Unbelievable

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or is that not believeable? Or simply, no freaking way?

I hadn’t realized how much of a SF/Seattle girl I had become. I start most days with a latté from Peet’s. Or Starbuck as a fall back. My neighborhood also has the Caffeinated Cat so you see – choices….

Well, here I am in Sharonville, Ohio which is part of the Cincinnati metro area. There are chain hotels everywhere. There is not a coffee shop in sight. Not one. Not saying there is a lack of fast food or food chains (Dale Evans, Waffle House, Cracker Barrel, Subway) within a block of my particular hotel. And I am not saying that my hotel is missing an urn of decent coffee. Just that, hello? Someone should have fancy coffee.

In the last couple of days, I have ridden the loop both ways (Convention Center, Keepsakes Shop, La Quinta) which is perhaps 6-8 km in total distance.  And there  has NEVER been a coffee shop in sight.

[insert a not so silent screen here]

One of the women arrived at the meeting room this morning with McD’s coffee offering. She had had to detour a bit. She said they had lattes as well as Chai, but that sweet tea seemed to be the favorite. Now, Ohio is solidly mid-West as far as I know. So why the Southern tea thing?

Anyway – early afternoon a woman wandered in with a Starbucks coffee. I wasn’t the only one who made a bee line over to inquire WHERE she had found it. Answer – in the lobby of the hotel across the street. Provided, of course that you walked down the drive, around a corner and followed what she expressed as mini-signs to the lobby.

By this time it is later afternoon. I want to sleep tonight. But a latté is in my morning plans. Along with getting organized, checking out, catching the Stitchy Bus with my gear and hanging out at the convention center till early evening when I will head back to the train station.

 

Just Stitching

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Other than a quick foray into the “local” needlework shop, I mostly spent the day stitching. After all, that is why I came on this weekend anyway.

I finished Garden Dreaming – designed by Barbara Ana. Stitched on 18ct Sunshine Aida by Vintage Needle Arts on Etsy, with the called for DMC. It was a three part SAL (1 May, 15 May, 1 June). I actually didn’t have more than fifty or so stitches, it was a matter of replacing a couple of thread colors lost somewhere on Amtrak. The actual size is something like 10 x 14 cm,

Garden Dreams

 

Since that covered only part of the day – I finished the interesting portion of Part 4, of Owl Forest’s Alice in Wonderland SAL. I still have borders to add when ever I am so inclined.  Stitched on ordinary 16 ct white Aida. You can. see a bit of the White Rabbit above Alice from Part 3. Rather than fancy floss, I am just using the DMC supplied conversion

Owl Forest Alice SAL – Part 4

 

And, since I had picked up those missing threads – I was able to finish Part 1 – of Up in the Air – also by Barbara Ana

Up in the Air – Part 1

and the last project which actually took up most of my time, I will share once completed. I might head for the late night stitching, after all – who needs sleep….

Cicadas

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They are noisy, they are ugly, they fly in your face. They are everywhere. (Wiki Article). It is Anywimpossible to avoid articles in the US news. Cheap reporting as I am told as there are science types, amateurs, and everyone and their dog on the street who are willing to pontificate this particular episode (every 17 years? I was outside the US and spared the last experience).

When I think back, I am sure that there was at least one episode in childhood where they magically appeared, were stomped on and tracked into the house. But, as overall memories of that last period in time – not particularly outstanding. I am sure that the birds enjoyed the feast.

Anyway – when most of us think about a retreat, we think of woods. Quiet peaceful surroundings where you can relax and contemplate whatever. Please, wipe that completely out of your imagination. Instead – substitute a couple hundred cross-stitchers (mostly women) sitting in groups of five around tables; stitching and chatting. Frankly, I think the noise level exceeded the cicadas….

But it most certainly is a nice time. I am having a chance to meet various people with whom I have corresponded over the last year as well as being able to wander around and see every one’s stitching. I will spare you my rant about those who stitch reproduction samplers. (ok, just a small bit of rant – samplers were stitched by young women as their only chance to learn both stitching and a minimum of literacy – thus enabling them to stitch what were effectively laundry markings into clothing and linens…. Why on earth would I want to stitch – an alphabet, an ugly house, a tree, and maybe a flower port? Really. They all look alike because they are) [Off soap box]

I am headed to sleep before 2200 – needing to catch up from the train trip (and time zone change. Three hours isn’t that much, except that it is….)

