#24HoursOfCrossStitch - April Challenges

Hi all,

Time already for yet another monthly posting for the #24HoursOfCrossStitch Challenge, the brainchild of Jen from QuirksandStitches, where we have fun matching our stitching for the month to various challenges. I also find it a convenient way of rounding up my accomplishments for the month. Here goes then...

1) Stitch for 24 hours during the month, including a minimum of 24 minutes each day
April stated off well, very well in fact, but then became more than a bit of a washout towards the end of the month. I managed a total stitching time of 30 hours and 5 minutes, but 10 of the days saw only 5-10 minutes of stitching, and that's not good. Mais, c'est la vie.


2) Fill in the acrostic SUN & SHADOW, explain the connections and pick a 24 minute, 4 hour, 8 hour, (or other) goal for each letter.
Here are the projects I wanted to work on during April, and how much I actually achieved:

S - Kings And Queens by Bothy Threads (WIP)

Connection - this monarch will complete the second row
Goal - start and finish (about 4 hours?)

Actual - 3h 30m

U - In The Gloaming by Whispered By The Wind (new start)

Connection - the scene is under a full moon

Goal - make a start of at least 2 hours

Actual - 2h 40m

N - Snuffles by FuzzyFoxDesigns (new start)

Connection - Snuffles is obviously a very nice dragon

Goal - start and finish (about 4 hours?)

Actual - 4h 35m

& - Advent Days 6, 7 and 16 by JBW Designs (WIPs)

Connection - because I wanted to finish this one & this & this one

Goal - finish all three (about 3 hours?)

Actual - all three finished in exactly 3 hours!

S - The Loneliness Of Autumn by Artecy (2020 WIP)

Connection - I should be starting my second colour

Goal - 10 hours of progress

Actual - only 5 hours - PARTIAL FAILURE

H - Humming Along by Heritage Crafts (new start)

Connection - the hummingbird

Goal - make a start of at least 2 hours

Actual - 5h 5m

A - Pretty Little Toronto by Satsuma Street (new start)

Connection - started on our wedding anniversary

Goal - make a start of at least 2 hours

Actual- only 20 minutes - PARTIAL FAILURE

(you have to squint to see it!)

D - Chick Berry by Heritage Crafts (new start)

Connection - those berries look delicious

Goal - make a start of at least 2 hours

Actual - 5h 55m

O - Grow Your Own by Bothy Threads (2019 WIP)

Connection - I'm going to stitch some orange carrots

Goal - at least 4 hours of progress

Actual - NONE - COMPLETE FAILURE!

W - Hogwarts In A Bottle by CutePatternsByMaria (2019 WIP)

Connection - whoo whoo - it's a train!
Goal - 10 hours of progress
Actual - NONE - COMPLETE FAILURE!

So that's the goals met for six of the letters, partially met for two and not met at all on the remaining two. A fair month I think, all things considered.

3) Connect 12 or more of the given holidays to your projects and stitch for at least 24 minutes on each. Because of trebling up on the &, there were 12 projects in there altogether. So here are the 12 connective holidays, one for each:

Day 1 - National Walking Day - The Loneliness Of Autumn - sometimes during a walk in the park a rest may be needed on a conveniently situated bench.

Day 2 - Reconciliation Day - Kings And Queens - the monarch this month, Henry VI, may have wanted peace between England and France and to reconcile the two countries under one crown but he ultimately failed, and spectacularly. At least the thought was there.

Day 6 - Plan Your Epitaph Day - In The Gloaming - a mausoleum is bound to have a epitaph of some sort on it.

Day 8 - Draw A Picture Of A Bird Day - Chick Berry - Valerie Pfeiffer loves her little birds and it was a pleasure to start cross stitching one of her drawings.

Day 9 - Name Yourself Day - Snuffles - Snuffles is such a cute name I might find myself changing my own name by deed poll!

Day 16 - National Stress Awareness Day - Grow Your Own - gardening is a good way of relaxing and relieving stress, especially if there are products to eat at the end of it!

Day 22 - National Jelly Bean Day - Hogwarts In A Bottle - who can forget Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans? There may have been regular flavours, but would you take your chance if there were also earwax, vomit and bogey flavours in the bag?

Day 23 - Take A Chance Day - Advent Day 7 Ice Skates - if I had the opportunity, would I ever go ice-skating again and take the chance I would not incur an injury? Probably not!

Day 25 - East Meets West Day - Pretty Little Toronto - we travelled from the east to the west when we went to Toronto.

Day 27 - Tell A Story Day - Advent Day 6 Snowman - Raymond Briggs' The Snowman is one of those stories which crosses all generations and is just as popular every Christmas as it was when it first aired in 1984. Plus, it shows you don't need words to tell a story.

Day 29 - Greenery Day - Humming Along - the gorgeous hummingbird is surrounded by greenery.

Day 30 - National Honesty Day - Advent Day 17 Angel - being honest is one of many reasons for being called a 'little angel'.


4) Additional 'Just For Fun' Challenge: list 24 stitching snacks.
I find cross stitching a good excuse not to nibble, as keeping hands clean is more important than putting snacks into the mouth and either having to wipe hands each time or risk a sticky needle. So most snacks, such as crisps and nuts, are completely out of bounds.

However, I can often be found with a fruit salad beside me, this having been cut up into small pieces, sprinkled with chopped nuts and desiccated coconut and accompanied by a spoon. Not only does this solve the sticky hands issue but it's actually a stealthy way of healthy nibbling!

And that's my #24 for April; back again at the end of May with the next one!

Take care,
Rachel x

PS To repeat the broken record, I am months behind on replying to emails and about three weeks behind on reading most blogs (some are longer). I'm trying my best to catch up!