Cross Stitch ~ Weekly Update

Week 2 Challenge Done!

All set up to start Week 3 tomorrow with the 

Quilters' Cottage Cross Stitch Stitch Along

I am feeling very accomplished.

I have recently started cross stitching again after a 40 year lapse.

The fence in this pattern was challenging for me last week,
but the lettering this week felt very familiar.

I am enjoying these weekly challenges and
am hopeful that I will be able to keep up.

On to the clothesline and the first quilt on the line tomorrow.
The quilt motifs are one per week.

I can do this! 

:-) 

A Stitchy Challenge

Quilter's Cottage Stitch Along

Week 1 is Done!

A day late and a "design element" variation in the center

but I am calling it good! 

This stitch along has weekly goals and a random prize each week.

Last night I finished here. 
The center gate and gateposts are one square too high,
but I am calling it "fine by me." 

With bleary eyes I progressed to here

before I noticed that the pickets in my fence were too close together.
This had to go.

So my night ended with a little frog going "ribbit ribbit."

For this project I am using a new frame,

Q Snap Needlework Frame

I bought an 8" square one a while ago but this is the first time I have used it.

It is very light and holds the cloth taut

and it packs up neatly in a plastic ziplock bag to carry along with me.

I have now purchased an extension kit to make it larger.

Here it is 8" by 11"

and I will add the other extension soon to make it 

an 11" square.

I have also been working on the gray and yellow baby quilt 

and that will be my focus for the next few days.

Hope to be stitching Week 2 soon,

Hope to get it done on time next week.

If not, it is all good.

It is not a race; it is a journey.

Happy Stitchy Quilty Journeys to you! 

:-) 

Stitching and Hoping ...

... and counting and praying.

I am stitching along with the hashtag
 #quilterscottagestitchalong 

FQS Stich Along Announcement Here

Quilter's Cottage Cross Stitch Pattern Here

FQS YouTube Here

I am not a YouTube person.

I have never been much of a "joiner" or "follower."

Blogging and quilting and, now, cross stitching has pulled me out of my

comfy little hidey place. 

I have to admit that the moment I see 

any other "live streaming now" video pop up in

my FB feed, I cringe and hit the "hide" button.

Yet, I have started calling myself a "Kimberly Fan Girl."

I have learned a lot in these livestreams and videos

and enjoy the lovely people in the 

Kimberly Stich Squad Facebook Group

So I am stitching along ... and made mistake #1

(the row on the left is 12 Xs and it should be only 11 Xs)

It would be a lot of ripping and starting over so I am embracing the error 

and my gate will be a little higher than it should be.

So be it.

My eyes are really, really bad these days.

I am seeing my eye surgeon today.

He may or may not say it is time to schedule the next eye surgery.

Most of me says I hope he does not.

I am very fearful of surgery.

Fearful that something will go wrong and I will lose what sight I have now.

On the other hand, my sight is going downhill.

It has been for many years, slowly and steadily.

The past few months have seen the slope become sharper and the decent more rapid.

Every stitch I take is an accomplishment in my eyes.

Mistakes are acceptable.

I just keep stitching.

I have been blogging daily this year.

I am counting my blessings.

My cross stitch project is packed to carry along

to the doctor's office,

although I know the first thing they will do is dilate my eyes 

and let me sit in the waiting room awhile.

It takes several extra hours for my eyes to get back to normal,

so there may be no more stitching at all today.

Update:  No more surgery for my eyes in the works for now.
It is still elective at this time and I elect to wait 
and work with what I have and what I know
I go back in six months to reassess the future.
When it gets to the mandatory stage, then it will be time.  

See you tomorrow ... :-)