For those of you who might be interested – this is the current status of COVID in the eastern portion of the US. It is why, inspite of the fact that just about everyone attending is immunized, mask wearing makes sense. (see the red marks in Ohio?)

US current COVID Map

And, since it is “so far” between my hotel and the Convention Center – transportation is being provided. This horrible distance is about a mile. Yep. (not even 2km in real money). But then I am relatively fit compared to a lot of the other people attending. Enough said on that.

Our transportation

 

 

 

No boats involved

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Back in the day (and by this I mean the mid-late 90s) I wrote a rather long description of a trip from the Balkans back to Würzburg entitled “But we didn’t take a boat.” That particular journey involved military vehicles, a helicopter, more military vehicles, a C-12, a bus, a train, and an ambulance if I my memory serves me correctly.

My current journey also skips the boat and “only” involves our POV, a train, a bus, another train + Lyft to get me from our home in Berkeley to La Quinta in Sharonville OH (think Cincinnati).

This tale starts 6 June and I will release the last several days sections later, what you need now is shorten versions plus the ending so that you know that I arrived safe and sound.

Sunday: George dropped me off at the Emeryville AMTRAK station so that I could catch the east bound #6 California Zephyr. Not being foolish, I splurged on my very own little roommate which is adequate for one and insanely cramped if you are two or more jammed into this closet. And that was Sunday.

Monday was a lovely train ride through the Rockies, with a few significant “unscheduled” delays in Colorado due to track maintenance. The upshot was that we were headed into my second night on the train about five hours behind schedule (what is important to note here is that there is less that four hours between my trains in Chicago).

Tuesday morning we woke bright and clear after an extremely bumpy night to find out we were now less than 2 hours behind. This catch up didn’t last as there were delays at the morning and early afternoon turn-over of conducting and engineering staff. The upshot of all of this was that Amtrak acknowledged that we were never going to make our connection in Chicago.

Accordingly, all of us headed for three different connections in Chicago were off-loaded in Galesburg (IL). After two more trains arrived all of us were loaded on a charter bus which dropped off six in Bloomington (IN) and another dozen in Champaign-Urban (IL) to grab their connections. As we rolled back on the interstate, I am thinking – gee – we will make our connection in Indianapolis (also IN) in plenty of time, not withstanding a five hour bus trip.

I had forgotten that the IL-IN border also involves a switch from Central->Eastern time zones. Instead of having over an hour to be organized, we arrived at 2338 for a 2349 connection. That should have been plenty of time. However, there were a few on the bus who hadn’t figured out that there was a time zone change and were taking their sweet time about getting off.

I managed, along with the other three in the back of the bus to impress on the turtles that they could move, speed up or get out of the way. Smart people grabbed their gear and headed Ito the station. Which, as it turns out is a level below the tracks…. Following my new best friends who knew where to locate the elevator, we managed sardines in the contraption and held our breaths till we piled out one level up.

By dint of looking up and down the platform, I found a car with conductor standing outside it. Turns out it was even my car. Climbed in, ricocheted down the hall and collapsed into my small roomette, thinking all the while that my original alternative of staying on the train to Chicago, transferring to O’Hare and flying to Cincinnati would have me landed prior to midnight.

I was one of five getting off in Cincinnati and found this time it was stairs and elevator up (to the main station). where there was absolutely no one And I mean no one of whom to ask directions. Neither did any of the cab companies answer the phone. Ok – Lyft it is which is how I met a lovely young 30s guy named Kevin who entertained me with circaidas and local information on the drive to the hotel.

I crashed right after 0400 and just woke up. Food sounds good and coffee great along with early to bed….

It is hard to be enthused

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writing every day when it seems that we are enmeshed in Ground Hog’s Day.

Yes, I know that I have frequently, often, etc. as well as loudly made this complaint before – but it is still holding. When I first started daily notes as an email list all those many years ago – there was reason to write. And different things happening every day. 

Now, it is the same family (well – plus Lev), the same activities, the same locations. Really, not much to say and a limited ability to explain the ordinary in terms that are interesting to me, much less anyone else. 

Ah, well. And to reassure you. This is not depression – this is just total and complete boredom with being stuck in Berkeley…..

