This month's discussion topic is:

"Half-year recap: How are you doing with your goals so far this year?"

In January, here is what I said my goals would be for 2023:
  • a 2023 temperature chart from Fox & Rabbit, which was kitted up and ready to go at the first of the year
  • the 2023 Mystery SAL "Royal Garden" by Fox & Rabbit

Two additional projects were put in the queue for this year:
  • Lakeside Needlecraft "Happiness is Handmade" SAL, designed by Durene Jones.
  • Stitchonomy SAL "Kingdoms of Life"

Progress on all four of these projects are reported on in this check-in.

Four projects designated as "in the queue" in January have not been started. They are:
  • 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 variety of motifs that are reminiscent of traditional folk designs from around the world. I have not started either although I have ordered the floss for the blackwork piece and have collected the weekly installments
  • 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.

I think it was also "understood" that certain unfinished pieces would at least be worked on:
  • ​A long term WIP, almost a UFO: Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches" sampler. Started back in February of 2014! It is currently about 60% complete, but so far, this year, it hasn't been touched
  • Traveling Needlepoint: Not having travelled since the pandemic, I had not been motivated to stitch on "Butterfly on Scroll" by Dimensions since travel became untenable ih February 2020. There was small progress in March.
  • A WIP in progress - "Hope & Strength" by Glendon Pace. Purchased in 2020 and started in March, 2021, the stitching is finally complete. It STILL awaits the attachment of 1988 beads! AAACK!
  • A Lakeside Needlecraft SAL, "Kogin", designed by Elizabeth Almond. I began in February 2022 and it hasn't been touched since.
  • A Mystery SAL in progress - "Christmas Banner" by Stitchonomy. Started in mid-December 2022 and finished except for beads and charms.

​So... How am I doing? I guess one step forward and one step backward! I'm stitching. I'm making progress on some pieces but not on others. Basically, I'm not stitching on what I had thought I would be stitching on at the beginning of the year.

~~~~~WIPs~~~~~

What I stitched on in June:

1. Fox & Rabbit's Patreon "Temperature Chart" for the year 2023. Stitched 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 June 20, but I think I made an error in the last two hearts and may have to restitch):


t without "personalizations" (and I am contemplating some backstitching), installment seven is in progress, and installments eight and nine have been issued. (Don't seem to be able to catch up on this one...)



3. Fox & Rabbit Mystery SAL for 2023, "Royal Gardens". Stitching on 32ct Lugana "pale green" (this isn't an accurate color in this photo) 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 more than half of the way through the January installment (still two flowers to go!) and have the February, March, April, May and June pattern installments (plus the borders) in hand, with July hard on the heels of the others! I would be faster if the frog didn't keep visiting - and if this floral piece were not so "stitch-heavy". I'm really not enjoying the stitching as much as I usually do on a Fox & Rabbit sampler because of this, and find motivation to keep this one going in my rotation a chore.



4. Stitchonomy SAL for 2023 "Kingdom's of Life". I'm a member of the pattern club so I receive installments "early" and can't post progress on any installment until the general stitching community gets their installments. Therefore, all I have to share this month is the frame, stitched in a dark grey DMC on a natural 14-count Aida. I have installment one in hand now...



~~~~~planned projects~~~~~

There are new patterns collected and at least one kit ordered, but whether or not they actually get started in 2023 is in question.

~~~~~
​
That sums up my June stitchery progress. As in my May report, progress was interfered with by 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...