For example, while I TRY to stitch at least 1.5 hours every night, paper crafting classes/events I have signed up for, illnesses (like a "mild" bout of Covid at the start of this September), road trips (where hotel lightning isn't sufficient for stitching), guests, and general all-around lack of motivation will result in those minutes stitching being prevented. Also, there were two two-year spans of time in the past ten years, when wrist issues (broken which required surgery and occupational therapy, followed by a ruptured tendon with more surgery and OT) resulted in a physical inability to stitch which, because that inability lasted a prolonged period of time, my motivation to pick back up where I had suspended stitching was difficult, and it took me nearly a year to get back into the stitching groove.
~~~~~Long-term WIPS~~~~~
When I checked in last month, I had only one long-term WIP in my project bag: The Elizabeth Almond "Save the Stitches" blackwork sampler, which is roughly 60% complete . No progress this month...
~~~~~Travelling Needlepoint~~~~~
Not having travelled since the pandemic, I have not been motivated to stitch on "Butterfly on Scroll" by Dimensions since February 2020. No road trips, no progress to report.
~~~~~Kits started in 2021~~~~~
There is one kit I started in 2021 that is still unfinished: "Hope & Strength" by Glenwood Place, stitched on Jade Lugana and using the recommended Dinky Dye threads. In June, I had competed the pink and purple stars in the lower border and started on the "white" filler/background to the stars. There has been no progress since August...
~~~~~ SALs started in 2022 ~~~~~
1. Lakeside Needlecraft SAL "Crystallised" which started January 2, exclusively designed by Oxana Polyakova, with monthly installments. Stitched on 36-ct white even-weave with DMC floss.
There were twelve installments in this SAL: Installment one - "Larimar", installment two - "Malachite", installment three -“Amber", installment four - "Obsidian", installment five - "Jasper”, installment six - “Quartz”, installment seven - “Tiger’s Eye” , installment eight -"Agate", installment none- "Amethyst", and installment ten - "Garnet" , installment eleven - "Lapis Lazuli", and installment twelve - "Opal". All twelve installments are now complete and I am still debating as to whether or not to add the stitched names. If I do, I will not used the called-for bright blue --- I'm leaning toward a cool gray...
In the photos below are "Opal" and the completed array of 12 crystals:
The fifth installment consisted of two houses: a Country House and a Brownstone,. I finished the Cozy Cozy Country House on August 14... and a Brownstone (after some creative adjustment for starting the stitching one row off, to say nothing of a two week delay due to Covid) on September 15.
Below are the brownstone and the set of ten houses so far...
4 A Stitchonomy pattern designed to be a companion to the "Spring 2022" SAL and the "Winter 2021": "Summer 2022" was complete in August. The "Autumn 2022" was released in late August and I am awaiting a shipment of floss so I can begin stitching, hopefully in October.
5. A Stitchonomy Halloween SAL called "A Cabinet of Curiosities" started in September when I was trying to complete the Faithwurks and Lakeside SALs so I only got started on the frame this past week. As you can see, it is currently mostly in half-crosses; the frame also includes significant back-stitching. So I have at least another week to go before I can begin on the interior of the piece. Right now, I have 16 installments in hand, not a single one started... which puts me at least two weeks behind... Luckily, those little installments should be quick stitches and I should be able to do at least two a session, if not more...
7. Two new SALs have caught my eye, both by Cliffside Stitches. One is a variation on medieval Egyptian blackwork and the other is a set of cross-stitched tiles based on variety of motifs that are reminiscent of traditional folk designs from around the world. I have not started either although I have ordered the floss for the blackwork piece.
~~~~~
In summary, this month I made progress on three SALs, completed nothing, acquired yet more potential projects, and started nothing new. This is beginning to sound a lot like all my reports! LOL
As usual, I wish you all to stay safe and keep well - having had my personal bout with the dreaded Covid, all I have to say is that if being double vexed and double boosted made this a less severe illness, I sure am glad I had the shots. Now to wait the recommended three months to get the bivalent booster, although both my husband and I are planning to get the annual flu shot ASAP...