Mer-tivation

While the Mother's needle sits idle so she can finish her degree I have decided to focus on Mermaids for 2021 in anticipation of her Graduation SAL in exactly 1 year! With the release of Mirabilia's Echo Lake this plan was born, and the next day I pick up Enchanted Mermaid! 

Echo Lake is solid stitching and I would like to see other projects finished before I tackle this SAL and with that Mer-tivation was achieved!  

Aphrodite Mermaid will be a focus this year, my meager start not much to go on and at least 2 other mermaids are waiting in my start pile all kitted and calling like the sirens they are! This project currently satisfies 2 other categories I have devised to motivate my stitching:

1. Finish Friday- every Friday in 2021 will be devoted to stitching only WIPs from 2020 earlier, no new starts

2. Rainy Day Stitching- this is a new one to the blog and was inspired by Julie from Kansas City girl in a Colorado World who would work on one focus project every time it snowed. While snow days occur biyearly in Las Vegas this was not an option for me, but rainy days occur more often and what subject could be more perfect than focusing on the creatures that relish every last drop of water! 

#stitchingrainydays 

I have referred to this project as my "Unemployment Mermaid" and would joke that you needed to a job to purchase all those beads! Often toted as the most expensive of Mirabilia's to bead, I estimated a total cost $114 to kit all the beads.  A lack of income meant I needed to get creative, and after a trip to my local bead shop I was able to get all the called for beads (including 14 Swarovski Crystal drops) with only 1 substitution (the tiny blue flowers) for only $40! 

Is anyone else concerned that Swarovski is discontinuing their craft line? Have I missed the discourse in the cross stitch community and the implications? Should I be hoarding crystals? The Maiden

A February Finish!

 Another month down and I am halfway finished with this SAL! Stitched on 28ct tea dyed Monaco in 4 sittings, I was a little frustrated because I really only needed 2 days to stitch this but my sore muscles had other plans! 

Gentle Arts Avocado, Sarsaparilla, Aged Pewter, Dungarees and Baby Spinach were all used in this conversion. I also stitched the brown duck on a diagonal to give the variegation a more natural look. 

I wanted to try DMC Etoile and I am OBSESSED! It is like kreinik but easier to work with and the effect is subtler.  I used a nice dark green for the duck head and think I captured the way the feathers seem to glisten in the sun! The Maiden

Moon Rise

The moon is easily the most intimidating amount of stitching in this project, but surprisingly it stiches up lightening fast!  

I was able to get in 3 more days of stitching before 32ct fabric took it's toll on me physically. Having a sore neck and decreased mobility is no fun, so I took a break and will return to 28ct- which means a new start (or 3) is in my future! The Maiden

Arise forgotten WIPs

 2020 has finally caught up with me, all the stress and turmoil hitting me like a ton of bricks this month. With that in mind I have picked up Arise My Soul, by Rosewood Manor. Below is 3 days of progress, quite a difference! 

Having reached the point in my STASH where only large, fairly unstitched projects remain I am finding it difficult to determine which piece to work on next. I have been mulling over the idea of taking large sections (like above) and stitching until complete as a mini "finish." When I return to the project it will be less intimidating and I can hopefully avoid project fatigue. 

The Maiden

A Deer December

 Over the years the blog has taken on a feast or famine cycle and with my recent unemployment and the restrictions of the pandemic I find myself in a feast of stitches. I would normally like a finish to stay posted for much longer, really giving readers a chance to catch it, but my needle is too fast and Ghoul Tidings must now be replaced with December of the Joyful World SAL. 

Stitched in 3.5 Days on 28ct Coffee Tea dyed Monaco, I would have continued on with this SAL but I ran out of fabric! 

I used a blend of DMC 782 and GA Gold leaf for the deer, the resulting effect giving it a wonderful fur like look. Crescent Colors Brown sugar and Gentle Arts Avocado, Daisy, Cherry Wine, and Baby Spinach were also used in the conversion. 

My little Lane has unexpectedly become a lap cat after 12 years of being nearly feral coinciding with the changes in household that took place in November. While I am not complaining, it does make stitching a bit more difficult! The Maiden 

Finish Tidings

Restarted on February 10th and finished on the 16th I present Plum Street's Ghoul Tidings.  

Stitched on 28ct coffee tea dyed Blue Monaco in 5.5 days, I was so determined to finish this project that I taught myself to stitch with my left hand after an injury in my right!

The Maiden

Dark 13 Stitching Has Begun

I have decided to jump on the Dark 13 Stitching bandwagon, albeit a bit late, for 2021 and will work on Halloween themed projects on the 13th of every month. While I do anticipate some new starts, this month I decided to work on a Restart, technically a WIP but with the satisfaction of a new beginning.  

I was able to finish up the pumpkins on Plum Street's Ghoul Tidings this evening after meeting the Crone in St. George for some retail therapy- I truly have never seen plant nurseries like those I wondered through today!

Needless to say I drove home in an incredible rain storm with a car full of white roses and dwarf myrtle!

The Maiden