Twilight Duel: SAL Update 30

 I was thrilled to have a weekend with a little extra time to spend working on Twilight Duel. 924 stitches were added since our last Stitch-Along (SAL) update on January 9th.

The black dragon's chest and head have filled in a bit more, and there are only 1,509 stitches left on Page 10 of the chart.

I do hope you will stop by to see what the other talented bloggers in our SAL have been working on. We each select our own project to work on and share updates every 3rd Sunday. 

Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze,

Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy,

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan,

Deborah, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy,

AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen

Have a great week!

-Renee

TAST 2022: Weeks 1 & 2

 

Sharon Boggon of Pintangle(dot)com is offering a new round of Take A Stitch Tuesday (TAST) this year. Every week, Sharon shares instructions for two new embroidery stitches. TAST offers basic stitches and Beyond TAST teaches a more advanced stitch.

Although I may not have time to complete every stitch this year, I decided to begin working on a fabric book with samples from the 2022 TAST and Beyond TAST stitches. (Click on any photo for a larger view.)

TAST Week 1: Chain Stitch

Chain stitches worked with white DMC size 5 pearl cotton created a snowman. Straight stitches with 2 strands of orange DMC embroidery floss added a nose. A single strand of black DMC embroidery floss was couched down to create a smile. And black size 10/0 beads created buttons and eyes.

Beyond TAST Week 1: Linked & Beaded Linked Chain Stitch

A sample of the linked chain stitch was worked with 2 strands of DMC Coloris #4514 variegated embroidery floss. 

The beaded linked chain stitch was worked with the same floss and clear size 10/0 beads.

Ice-crusted snow was added to the snowman scene with the beaded linked chain stitch using a strand of white DMC size 12 pearl cotton and clear size 10/0 beads.

TAST Week 2: Fly Stitch

A single fly stitch was worked with 2 stands of Breezy Artiste variegated satin floss #769331. 

A fly stitched leaf was worked with a strand of green Anchor size 8 pearl cotton.

A single snowflake was created with a strand of DMC silver metallic thread.

Snowflakes were also added to the snowman scene using 2 strands of white DMC metallic floss. Clear Mill Hill Petite Glass Seed Beads added a little sparkle.

Beyond TAST Week 2: Italian Border Stitch

A sample of the Italian border stitch was worked with 2 strands of the Breezy Artiste variegated satin floss #769331. Clear blue size 10/0 beads were added where the two rows of the border stitch met in the center. 

If you are interested in learning hand embroidery, I strongly encourage you to check out TAST. You may find the TAST FAQs here or Sharon's Stitch Dictionary here.

If you are participating with TAST 2022, I would love to know!

Thank you for stopping by.

Renee

Christmas Project: SAL Update 5 & Twilight Duel: SAL Update 29

 

I am happy to announce I have a finish to share for our first Stitch-Along (SAL) update of 2022!

The photo above shows how Santa looked on December 19th. Thanks to some quality stitching time on December 26th, I made some great progress. The last few stitches were added in January.

My husband brought Buddy, our bearded dragon, in to see me just as I finished the last stitch. 

Yesterday, I spent a couple of hours working on Twilight Duel. The photo above shows how it looked at the end of 2021. (No progress was made between July 18th and December 31st.)

And this is how it looks now.

I do hope you will stop by to see the projects the other bloggers in our 3-week stitch along are working on. We are in different time zones, so if a post is not up, please check back later in the day.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you make 2022 a fantastic year!

Hugs,

Renee

Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze,

Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy,

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan,

Deborah, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy,

Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen

2021 Year in Review

 Happy New Year!

2021 went by so incredibly fast. I hope yours went well! 

I do not believe any of my blogging goals were met, but it was a productive year. I made a tiny bit of progress on Fractal White Tiger.

Fractal White Tiger 12/31/2020

Fractal White Tiger 12/31/2021

A bit more progress on Twilight Duel. 

Twilight Duel 12/31/2020

Twilight Duel 12/31/2021

And I nearly finished the little Santa I have been working on with our 3-week stitch-along (SAL.) Note: this photo shows how it looked on December 26th when my husband insisted I take time to relax for a bit. 

Due to issues with my IT band, I had to give up my running goals. However, I discovered Let's Get Up! and the 21-Day Fix through Beachbody on Demand and my IT band feels sooo much better after completing both of these programs. I am hoping to work running back into my routine in 2022, but am not going to push it.

2022 Bullet Journal

In 2021, I also made the (tiny bit terrifying) decision to go back to school. This month I begin graduate school to earn an elementary education teaching degree. I am so fortunate to work with a great team of people that truly feel like family. However, I really miss helping students learn. So, I am both a bit sad to be leaving them and also excited about what the future holds.

2022 is going to be a year of change. So my goals this year are simple.

1.) Continue working out and making healthier food choices.

2.) Succeed at school.

3.) Spend more time with family and friends.

4.) Make visible progress on Twilight Duel and Fractal White Tiger.

5.) Complete one crazy quilt project.

If your goals for the year include learning hand embroidery or improving or expanding your hand embroidery skills, Sharon Boggon will be offering her Take a Stitch Tuesday Challenge again this year. You may learn more about it here. The first stitch has just been shared in this post.

For anyone curious, the 5 most viewed blog post in December were:

1.) 2013 Winter Challenge Results Posted at Evening Star Designs

2.) Christmas Project: SAL Update 4

3.) Christmas Project: SAL Update 3

4.) Polymer Clay Snowman Motif

5.) CQI Winter/Christmas DYB RR - Barbara's block is done!

Thanks for stopping by! I wish you and yours an amazing year and good health.

-Renee