January ’25 Update

January started strong. I returned from a road trip to see all the Florida National Parks just in time to ring in the New Year. Then I spent some quality time sleeping in, watching TV, and crafting. I finished this 5″ statin stitch kit from Vika of the Delicate Arch from Arches National Park. I love her kits because the design is printed on a high quality canvas, which makes it super easy to see where to stitch and get everything to line up. Also, she includes pearl cotton, which is thicker and just downright prettier to look at when used with this stitch.

I also dug into my hoard and found a fabric collage kit that had been languishing for two years. I turned the six fabrics into a moonscape inspired by one of my Alaska photos, using some of the beads and sequins that came with the kit, while also adding my own. It’s hard to see in a still image, but I used metallic thread to stitch over the moonbeams and moon’s highlights. I feel that it truly makes it shine in person. While the shimmery fabric was meant to evoke a placid lake, I like how the long beads makes it look more like a river.

The final project I worked on before going back to work on 1/5 was my James Webb Space Stitch-a-long by Climbing Goat designs. The black background of this hex was complete so I just had to finish the colored bits. This is IC 1623, a pair of galaxies that are slowly colliding. Finishing this hex means I’ve gotten 8 sections done and have 10 more to go, not counting the legend at the bottom. Pictured below is the recently finished IC 1623 above the Pillars of Creation.

I then added to my growing tattoo collection by getting a second raven. The idea comes from Norse mythology – Odin has two ravens Huginn and Muninn, who go out into the nine realms, and report back to him with their insights and wisdom. I will have one more sitting for this piece to add some leaves and a stormy sky. Like most of the work on me, this is done by the wonderful Dawn Kelley of Vigilante Tattoo.

There was a fun karaoke night out with friends where I had fun singing “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan, “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims, and “No Rain” by Blind Melon. The Chappell song was a spur of the moment idea, so the first verse and chorus weren’t that great, but I felt like I really hit my stride and found my voice by the second verse. I was also proud of myself for getting all the lyrical timing right to the Teddy Swims song because it’s pretty challenging!

After that, the month went downhill for me, as it probably did for most of you. While politics really wanted to pull me down into a spiral of depression and anxiety, I had no time. Between dealing with the loss of my 17-year-old dog Hope, managing some family crises, doing some physical labor to get our bedroom ready for a larger bed, and generally feeling like I had been hit by a train, I didn’t have much room for anything else. I did get a secret gift project done, as well as started up this blog. But otherwise, I was just trying to survive. I did order and assemble this little guy this past weekend, which I felt like I needed for the house. It’s as a reminder that we’re all in this dumpster fire together, and it might as well bring me a little light while I’m watching it all burn.

Until next time, friends and family.