Floss Friday -- Cross Stitch Update, Haul and Chart Organization

Happy Friday, Friends!

Patriotic stitching has my focus again, now that Valentine’s Day has passed.  Salute to Abigail is back on the frame and I am enjoying this stitch very much.

I believe that last time I shared my progress was back in December…yikes!

This is where I am as of today…

I am not happy with my white stitches. I've tried three different threads so far. I'll have to make a decision before adding anymore. I am a little behind but should catch up to my self-imposed monthly assignment this weekend. Then I am going to get back to the American Sampler. 

Haul

Mirabilia Cross-Stitch published two charts back in 2001 that caused quite a frenzy in the cross-stitch community. Queen of Freedom and Lady of the Flag were very popular and when the charts were retired, they could only be found on the after-market. Prices soared; some sellers had them listed on Ebay for hundreds of dollars. Yes, hundreds!

Queen of Freedom

Lady of the Flag

In honor of America's 250th anniversary, Mirabilia offered a limited release. Shops were only allowed 25 copies of each to sell. Some shops used a lottery system to determined which customers got one or both. Some shops sold them on a first-come, first-served basis.

I was fortunate enough to get both charts, along with the bead packs and fabric. The threads are DMC and easy to get so there was no need to make a special pack of those. My dealer cross-stitch store, as usual, is GaRon Stitchery.

I'll be stitching both charts on 30-count linen by The Primitive Hare. This is called Constitution. 

My fabric. This photo doesn't show true color :(

Image Source

Organization

I’ve mentioned before that my organizing / purging project is slow-going. However, I thought I would show you how I’ve organized my cross-stich charts.

One of my favorite things is a spreadsheet…are you surprised?!? I have one Excel workbook that contains a few different sheets. One sheet is an inventory of all the charts / books I own. I can sort by chart name, designer, season/category, the format (pdf or physical), whether it is kitted or not, and if it is a WiP, FO or FFO.

Another sheet lists all the charts I’ve started, the pertinent dates and which stage they are in currently…again, WiP, FO or FFO.

Then there is the table, by year, that keeps track of how many starts, WiPs, FOs and FFOs I have. This is the one I share in my year-end stats post.

The physical charts are kept in binders, filed alphabetically by designer. I use sheet protectors for single patterns.

These magazine holders for binders are for books that are too large to fit in a sheet protector.

I use my Brother P-touch to make labels for the binders.

The binders are kept in the printer cabinet in my craft area. The two binders on the right hold quilting and sewing patterns.

The electronic (pdf) charts are kept in folders by designer on the laptop.

A new quilt along starts today and I’ll share all about it on Monday.  In the meantime, enjoy the weekend ahead.

See you soon,

Fat Quarters by the Dozen -- Release 3 -- Celebration Block

The third block of Fat Quarter Shop’s QAL for Fat Quarters by the Dozen is the Celebration block. 

This was a simple block to construct. It measures 18 ½” x 18 ½”.

I know I said this about the last release but, I want a whole quilt made with these blocks.

This is the layout of the sampler quilt.

I continue to reward myself for finishing the pile of nine quilts that needed binding.  I purchased this sweet fabric for my next quilt along.

Lyda Rose by Bunny Hill Designs for Moda. Don’t you just love the spring colors?

I’ll share more about the next quilt along soon.

See you soon,

 

Floss Friday -- Happy Valentine’s Eve

Hello Friends!

Last Floss Friday, I showed my almost finish on Valentine Alphabet by Primrose Cottage.

I not only completed the stitching, but I fully finished it into a pillow. I know, I know…you are probably asking the same question that I hear from my daughter…”how many pillows do you need?"

Valentine Alphabet is stitched on 32 count evenweave dyed by Fortnight Fabrics in the color Humphrey. I used the called-for threads. It measures 7” x 3-1/8”.

It now resides with other Valentine pieces in the dry sink.

I also had a SAF (start and finish) this week. 

This is Parade Sam designed by Not Forgotten Farm. I purchased the .pdf from Etsy so I do not have a photo show you except from Lori’s shop.

I am thinking about finishing this into an ornament for my patriotic tree since it only measures 3” x 4- ¾”. I stitched Sam on 36 ct linen dyed by Fabrics by Stephanie in the color Chocolate Milk. I pulled threads from my stash as I went along. They are a collection of Classic Colorworks, Gentle Art and Weeks Dye Works. I am happy to share my conversion with anyone who is interested.

We almost had a home invasion the other day. If you saw my Instagram post then you saw the video. I will share a couple of photos here.

Fat Quarter Shop releases the next block for Fat Quarters by the Dozen on Sunday. I will be back on Monday to show you my progress on that quilt along.

Until then, I hope you have a wonderful and blessed weekend.

See you soon,

 

Block Swap and Four Patch Fun

Dawn, who used to blog at Sew You Quilt 2, organized a block swap amongst a few of her followers. It was….ahem…9 years ago, in 2017! I can’t believe it was that long ago.

We were to make one scrappy slab block in each of the participants’ favorite color. My color was blue / aqua and here are the blocks I received.

From Dawn, who no longer blogs…

She sent two blocks.

From Dawn’s neighbor, Jackie, who did not have a blog…

Jackie said she didn't “do” scrappy so she felt like she was flying by the seat of her pants. LOL

From Rosemary at The Knitting Quilter…

Her colors were right in my range.

From Julierose at julierosequilts…

Since I lived near the beach at the time, Julierose made an ocean themed block.

Once I get around to organizing my quilting supplies, I’m going to pull background fabrics and make a runner with these blocks for the top of my Ikea cabinets. I will think of my friends every time I look at it.

I haven’t shared an update on my leader/ender project in a few weeks. While doing various sewing projects, I’ve added a few more Four Patch Fun blocks to both colorways.  There are now seven in each.

I don't know why the photo has a reddish tint to it.

I hope you are having a lovely week! I’ll see you soon.

 

Floss Friday -- January Stats and Cross Stitch Progress

Happy Friday, Friends!

Posting a bit late today. I couldn’t get in gear this morning.

January was a light month for stitching. I only put in 2,480 Xs last month.  I worked on four projects.

One WIP (work in progress)

American Sampler by Crocette a Gogo'

Two new SAFs (start and finish)

Sweetly Sayin' Valentine's Day by Primrose Cottage Stitches

Be My Valentine by Lizzie Kate

One new start

Valentine Alphabet by Primrose Cottage Stitches

I will finish Valentine Alphabet this weekend and add it to my Valentine display, which I will show you next Friday.

My craft organization project is on-going. Not much progress to share this week.

Hope you have a great weekend. I’ll see you soon!

 

Ice Fest 2026

Hello, Friends!

As promised in Monday’spost, I am sharing photos from last weekend’s Ice Fest. But first, a few words about that event.

Visit Haywood Ice Fest Weekend is a winter celebration that spans five towns in our county, over a weekend. Unfortunately, due to last weekend’s snow storm, only the main event took place. That was the Ice Block Party held in our downtown. Main Street is blocked off to automobile traffic so that participating businesses can display unique ice sculptures. Food vendors and entertainment are also available. It is a true festival.

Since the event was cancelled in the other small towns, their ice sculptures were brought to our courthouse lawn for display.

Visit Haywood is the organization that sponsors Ice Fest and they raise money to promote the county’s small businesses. One way they do that is by selling items made by local citizens. I mentioned in this post I had knit a scarf to support that effort.

That was Ice Fest 2026. I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the ice sculptures.

I’ll be back Friday with a cross-stitch update.

See you then,