I have been busy preparing for midterms this week, so my knitting time has been minimal. I also rediscovered embroidery. My very first fiber craft was embroidery. When I was maybe 6 or 7, a family friend gave me an embroidery kit for my birthday, parts of which I still have. This friend was very artistic and had a big influence on my creativity from an early age.

I used to spend my allowance to buy pre-printed fabric with smiling rabbits and work simple stitches in primary colors. I also found iron-on designs at garage sales featuring anthropomorphic fruits. I loved choosing the colors and making the designs my own.

Eventually I found counted cross stitch, and worked some small designs. I even had a larger sampler I started in college, but that was abandoned and eventually discarded.

I’m not interested in the ornate scenes or landscapes, but I like the more “primitive” bare-bones designs, such as colonial American samplers and the more modern single color designs from France and Italy.

When we lived in California, there was a great needlepoint and embroidery store just blocks from our apartment, Needle in a Haystack. (They have since moved, but are still in Alameda.) In the summer, when it was too warm for knitting, I started this piece, which means that has been a work in progress for at least 7 years!

• Pattern: "Red 12" from Dessins DHC
• 28 count linen (worked over double threads)
• DMC floss, color 815, three strands
• Plastic hoop (advice I picked up from Jenny Hart)

I mentioned it very briefly last week, but I am enchanted by the Fruit of the Month sampler by Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery. I signed up and received the first and second charts. These are fairly basic counted cross-stitch designs, and appeal to my love of kawaii fruits with little faces. I haven’t decided how I want to work this design, one large piece or as little individual pieces. I don’t have many colors of floss, but floss is very cheap and fun to collect!

I am making progress on Daybreak. It is so easy to work on, just striping the colors and making the increases as I go. I am making the medium size, so I will have 16 stripes of both colors. Currently there are 13 stripes. I feel certain that I’ll be able to finish this month, for the second out of 12 accessories of the month! It is nice to be able to keep up with a (modest) goal. :-)