Time for this month's update on my Xmas challenge. I really hope I can actually meet this one, we'll see what comes up during the year. I was already slowed down a bit by another gift that was mentioned in the last post, but it maybe only took a week all told. In no particular order, here's what I've accomplished so far. 

Xmas tree by skitzzzz

I'm really loving this project, I just ran out of thread! Otherwise I think I would have finished it first. I'm using WDW Autumn Leaves and Ivy working 2 over 1 on 14 count gold dust aida. 

I also ran out of thread on Kell's 2012 sampler, so that might have been another one I would be farther along on, or finished by now. I can't get to my LNS for another few weeks, or maybe my tax return will come early!  I'll hope for that, but I'm definitely not expecting anything. It's just frustrating since both of these projects have been a real ease to stitch. Likely the 14 count aida helps there since it's less fiddly with as many holes. I do love the look of stitching on evenweave though, just seems more finished somehow. 

Again, I'm using 14 count navy aida and WDW Bethlehem (pretty sure). Notice I'm stitching around my pets again and everything is covered in pet hair! 

I do have one finish this month. I spent far, far too long stitching this and broke 3 needles! I think my problem was trying to use perle and metallic and stitching through felt on waste canvas. This ended up a bit larger than I wanted since I only had 8.5 count waste canvas. It's supposed to be a coaster, but it's a bit too large, almost would work as a pot holder! So I may attempt more, but I'm definitely changing the materials, possibly with the equivalent floss to this colour perle. 

This is stitched with DMC Color Variations Evergreen Forest (7025?) and DMC metallics 321 (yes it was horrible) on cream felt. I started this in late November 2011 or early December intending it for an Xmas gift last year, but ended up as a UFO for a while since I didn't even want to look at it. But it's finished, I'm happy, it's a load off my mind. 

I also started my first ever HAED this month. It's the Siberian Forest QS from their freebie SAL. All the confetti is definitely a challenge. I think the first 10x10 square had 37 different colours! I think a combination of parking and cross country stitching will be best for me, but we'll see as I continue. I got all mixed up with parking at first, but that was mostly because I didn't think to always start the next stitch in the same part of the next hole, so some were on the top right, top left or bottom right or left. Now I know I will start all the stitches in the top right hole, but I still don't know if just parking is for me. 

I'm slightly farther than this now, but only very slightly. 

And that sums it up! I lost about a week to Don't Make Me Kill You and a few days to Angelic Melody, but I don't have an updated pic of her yet. Plus ideally I'll have her delivered well before Xmas this year since she was supposed to be given for Xmas 2011.

Happy Stitching all!