"Give us five projects in your stash right now that you’d really love to start – and why you haven’t yet."
I should be laughing out loud here but there are so many unstarted projects i my stash that it isn't funny!
Of the ones listed here recently (and probably the most likely to be started sometime, simply because I'm not really sure what else I have! AAACK!):
• a cooperative venture between Nancy Wahler ("Faithwurks") and Sue Hillis Designs called "A Stitcher's Shadowbox and Smalls" (as per usual, I ordered two by mistake! Oh well---) and I have the kit(s) in hand.
• two SALs by Cliffside Stitches. One is a variation on medieval Egyptian blackwork and the other is a set of cross-stitched tiles based on a variety of motifs that are reminiscent of traditional folk designs from around the world. I have not started either, although I am collecting the weekly installments and planning on using both in the same piece.
• a blackwork SAL by Clare Bradshaw of The Steady Thread - weekly installments of two versions. I have collected the installments but have not decided on which version, if any I would stitch. Nor have I settled on fabric or floss color way(s).
• a wildflower SAL from Frau Rosa Stickt - I have the patterns, the fabric and the floss... just need to find a space in my rotation!
• two SALs by Cliffside Stitches. One is a variation on medieval Egyptian blackwork and the other is a set of cross-stitched tiles based on a variety of motifs that are reminiscent of traditional folk designs from around the world. I have not started either, although I am collecting the weekly installments and planning on using both in the same piece.
• a blackwork SAL by Clare Bradshaw of The Steady Thread - weekly installments of two versions. I have collected the installments but have not decided on which version, if any I would stitch. Nor have I settled on fabric or floss color way(s).
• a wildflower SAL from Frau Rosa Stickt - I have the patterns, the fabric and the floss... just need to find a space in my rotation!
and the most likely of all:
• the latest SAL from Stitchonomy called "The Kingdoms of Life" which is due to start in June. The kit is ordered.
I think it's time to do a stash reorganization and purge (but I have to finish my papercarfting reorganization and purge first! Double AAACK!)~~~~~WIPs~~~~~
1. Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches" sampler. Started back in February of 2014! No progress since the last check-in.
2. A Lakeside Needlecraft SAL, "Kogin", designed by Elizabeth Almond. I began in February 2022, after four installments had been issued. No progress... probably should be downgraded to UFO.
3. Traveling Needlepoint "Butterfly on Scroll": Nothing since February 17-19. No trips scheduled until the fall.
4. Two pieces requiring beading: "Hope & Strength" by Glendon Place and "Christmas Banner" by Stitchonomy. I had decided to do all the beading at the same time but the beading languishes...
5. Fox & Rabbit's Patreon "Temperature Chart" for the year 2023. Stitching on 28 ct. "Star Sapphire" Gobelin (although it looks more pale green than "sapphire" to me) using DMC floss. I'm stitching the day's low on the left side of the hearts and the high on the right side. All temperatures are based on the recorded highs and lows from an online "past weather" temperature chart for near-by Bowling Green, Ohio (we don't have a reliable outdoor temperature thermometer for our home so I'm assuming same ZIP code, similar temperature, although that isn't totally accurate). I am pretty much keeping up with the days, waiting until I have roughly five days of temperatures charted to stitch each session. I spend the rest of the time on the border and the hangers. (the picture below shows temperatures through April 21 - notice the mini-heat wave - yellow - in the middle!):

6. Lakeside Needlecraft "Happiness is Handmade" SAL designed by Durene Jones. Installments one, two and three are now complete and part four is nearly complete. Bands five and six have been issued.

Four colors (darker blue, black and two browns) and backstitching (three colors) to do and it's on to Installment Five. I'm finding this one hard to stitch as the Aida band supplied in the kit is kind of slippery - definitely not 100% cotton - and I don't have a q-snap frame that will anchor down the sides so it's hard to keep tension on the band.
7. Fox & Rabbit Mystery SAL for 2023, called "Royal Gardens". Stitching on 32ct Lugana "pale green" (this isn't an accurate color here) using Threadworx Overdyed Floss 1048 Woodland Green throughout. I am pleased with the slight variation in the green thread so I've decided to not mess with additional colors. I am a little more than half of the way through the January installment (still five flowers to go!) and have the February, March and April pattern installments (plus the borders) in hand... I would be faster if the frog didn't keep visiting (I have frogged portions of this image partially at least four times and found a one-row error in the vase which I WILL not be able to fix so I will have to do some fudging down the line.)!

~~~~~planned projects~~~~~
There are still other projects in the queue, but whether or not they actually get started in 2023 is in question (see the topic of the month above!).
~~~~~
That sums up my April stitchery progress. As in my March reports, progress was interfered with by online card-making classes (which I watch but never actually participate in - the kits keep building up!) and craft-space (it's not really a room. but half a basement space) reorganization.
As usual, I say I hope to do better but we shall see...