 

 

But I am not there

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In an ordinary year, with ordinary things going on – I would be at CISTM 17 in Kuala Lumpur for the bi-annual meeting. I haven’t missed one since 2005. I even made CISTM 15 in Barcelona in the middle of chemo and two years ago in Washington DC. There was a program that I was running (passed off to a colleague who had a bit more time – or at least is a lot more organized).

I had thought, after the five day meeting, to go on to Australia; perhaps first cruising the Mekong Delta.

But noooooo. We have a pandemic and are making due with conferences on line. While being on line lets those from around the world in the Travel Med community participate without having to spend large amounts of money on travel and hotels, it has the definite disadvantage of time zones. No matter what time zone the organizers chose for the base, someone is going to lose sleep. In this case,  it is both those of us on the US West and those in Australia/New Zealand.

This morning’s start was 0800 EDT (GMT-5) which put it at 0500 here and 2200 Melbourne.

Tomorrow my start is 0345. So not fun.

on other fronts –

I managed to finish another section on Aster’s Amazing Adventure

 

 

and the next section of LittleDove’s Wizard of Oz (I am leaving the backstitching and the glitter to the end – wand/crown & faces…)

Follow the Yellow Brick Road – Part 2

Mini-Tree Hugger 5

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The pattern is by Carol Manning. This month’s bit is smaller than the last (at this point, any SAL which is under 1000 stitches per is much appreciated) which means that I could actually knock this out in a day. Once, that is, I located the floss colors. Only 4, but three were not previously used. 16 ct Aida from somewhere and DMC

Garden Dreams

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I think Barbara Ana (the Spanish designer) is on a kick. Or else Creative Poppy which carries her patterns as locked PDFs has convinced her that stitch-a-longs are the way to go. I finished Dreaming Frida (third and final part was released 1 May) and started the new SAL a couple of days ago. Again, this is a three part SAL – with the first part

Dreaming Garden – Barbara Ana – Part 1

stitched with the called for DMC on 18 ct Sunshine from MyVintageNeedleArts on Etsy which I picked up on sale as an orphan. The total design size will be ~ 6×6 (give or take a millimeter or two). Given there are flowers, a house or two – there has to be a girl (with closed eyes) in this one as well….

Kitting Up

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There are those stitchers who love planning new projects. Picking a pattern, selecting fabric, organizing threads. In fact some love it so much that they have several to dozens of projects bags ready to start at a moments notice. (I know this because I have been known to watch what are called “stash dives” on various Flosstube YouTube channels). 

I am neither so organized nor spendthrift. The idea of matching everything up does appeal. But what if I need that thread for another project? Or the fabric better suits a pattern that is newer, shinier? Not fickle, you understand but rather knowing myself all too well.  When something is organized in a bag, not started, it fades from my awareness relegated to less than important. It isn’t new and shiny anymore. There might just be something more interesting to place in the active project bin.

Why am I fussing about all of this? Because I finished “Dreaming Frida” by Barbara Ana yesterday afternoon

Dreaming Frida

Stitched on 16 ct orphan hand dyed Aida (from MyVintageNeedleArts_

and stitched in the called for threads. The pattern came from CreativePoppy and was a three part SAL which started 1 April.

So then, I could revert to the rest of the SALs (Stitch-a-longs) that are underway. Or I could start the new Barbara Ana SAL – Dreaming Garden. Note the theme going here? Which takes me to kitting up projects. Since this is a PDF downloaded pattern that this particular seller insists on password projecting, I haven’t been able to upload it to Pattern Keeper thus having to print and work off hard copy. (Note – same issue for other PDF readers.)  Since there was thread left from the last, I could grab the 3-4 colors that overlapped. Then I went on a thread hunt (three places to search) followed by a fabric search. An hour later, I was all set. The twelve colors pulled and a piece of 18 ct Sunshine from the same dyer as above.  The pattern is smaller than 90×90 so I didn’t want to take a chunk out of a large piece. After all, I might need it some day….. right. 

And absolutely no way to reclaim that hour of search & destroy find that I spent neither stitching nor organizing. I just do not get joy out of this kind of getting ready, putting things together. My joy comes from progress, not preparation.

