2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start # 14 - Michigan by Print and Decor

Today's new start is one of the ones I've intentionally bought to finish and gift for someone. We met this family at pre-school story time at the local library many years ago. DD and their second daughter became fast friends, meeting for the first time when they were only a few months old. They were in pre-school together, but didn't have classes together after this since teachers noticed they tended to distract each other from paying attention in class. 

They spent tons of time together over the years, but they had to move to Michigan to look after a family member a few years ago, so we don't see them as often. DD and her friend do video chat sometimes and we've managed to squeeze in some visits over the years as well. 

This chart seemed to encompass Michigan pretty well, and I can't remember if these were designs on quarters in the US or not. They've come out with several designs, and this might be one of them. 

This company still exists on Etsy and you can find other fun charts here. 

I found a nice variegated dark silk in my Gloriana stash, and a kind of stormy blue which fits Michigan well. Lake Michigan gets some truly epic weather. 

Again, this is a lake, but a Great Lake, so they can have some severe weather events. I grew up near Lake Huron, and it does not have the same extreme weather as Lake Michigan or Lake Superior. Even in areas of Lake Huron you can't see the other side though, so it's still really big. 

Random Lake Superior fact, it has an island in the middle of it that also has a lake in it! It's called Superior for a reason, it's the largest and deepest of all five of the Great Lakes. 

Back to stitching though, here are the materials:

And I managed to stitch on this for 2 days and got a decent amount completed:

Michigan by Print and Decor

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Rai by Chromatic Alchemy 

with Gloriana #001

I made an error somewhere on the right, but I think I can frog it and manage to keep it looking like the chart by the end. Hopefully I'll remember that when I get back to it too!

Fortunately this is on Pattern Keeper as well, so that makes it easier for me to keep track as well. 

I hope you've all had good stitching days!

Happy Stitching,

Tiffstitch

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #1 - EduCATed by Bent Creek

I've started a few projects, but hadn't had much time to post, but here we go with the first start of 2026!

I have a fair amount of small projects, but some larger ones as well to work on over the year. I'm hoping I can keep doing a WIP down and finish up some of my older projects as well as some of the new small ones. 

Starting the year off with a smallish project, EduCATed by Bent Creek. Here's my progress so far:

EduCATed by Bent Creek

Stitched 2 over 2 on scrap 28ct evenweave

with stash threads, WDW and Gloriana so far

This was a fun little one to start with. I have lots of stash threads hanging around, and I found a decent amount of variegated grey which should turn into a nice look for the cat fur. The books should be easy to make moderately colourful, so I'm looking forward to getting back to this one. 

I have 2 banker's boxes that are almost full with all the projects I'd like to start this year. Once I start them, I put them back in a box at the front, so I know which ones I've started. 

Hope everyone had a good stitching day!

Tiffstitch