Marvelous Monday Update 5/13/2024

Last week I talked about my finishes.  How about this week we talk about my WIP, UFOs, and new starts?

As of April, these were my cross stitch WIPs and UFOs.  Do they really count as UFOs if I've worked on them here and there?  I dunno.

Works In Progress (aka WIPs)

In March, it was a pretty big deal when I finally finished the stitching part of Japanese Garden!

Now, I'm working on the beading.  There are a lot of beads!

Japanese Garden

Stitched on   White Evenweave

with Eterna Silk, Victoria Clayton Silk, and Krenik Braid

Currently I'm sewing on Delica Beads

Fa-La-La-Mingo

Stitched on 32ct Wichelt Linen "Sea Spray" 

with DMC and WDW threads

Designer: Hands On Design

Started April 2023

Eight Immortals

Progress as of 3/23/2024

Stitched on 16ct White Aida

with DMC threads

When finished, this will be 30"H x 24"L

UnFinished Objects (aka UFOs)

Balloon Glow

Pre-2014 Work in Progress

Elegance of the Orient

Pre-2017 Work In Progress

Swallows

Embarassed to say I haven't worked on this since 2019.

I think I better pull it out!

Winter White Santa

Even worse, I haven't touched this one since 2018.

I was so excited to start this, too.

A Peacock's Garden

I started this in 2019.

New Starts

It's been years since I've done a mailart exchange so I couldn't pass it up when the opportunity presented itself.

This is the only photo I will be showing until it reaches the recipient.  I'll be starting the stitching soon.

Spring Mail Art Floss Toss

Stitched on 28ct Hand-Painted Jobelan by JAR Designs

with DMC threads

I also signed up for a Patriotic Ornament Exchange.  This is the floss toss.

More info to come once it arrives at it's new home.

Until next time...

Are You A Planner?

This year, I thought I'd try doing a crafty planner again.  I've tried a couple times before and I didn't stick with it.  After seeing some YouTubers show how they used their planners, I thought I'd give it another try.

Have you checked into cross stitch planners. Whew, are they expensive!  I also didn't like that the pages were so pre-planned that I couldn't add other crafty endeavors.  So, what's a girl to do?

This girl went to Walmart and found a hardcover planner.  They don't have this exact one anymore, but the 2024-2025 one it available.

Planner by Mintgreen

I like that this planner allows you to see a month at glance and then has a daily/weekly section also.  It's hardcover with 2024 stamped in gold foil.  This and the flowers drew me in!  For the eco-conscious, the pages are printed with soy ink and are made from 60% recycled paper.  Pages are color coded making it easy to flip to the date I want to go to.  There are pages in the back for notes.  As time goes on, you'll see how I turn this into a very functional crafty planner. 😃

With some sprucing up, the title page looks quite "crafty", don'tcha think?

After the title page, there is the typical "personal information" page.

I didn't need this page, so I covered it with scrapbook paper and added my own flair.  I have a lot of scrapbook paper that I plan on using up with this planner.

Isn't this much better?  And cuter!

At the beginning of each month, there is a Notes page.  I started off January by documenting my most recent start.

On the opposite side, I decided to list out all the WIPs for each of my hobbies.  Quite a lot!

I didn't start the planner until the beginning of February so I had to go back and try to fill in January's activities.  I make notations of what I worked on each day.  I also keep track of unusual weather conditions.  We had a LOT of snow the second week of January so I spent a lot of time shoveling and snowblowing.

February's Month-At-Glance is much more fun.

If you take a look in the upper right corner of the monthly page, there's a section for notes that I've turned into "To Do" projects.  If any are completed, then I cross them off the list.  Any that aren't done are usually carried forward to next month.  I did finish a couple things on my February list. 😃

I can be more detailed on the daily/weekly pages since there's more room.

There are a couple of pages for addresses and phone numbers in the planner.  I turned these into Finishes pages.  I love the banner font!

March was a very busy month!  In addition to my typical crafty endeavors, I went to the Hoosier Retreat.  It'd been four years since we all had seen each other.  Thank you, Pandemic.

Month-At-A-Glance

Week-At-A-Glance

Mr B turned two while I was at the retreat

Another March Week-At-A-Glance

Had to document JG stitching finish!

I added a ribbon bookmark to my planner.  I didn't want the monthly tabs to get bent up due to my constant accessing the pages to make my notations.  More stuff used up from my stash.  Win-Win!

I went overboard on the stashing in March. ::sigh::  It was fun, though!

As I previously said, there are pages at the back of the planner designated for notes.  I turned several of the pages into pages for the Hoosier Retreat.

While I was away, it snowed at home and Baxter celebrated his second birthday with his first ever taste of ice cream topped with two mini dog biscuits for candles. Lucky dog!