Dreaming Garden

 

That little bit? Most, but not all of the lower first page. Deceptive – with an estimate of at least 600 stitches it that little bit coupled with a lot of color changes (9/12 included in just this section). 

when I started getting punchy, it was time for bed.

Volcano Watch

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In case you are not aware, there is a volcano (with more than one vent) that has been erupting in Geldingadalur, Iceland now for over a month.

Perhaps the best live cams are

BOB

RAG

 

and FLO

There are also short clips – such as this – where at the start you think it is just a big pile of grey till you see the molten lava just below the cooled surface.

 

And, if that isn’t enough – you can also follow Hawaii

And Mt Etna (Italy) and St Vincent (Caribbean) earlier in April. What is next?

Stitching

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There were errands, just a few. And an exercise class followed by working on various stitch-a-longs of the cross stitch variety.

The third of three parts of the Barbara Ana “Dreaming Frida” was released. I can feel a bit snarky because there is more to do in this section than the other two combined. The first section was the keys->flowers on the bottom. The second section was the sun, mountains and houses above. Which leaves me all of the girl (just started with the rest of her hair, her face&head + some more flowers to go.

Dreaming Frida

the fabric is a 16 ct Aida orphan from MyVintageNeedleworks. Stitched with the called for DMC.

Then there is Aster’s Amazing Adventure courtesy of Fuzzy Fox Designs out of Australia. This particular SAL started with 5K’s worth of lunar landscape at the bottom (not visible in this photo) and then adds a planet or so every week. This is through week 7.

Aster’s Amazing Adventure – Parts 1-7

with back stitching to be done later.

Little Dove Designs – Follow the Yellow Brick Road. I ignored the frame (which came out 2 weeks ago) to see if I wanted to play with this – and decided why not. Even with all the little red hearts.

Part 1 started –

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

stitched with the called for threads so far on ordinary natural color 16 ct Aida. Still have the rest of Glinda to stitch as well as the road. I think I just may add some shiny threads to Glinda’s crown and wand.

and lastly – Owl Forest (the Russian company) is offering another free stitch-a-long. This one is Alice in Wonderland. Past SALs include 101 Owls and The Emerald City which are still available for free on their website.

This one starts with an arbor in the middle (and the whole thing is not small). Rather than stitch green all day, I figured that I would make a start and do a bit each day…

Alice in Wonderland – Part 1

stitching on white Aida with the DMC conversion since I figured this out too late to order thread from Owl Forest.

UCBerkeley is on a reading week. I have no more lectures to give. Even leaves me with the option to sleep in!

May…be an opening?

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Sorry, been spending entirely too much time around bad puns. And some are so much worse than others.

It wasn’t a day for anything too complicated. I hadn’t signed up for any shifts at either place I normally work. Instead, I ran errands. Now Joanns is within about 3 miles of the house in one direction. Michaels about the same in the other. JoAnns, as it turns out, was missing several colors of DMC floss so I had to add the Michaels run. As it turns out, I should have just gone there in the first place. They have a new manager. Instead of total chaos in the embroidery section, it is now neatly and accurately laid out complete with signage and labels. Who knew?

I made it home with my floss (and a few other things that jumped into my basket) and spent the afternoon fighting with a couple of CD drives in a desperate attempt to play a couple of MP3 audiobooks… Ah, well. It looks like it is time to haul out the old MAC. I did manage some stitching, then we took dinner over to Shana’s.

It is still before 2200, but I am wiped and headed to bed.

(and now you know why I am not emailing everyone and boring them to tears…)

 

 

Summing up April

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This has been perhaps the longest month for me since the start of the Pandemic. I am not really sure why. I could point to a myriad of factors, but in truth, it feels like all the waves over my head came crashing down at once.


It wasn’t just that I had a lot of conferences on my schedule, some of which have the audacity to start at insane times in the morning. Admittedly, those times are not insane – if you happen to live in Tel Aviv, Geneva, or Glasgow. But since my time zone happens to be GMT-8 while on daylight savings time, it is really early in the morning. Trust me on that. 

Then there have also been the two courses at Cal which I have been participating in, some for my own interest and some as a guest lecturer. That pretty much wiped out all day Mon + Wed afternoon.

Add in working 2-3 days a week at one of two immunization sites (shifts are 10 hours + travel….)

Did I mention dental work?

Ok, all of that is probably more than enough whining out of me. 

