Here is my monthly posting for the #24HoursOfCrossStitch Challenge, the brainchild of Jen from QuirksandStitches.
There are three monthly inter-linked challenges but what I really love about this SAL is that the level of participation is completely up to the stitcher - the idea is to enjoy the stitching, not get bogged down trying to meet targets etc. I complete all three challenges simply because I really enjoy them (even though the Holiday Challenges often give me a figurative frustration headache!)
This post is also a good excuse for me to round up and summarise all the stitching I have achieved during the month. I wish I'd done that sooner as it's a neat little reminder. Anyway, let's see what those achievements are:
1) Stitch for 24 hours during the month, including a minimum of 24 minutes each day
Not a problem! I stitched for a total of 59 hours during November, which is a little above average. There were two days when I stitched for less than 24 minutes, but I was able to put in a couple of long days so that made up for it!
2) Fill in the acrostic REWIND TIME, explain the connections and pick a 24 minute, 4 hour or 8 hour goal for each letter.
This month I planned my stitching around the letters rather than the other way round, although these were the projects I would probably have worked on anyway! There were ten projects in total, one for each letter, with goal time adding up to around 33 hours. All goals were achieved.
Connection - Haunted Library was a restart in October
Goal - at least 4 hours
Actual - 5h 5m
(more about this in a post when I reach the 10 hour mark)
(more about this in a post when I reach the 10 hour mark)
Connection - my monarch this month was Edward III
Goal - at least 4 hours from start to finish
Actual - 5h 5m
Connection - birds have wings
Goal - at least 4 hours to finish
Actual - 3h 30m (so less than estimated)
Connection - to be a working candelabra the candles need to be ignited
Goal - at least 24 minutes of progress
Actual - 3h 50m to unexpectedly finish it!
(finishing post to come soon)
(finishing post to come soon)
Connection - another word for Christmas is Noel
Goal - at least 4 hours from start to finish
Actual - 7h 50m
Connection - this is from a set called Dark Shadows
Goal - at least 24 minutes of progress
Actual - 2h 35m
Connection - the birthstone of the month is topaz
Goal - at least 4 hours from start to finish
Goal - at least 4 hours from start to finish
Actual - 5h 50m
Connection - the scene is inside the snow globe
Goal - at least 24 minutes of progress
Actual - 6h 30m!
Connection - I've been stitching the mountains
Goal - at least 8 hours of progress
Goal - at least 8 hours of progress
Actual - 10h
E - Boo! by Sue Hillis Designs (WIP)
Connection - it's being stitched with Etoile thread
Goal - at least 4 hours to finish
Goal - at least 4 hours to finish
Actual - 8h 45m
3) Connect 12 or more of the given holidays to your projects and stitch for at least 24 minutes on each. 8 of the ten projects went on one holiday, the other 2 went on 2. See above for time spent on each one. I have been finding this part of the challenge increasingly difficult each month, but I'm stubborn and will not to be defeated. Hope you love the one very very very obvious shoe-horn!
1st - National Author's Day - Hogwarts In A Bottle - love or hate the stories, you have to admit J K Rowling and her creation of Harry Potter and Hogwarts have made her one of the most famous authors of the modern era.
2nd - Look For Circles Day - Bird Candelabra - the ornate details of the candelabra look almost circular.
3rd - National Homemaker Day - Kings And Queens - my monarch this month actually cared for and got along with his wife and children!
5th - Bonfire Night - November in Topaz - bonfire night is celebrated in November.
9th - Chaos Never Dies Day - Hogwarts In A Bottle - if you're familiar with the stories you'll know there's never a dull moment at this school!
14th - National Pickle Day - Haunted Library - gherkins are pickled, gherkins are green, the slime left behind by the ghosts in the Ghostbusters films was green and the first place they haunted and slimed was the library, the little pickles!
16th - National Button Day - Haunted Library - this is a Button and Beads kit.
19th - Have A Bad Day - Hocus Pocus - because, when you have a bad day, don't you wish a little magic could make it all better?
22nd - Go For A Ride Day - Boo! - there are part of a witch on this piece and witches ride broomsticks.
26th - National Cake Day - Candelabra - a candelabra holds candles and candles are often associated with cakes.
27th - Pins And Needles Day - Snow Globe Tree - Christmas trees are sometimes fir trees and fir trees drop their needles.
30th - Stay At Home Because You Are Well Day - Happy Christmas - most of us don't have to go to work on Christmas Day so it's a good reason to stay at home, even though we are well.
Phew, done it, and with only a few hours to spare!
December's challenges have been released so I shall now start on those. i wonder what lays ahead in the last month of this year?
Take care,
Rachel x
I LOLed at the National Pickle Day connection. Love it! Love the creativity. Plus the stitching of course. You can tell it motivates you too just like it does me. Good luck in December! I also really love the wrap up posts. I love seeing it all in one place.
ReplyDeleteLove all of your great projects Rachel. I love your reasoning for all of the pieces you worked on. My poor old brain can think outside of the box anymore.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Some interesting connections, but lots of nice stitching for November!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had to get very creative with some of the holidays this year! Love it :)
ReplyDeleteYou have been so productive with finishes and progress! I'd love the have a little Hocus Pocus on Have a Bad Day, although it could be a little dangerous.
ReplyDeleteGreat connections! I just love those Halloween pieces.
ReplyDeleteWonderful work on the Challenges this month. I love the shoe horns used for some of the days and letters!
ReplyDelete