March ’25 Update

Project Updates

After years of work, and at least 185 hours of crocheting, the main body of my All Skulls Blanket is (mostly) complete! This sucker is at least 7 feet long and weighs a ton. I still have to add a border around the whole thing, to encase those loose ends on the sides, which will take many more hours. But, I’m nearing the finish line!!

I also finished these three satin stitch pieces this month, which vastly varied in their level of difficulty. Monument Valley was done with a single strand of embroidery floss – you know, the kind that comes as 6 all twisted together, and then you separate them? Yup. Just one of those little guys! It took me countless hours and lots of magnification to get all those little details in there. Whereas the other two projects were worked up in a nice, thick perle cotton (size 8), making them go much quicker. The smaller mountains and valley design took me just a single day! (All designs by Vika.)

New Hobby – The Carillon

If you’ve been to River Campus at the University of Rochester, you’ve most likely heard the bells that chime every 15 minutes. However, did you know that people actually go up there twice a day and play songs on those bells? Long story short, I spotted something in a daily UR email, it piqued my interest, and I’ve already had one lesson! To start out, I’m learning the feet and hands separately, but eventually I’ll learn how to do both at the same time. Below is a video where I show what it sounds like when I play on the practice keyboard, which is connected to a xylophone and is not located up in the bell tower.

2025 Bingo Check-in

Now that we’re 25% done with 2025 (can you believe it?!) I thought I’d check in on my bingo card. Since last I looked, these are the things that I’ve added:

• Hosted a game night
• Played a new game (Jacquie and Darin brought this game called Uzzle which claims to be for ages 4+, making it look deceptively easy. But man, the higher levels are infuriatingly difficult!)
• Finished a satin stitch project (so many)
• Read a book – well, techincally I finished 3 books that I started last year, so I’m going to count it!
• Finished a cross stitch project

I don’t have bingo yet, but I’m pretty darn close! While I want to be able to say I finished a crochet project, I really need to put a border on that blanket to call it done. And I can’t really call my raven tattoo done because it needs just a little more shading to feel like both sides are connected. Also, my plans to see a concert this month were foiled by immigration issues. The performers had problems getting their visas so they’re not coming until October. (Damn you, Cheeto Administration!)

Looking Forward

I have several things on my calendar for the month of April. There’s the Megagame at RIT, the Ugly Disco with my friends, and the Beth Hart concert with mom. Of course, I’ll be continuing my carillon lessons, with the hopes of having playing in the actual bell tower soon. (My teacher said that would be every 3 to 4 lessons.) So, fingers crossed, next time I’ll have some video of me playing the actual bells for everyone on campus to hear!

Until next time, stay sane my friends. ♥ A