My May 2026 Stitchy Update

Good Morning Stitchy Friends, I hope everyone is well! 

During the month of May I was pretty busy with my stitching amongst other things. 

Gnome Place Like Home
Rhona Norrie Designs

I worked a little more on my Gnome Place Like Home piece. I have made a little progress and there is still a long way to go! I think that they are cuties though! 

Added 402 stitches
05/09/26
 

2025 Blackwork SAL

Peppermint Purple

Designer - Clare

Then I put the gnomes down and when I spun the wheel it had me pick up the 2025 Blackwork SAL.  I worked on it for a week and I really need to get back to it soon! 

 

I added 418 stitches
05/16/26

Christmas Tree
CrossStitchWorldUA

Then I decided that there would be no wheel this week and I should get started with this year's Christmas Ornaments. This year I am going to do it differently and stitch everyone the same ornament in different colors. I browsed Etsy and found a Quaker Christmas Tree that I liked and asked the family to pick the color they wanted their ornament stitched with. 

The first on I stitched was for my grandson! He picked DMC827 and we selected a piece of fabric that everyone's will be stitched on. I thought the floss would be to light but I think they look good together. 

 
Finished on 06/01/26

And that is all I did on the stitchy front for the past month.

I did get in a couple of books though.  I listened to the 3rd book in the Housemaid series, The Housemaid is Watching by Freida McFadden. Right now it is the last book in the series but I think it is supposed to be turned in to either a movie or a TV series. 

The other book I listened to was Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson. It was a short book and it might have been a YA book. It was an ok book and I will continue on with the rest of the series. 

And that my friends, is that!

I hope to see you at the end of June with another update.

In the meantime, stay safe and keep on stitching.

My Sunday Stitchy Update 04/05/26

Morning Stitchers,

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week full of Xs. Nothing much is going on here; just enjoying the warm weather, stitching and waiting for the Easter Bunny. 

This week I continued to stitch on the 2025 Blackwork SAL and made some pretty good progress. 

2025 Blackwork SAL

Peppermint Purple

Designer - Clare

This week I put in 980 stitches!

As for reading I am still slowly reading Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre. It is pretty slow going but I think I will get through it. 

And that is about it for the week. Pretty boring, I know; but boring is ok for me.

I hope you have a wonderful week and a Happy Easter!

My Sunday Stitchy Update 03/29/26

Hello, I hope you are doing well. I see a lot of places still have cold and snowy weather, I hope that you are not one of them. There is not a lot going on here, just stitching and that is ok with me. I have an extra short post for you today!

2025 Blackwork SAL

Peppermint Purple

Designer - Clare

This week I went back to my 2025 Blackwork SAL. On Friday, I kept stitching a little section over and over again and it kept coming out to short for the border I was putting it in, so I gave up frustrated. When I woke up Saturday morning it dawned on me that I should check the length of the rectangle and voilà, that was the problem, I stitched the border to long. So all those times I ripped it out, I am sure it was correct! So needless to say, I didn't make much progress on it but some in better than none. 

Stitched 624 stitches this week

I started a new book today, Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre. I know it is going to be a sad book but I also think it will be an important and powerful book to read. 

And that is it for the week!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you will join me again next week.

Take care and stay safe!

My Sunday Stitchy Update 02/22/26

Hello everyone, 

Nothing to exciting except it was very chilly and rainy here this week but it is suppose to warm up again next week, thankfully. I only had stitched on one project this week so today will be a shorter post. 

2025 Blackwork SAL

Peppermint Purple

Designer - Clare

I always knew I would eventually stitch the Peppermint Purple SALs that I missed along the way, so I have saved them until I had time and energy. I have decided that it is now time to start work on the 2025 version this year and maybe, just maybe the 2026 version also. I will have to see how it is going before I commit to two of them, because believe me; I have a stack of projects I want to work on or start new! The good thing is that the 2025 version is completely released already and so I don't have to wait for a new file each week. 

So I started the 2025 version this week. It is supposed to look like a doily and when I think of a doily, I think of it being all in one color. So I will be stitching it all in white floss on this reddish fabric. 

Started off with 1,024 stitches this week.

I will have to spin the wheel to see what is next on the q-snaps.

As for the the audiobook I did start "The Gunslinger" and I will admit that to me it was a little confusing at first. Then I finally figured out that they are going back and forth in time! I do have a hard time with those kind of books and movies but once I figured out that was how the book was going I listened to it over and I understand it now! 

So that was my week in a nutshell.

Thank you for stopping by!

Have a great week.

 💜   💜   💜

My Sunday Stitchy Update 01/11/26

This is going to be a quick post. I took some more cold meds and they make me sleepy. But I just had to come and share my excitement with you guys because, the

2024 Peppermint Purple SAL is FINISHED!!

Of course it is not ironed yet but here it is:

2024 Annual Blackwork SAL

Peppermint Purple

Designer - Clare

Finished it off with 298 stitches.