I will start fresh in the morning and perhaps have it together a bit more this coming month. 

Recognize this?

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Given that I was offered slave labor by one of my daughters late this morning, I could hardly procrastinate any further on cleaning/organizing in the garage.

The end count was three huge boxes completely emptied. A pile of clothes to be charity donated. A large number of lose items folded and packed. Contents of previously unknown two boxes identified. A very large duffle bag with various family treasures packed by Maus (and taken home by her). The dear girl also claimed two completed cross stitches as “hers” and will do the finishing. A third will make an ideal present for a friend of hers – so that went out the door as well. 

There is now a nice, clear, open space at the front of the middle section of the garage which can be turned into a metal stamping area by Daughter #2 who needs some place to pound other than her kitchen counter.  One of the old sheepskins is now decorating the floor and will make a great and comfortable nesting location for which ever of her dogs needs to accompany her.

Back to the thing –

Sansa Nano

It was in the sleeve pocket of one of my uniform shirts. I am forgetting the exact name – I was issued three that last tour in Afghanistan. They were designed as essentially a long sleeve pullover which could be comfortably worn under kevlar. I think I remember someone calling them “tanker’s shirts” but I could be wrong. The zippered sleeve pocket was great, and not to be confused with the various other velcro closure pouches and pockets. It has a standard port as well as a location for a micro chip (not that I think I have a reader for anything that small anymore) and a regular port for ear buds.  (Yes, my dears – this was long before blue tooth…

I am going to charge it and see what happens. If nothing else – I could find a card and load one of the dozens of audio books I found in the garage still sealed in our original household goods shipment boxes.

Cross stitch

Not a lot has been accomplished today. I managed another two blocks on the Tetris upper border. Otherwise – the outline for the first tree in Caroline Mannings – Tree Hugger SAL. The fabric is 18 Aida Shale by Picture this Plus using the called for DMC.

Tree Hugger #1

I need to add the Owl on the upper portion and fill in the entire tree…Only about 600 stitches more…

Sick of Pink

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And I have almost a thousand stitches to go yet in the bottom section.

Bleh.

But I will say that it is shaping and up and actually a fairly rapid stitch as there are huge whacks of color.

Aster’s Amazing Adventure

is actually the official name of this stitch-a-long but I am likely to continue to call it the Space SAL (which is not the same as the Solar System SAL – just saying…)

There are only four colors of DMC pink – 961, 962, 963 & 3354. The fabric is 16 ct opalescent Aida which I ordered from DoveStitch but is actually Fabric Flair (if I am remembering correctly). I still need to add a dark navy stitch along the outside. And after all of this, I may change my mind completely once I see the section of the actual SAL.

 

Beside the Sea

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This weekend the last part on this SAL (stitch-a-long) was released. Normally Patty releases her pattern updates on Friday, but delayed till today.
That was fine with me. It is not like I don’t have enough other things to work on. 

I was caught up, but for a small portion of the frame to the outside of the lighthouse. 

The final part added a pair of seagulls. 

1054 stitches later, I could claim I was done!

Beside the Sea

stitched on light blue Aida (sorry about the lighting) with Sulky instead of DMC. Main colors substituted included 1001 (Parchment) for the gulls and lighthouse, 4055 for the frame and little blue beach house, 

My first DONE of February (and likely the only one). 

Otherwise, I started a simple blanket in a half-log cabin pattern and just switch directions about every 12 rows/6 ridges of garter or when I get bored. It is a great project for Zoom conversations and meetings..

FFN

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and I just picked up another new acronym. FFN = finished for now. It is perfect. Not for just any old piece of stitching or knitting; not when you are bored or frustrated. That is not the point of this little gem.

It is for when you have gotten as far as you possibly can on a piece with the current amount of pattern than you have.  The classical use is for a section of a SAL (stitch-a-long) where the parts are released at regular intervals. There are those individuals who arduously keep up with the clues and have their stitching current to the most recent release. There are those who mutter along for a while, then fall behind, never to catch up. In neither group are those wait till the whole project has been released, then jump on board.

But for me – this gives me an expression which expresses that the particular project is not exactly a WIP (work in progress) because there is absolutely NOTHING else I can accomplish till the next portion of the pattern is released.

The following – for example – count as FFNs –

 

From CloudsFactory – there is no Planet B. A year long SAL delivered the first of each month.

