2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #11 - Time Spent with Cats is Never Wasted by Valentina Stitch Shop

Another fun monochrome today, and I'm sure no one is surprised. I purchased this way back in 2020 on Etsy and the shop doesn't seem to exist any more, so I'm not sure if you can find it anywhere. I had a really fun fabric that I thought would work well for this, as I'm also working through my Chromatic Alchemy FOTM club stash with all of these starts. 

Here's what the chart will look like eventually:

and the materials:

Fun fabric, no? I thought it gave a kind of motley look that you get with some cat fur patterns. Here's my start so far:

Time Spent with Cats is Never Wasted by Valentina Stitch Shop

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Chocolate Orange

with DMC 310

Fortunately, this pattern is compatible with Pattern Keeper. I really don't know how well I would stitch without it now, it makes life so much easier. Less counting, less stress with stitching, it's excellent. If you're eagle-eyed, you may notice some of the letters are slightly tweaked. I grew up making bubble letters, as all Gen X did, and I like the idea of making the letters look a little more like those letters from my childhood. 

Hope you've all had a good stitching day, 

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch

IHSW - September Conclusion

I delayed my IHSW post a day so I could show you another finish! Check out our wonderful host Joyce's blog for more info on IHSW and to cheer the other hermitters along. 

I managed to finish all the beading on Rejoice Tree so instead of just a little bit of progress here:

I can show you a finish!

Again, I stitched this 3 over 1 on 14 count Silkweaver's aida with Waterlilies Nefertiti. The trunk is DMC 938 since I ran out of the Waterlilies thread. The beads are Mill Hill gold petites and I love the effect. I made a star with beads instead of buying a star charm. So happy to have another finish!

Another WIP bites the dust, dun, dun, dun, another WIP bites the dust! And Another WIP gone and another WIP gone, another WIP bites the dust! Hey, gonna finish you too! Another WIP bites the dust!

In case you don't know the reference:

Also, if you noticed the unusual look of the first photo, I have a new stand! It was my family's birthday gift to me. It's the Artisan Design Ergo and I'm so happy it works well with my couch. Thank you again Suz for the recommendation! Here's a few more photos for you:

 the artsy photo :)

in place beside my stitching spot

Max is crazy...I don't understand how this is comfortable

Now that I've completed my Solo September piece, and I cannot say how awesome it was to bead with that new stand compared to beading while holding my Qsnaps, I put Spider Banner into the scroll frame attached to the stand. I had intended to pick up Princess and the Dragon, and I might still and try the stand with my Qsnaps like Suz mentioned. 

I hope everyone else had a great weekend too!

Happy Stitching,

Tiffstitch