Goodbye to 2016

Considering I've been working on this stitch project for two years now, I'm a little sad to be done with it.  It has become such a staple of my days and I thoroughly enjoyed this one.  I liked the stitching of individual components in 2016 and then seeing how they all joined together month by month in 2017.  So with this last post of December 2016, I'll say goodbye to it, at least for now.  I'm hoping that someday I may find a place to display the whole project and get some decent photos of it all together.  I really haven't gotten to see how the whole year interacts together.  Maybe a big space will come my way this year.

December Dilemma

It seems strange to me that I could easily pull colors for my daily stitching for every month except December.  Both in 2016 and 2017, I hit a wall there.  Maybe because the month is complicated with more time focused inside than outdoors.  If I used the actual seasonal colors I'm seeing out my window, everything would be pretty much drab gray, black and evergreen.  But then inside, everything is sparkly and colorful.  And emotionally, I'm all over the place in December.  Lots of festivities and activities, but also a lot of peaceful family time, with a little family drama thrown in.

Maybe I gave up trying, but last year I settled on a very neutral palette, with more leaning towards the whites and creams.  We were snowed in much of Dec. last year, so that certainly contributed.

Many of the components are very simple.

But then there are busier ones too.

And I had to add a pop of festive color, so I went with some red here and there.

It's hard to believe that I will be wrapping these projects up in a couple weeks.  I'm getting ready for a new start, although I still don't know what it will be!  I'm hoping for a flash of inspiration very, very soon.

Winding Down

I've enjoyed my stitch projects so much, but now that it's December, I feel very ready to be done with them.  I'm excited to move on to something new for 2018, whatever that might be.

Here are my 2016 November segments all stitched together.

And November 2017 is done.

So one more round for December then these will be put to rest.

November Stitching, or lack thereof

I guess I got sidetracked by turkey eating because I forgot to stitch these together this month.  All I have to show today is a big pile ready for some stitching this afternoon.

November Stitching

I was laying my November 2016 components out to stitch together, and I threw them next to my 2017 project for comparison.   This has been such a bright, cheerful Nov. that I thought they would look drastically different.  They blend pretty well here, but maybe when I join all of Nov. 2016, it will look more dark and somber.  I love rich colors next to dark browns and blacks.

November Stitching

I love black and brown together, so November is a good month for me.  I love the way we see more black branches and limbs and deep brown leaves that make the remaining colors pop.  Here are some of my components from Nov. 2016 that I am now joining together.

I probably shouldn't pick favorites, but this one wows me.  That dark brown and black with a little chartreuse and a pop of hot pink.  Yes!

October Stitching Wrap Up

I love October colors, so putting together my bits of stitching from Oct. 2016 made me very happy.

Finishing Up September

I wrapped up my Sept. 2016 stitching project and am ready to move into the depths of autumn, my favorite time of year.  Here are all the components joined together.

I hope to be stitching with rich, fall colors all month, but I won't be posting.  I'm heading out on a cruise with my mom that goes through New England up to Nova Scotia and Quebec.  I've always had New England in fall on my bucket list, so I'm hoping we will catch it in all its glory.  See you in Nov!

Sept. Stitching

Sept. stitching has some colors softly fading away as new bright ones start to appear.  I always love that time of transition between seasons. Here are some of my bits from my 2016 project before they all get joined together.

August Stitching

Putting together all the pieces for my August 2016 stitching project.  I like the big range this group has.  Cool days that lean towards autumn and blistering hot ones.  Quiet days kayaking or reading in the shade.  Lively ones at the Farmer's markets, choosing peaches and dahlias.  August seems to have a little of everything.