December 16, 2024 An Update on What I have been Up to.

 I thought I would do an update post since its been a while since I posted a video or blog post. I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season getting a lot of your stitching time in and managing the holidays with joy. I am preparing for my husband to arrive home from work in California tomorrow. Once he arrives, we plan to head out to Salt Lake City to bring our youngest home from college for the holidays. I miss them both when they are away, and the adjustment has not been easy. I am managing to stay busy with my stitching, homemaking, and other things to keep my mind occupied.

I did a video a couple months ago, but I didn't post it. I worked on a piece for my daughter in law over three months, so I did not really have a lot to share. My stitching is slow going this year. I am not sure why it took me so long to get her piece finished.

The pattern is called "Cabinet of Curiosities" by Cloudsfactory on Etsy.

I also stitched a custom version of Midnight watch for my daughter, because she really liked my finish which I think I shared in the video I didn't post. In her version she did not want the border. She just wanted the cat, the house, and the pumpkins. She found a really cute frame to put it in and has it on her dresser. I also finished another stitch but I don't remember the name of the pattern just yet. I went out of my comfort zone and finished it on a cutting board I painted from Walmart's wood craft section. I am really happy with the way it turned out.

I was also able to get  a fully finish on a free pattern I stitched and put back last Christmas. I found the frame at the dollar store and the pattern fit perfectly!

I spent some time this past week going through and organizing my flosses. I wanted to practice my painting skills so I decided to make a board to hold all the flosses I had left over from projects. I am super happy with how organized these flosses are for me now. When I start a new pattern or need a color I can just go to my board first to see if the one I need is already on a floss drop.

I had three cross stitch patterns (WIPs) I UFO'd. I had nearly finished Ann Tong by Hands Across the Sea when I just decided to not finish it because I cut the fabric really short and only would have about a half inch border on one side. I also decided not to finish the full cross stitch Mona Lisa because it wasn't something I really wanted and had started it on a whim. I am keeping the patterns which also include a Carol Manning pattern in case I decide to restart them in the future. I have both cross stitch patterns for the Uffindale sisters from Hands Across the Sea. I know I will start them again someday.

I made a couple quilts this year. I made a quilt for my new grandson who arrived in November! His mother had requested a quilt for his crib made of black and green checker board squares. I was super happy to make it for her/him. I also realized I made everyone in the family a quilt except my son, so I put a quilt together for him also this year.

My daughter is a minister and she preforms weddings for friends so far. She requested I make her a cloak for an upcoming wedding and I thought I would not be able to do it since she wanted to make it out of wool We found the perfect fabric for it at Joann Fabrics and also a pattern by McCalls which called for 7 yards of fabric. I had to lay the fabric out on the floor to cut out the pieces. But, the cloak came tougher and she was the only one warm at the wedding ceremony which was held up on the mountain in national park.

I decided to knit my grandson a hoodie and a beanie cap. I am really happy with the way they both turned out and fits him!

Well that is all I can recall doing this year since my latest video on Flosstube. I am sure there is more, but I feel caught up and hope to do a video before the end of the year.

Amy