Happy Halloween Trick or Treat Blog Hop

 Our lovely Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching is hosting a Halloween Blog Hop. These are always fun and I am glad I can participate this year. Hop over there for the full scoop!

I did not decorate at all for fall or Halloween. Life has been too busy.

But I did manage to get my little goldwork frog stitched. Some people might find him creepy but I think he is cute.

Hop over to https://lecoeurceltique.blogspot.com/ to find your next letter.

WIPocalypse October 2023

 I did not do the challenge to stitch on one piece for the entire month. Life was just a little hectic. But I do have 12 pints of apple butter....Thank you to Melissa from Measi Musings for hosting this lovely SAL.

Question of the month: How do you begin planning for the next year with your stitching? Tell us your process.  Well, I do start planning for the next year around now. I mentally think about the WIPS I am working on and think if I can finish any of them and get them off my WIP list. If the answer is yes, then I make those projects a priority. Next I think of any WIPs that I want to finish in 2024. Is it feasible? How much time will it take? What projects do I want to make progress on even if I don't complete them.

So I must finish these hearts before the end of the year as they are a gift for my mom:

That makes them a priority now along with the ornaments I am making for some exchanges.

Susan Schlitcher is a priority as I would like her done by spring:

Dawn to Dusk is another piece I would like to have done in 2024. I will have to spend some serious time on this piece:

 One that I want to work on, but has no chance of getting done in 2024 is my casket, Harmony of Nature. But I must work on it and make some progress in the coming year.

I look forward to the end of the year and showing what pieces I stitched and actually finished. Will I have fewer than 30 WIPs? Time will tell!

IHSW for October

Well, I did not get much stitching done this weekend.

I am still dealing with apples and our dishwasher developed a leak and made a mess of our kitchen floor. Ah, the joys of home ownership!

But I did manage a bit of stitching this weekend:

 I have officially started on my Harmony of Nature casket by Thistle Threads.

And I put a few stitches into Susan Schlitcher 1845 by Queesntown Sampler Designs:

If you want to see a beautiful start and you are on Facebook, look up Linda McGinley Yarrow and her version using Vikki Clayton's silks.

Gifted Gorgeousness October 2023

 Well, life has been crazy around here or so it seems. I've been super busy canning apples:

I've made several batches of apple butter along with a ton of dried apples. I need to make some apple sauce next!
 

My apple butter will be a gift so it counts as a Gifted Gorgeousness post, correct?

I have done a bit of stitching. My latest obsession is with gold work. This little frog kit may be a gift for my son. We will see. He is adorable and I love stitching on him.

 Oh! Gifted Gorgeousness is the brain child of the lovely Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching

Sampler on the Brain

 I find when I am tired, I like to cross stitch. This piece is the one that calls to me:

Dawn to Dusk

 I was goaded by my VP of my guild to restart Dawn to Dusk by Textured Treasures.

I have changed the colors and hope to get some good progress on this piece before the year ends:

A Bit on My Heart

 Well, I finished the stitching on my Immaculate Heart. I need to fully finish it and put the sword into the heart. Here are my progress photos:

It is small and a relatively fast stitch.