January OMG complete: Tablet Weaving

This was my first month back to One Monthly Goal, and I am so happy to be back. You see, in early 2022 I bought a workshop kit from what was then called The Crafter's Box to learn Tablet Weaving. When the kit arrived I was overwhelmed and intimidated to the point that I just closed up the box and put it into the basement. 

I decided my OMG for January would be to simply watch the course video. And, of course, watching the video made all the difference. I could see what the process actually looks like, as well as how to read the patterns, warp the loom, and actually weave. 

I have done nothing else besides choose a pattern (the kit comes with a few to choose from), but I feel like next month (foreshadowing?!) I can make a real start. 

The One Monthly Goal link-up is organized by Elm Street Quilts with the idea that we can just focus on one task and make progress. You can see how everyone did in their January projects on the Finish Party page! Or choose an OMG project of your own and join us in February. 

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal - January Finish Link-up

Valentine's Day Stitch-a-Long, part 2

Hi everyone! Again I'm writing this early as I'll be out of town on the date of our check-in. This time I'll be in Florida on a long-planned vacation. Is it vacation when one isn't working? Not sure. But I'm still looking forward to this trip!

Last time I had started a new Valentine's Day cross stitch pattern. Here's where I was:

And here's where I am now -- nearly halfway done!

I'll need to fill in the pale pink checkerboard around the whole piece, and then some backstitching around that, but wanted to keep moving through the rows first. The next row has one full-coverage square, but also has one that is just backstitching, so I think I'll be able to get it done before our next check in. So, no Valentine's Day finish, but I'll have a good portion complete!

Don't forget to check out the amazing projects my fellow stitchers are working on -- they're always fascinating and inspiring. Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie, Cindy, and Mary Margaret.

13x13 January 2023 (!!!) edition

Hi everyone! It’s January 13, so that means it’s time to check in with my 13x13 project!

In December 2022 I decided to make Autumn Pumpkin by Mill Hill Beads. 

I like that this pumpkin is “tall” rather than squat — it’s nice to have a different shape. 

For this month I’m going to make another pumpkin from this Painted Pumpkins series: Persian Pumpkin. 

I like the vibrant colors; it should be fun to stitch. I also have some travel coming up, and these small projects are great to travel with. 

I'll check back in on February 13 to share my finished piece, as well as my next project. 

January OMG: Tablet Weaving???

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I haven’t participated in One Monthly Goal for a while now, but I always loved the gentle, semi-anonymous accountability. I think this project is perfect for this link-up!

I bought a workshop kit from what was then called The Crafter’s Box to learn Tablet Weaving. I’d never heard of it, but it looked intriguing. 

And then the kit arrived and I was TOTALLY OVERWHELMED. 

Paralyzed. 

I had never done anything like this, and I was intimidated by it. So I just put all the lovely yarn back in a box and set it aside. For at least a year. 

I’m still intimidated, which is absurd because I haven’t watched the instruction course yet. I mean, of course I don’t know how to do it yet! 

Anyway, the teeny tiny baby step for this is that I want to watch the course once to get a sense of how it all works. That’s all. 

I find that, when I’m stuck, just making an easy, gentle step gets me moving again. At least I hope so. 

The One Monthly Goal link-up is organized by Elm Street Quilts; you can see all the monthly projects on the January Link-up Page.

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal January Link-up

Valentine’s Day Stitch-a-Long, part 1

Hi everyone! Welcome to 2023! Full disclosure here: I’m writing this on December 29 and getting ready to go away for the weekend. We’re going to Salt Lake City, Utah, to run an indoor half marathon: 52 laps around a speed skating rink built for the Winter Olympics. Pretty wild — but it will be the 42nd state I’ve raced a half marathon in, which I’m excited about, even if all those left turns make my hips ache a bit. But that’s not why we’re here!!!

Last time I shared that I had FINALLY finished my Great Wave piece, which was super exciting. I haven’t taken it to the framers yet, but that’s a goal to get done this month. I’ll be sure and post it when it’s done!

I struggled to decide on my next project — I had thought about a sequins-and-felt Christmas banner, and was going to start that when the wind was taken out of my sails a bit. My company laid me and 25% of the employees off in the middle of December.

I hasten to point out that I’ll be fine; as this was the 4th round of layoffs in 2022 it wasn’t exactly unexpected. Just less-than-kind timing, I suppose. So it was hard to get into any Christmas spirit. If we hadn’t put our tree up earlier in the month, I’m not sure we would have bothered. 

So I decided, for my next project, to pick something atypical for me: a Valentine’s Day cross stitch pattern that I will turn into a pillow cover. Here’s the pattern. It’s pretty cute:

I doubt I’ll finish the stitching in time (ha!) but it feels more seasonal than a Christmas banner at this point. Here’s where I am so far: 

It’s pretty relaxing; a larger-scale Aida, and not full coverage. I hope that before our next check-in I can get the next “row” stitched. Until then, check out the amazing projects my fellow stitchers are working on! Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Heidi, Jackie, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen, Connie, Cindy, and Mary Margaret.