Floss Friday -- A Good Report and Some Cross Stitch Progress

Happy Floss Friday, Friends!

Hubby and I took a quick road trip to Florida for his six month dermatologist appointment. Since his last melanoma diagnosis, he has to see the doctor more frequently. I'm happy to report that everything looks great and we won't have to go back until next April!

I was stitching when I wasn't driving and made a good amount of progress on Pinkie Santa designed by Stitching with the Housewives.
                                            
Here is where I was when I last shared the project...
                                
Here is where I left off yesterday. This photo shows the actual color of the fabric.
                                    

Monday evening before we left, I worked on Merry Bouquet designed by Shakespeare's Peddler.

Here is where I was before...
                                            
Here is this week's progress. I added one more flower and little more border.
                                    
I must get this one finished because my stitch-along partner has already finished hers. She made quite a few changes so I'll ask her for a photo to share once I finish mine.

My mom turned 83 last Monday. Hubby made her favorite dish for dinner...meatloaf LOL. Now that we are home we will be taking her to lunch at a nice restaurant and shopping for her gift. We know what we are giving her but we want her to make the final selection. This will take up most of Saturday.

Afterwards, I'll start sewing the Boo To You quilt together. I'll share progress on Monday.

In the meantime, I have to catch up on reading my favorite blogs. I hope you have a great weekend and I'll see you soon.

Apple Festival and Retreat

Happy Friday, Friends!

Last weekend's Apple Festival was a big success in spite of the rain and chilly temps.
                                            

Lots of vendors selling their wares.

Our local apple orchard was there offering bags of apples, tarts, doughnuts, turnovers, cider and more.

The Apple Festival Cross Stitch Retreat hosted by Anabella's was also a success.  There were approximately 60 attendees.  Unfortunately, the guest designer could not make it. Priscilla from Stitching with the Housewives got a terrible stomach flu the day she was to fly from Chicago and had to cancel.

She still provided us with two exclusive designs, as well as the fabric and floss to complete them.

I started and finished the smaller design over the weekend.

I secured Table # 6 and invited these four ladies to join me.

We played a game called Left Right Center with DMC floss. I've played this game many times but have never won. That is....until now.

I also won TWO raffle prizes...

A wool candle mat from Penny Lane Primitives

Lori Holt's new cross stitch book, some of her chunky thread and her crochet hooks

Before I started the smaller design from Priscilla, I started Pinkie Santa.
                                            
This is where I stopped before picking up the new design.

Since the weekend, I've been catching up on exercise (if there is such a thing) and getting my steps in at the lake. Just wanted to share a photo and let my long-time friends know that the ghosts are back...

And they've added some pumpkins to the waterfall...

Sadly, the waterfall will be turned off soon. We are already getting into the 20s and 30s F in the mornings. Although, the afternoon temps are hitting the 70s and sometimes 80s still.

My cousins from Florida are in town visiting. Even though some of them are staying in a hotel, and some with my mom, I'm not sure how my weekend is going to go. I'm hoping to finally start the Boo to You quilt from the Fat Quarter Shop. We shall see...

My friend Diann at Little Penguin Quilts mentioned her son just made a sourdough pumpkin bread. I'm looking all over the county for a bakery that has one. It sounds so good.

What are your plans for the weekend? Tell me all the things...and I'll see you soon!

Floss Friday -- Cross Stitch Progress, More Fall and A Little Halloween

Happy Friday!

How has everyone's week been? Were you creative in any way? I'd love to know.

I did a little cross stitching on Merry Bouquet. Here is where I am as of Thursday evening.

This is a fun little stitch and I hope to have a finish soon.

I did a little more fall decorating.

The tiered shelf...
                                            
Harvest Small is from Hands on Design and Priscilla Blain.
                                            
September Calendar Crates is from Stitching with the Housewives. 
                                            
I will switch out the Calendar Crates for Halloween soon. 

Melisa at Pinker n Punkin' Quilting and Stitching inspired me to get out a few Halloween pieces.

