March Progress

My guild had a small patriotic project and I chose to sign-up.    This was a quickie and a patriotic piece so I didn’t hesitate.   I have been refraining more and more from jumping in to all the projects that are offered by guild's and at my EGA.  I used to participate mainly because I wanted support each group’s programs.  I have since decided it is ok to be more selective.   Like everyone else, I have my own ‘store’ of projects many that have been collecting dust longer than they should have. 

 

Once I finished work on my two WIPGO assignments, I threw myself into working on my Civil War Quilt.   The final shipment, Month 13,  arrived mid-January and I was still on Month 6.  Oy!     Long ago I accepted that I am a one-trick pony when it comes to genres’ of crafting. I made a pledge to make quilt work a priority in March.   The challenge was not to finish but for some sizable progress.    I managed to compete 8 blocks, a bunch of the sashing pieces and cornerstones.   From there, I started making more rows. 

As you can see, I am still waiting for a warm, non-windy day to take what I have done and lay it out on the patio for a good look at it.  It seems I just don’t have the floor space inside.

I next up, I need to make a whole bunch of the 9-patch cornerstones.   I have enough sashing cut and assembled; I have 7 more blocks assembled that are not sewn into rows yet; and, only 15 more blocks to cut.   Block by block, I am getting there.   Watch out rainy days in April because I will be back at it.

I put about 7 hours of work on American Sampler.   I am not one to keep track of my hours but I managed to dedicate my daily stitching time for a week on this one.   This is about 3/4 of page one of 6 pages.  It is slow going but I can see progress.     Another tree, a complete set of wings, a flag, some border work, a flowering vine, a bee skep, shrubs and a fence.   

Unfortunately I did not touch my French Alphabet yet in March.  I will be going to Salty Yarns for a small stitching-only get together this coming weekend and it is all I plan to work on for the weekend.

Outside I have been picking up sticks and watching the daffodils start to peak through the soil.    Early in March, we had an unseasonably warm day and I tackled one of the beds I usually neglect.    This past week I managed two more yard days and was able to clean two more beds.  Last year I had absolutely no mojo for the yard.  I feel like I am going to change that this year with my early start.  It does feel good to have my hands back in the dirt!   My focus will be maintaining what I have established already.   For the veggie garden, I am thinking maybe planting blueberries and blackberries and fewer vegetables.   The jury is still out on that.   

Hopefully in April I can continue  to get my WIPGO’s done, complete the monthly HOD ornament, have some quilt progress and the yard work.  Just writing it, I know it will be a tricky balancing act!  We shall see.

Thanks for stopping by.   I love reading your comments which I appreciate greatly -  I am just not so good at following up on them.   I go in spurts with that task.  For now, just keep on stitching, keep on creating and find beauty in everyday things.

February and March WIPGO and more

My babysitting has picked up again.   My son had a temporary schedule change. Temporary being 15 to 18 months but at the end he will move into a Captain’s position.  So a possible monkey wrench gets thrown into my comings and goings.  And an even worse monkey wrench into their lives.  I wish I was closer than 65 minutes so I could help more easily.  

After a long period of snow cover, we could see the ground again, for about 2 days.  I can’t remember when we have had a snow fall last so long.  Then we got hit by the Blizzard of ‘26.  We got about 12 inches but since the ground had been warm for several days, the sidewalks and roads were melted and cleared the next day.  I am happy to get one good snowfall each winter and this year I got two!   And 8 days later it was in the 60’s!

I’ve done a thing……I joined a Patreon.   Why do I just have to jump in with friends.  FOMO, I guess.  Enough true confessions.   I joined the HOD Ornaments Patreon.   I have always “planned” to do an ornament each month so maybe this year I will accomplish that goal.  I did not order the finishing supplies because I have a ton.   I can use that to justify the enrollment.  I plan to do as much as I can from my bulging buckets of finishing supplies.   So you see, I am eliminating hoards of stash.   Sounds good to me.    Seriously though, the selling point was the monthly finishing tutorials.   

The candle above is the second in the series.  One of the best things about this ornaments “club” is the first five use the same colors.   My rack of floss can sit at the ready by my stitchy spot.  

WIPGO call for March had me working on # 3 and #4.  Heart in Hand 2025 Collector’s Heart and  ABC Bonhomme de neige.   Both are new starts.   WIPGO is meant to eliminate WIPs.  I added each to my board because they are the smallish side and because I have wanted to do them since purchasing I just don’t seem to ever get to either one.  

Actually, I no longer have enough WIPs to fill the board so there really isn’t a need to rationalize!  When the space opens up, they will get added to the mix as a take-along piece.   Because each appears on my 2026 WIPGO board two more times, I am fairly confident that  neither will carry over to 2027 WIPGO.   One can have fantasies.

    

For ABC Bonhomme de neige, I substituted DMC for the called for Gentle Arts.   First of all, I am using things from stash and second, these are small motifs and I think the DMC will work fine.   The fabric also from stash. It is 32 ct. Picture This Plus in the color Glacier.  It is more blue that it appears here.   You know how we all don’t like stitching with white?   I am actually using a laying tool on all the white stitches.  Craziness!

Now here’s a different sort of work.   The owner of the cross stitch store Floss and Flame in Dover, Delaware went to the Nashville Market.  My friend and I helped out by covering her store with her kids while she is in Nashville.  A different experience.   I don’t know how much help we really were but it was fun to see all the shoppers that were attending a nearby retreat.  

I am sticking to my resolve as far as the monthly ornament and WIPGO.   The first week to 10 days of each month are being devoted to WIPGO and my HOD ornament.   After that, I have been working on my two larger samplers.   Not this month though.   So this may be the only cross stitch you see for March.  I promised myself to spend March on quilting and on a scrapbook book I halfway finished for my daughter’s big 5-0.  Unfortunately she was gifted with a concept and a partial book   It really involved much more time than I had allowed to get it done.  

Another reason there may not be much cross stitch going on……the weather.  I know it will find me outside.

As always, thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching, crafting, sewing, knitting…..being creative.