Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 - Days 13-17

We made it! The Olympics are over and there were many, many amazing milestones for different athletes and countries. Also for Rachel, she has another finish! Check it out over at her blog. I didn't come close to finishing mine, and wasn't expecting to. I did get a lot done and am enjoying it so much I almost want to stick with it a while longer. But I do also want to progress on Triumphant Ride and I've completely ignored it so far this month. 

Here's where Mini Winter Magic was when the Olympics started:

Day 13 - I finally had a chance to watch some of the cross country skiing and enjoyed the women's relay. I hadn't seen it before and was curious if they got to give each other a push like in speed skating or just a tag. I was guessing there was no baton, but could be a flag or something? It was a touch, and the other skier sets off. There was a lot of excitement in hockey today as well. Team Canada men's was ousted from all medals! The bronze medal in women's hockey was won by Finland, who repeated their win from 2018, the first time that has ever been accomplished in women's hockey. Other excitement was at short track speed skating where the Canadian men's relay team won gold! One of the skaters, Charles Hamelin, is now tied for most medals at Winter Olympics with Cindy Klassen, also a short track speed skater. 

Day 14 - The big news for me today was Canada's win over the US in women's hockey. It was a nail-biter and I ended up getting up early to watch it before I had to go into work instead of staying up late. A really great game by both teams and so exciting to watch. Women's ski cross happened today as well and I loved watching how close some of the races were. There was a little controversy at the end because the athlete that came third was penalized for getting in the way of another racer and ended up losing out on the medal. It seems a little harsh because she had moved to not hit the person in front of her and only inadvertently got in the way of the racer behind her. But I'm not a judge, and it took them so long to decide, they were really trying to get it right for everyone. 

Day 15 - More excitement today with men's ski cross and women's freeski halfpipe. That is still amazing to watch and terrifying at the same time. The tricks they can manage on skis are almost as scary to watch as the snowboard tricks. There was also an exciting long track speed skating event in the mens' 1000m. The athlete from the Netherlands that won gold had missed out on winning recently because of different issues during races and yet was still ranked #1. It was a very fast race for the top 3 and we watched the medal ceremony after as well. 

Day 16 - Both long track speed skating and cross country skiing had mass start events today. There is quite the confusion with both, especially at the start as everyone tries to jockey for position. The speed skating race has certain times skaters can sprint and they get points for winning the sprint. The highest points earned are winning the entire race though. I think the points for sprint might only come in if maybe you were 4th for the entire race, but won all the sprints, etc. I doubt that happens very often though. In both the men's and women's races it seemed like different skaters won each sprint. The women's race was particularly exciting because a Canadian athlete was leading almost the whole time and just got beat at the end when she had no legs left. You could see she was giving it all, but couldn't make it. So fun to watch and she was a great sport too. That's mostly what I've seen from all the athletes in events I've watched. 

Day 17 - It's the end! They had some fun events today, the figure skating gala is always fun to watch and the women's curling finish, go GB! Also big news in men's hockey when Finland won the gold! I haven't even had time to watch the closing ceremonies, and I think I don't make time sometimes because it's a little sad. I do love the Winter Olympics. The below video is from 2018, I had trouble finding anything that would play. 

And now, to show how far along Mini Winter Magic made it! I did get to just 60% complete, and I'm very happy with that progress. There's a definite difference and I think I managed over 4K stitches over the 17 days. That's pretty decent progress for me. 

Mini Winter Magic by HAED

stitched 1 over 1 full cross on 28ct Monaco as charted

And now to try and put this one down and catch up on Triumphant Ride! I will try and post before we start the Paralympics where it's a rush to get all the dragons complete, if possible. And March Madness! Have I done a final choice of which 4 projects to start? Of course not. I'll winnow those down this week as well. 

I hope you're all staying well and enjoying your stitching. Like Cathy mentioned, it will maybe be faster stitching from me now that the Olympics are over. I do tend to watch, especially the exciting events and my stitch counts aren't great. 

