August 2021 Activities

Hi everyone and welcome to the August recap just a few days into September! August was a great (if a little warm) month and I had a lot of fun. There was just a smidge of time in the sewing room because the month was busy with the Biscornu SAL my mom and I hosted and our Indy Summer Stitchers cross-stitch retreat. 

On the quilting side, I had two quick finishes and just one day in the sewing room sewing - I made and attached the binding to the top I quilted last night and I made a couple thread keepers for cross-stitch. 

Four-Hour Throw - made with a layer cake

Thread keep outside

Interior lined with batting

Now, let's get to the stitching fun! At the beginning of the month, I started not one but two projects :) on the same day. The first was my Fox biscornu to go along with the #biscornusal that my mom and I hosted on Instagram. If you haven't seen them, take a look at the great pictures others have shared of their choices and progress. 

All ready to start my first biscornu

The second start was also a quick finish - this is a shop model for Persnickety Stitchers called Flower Fun by Heart in Hand. I stitched it on an 18count fabric with DMC (6 strands!) and it was finished in two stitching sessions. I finished it into a wrapped hoop and finished the back with some wool I had on hand. I am really pleased with the finish and it looks cute in the shop too. 

Flower Fun by Heart in Hand

My next finish is a piece I started in April for Americana April, Star Spangled Birthday by Nancy's Needle. It is a counted thread piece and I enjoyed working on something a little different. I decided not to include the charted fireworks as they just didn't pop on my design and I am really pleased with the finished stitching. I am not sure yet whether I will frame this or finish it another way. It is stitched on the called for fabric and with the called for threads. 

The third finish was a start from StitchMaynia - and I really love this one (but I think I love them all!). It is from the book Sand, Sea, and Cross Stitch by Anna Field. I saw a project from this book years ago and fell in love with the projects in the book. I loved this one and bought linen for it a while back. I am so happy to complete and show this one off at our cross-stitch retreat. I plan to have this one framed. 

Lighthouse ABCs finish

Two more fully-finished items for August. I completed the Lizzie Kate monthly Flip-It - only a few more months to finish and I will have all 12 done :) 

The last finish is a piece I stitched last year for my friend Beth - she had her 50th birthday last year and I wasn't able to spend it with her (although I had the piece stitched in time), so when she came for the retreat, I finally was able to give her the gift. I forgot to take a picture of it before she took it home, so I asked her to send a picture - she sent a few. 

Lizzie Kate Boxer finish

Flat-fold or hat?? 

All these great projects, plus our third Indy Summer Stitchers Retreat - a group of about 23 gathered on a Friday afternoon and we stitched our way through to Sunday afternoon. It was a great weekend and I really enjoyed stitching with other women again. We had some good meals and lots of laughs over the weekend - and we might have had some tough love to get people backstitching. It was a great time and the best news is that we decided to host a second retreat, so next year, we'll have retreats in March and August. Can't wait to get in two fun stitching weekends! Here are a few pics from the retreat. I realized I don't take too many photos because I am so busy stitching! 

Mom all set up and ready to stitch!

The smalls exchange

Smalls exchange - aren't they gorgeous? 

Retreat attendees

 

Here are the official stats for the month. I added some fabric with my birthday discount for a few new projects - it's always fun to add fabric to the stash. 

Stash report with Donna at quiltpaintcreate: 

Fabric added this month: 3 1/8 yards

Fabric used this month: 1/2 yard

Fabric added year to date: 15 1/8 yards

Fabric used year to date: 34 5/8 yards

Net fabric used: 19 1/2 yards

Stitching Time with Kate at Life In Pieces: 

29/31 days with at least 15 minutes of crafting - 94%

Thanks for hanging in for a long post - hope you had a great August too! Let me know in the comments which of my August projects is your favorite and what you were working on in August.