Adventures in April 2021

Here we are, not quite at the middle of the month and I'm finally getting my April post together. I think this is a little better than last month, plus I've been posting every day, so I'm not too worried about how long it's taken to get everything together. 

I think I mentioned about trying to get some finishes in April of some WIPs and I did manage a few. I had no particular pattern in mind, just grabbed whatever seemed relatively close to a finish and what I was interested in actually getting finished last month. First off was a recent start from Mischievous March:

Patsy Pine by Mill Hill

stitched 3 over 1/2 over 1 as charted

using kit perforated paper, floss and beads

I liked these ones, there wasn't too any beads really, mostly cross stitch for the majority of this project. 

Next up was one I'd started a couple years ago for the Jodyri vs. KLT challenge group. I don't really have time to check on that group any more, so I'm not sure if it's still active. 

Blackwork Poppy by Jodyri Designs

stitched 1 over 1 and 2 over 1 mostly blackwork with some cross stitch with DMC 310

on 18ct Galaxy Aida by Jodyri

This was a fun little stitch and there is a stem in the pattern, but I didn't stitch that part. I think I might add my great-uncle's info on it since he died in WWII, but haven't decided on that part for sure. 

Another recent WIP was next up:

Cindy Cane by Mill Hill

stitched 3 over 1/2 over 1 as charted

with kit perforated fabric, threads and beads

These were fun to stitch up and now I just have to back them with some felt and add hangers and I have 2 more ornaments for Christmas. These will be for DD since they're quite like the Mouse in If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff. 

Next up we have a recentish start, from the Spring Into Summer New Start Binge in 2020. 

Loved You Yesterday by Cherry Hill Stitchery

stitched 2 over 2 on 18ct damask by Silkweavers

with stash theads, including Jodyri Glinda the Good, Sparkling Citrine, WDW Caribbean and Liberty

I liked this one and it was fun to use some stash threads as well. The damask isn't the easiest to stitch on because it tends to split a bit at the holes, so I definitely needed a Qsnap on this one. 

The last finish took quite a while because it had a lot of stitching left. I chose it because it had a limited colour palette and that's how I was feeling at the time. I'm really glad to have finished it though, it was started a long time ago, possibly 2015 for the Crazy January Challenge?

Twilight LeMans by Heritage Stitchcraft

stitched 2 over 2/1 over 2 as chart demanded with called for threads

on 28ct linen, unsure where it came from

Also, I did manage a couple thousand tent stitches on Amazing Animal Kingdom and it's moved along a bit farther. I think it's neat how you can see the baby elephant outline there. 

Amazing Animal Kingdom by Aimee Stewart charted by HAED

stitched 2 over 1 tent stitch as charted on 32ct Chromatic Alchemy experiment fabric

 And that was April! Lots of stitching accomplished and 4 good finishes that I'm really happy to have completed. 

The start-itis continues in May, so stay posted! 

Happy Stitching, 

Tiffstitch

Gifted Gorgeousness 2021 - March Edition and February Wrap-Up

I'm finally managing to get myself together enough to post for Gifted Gorgeousness! Hosted as always by the excellent Jo, please check her post to get the links for everyone's posts and check out their lovely works. 

I haven't managed many posts this year so far, but I have been very dedicated to keeping up with the huge HAED I started on New Year's Day, Amazing Animal Kingdom. Another WIP was finished this past month, as well as a bit of work on a few others too. I got a little behind in my stitching for Animal Kingdom while I finished Princess and the Dragon back in January, but I'm almost caught up to where I had hoped to be by now, well over 20K stitches! 

Enough talking, what have I been stitching? 

In Harmony - for DH

In Harmony - kit by Dimensions

stitched 2 over 2 or 3 over 2 as charted, tent and full stitches with kit threads and fabric

I started this one many, many years ago, when I was still into cross stitch kits and unaware of any other options. Shortly after starting this, I discovered this whole other world of cross stitch designers and charts and fabric that I obviously had to try! So this hasn't had a heck of lot of work over the past few years, but will get a fair bit this year. One of the Facebook challenge groups wants you to stitch on your oldest WIP if you don't have a WIP that fits that week's challenges and I think this is currently my oldest WIP. 

When I pulled it out this year, it looked like this:

Kiss for a Snowman - for DD

Kiss for a Snowman - Dimensions kit

stitched as charted with kit threads and fabric and a bazillion French knots!

This one has been hanging around since CJC of 2015 I think. I'm so glad to get it finished off. I'm thinking a flat fold might be a good way to finish it, although I might just frame it as well. It's so nice to finish!

Do Not Meddle - stunt stitching

Do Not Meddle - by Dragon Dreams

stitched 1 over 1 on 28ct Monaco with charted DMC

I'm so far behind on finishing this one, but I still have some hope it will happen this year. One whole dragon to stitch, and less than half of another isn't too much stitching to do. 

Twilight LeMans - for DH

Twilight LeMans - by Heritage Stitchcraft

stitched 2 over 2, 1 over 2 on unknown 28ct fabric

with DMC as charted

Another one that's been hanging around since 2015 or 2016 and those Crazy January/February Challenges, and you can kind of see the cars now, which have some weird quarter stitches to try and get the shape. Hopefully they'll turn out okay. 

Moon and Back - for DD

Moon and Back by Heart in Hand

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct linen with Gloriana threads mostly

This is a long narrow piece, and mostly words, so I don't think it will take too long if I'm able put a little bit of time into it. Plus I'd like to get it done while DD still appreciates this kind of stuff. I know she might not in another few years. 

And now, the project some of you might have been waiting for, Amazing Animal Kingdom! Last time I showed it, it looked like this:

And now, one full page is done and over 3/4 of another is complete, plus some into another 2 pages, and there's a little over 21K tent stitches into this one so far:

Amazing Animal Kingdom by HAED and Aimee Stewart

stitched 2 over 1 tent stitch on 32ct experiment 19 by Chromatic Alchemy

I'm still pretty happy with this one, and it's neat seeing all the animals appear. There's the cockatoo, a gorilla, a parrot or macaw, a cheetah below that and an elephant is starting to appear with a baby right below it. I'll still stick with it and see how it goes. If I use this as a focus piece, it will take a few years to complete, so we'll see if I can stick with it. 

Stay well and happy stitching!

Tiffstitch