Both furbabies were happy to see me come back and take them for a ride home.

April came in with more snow. Then the solar eclipse made it's way through followed by Earth Day.  Lots of crafty stuff going on, too.

Hopefully these layouts give you an idea of where I'm going with a typical planner.  So far it's been fun and I'm using up my paper crafting supplies.  Another Win-Win!

Until next time...

Marvelous Monday Update 5/6/2024

Hello!  Did you miss me?  More than one person lately has asked if I would update my blog.  It's been quite a few years... Yes, YEARS.  So, here I am... 💖 and where do I start?

How about we start with my cross stitch endeavors.

First up are the finishes. I've had a few...

American Sampler

Stitched on 28ct Wichelt Alma Cloth Linen "Gray Mist" 

with GAST, Classic Colorworks, WDW, DMC, 

and Needle Necessities Inc threads

Designer: Plum Street Samplers 

Started March 2020 - Finished September 2021

Flag Waving Santa

Stitched on 32ct Belfast Linen in the color Platinum 

with GAST, DMC, and Needle Necessities threads

Designer: Homespun Elegance

Finished on prim board from Homestead Needleworkes 

and embellished with cording, ribbon, and buttons

Started September 2021 - Finished December 2021

Let It Snow

(partial design)

 Stitched on 28ct "Splash" Lugana by Picture This Plus 

with DMC and Carries Creations floss

Designer: Wilst Irish Naps Designs

Started December 2021 - Finished January 2022

Ode to the Ort #2

Limited Edition Kit

 Stitched over-one on 28ct Wedgewood Brittany Lugana 

with WDW, GAST, and Classic Colorworks threads.

Mounted on a tin box with lavender 1/8" ric rac. 

I left off the strawberry as I didn't care for a dangly thing hanging from the lid. 

I added a big magnet on the underside of the lid as a needle minder.

Designer: Brenda Gervais for With Thy Needle and Thread.

Started April 2022 - Finished August 2022

Penguin Hugs Ornament 

 Stitched on 28ct Zweigert Lugana Wedgewood Brittany with DMC threads. 

 Embellished with seed beads, #32 Krienik blending fillament, 

snowflake buttons, and 3/16" ruched ribbon for trim

This was for an ornament exchange I participated in.

Designer: Paw Printings - JCS Christmas Ornaments c2004

Started and Finished October 2022

Stitch Some Happy

 Stitched with DMC on a random piece 32ct cream colored linen from my stash

with DMC threads.  I've switched up some of the colors

Designer: Hands On Design

Started and Finished October 2022

It's still sitting on my craft table waiting to be finished. 😐

Happy Harvest

Stitched on 32ct Ivory Lugana (I think!)

with DMC and WDW threads

Designer: Cherry Hill Stitchery

Started and Finished October 2022

Costume Party SAL

Stitched on 28 Cashel Linen by Silkweaver called Sudden Storm with DMC floss. 

 Finished into a flatfold using a version of my own tutorial HERE. 

Embellished with rick rack, ribbon, and buttons

Designer: Hands On Design

Started August 2022 - Finished December 2022

Emerald City

Stitched on 28ct Jobelan Silver Opalescent fabric hand-dyed by me

Kit threads, DMC, Carries Creations, and WDW

I changed out some of the floss colors so they'd show up better on the fabric.

Designer: Owl Forest Embroidery

Started January 2022 - Finished February 2023

Merry Christmas to Ewe

Stitched on Linen Banding with DMC floss

Designer: Faithwurks Designs

Started and Finished March 2023

Flamingle Bells

Stitched on  32ct Wichelt Linen called Sea Spray

with DMC and WDW threads

Designer: Hands On Design

Started April 2023 - Finished August 2023

Merry Christmas 2003

Stitched on 28ct unknown sage linen 

with DMC and Needle Necessities floss

Designer: Glory Bee

From the JCS Christmas Ornaments 10th Anniversary Collection

This was for another ornament exchange I participated in.

Started October 2023 - Finished November 2023

Christmas Parade

Stitched on 28ct Picture This Plus Cashel Linen called Crystal DaVinci 

with DMC threads

Designer: Cottage Garden Samplings

Refurbished frame and custom mixed paint to coordinate with stitched piece
 Started 12/24/2023 - Finished 2/12/2024

Framed 3/31/2024

Patriotic Tiny Town

Stitched on 32ct Ivory Lugana 

with DMC and Classic Colorworks

Designer: Heart in Hand

Started and Finished March 2024

Field Poppies

Stitched on 28ct Lugana with DMC floss

I hand-dyed the fabric a mottled gray-purple

Designer: The Cricket Collection

Started and Finished April 2024

Whew!  That was a lot.

Until next time... Keep crossing those X's