A number of cross stitch pieces were started this year so there are no before pictures. they were:
Michael Powell Scissor Keep, completed January 18, 2020:
"Historic Biltmore" by The Posy Collection, PC-776, originally started in July 2014, restarted on May 23, 2020(left photo) and finished September 13, 2020
~~~~~WIPS~~~~~
While "stay at home" orders here in Ohio are have mostly lifted, Covid is on the rise again in Ohio and (we're still on a "mandatory mask" order right now and cautioned to "go out" only if necessary), I have had the time to do quite a bit of stitching.
I re-started "Save the Stitches" last month. This WIP was started in February 0f 2014 and stopped at the end of block 69 in April of 2015 (Photo #1). This blackwork sampler by Elizabeth Almond is my last, and largest, WIP. I haven't progressed far (only three nights of stitching in November and December) (photo#2, close-up in photo #3), but restarting wasn't as onerous as I had anticipated.
No progress to report on "Butterfly on Scroll".
~~~~~SALs~~~~~
I have stitched on 4 SALs this past month, and completed two - the Linen & Threads 2020 SAL "Friends and Family", stitched on 28ct "Lavender Sunset" (not very lavender) Jobelin using Threadworx "Rocky Mountain (1070)! For photo, see above in the year-end report.
"52 Weeks of Blackwork" by Purple Peppermint; various randomly selected shades of pink, purple and blue DMC on 28ct tea-colored evenweave. Completed weekly installments Week 49 through 52. For photo, see above in the year-end report.
Two new SALs were started in December.
1. Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Magazine's "Christmas Quaker", on 28ct Sage Jobelin, Anchor floss as called for in the chart. The first installment, with one mistake and subsequent fudging:
2. The second SAL is the fifth and final SAL in Stitchonomy's Year os SALs: "Winter 2020", stitched on 16 ct Riviera Aqua Aida, using DMC threads as called for in the chart. The first installment is now public:
I still am not at all inclined to get out there and play, travel or otherwise risk my health. So I will continue to "stay home" a except when "necessary" (haircuts, doctor's appointments, financial consultant, and the like)...
- I will continue watching online chats, tutorials and the like for paper crafting which can take up as much as 8 hours a week that otherwise could be devoted to stitchery.
- I will continue to participate in the on-line art community, where members engage in facilitated learning through monthly mixed media art projects and challenges. The december challenge and project are...
- I gave up on the television episodes in my storage space on my DVR, purchased the series in iTunes, and restored my available storage to 90%+.
- I am sticking to my goal of at least 30 minutes a day of reading, both for pleasure (crime fiction and science fiction) and for enlightenment (I love histories and biographies).
What I HOPE to do in January is:
- a) work on the Faithwurx "Christmas Quaker" SAL (although I doubt the next installment will be out until February
- b) complete the Stitchonomy "Winter 2020" SAL
- c) work on "Save the Stitches"
I may, or may not, start SALs with Peppermint Purple (a companion piece to the 2020 SAL) and Linen & Threads (Talavera SAL for 2021). I haven't decided yet. Also, I'm thinking that I owe myself a new start that isn't an SAL... I've been eyeing the fabric and floss for Long Dog's "Pandemic" which sit atop my sewing basket in my bedroom, but it might be wiser to try something smaller... like the five chart Michael Powell "Place du Marché" (IF I have fabric and floss in my stash that will work)...
Meanwhile, I'm saying home, keeping healthy and hoping the same for all of you!