Boo Jar is from Hands on Design and Priscilla Blain.
                                            
Trick or Treat is from Stitching with the Housewives.
                                            
Witch's Night Out is a pattern from It's Sew Emma using Fig Tree & Co. fabric.
                                            
I have it draped over the back of one of the family room sofas.
                                
This Is Halloween Back Up the Truck from Stitching with the Housewives.
                                          
Costume Party from Hands on Design.
                                           
Halloween Alphabet is from Primrose Cottage Stitches.
                                          
The Boo Strawberry is from Eric Michaels and the three cat pillows are from Stitching with the Housewives.
                                            
This Is Halloween from Primrose Cottage.
                                            
I've offered to help Mom with a few things this weekend but I'm still hopeful there will be some sewing for ME sometime in there.

I hope you enjoy the weekend and I'll see you soon!

Floss Friday -- September Stats, A New Start and A Few Plans

Happy Friday, Friends!!

September's stitch count is a bit higher than August's. I put 2,140 stitches in three projects.

Wilding Hill Manor by Little Robin Designs...
                                            
Red Letter Sampler by Threadwork Primitives...
                              
And last, which is also a new start, Merry Bouquet by Shakespeare's Peddler...
                                            
This is one of the kits I purchased at the Stitching in the Wild retreat early September. My friend Andrea and I are stitching this together.
                            
My fabric is 36 count linen Tin Roof by Weeks Dye Works, and I'm using the called-for Classic Colorworks floss.

Christmas stitching wasn't originally in my plan for October. Recently that changed when I won a chart from Priscilla and Chelsea's flosstube, Stitching with the Housewives. This is Pinkie Santa...
                                            
This will be a good project to work on at my next stitching retreat. Anabella's is hosting a retreat during our town's apple festival mid-October. The featured designer is Priscilla. I know, I know, I just saw her on the Alaskan cruise retreat. But when someone big comes to our little town...well, I have to go!

Not much, if any, stitching will happen this weekend. It is back to the sewing machine for me. I'm determined to make progress on quilt wips. Speaking of quilts, I have something exciting to share on Monday. Well, it is exciting for me anyway.

What are you working on this weekend? I hope it is something fun!

Enjoy and I'll see you Monday!

Floss Friday -- August XS Stats, Progress and Two FFOs

Happy Friday, Friends!

August was not a good month for cross stitch. I only put in 956 stitches on one project.

Wilding Hill Manor by Little Robin Designs.
                                                     
This is where I left off in July.
                                              
Here is today's progress.
                                            
I cannot, for the life of me, figure out settings to photograph linen without it looking wonky. It doesn't look like that on the phone nor my laptop :(

I'm hoping to finish this at next week's retreat.

Doing a little happy dance over here with two fully finishes. I picked these up from the framer this week.

Salute to Abigail by Blackbird Designs

                                              
I went out of my comfort zone when selecting this frame but I am so happy with it. The photo doesn't do it justice. The frame works so well with the thread colors.

Fabric:            36 count linen in the color Frappucino by XJudesigns
Floss:              My own conversion of Valdani Cotton (0507, P7 and 031)
Stitch count:  147w x 149h
Start date:      11/1/25, End date: 5/30/26

This was a stitch along with friends.

The next framed piece is Meek & Humble by Teresa Kogut
                                    
The model was stitched into a pillow but this is a gift for my mom and she prefers frames over pillows.

Fabric:            40 count linen in the color Vanilla Latte by Fabrics by                                 Stephanie
Floss:              My own conversion of DMC 3866 and Gloriano Silk in                             Cranberry
Stitch count:  142w x 56h
Start date:      7/10/26, End date: 7/22/26

This was also a stitch along with a friend.

Sewing is at a stand still until after the retreat. I'll get back to Sewcialites 3 and I'm going to need your opinion on the finishing for Fat Quarters by the Dozen. That will be next Tuesday's post.

We are helping mom move into her new place through Saturday. Then Sunday is another quick road trip.

What is on your agenda for the weekend? I hope it will be filled with all good things.


See you soon,