February Progress

I continued to make small steps on both my larger projects.   Once WIPGO for the month is done, I focused on both The French Alphabet and American Sampler.  

With the French Alphabet, I put in some border work, finished off the remnants of some letters on the current pattern page I was working on and then started on a new page.    Three pages done and nine to go!  Thank goodness for photos.   They help me see I am actually making progress.  5th line down, I am getting some of the personalization done:   RThompson is starting to take shape. (If only I have finished that “M” and it would be more clear.)

For American Sampler,  slow progress but progress.   I have actually  managed to work on this for an hour each time I pick it up.  Sometimes that hour is spent on frogging but that is all part of it.  My eyes seem to be getting used to stitching on this piece.

I am getting closer to a finish on Quaker Friends.   I take this to my weekly stitching group to work on there.   This will be another WIP done when I finish and that will be 2026!     

Each of these three prices are motif based and although that makes some stitchers crazy, I am not having a problem changing between them.  

I inspired myself by completing two large samplers last year so I feel good about all my prospects of finishing in 2026.   Even though the French Alphabet and the American Sampler will be multi-year projects, I know I will get them done.  So I did some Nashville Market shoppping…. Thankfully I only saw three patterns from Nashville Market that I want.    I pulled the trigger on only one ……Kitten Stitcher’s pre-order…….Warrior Patriot from Plum Street.  More incentive to complete my two larger WIP samplers.   This pattern appears no where on my  radar but I just really liked it.  With the exception of my WIPGO projects, I am not in the market to start anything new, especially not another big project!

That’s my month of stitching progress.   Being at Diane’s for a week and then having a big snow storm, contributed to my progress.   Once the weather warms and I find myself outside, the progress each month will slow.   But that is ok, I already have ideas for the yard and garden swirling in my mind.  I will have to learn to strike that balance.  

Time for me to catch up on your blogs and comments.  As always, thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching and creating.

February 2026

First of February found me flying to Chattanooga to visit my friend Diane.   Pat and I were joining her to go to the Knoxville EGA Retreat in Carson Springs, TN.  The best laid plans…..somewhere about 32,000 feet in the air over Virginia an email was sent to attendees that the retreat was being canceled.    The retreat location was snowed under, food trucks could not make it to the place which was at that time only accessible by 4 wheelers.   Not to worry, although disappointed we were overjoyed to just stay at Diane’s house for the week.     Always a great time with our friend Diane.  

While at Diane’s she helped us make fancy notebooks for retreat gifts.    

We also got to go to Diane’s weekly stitch-in.    

It is always a good time when the “Jersey Girls” come to stitch with them.                                                It is the cutest store.  Her machines have names like “Dolly” and “Cher”

So cute how she has decorated with what looks to be silhouettes from old patterns with tulle and buttons.  

I took my French Alphabet as my dedicated stitching piece for my time in Tennessee.   I hope to be able to finish enough each month to get this piece done by the end of the FB Leap Year Challenge!   I almost completed a whole pattern page when I was there.  

Raegan turned 6 earlier this month.   OMGosh.  Where has the time gone?   Mom and Dad took her skiiing.  She was a little apprehensive about.   But not once she got there - she loved it.  Soon she will be swooping down the hills along side her brother.

We spend a Sunday making her a couple of 100 Days of School shirts using paint and thumbprints.   Making memories with her and her brother every chance I get.   

I trudged along with American Sampler.   Ugh.  Some days I have to use that little thumb print sized lens on the magnifier.   Slow going but I am not throwing in the towel.   I am doing this piece on 28 over one.  I love the look of 28/1 but my vision does not.   I plan to make this my focus until the next WIPGO numbers are called on the 25th.   The WIPGO numbers give ‘permission’ to stitch on something different and often end with a finish.    If I get tired out before new WIPGO numbers, it will be back to the French Alphabet.  Forward progress all around.

Believe it or not, I am itching to get outside in the yard.   Plans and grand project ideas are swirling around my head.  It is a while off still as we still have a good amount of snow cover because our temps have not been above freezing. 

Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching!