC sampler pillow finished. I stitched on this over nap time one day. It shouldn’t take long to stitch. I also want to stitch the pillow that says Goodness and Plenty. I have a plan to get this finished a little quicker and I’ll tell you about that in the near future.

I should take Lady Liberty by With Thy Needle and Thread with to the retreat. I am stitching this on a scrap of Lakeside Vintage Meadow Rue in 40 count. I planned on stitching this on the 4th of every month but alas, I really wanted to get some other project to the finish line so this one got set aside. Hopefully, next month when the 4th rolls around I’ll pick it up again.

Maybe I’ll even work on it for two days to play catch up. Olivia at Pumpkin Hollow Quilts on Youtube has this stitched and I see hers over the summer episodes. It really makes me what to have this stitched!!

Other things that I didn’t stitch on…I didn’t stitch on Consider the Lilies and I have a goal to finish one page this month…I am bringing this with to the retreat.

I didn’t stitch on Wisdom Berries the current stitch along. I’m debating on whether I want to bring this along to the retreat. I am not a big fan of starting something new at retreats but it might be nice to have something small with.

I have this project with too…it’s the little pumpkin pillow you see in the book When the Leaves Fall.

I did bring Pet All the Dogs with me to the retreat too. I worked on it a little bit last time and got the top border done. Maybe I should work on finishing the right border this time. Who knows??

This many projects going all at once gives me heart palpitations…it’s a few too many for me. I really do need to finish something. I just feel a little overextended. That’s why my push this week was to work mostly on the two projects. I’m going to have fun at the retreat and not worry about it but once I’m back, I’m going to make sure at least two pieces on this list get completely finished!!

I have no idea what I’m going to stitch on. It’s silly to bring so many projects but seriously, I’ve been running around here like I’m crazy getting ready that I can’t concentrate long enough to really think. HA! I’ll decide once I get there…and I’m likely not the only person who will have brought too many projects.