Well, life did get busy as the semester started, but I’m still carving out time for myself here and there for stitching and other self-care activities. I’ve even started exercising again, which is a major accomplishment. I haven’t been active since my diagnosis almost 3 years ago now. Treatment and surgeries and various complications usually meant that anything other than light walking was out of the question. But I’m doing aerobics again and some light weights and a little yoga, and it feels really great to be able to move again.

I also finished the Belle and Boo “Windy Day” cross-stitch project. Woo hoo! Here’s the finished piece:

It still needs to be washed and ironed and all that, but the stitching is done, and I love it so much, and I can’t wait to get it framed.

After I finished Belle and Boo, I needed a quick project to work on; something that won’t take me three years to finish. So, I dug through my stash and found this cute Lizzie Kate kit, “Hip Hop,” which is perfect for spring (which is coming soon, I hope; as I write this it is snowing outside…again).

I’m a little annoyed at myself because I stitched the carrot one square too far to the left, so it is touching the basket. There’s supposed to be a space there. I’m waiting until I finish the rest of the stitching before I decide if it bothers me enough to cut/rip it out and re-stitch. Re-stitching it wouldn’t be a big deal, honestly, because it’s such a small pattern, but still…grrr.

Links Roundup

• Speaking of Lizzie Kate, there are lots of great free patterns on the Lizzie Kate website, including this adorable “Celebrate Spring” pattern which would also make a great, quick Easter project.
• This headline made me lol: “This Art Educator Embroiders Tiny Art Pieces to Teach Her Cats about Art History“
• Beautiful: Artist Transforms Dried Leaves With Embroidery as a Way to Reconnect With Nature