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch

March Round-Up and One Fully Finished Gallery Entry!

Maybe some day I'll have time and opportunity to do these wrap-ups at the beginning of the month instead of the middle, but not this time. :) I'll hold out hope for April since I have plans for May at this point. 

I kept Amazing Animal Kingdom as my focus project, and also had several others come out for a little bit of work. 

Do Not Meddle by Dragon Fire Designs

stitched 1 over 1 on 28ct Monaco as charted

Mini Winter Magic by HAED

stitched 1 over 1 full crosses on 28ct Monaco (added some white above the dragons)

Lots to go on this, but a lot is in 032 Kreinik and that seems to be out everywhere, so I'm in no hurry on this one. 

Canadian Hero (Terry Fox) by Stitching Jules Designs

stitched 1 over 1 on 25ct easy guide as charted

I haven't been back to this since I started, but hope to finish his face first and make sure I'm happy with it before continuing with the rest. 41 years and 2 days ago Terry Fox started his Marathon of Hope in the far east of Canada. 

In Harmony by Dimensions

stitched 2 over 1 (or as charted) with kit threads and fabric

This one is my oldest WIP right now I think, so I use it for "penalty" stitching in one of the Facebook groups. It's had a decent amount of progress in the last few months, so a finish this year might be within the realm of possibility. 

Under the Sea SAL hosted by Lakeside Needlecraft by Durene Jones

stitched 2 over 2 as charted except for this part, the submarine is charted as grey

Diamond Painting! Tried something new when I wasn't feeling cross stitch one day. That has happened a lot in the last year, and will likely continue until things are more settled and "normal". Who knows when that will be. This was fun and it's a fairly small project as these things go, so something I might pull out again to work on this year and eventually finish. It will be a wolf face. These are square drills/diamonds and I think round would be better, but I'll finish it with what I have. 

Amazing Animal Kingdom by Aimee Stewart charted by HAED

stitched 2 over 1 tent stitch on 32ct experimental fabric by Chromatic Alchemy

I'm almost done a second page on this one, below the first page. I didn't quite manage it by the end of the month because of getting caught by a mini-obsession. 

Patsy Pine by Mill Hill

stitched 3 over 1 on perforated paper as charted

I picked this up again at the end of the month to see where I could get to. I felt like it was going pretty well, and although this my March 31st stitching, this project is now finished, as well as 3 others. 

Yes, my mini-obsession is trying to get things finished in April! So I haven't touched Animal Kingdom at all and it is safe in a project bag until I get back to it. I haven't taken it out of the qsnap because I'd been planning to get to it, but I think I might go ahead and do that since I still have new startitis and might do a full 31 starts in May. 

I took a day to sort out some options for projects, kit things up, and tried to keep it somewhat reasonable. I still have plans for the new starts during the Olympics with Rachel and those projects are already set. Unless I change my mind again. :) 

And you saw this one in my GG post, but here it is again, a big finish for me!

Kiss for a Snowman by Dimensions

stitched 2 over 1 or as charted with kit threads and fabric

And finally my FFO!

Happy Easter freebie

stitched 1 over 1 with Dinky Dyes oops threads on scrap of 18ct CA fabric

I glued this to a card and then forgot to give it to DD for Easter, so it will wait till next year. That sounds so unlike me.... 

I'm still debating on 31 new starts. I don't need that many of course, but it's not about that. I was trying to organize some things and noticed I'd been running out of room for fabric, so started thinking I could start more things, or at least kit them up and have things earmarked for certain projects. That got me back to thinking about just going ahead and starting things I've been wanting to right now instead of waiting till July. I easily found enough projects, and took a day to more fully whittle things down. I have 22 fully kitted, so that's a good start. That may or may not be what's driving my desire to finish things this month, and I have 4 complete already, so maybe another 4 will be possible before the end of the month. That would put a good dent in the WIPs at least. 