Wonders of the Solar System – releases on the 15th

Dreaming Girl started 1 Feb and releases every two weeks.

But for now, they are FFNs

In contrast – the following are NOT FFNs –

In all cases, I finished the segment for the month well before the next portion of the pattern was released. BUT, all of these SALs have frames involved. The frames were released prior to the start of the year. To be FFN = I would have to have everything stitched that was available so far.

And I pretty much prefer to stitch frames as I go.  There are several reasons, perhaps the biggest being that stitching a frame is a significant investment of time and materials without knowing whether or not I am actually going to like the pattern. By not starting the frame ahead of time, I can decided not to play. Now that I am committed, I will work on the frames both as I go and in any extra stitching time that I have.

Clear as mud – right?

B is for Broadway

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Is what I am going to assume in this particular stitch-a-long.

The designers love musicals, so I should not be surprised.  They released the frame for this particular piece well prior to the 1 Feb start.  The frame is simple, but a freaking lot of stitches.

Started on 4 Feb

 

The portion of the frame that you see (the black marquis with the yellow spotlights) was stitched prior to this week. I had a few other things to complete first, so didn’t get the “B” started till yesterday morning. Thankfully,, it loads into PatternKeeper. I groaned on discovering that there was a measly (!) 2330 stitches in this section. Frankly, that is actually a bit much for a SAL that releases every couple of weeks.

But by late this afternoon, I managed the 1169 stitches that remained after yesterday.

From Les Mis

I had no clue, but Jill identified the “can you hear the people sing” and Graeme nailed the musical. French flag rounds out a portion of the clues.

Embroidery Scissors

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Probably aren’t necessary – I could cut floss with just about any sharp tool. But they are definitely an indulgence. Unlike kitchen shears which can cut just about anything successfully (not discussing poultry shears here) or fabric scissors which also come in a great variety with different material targets – embroidery scissors need only have relatively sharp edges and a pointed end.

Usually small, I have discovered that there is a huge variety of scissors ranging from the cheap to the incredibly and indulgently expensive. Now, I like shiny as well as the next person – but give me a choice between half a dozen to a dozen pairs or one pair costing more than 100$US and I am going opt for the variety.

Instead I go for the cute pairs –

like this small cat

or 

the adorable owl

or a fancy version of the traditional stork

 

These were just the three that came quickly to hand. I have a few more…

 

Three Done

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I mentioned last month that I was “participating” in a number of mystery cross-stitch-a-longs. Each SAL is released in segments on a regular (for it) basis. The most common interval is once a month. A few are every other week. The rare pattern gets released on a weekly basis – but this type of SAL is usually a short term project of no more than six components.

Not that you wanted to know any of that – but to avoid personal confusion, I print out a calendar each month I can write down the dates that patterns will be released. Allegedly, this will let me plan what I will stitch, when.  In reality, I am likely to go with whatever shows up first, which ever looks the more interesting, or which ever is going to be the hardest to catch up on if I fall behind. 

I may just have bitten off too much, but we will see.

Anyway – today is Wednesday, 3 Feb and I have completed my first three pattern segments for the month.

  1. First up is a 12 month SAL by TinyModernist called Zodiac. There is a rather large and complicated frame which was available, and I could have stitched ahead of time (Dec) but I didn’t since I was finishing up December projects. In January, I decided that “frame as you go” was good enough. That meant that the 1200 stitches of the fish required completion of the two circles on the right hand side. If I stay ahead of things this month, I will fill in a bit more of the decorations around the frame. This pattern segments are published monthly.

Pices

2. Second up is Dreaming Girl by Barbara Ana. This is an every two week pattern drop. Unfortunately, this pattern is not compatible with PatternKeeper, so I have no clue as to how many stitches were in this first part, but I have the feeling that it is over ½ of the total. 

3. And I finally was able to pick up fabric for the Wonders of the Solar System by Climbing Goat Designs (no, I couldn’t possibly make this up). The first planet – Mars, was released the 15th of last month which means that I will see the next planet up in less than two weeks. Pattern Keeper compatible – 827 stitches to the Red Planet.

Planet 1 – Mars

From here, I have a start (for the third time) on this year’s Linens and Threads Mystery SAL and a number of others in the queue. Progress will be made….