It's a Wrap!!!

Hi beautiful!

It's been a while since my last post. That's not to say there hasn't been a lot going on in my crafting world. There has!

The one creation I want to share today is what I affectionately call "The Hoop". It has been my daily companion this year. 

My hoop journey began at the prompting of a Wild Woman. “A great challenge” Leona said, “for a year, stitch each day on a hoop.” Four Wild Women, me included, set forth with courage and a glint of determination in our eyes.

I had a 14” hoop sitting in my cupboard, picked up at a local op shop. A year is a long time so I figured a big hoop was just the ticket. An unfinished, or more truthfully, almost unstarted, cross stitch linen piece was asking to be used after 4 decades! On the first day of the challenge, I made a last minute decision and chose a green linen damask napkin loitering in the linen cupboard. And the rest they say is history!

The Completed Hoop

Over time, the hoop became known as "The Magic Kingdom" with a mix of scenes and characters. Each day saw me stitching, posting on Instagram and weekly on Facebook. As I progressed, a few kind folk began to like and then to engage with the posts. They were also participating in #1yearofstitches challenge. The year-long journey was so much fun as we shared and encouraged each other. Thank you to my Instagram friends. 

I've made 2 video clips - one of the weekly hoop progress and the other of the places.

I hope you enjoy the journey!  

The Places

The Weekly Progress

With love

Cara 

A stitch a day - February

Hi beautiful

Another month has passed and with it the growth of the "1 Year of Stitches" hoop.

February has seen the garden completed, a sturdy oak door built, a pond partially filled, a grassy hillside flourishing and a black cat waiting for visitors.

Here's the big picture.

End of February progress

Zooming in on the details:

Garden blooming

Oak door

Grassy hillside

Fish pond partially filled

Millie - the patient cat

I've really enjoyed the daily surprise of what emerges. A magical land is unfolding of its own free will. Going slowly like this allows new directions, unthought of the day before. At times I've had an idea for the next day or so, only to do something entirely different. How fun is that?

Wishing you joy and blessings in the coming month of March.

Cara

A stitch a day

Hi beautiful

Well here we are at the end of January. It's been such a hot month and that tends to drain me of energy and enthusiasm for beginning craft projects. 

One project I have successfully undertaken every day is the "1 year of stitching challenge". There are over 2000 stitchers participating worldwide. It's truly inspirational to view the diversity of designs, fabric and threads. Many post weekly to the closed group on Facebook, while others post daily on Instagram. (The tag is #1yearofstitches and #1yearofstitches2017.) 

Here's my progress in January.

Linen napkin as my fabric

Day 1

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

I'm enjoying stitching the story of my garden. For close ups and comments, check out my daily posts on Instagram.

Have a wonderful February!

Love and lightness of being

Cara

2017 One year of stitches

Hi beautiful

It's almost a new year upon us. I'm getting organized with my journals and looking forward to a year of new craft projects and learning new skills.

So I was thrilled to hear about a year long embroidery project shared by Sara Barnes on her blog Brown Paper Bag. It's called "1 Year of Stitches". She showcases Michelle Anais Beaulieu-Morgan's exquisite 2016 piece here.

Michelle Anais Beaulieu-Morgan

This morning I started looking for a large embroidery hoop I knew I had and some suitable fabric. I found this 14" hoop and beneath it, a long ago (late 70's!) cross stitch. I'd only done a few stitches in the middle. Much too fine for my eyes, even back then. The linen fabric is just perfect for this project.

Lucky find

I couldn't believe my good luck in finding both hoop and fabric. It's meant to be! 

Looking forward to commencing on January 1st and joining others.

Love 

Cara