I hope you've all had a good April so far. Stay well and Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch

September Crazy Domino Event - Projects 10-12

 It's time again for another update on this crazy project. The goal is to work on a lot of WIPs and try and link them in whatever way you can manage. I've linked some for same designer, same animal, the moon was in both, etc. 

Project 10 brings us to one that's been hanging around for a while. It was linked because there's a girl in this one, just like in Full Moon. It's part of 3 projects I'm stitching on one piece of fabric and I finished the second project earlier this year. This is letter G from Letters from Nora. I had stitched some previously, but had miscounted, so had to frog it all and start again. This is the start:

Letter G from Letters from Nora by Nora Corbett

stitched as charted 2 over 2 on 28ct Nuriel's Forest by Chromatic Alchemy

since I'm on 1000 stitches now, 1000 stitches got me to here:

and a pic of all 3 together:

There's some hope I'll finish by a certain birthday in November, but I'm not holding out hope. I have a back-up project, so maybe this can be a Christmas finish. 

Project 11 is one that I've had out a fair bit this year. Because fairies are romantic, and the next project has a kiss, I linked them that way. This is Kiss for a Snowman, a Dimensions kit, that started here:

and after 1100 stitches, of which many were half stitches in the background, it's here:

Kiss for a Snowman by Dimensions

stitched 2 over 2 as charted on kit fabric

Again, there's some chance this will be a finish this year. I'm wondering if December will be a kind of "race to the finish" month where I try and get a lot of stuff done that's fairly close. 

Lastly, I linked Project 12 through the fact they both take place in winter. This is where Mini Winter Magic was when I last set it down a couple months ago:

Mini Winter Magic by HAED

stitched as charted 1 over 1 full cross on 28ct monaco

It's funny how little difference 1200 stitches makes in a project this size, but there is some change, more depth to the dragons, etc. The challenges are great for this type of stitching, sort of stick in and get it done. 

And that's where we're at so far. I will admit to slowing down a bit as stress has crept up again, but I hope to get at least another couple projects done. If I can get to 15 for the month, I'll be happy with that. 

I hope you're all staying well and happy stitching!

Tiffstitch

Gifted Gorgeousness - August 2020 Edition

I missed last month and am almost missing this month too! So that means lots of photos, hopefully no one minds. :) Please check out the list at Jo's amazing blog if you haven't already, and see what everyone else has stitched.

1) for DD

 Loved You Yesterday by Cherry Hill Stitchery

stitched with stash threads on 14count damask aida

2) for DD

 Mini Winter Magic by HAED

stitched 1 over 1 full cross on 28ct Monaco

3) for parents

 Woodland Santa by Mill Hill 

stitched as charted with kit threads and beads

4) for DD

 mini Faery Tales by HAED

stitched 2 over 1 on 18ct aida as charted

5) for DD

 Moon and Back by Heart in Hand

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct linen with Gloriana silks

6) for Clare-Aimetu 

 free flower from Durene Jones FB page

stitched as charted to send to Clare for her flower tree

7) for DD

Princess and the Dragon by Charting Creations

stitched 1 over 1 full cross on 28ct Amarinthine by Chromatic Alchemy 

8) for DD

Kiss for a Snowman by Dimensions

stitched as charted with kit threads and aida

9) for Dad

Siberian Forest QS by HAED

stitched as charted 1 over 1 full cross on 28ct Monaco

I was debating about putting the last one as its own post because it's so exciting to have finished it! My first ever HAED finish! But I'll put it in here and work on FFO'ing it for Rachel's FFO post next month. My dad is having a big birthday this year, so I think it will be a good gift. He does love tigers. I also debated keeping it, but I think I'd like to pass it on. I have others I want to finish and put up in our house too. I swear Pattern Keeper is amazing. This never would have been finished without that app. 