I think it is time for a celebration!
Thanks for stopping by to see my finish.

Well, thanks for stopping by.

Stay  safe, happy and keep on stitching.

My Sunday Stitchy Update 01/04/26

HAPPY NEW YEAR

EVERYONE!

Welcome to 2026 and what is going to be a great year for all of us.

So here is my first post of the year and I am excited to show you the Christmas gifts I made for the others in our stitching group. I made each person (with some assistance from my daughter) resin coasters. It was my first time using the resin and let me tell you; it can be addictive! We mainly have cross stitchers in our group but we also have other people; some crafty and others just to talk, who have joined our weekly get togethers so I will show you the crafty coasters as well.

First up we have an artist in our midst. She like to color and draw, especially Halloween designs! I put her coaster together with some colored pencils, art journals and Halloween coloring book

We also have an avid crocheter who does beautiful work crocheting all kinds of things. In her coaster I added a crochet hook, balls of yarn, a tape measure and some scissors. 

It is laying up against a lamp so it is a little hard to see.

And last but not least we have many cross stitchers! In these coasters I added an embroidery hoop, a piece of fabric, a tape measure, scissors, a threaded needle and some skeins of floss I made of the stitcher's fabric color.

The items in the coasters came from Etsy, mainly in the miniatures or doll house sections. Everyone seemed to like them and now I have to start thinking about what I will do for next Christmas! LOL 

Now on to the STITCHING!

I FINALLY finished my Grandson's Christmas ornament for 2025! I know, I know, it is late. luckily it is for family and they understand my issues and problems! 😊 Here it is...

Santa's Apron

Always Time To Stitch

 

Finished it off with 186 stitches and two pieces of ribbon.

I was not such a great photographer on the finished one in the middle here, sorry. I was just happy to be done!


After that I actually was able to look through my WIP box to pick out something. It has been a long time since I did that since I was doing the ornaments.  I couldn't make a decision on what to stitch so I just picked up the first project in the box and since I keep them alphabetically, it was the 2024 Blackwork SAL. 

2024 Annual Blackwork SAL

Peppermint Purple

Designer - Clare

Added 303 stitches

It is encouraging to look at this one because it is almost finished! I remember I had to rip out so much of this after I first started it because I had really messed it up. I hope to finish this before I move on to something else. 

So that was my week!

Thanks for stopping by. 

Stay safe, healthy (the flu is going around)
and I hope to see you soon.

My Sunday Stitchy Update 08/03/25

Happy Sunday!  Welcome to August and I am glad that you were able to stop by.  I can remember when we were small and we always thought August was the hottest month of the year but I guess it is really July in most places including Chicago where I lived most of my life. In Tucson though they say August is the hottest month of the year and I can believe it! We are still having lots of hot weather with  barely any rain I am getting in some stitching. 

I know, I know... I fell behind with emails again this week but I am definitely going to catch up, during the upcoming week I hope! I hate when I fall behind so I don't know how or why it is always happening to me. I think I get so but I much junk email that I get tired of going through it. I spend more time deleting and unsubscribing from junk than I can stand. What I want to know is how they always get my information. 

This week I was finally able to finish copying the Snowman chart so that I could actually read and stitch it easier! The only problem is that I also saw all the mistakes I made doing the outline of the chart, oh well. I took all of that out and started again. Didn't do to much on it this week but some is better than none. 

Snowman 3D Ornament

The World of Cross Stitching

Put in 274 new stitches this week.

So after a couple of days on the Snowman I switched over to the 2024 Blackwork piece when I went to the Mall. After I got home I just kind of stuck with it for the rest of the week and it is over half way finished! Once it is finished I can start on the 2025 version!!

Annual Blackwork SAL

Peppermint Purple

Designer - Clare

Put in an additional 480 stitches this week.

Tomorrow I plan on going back to the Snowman at home and I am not sure about what I will stitch at the Mall because I will need to spin the tiny decision wheel.

Thanks a bunch for stopping by and please don't hesitate to stop by again next week!

Love you guys!

Stay safe but stitch a lot!

My Sunday Stitchy Update 07/20/25

Hello Stitchy Friends! I do hope that you had a wonderful week! I had a pretty good week; we finally got the long expected rain. It really made the hot weather a little cooler and we were able to finally relax a bit! There is nothing else really happening around here except that I had another FINISH! 

I finished all the stitching on the Reindeer Bauble Ornament! I don't want to stitch them into the ornament shape until I am closer to Christmas, this way I can safely store them, without smashing them.  I also want to get a piece of scrapbook paper to cover the stitching on the inside, so the stitches are not able to be pulled out by anyone. So without much further ado... here is the Reindeer Bauble!

Reindeer Bauble Ornament

The World of Cross Stitching

I added the LAST 55 Xs to finish the stitching.

I will make them into ornaments closer to Christmas.

Then I spun the tiny decision wheel and it decided that I should work on the Peppermint Purple's 2024 Annual Blackwork SAL. I have missed this piece! This will be the piece I stitch at the Mall for a few weeks. I am hoping to get plenty finished in that time. 

Annual Blackwork SAL

Peppermint Purple

Designer - Clare

I added 417 stiches this week

As far as the project that I will be stitching at home there is no decision wheel needed! I will start on the next Christmas ornament in the pile. I would like to stitch them all so I am not rushing (as usual) at the last minute. 

So that is all for this week. 

Thanks, as always, for stopping by to see what I am up to. 

Hope to see you again next week!

Until then don't forget to

stitch, stitch, stitch!

My Sunday Stitchy Update 06/15/25

Good Morning Everyone! I hope you had a wonderful week. I had a pretty great week that included a bunch of stitching.  

It feels like it is summer here though we still have about six weeks of spring to get through. We are in the 100s every day now. We are going into monsoon season as well!  I just wish monsoon season meant that we would get a good old fashion thunderstorm like we used to get in Chicago. I certainly miss those. Here in Tucson it seems like a bunch of rain will fall quickly, then it will just stop. It doesn't really cool anything off since the rain is so quick.

So this week I worked a few days on the Winter SAL, Dark Nights. I am on last two lines of text but I need to go back and do some more back stitching. Not sure what I will do with this piece but I am leaning towards a pillow for the couch or a chair during the holiday season.

Winter SAL, Dark Nights

Stitchonomy

Designer - Alyssa
 Added 276 stitches

After that I thought that my 2024 Blackwork SAL could use a little love on it so I pulled it out and got busy. I got in quite a few stitches on it ~ yay!

Annual Blackwork SAL

Peppermint Purple

Designer - Clare

I added 416 (832) stitches to this one.

Well, I found three out of the four Christmas ornaments I need for this year. Unfortunately there were not in a set but they all came from the World of Cross Stitching magazine. I am going to try to sketch the fourth one out on my own. It doesn't seem like what I need will be to hard; we will see how I do.  Anyways, I may start those tomorrow so I can get them out of the way and not franticly trying to finish them at the last minute! 

So that is all for this week. 

Thanks, as always, for stopping by to see what I am up to. 

Hope to see you again next week!

Until then don't forget to

stitch, stitch, stitch!

My Sunday Stitchy Update 04/13/25

Welcome Everyone!  I hope your week has been awesome! We are having a great week here in Tucson, especially if you like warm weather. We had a temperature of 100𝇇 F on Friday and broke two records that day. The first record was because we had a record high temperature (the previous was 99𝇇 F) and the other was that it was the earliest date in the year for triple digit temperatures. Though it was 100 it really didn't feel very hot so the weather was nice. 

I am still playing SPRINGO this week and the following is what I stitched for it. 

First up with the number 18 was the penguin piece, I had also worked on it the day before (first picture here). He seems to be going pretty slow for such a small piece.

Penguin Ice Slide

Daily Cross Stitch

I put in 107 stitches

Next was number 21 which was for the letter R! That means I was able to pull out the Twisted Rainbow Sampler to work on for a bit. It looks like next time it is out I may be moving to the next page! 

Twisted Rainbow Sampler

Northern Expressions Needlework

103 stitches went in this time.

After that the caller announced the number 12 which for me is the letter P for the designer Peppermint Purple and the the Annual Blackwork SAL. I am currently on the April 2024 installment of the fills. I would like to be able to do a couple of months at a time so I can finish it before the end of this year and get a start on the 2025 version because you know, there is always room for one more piece! 

2024 Blackwork SAL

Peppermint Purple
 

This time I was able to add 109 (218) stitches.

Then the number called was 26 which is in column G. This means the Shade of Gold piece is up! After I stitched it the first time the next number was also in the same column which is super convenient for me. This piece has some interesting designs in it. At one time I wanted to do all twelve of these charts but I don't think I would ever make it. This is the second one and I'm sure you guys see how long that is taking me! LOL

Shades of Gold

Northern Expressions Needlework

Designer - Nicole Dostal
  

210 stitched were added to this one.

Then I have this one next which is sooo close to being done! The number was 11 and the letter was O for Oliver. 

Quilt Block Sampler

Stitching the Night Away

Loretta Oliver

 

Added 102 stitches this time.

And last but not least for the week I worked on the Nintendo piece Contra. There are so many trees and leaves in this square that it is driving me a little crazy! 

Nintendo

Contra

Armada Designs

Added 100 stitches for the dark green leaves.


Well that is it for this week.

I hope you have a wonderful week coming up.

Take care and stay safe and I

will see you again next week!