A bit more progress

Between my last post on May 12th and receiving two models for Friendstitch on May 15th, I was able to complete another "round" on Chatelaine's Little Tuscany Mandala:

I'm starting to think I probably won't even be done with the regular cross stitches in this one by the time the retreat rolls around, but I'm not going to worry about it as I'm just really looking forward to the trip.

The two models that arrived on the 15th were both larger than I had anticipated; last year I stitched two and one took only a day and a half and the other about three days, so I thought this year would be similar, but both designs are bigger than either of the previous ones. I finished up the first one last Wednesday, so it took about a week, and the current one will probably take closer to two weeks; I'm hoping to be done around the middle of next week.

We had another shot of yucky weather here recently, cold and wet and windy, so I still have windows in a couple of rooms to clean and all of the planting yet to do, but I'm getting there! Hopefully after next weekend most of those chores will be done and I can settle back in with the mandala for a while.

I did hear from my finisher last week that she's making a start on my Tiny Town drums, so I'm hoping to hear from her again very soon. I also think there might be a new Tiny Town being released soon, possibly a farm (Cecilia used a sheep emoji when she posted about something new coming), so I am looking forward to seeing what comes out.

Hope everyone has a great stitchy week! 

It's finally spring!

We have finally had about a week of gorgeous spring weather here in Wisconsin, which has really boosted my mood lately, but it has also cut heavily into my stitching time. I am back to walking every day, which takes almost two hours by the time I walk the dogs and then go back out for more on my own, and now I'm trying to spend at least three or four hours every day doing the deep cleaning that I neglected all of last year. Once the cleaning is caught up, I need to get outside and finish some of the yard work that I didn't get to last fall and then get my flowerpots planted and the patio furniture out of the garage. All that to say that I might not have much stitching to share for a bit while I get my home (and life!) back in order.

I returned a Heart in Hand model last week, so what little stitching I did do was on Chatelaine's Little Tuscany Mandala:

I have a couple of models for Friendstitch coming, one later this week and then the second one probably next week, so I'll be working on those in my spare time, then I'm hoping to get back to the mandala. I'm thinking that I should hear from my finisher soon, so I'll be able to share some photos of the three Tiny Towns I sent to her back in March.

I'm also excited that I was able to sign up for a class with Cathy Habermann of Hands on Design that will be taking place at Primitive Gatherings Quilt Shop in September (the week before Friendstitch, luckily, so I can do both!). The class is called Elves Workshop Ornament Finishing, and there will be some prestitching that should arrive in July, so I am really looking forward to that--I've always found Cathy's finishing instructions to be great to work with, so seeing and doing them in person should be even better.

Hope everyone has a great stitchy week!