I hope you've all had good months! I plan on getting another post up soon with plans for the rest of the year now that we're almost out of August and I feel that I've caught up on some things I wanted to work on. 

Happy Stitching! and stay well!

Tiffstitch

Gifted Gorgeousness - June 2020 Edition

I'm squeaking in just under the wire this month and I hope you've had a chance to read everyone else's posts by now. If not, please check them out at our amazing host, Jo's blog.

Princess and the Dragon - for DD

 stitched 1 over 1 on 28ct Amarinthine by Chromatic Alchemy

almost 60% done

Mini Winter Magic - DD

 stitched 1 over 1 on 28ct white Monaco as charted by HAED

close to 30% complete

Just Breathe - for a friend

 charted by FiddlesticksAU

stitched 2 over 2 mostly on 28ct Realgar by Chromatic Alchemy

with stash threads

Ballet Silhouette #2

 charted by Lanarte

stitched 2 over 2 with DMC 310 on L'Amour with Hearts by Chromatic Alchemy

Squirrelly - for a friend

kit by Mill Hill and stitched as charted, with beads

You've seen several of these before, but I don't think I've updated Mini Winter Magic in a while, so now you can see how that's progressing as well. I usually prefer to stitch left to right, but I had finished a page on it for a HAED challenge a couple years ago and decided to stitch it 1 over 1 full cross instead of the 2 over 1 tent stitch I'd started on the left side. I've been frogging those areas and stitching from the right instead. Probably it's a good brain exercise too to stitch in a different way than I usually do. 

Happy Stitching!

Gifted Gorgeousness - March 2020 Edition

Here we are, halfway through March already and it's that time again to show off the projects we've been given or are giving away to someone.

Check out Jo's blog for all the fun and I hope you've all been staying safe and healthy! Also, thank you so much for your kind words. I am glad that I caught the flu well before COVID-19 showed up in the US and didn't have that worry as well. I do work in health care, so being extra cautious is the current norm. Stay safe everyone!

On to the fun stuff, stitching! All of these are likely for DD. :)

Mini Winter Magic got a fair bit of progress while I was recovering. I thought it would be good to work on some confetti since my stitching speed was fairly slow anyway and enjoy the process.

 Mini Winter Magic by HAED stitched 1 over 1 full cross on 28ct white Monaco

Princess and the Dragon - it's over halfway complete! 55% according to Pattern Keeper, and that app makes stitching this so much easier! I still feel a finish this year is out of the question, especially as the conference I usually stitch at is being reschedule for who-knows-when, but you never know. I'm very much enjoying it. 

 Princess and the Dragon by Charting Creations

stitched 1 over 1 full cross on 28ct Amarinthine by Chromatic Alchemy

Letters from Nora (H) - look what finally came back out! I do think it's possible to get both this one and the G complete this year, so I think they may stay out for a while. 

 Letters from Nora H

stitched 2 over 2 as charted on 28ct Nuriel's Forest by Chromatic Alchemy

Butterfly Quote - this has come out recently for the Jodyri/KLT/Circus competition this month. It's on Facebook if you're interested, although we're well underway at this point. At certain times you have to stitch with hand-dyed thread, or on a Jodyri/KLT/Circus design, so this is a Jodyri design with Jodyri thread mostly. It may get a little more work this month as well. 

 Butterfly Quote by Jodyri Designs

stitched 2 over 2 on 14ct aida with mostly Jodyri and one WDW thread

Look for Rainbows - this is a new start for the competition and I liked the concept of this one, even though it's quite simple. 

 Look for Rainbows by Circus Stitches

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Jodyri Pink Elephants on Parade with Soie Cristal Mer and as charted for the rainbow letters

Mini Waterhole Master - I hope to get another 2K or so into this one this month and then pick up Faery Tales again. I'm trying to work in 4K blocks to see decent progress on each one before switching. 

Mini Waterhole Master by HAED

stitched 1 over 1 full cross on 28ct Crafty Kitten Sunrise fabric

And I'm back full in the swing of stitching, plus the current level of stress has me stitching more to help my anxiety, so look for more progress coming up. 

Fingers crossed we can get ahead of this globally. 

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch

IHSW - January 2020 Edition

Look, I'm posting again! We'll see if I can actually keep up with it this year; I will certainly try my best.

Today's post is brought to you by the IHSW last weekend hosted by Jo, naturally. :) Please check her post to see her progress on that amazing Discworld Mappe. Or check out everyone on Facebook in the IHSW group there.

I don't think I've actually posted anything there yet, but perhaps I'll try and keep up with that as well.

It was a fairly busy stitching weekend as I'm going to count the US holiday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day as part of my weekend. I worked Saturday, but was off Monday, so I think that works. I was also still stitching in the Serial Stitcher event in Semi-Sane stitchers. The murderer was caught, but there was enough time in the month that we're doing it again, so I'm still stitching almost every night. I hadn't stitched much the night the murderer was caught, so that was excellent timing on the Sheriff's part. :)

Also, Stitchy Quest for the One Ring had a team event these last few days, Hobbits vs. Spiders to represent Bilbo fighting them in Mirkwood forest. I was on team Hobbit and we emerged victorious!

On to the stitching, I managed another finish, so this is number 2 for 2020:

Sleigh Ride by Mill Hill 

stitched as charted 

This was a fun little stitch as long as you don't mind beads. There's always lots of beads in these kits, and many surplus beads too, so I have quite a collection now of just beads from these kits. I haven't used them in anything else and I don't mind French knots, so not sure how I'll use them. Maybe DD will be interested in them for something when she gets older. She loved this and immediately claimed it for her room. That was pretty amazing. 

 Mini Faery Tales by HAED

stitched 2 over 1 full cross on 18ct beige aida as charted, about 2800 stitches into it

I'm a little farther than this now, since all the black is good block stitching to try and accumulate stitch counts quickly for some of these events, but this is where it was on Monday night. :) 

Mini Winter Magic by HAED

stitched 1 over 1 full cross on 28ct Monaco

Since I had time Monday to stitch in the morning while DD had school, I decided to work on some confetti heavy areas. I'm still so amazed how easy it is to stitch these with Pattern Keeper. It is truly amazing and I'm so excited about actually finishing one of these some day soon. 

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Happy Stitching,

Tiffstitch

Challenges 2020

I've joined several FB groups and there are many different challenges in each one. Instead of trying to keep up with blog posts, which only worked occasionally when I was able to keep up with everything, I'm going to try and have them all as pages. I'm not sure how well this will work with the Weekly Challenges, as they might get complicated. Possibly I'll add individual pages for each group if it gets too busy.

For now, if you check the top of my blog, there are tabs with Weekly Challenges, Monthly Challenges and Yearly Challenges. I'm hopeful I can maybe keep the pages up to date and post weekly a quick "Hey, check out the challenges if you'd like to help" kind of thing. :)

As of right now, I've worked on 3 full coverage projects this year. Mini Winter Magic, Mini Faery Tales and Mini Waterhole Master. They currently look like this:

HAED Mini Winter Magic on 28ct Monaco stitching 1 over 1 full crosses

 HAED Mini Waterhole Master on 28ct Sunrise by Crafty Kitten stitching 1 over 1 full crosses

HAED Mini Faery Tales on 18ct aida 2 over 1 full crosses

And for my non full coverage piece this year so far, I finished Ocean Curiosity!!

Ocean Curiosity by Who Knew?!? stitched 2 over 1 on 18ct aida with WDW Michael's Navy

I'll do my best to maybe update on Sundays with challenges, and please feel free to comment on the pages with suggestions or send me an email. I really appreciate the help!

I hope you're all having a good weekend. We had freezing rain and now it's snowed on top of everything, so it's time to stitch and not much else today. 

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch