We’re half way through the year already, so how am I doing with my Eighteen for 18 challenges;

• 1 Etsy store opened; Still no further, I think I really need to take the plunge and just put a few things on, test the water a bit!
• 2 Tutorials; Nothing written but I have got two ideas!
• 3 Sessions a week in the garden; Still doing well at this, I did wilt a bit with the heat, but now I’ve discovered the early morning slot I’m managing a couple of hours at least each time.
• 4 Quilts; I finished my hand quilted mini quilt and also a quilted cushion for Ken so I’m going to class these as half a quilt, I’ve included a half for my Down the Rabbit Hole quilt as it’s pieced but not quilted, so together with the Sunshine quilt it’s a total of two, so I’m right on track with this one.
  

  
• 5 Craftsy Classes; I finally started watching these, I’ve had them in my Craftsy library for ages, I’ve watched the Leah Day one on free motion quilting, I was very impressed, there must be eight hours of tutorial to watch! I’ve started practising so you’ll hear more about it soon. I’ve also started one called 40 things every sewer should know, I think I’m half way through and boy does she fit in lots of information! So my tally is 1.5, still a bit of catching up to do but at least I’ve started.
• 6 New Patterns; Can I class my Chanel jacket as a new pattern? It was new when I started it 8 months ago so I think so!! So I’ve tried four new patterns so far this year.
• 7 Kits stitched; I stitched my little hedgerow embroidery kit this month, I also finished a kit for the stitching sampler. I’m still working on Bertie the blackbird and I’ve just started another little kit, so I’ve now stitched four kits with another two on the way.
  

  
• 8 Pages in my stitch sampler book; I haven’t done any more, so my tally is still at six, I have however made the decision not to add beads to the edges of the pages, this may not sound a big deal but although they look really pretty with a bead every half inch, it does mean I have to be at home at my desk in order to stitch them together. Stitching them with a simple whip stitch means I can do it whilst I’m out and about, so it’s a lot more likely to get done! It will also fit better with the fairly formal set out of the stitch sampler.
• 9 Pounds Lost!!! I found a meme on facebook which says it all really…
• 10 Mini Embroideries; I’ve stitch two this month, the hedgerow kit and also the Carto ablation one, so with my total at six so far I’m ahead of schedule.
• 11 Letters to friends; I’ve been really bad at this, it remains at two!
• 12 Boxes or Drawers sorted in sewing room; I’ve done lots of sorting this month, mainly as I continue to absorb my mums craft stash and control my own as well. I emptied two drawers in an old pine chest on the landing. It used to be painted dark green as my grandad’s workbench, with vices and lathes screwed to it, my mum had it dipped and waxed years ago and now it’s mine, it’s beautiful. I filled the two drawers with quilting fabrics, sorting colours, batiks and plains where possible. This emptied three fabric boxes into a semblance of order. It also means my stash has crept out of my sewing room on to the landing! So my tally is now ten, so I’m doing pretty well at this one.
• 13 New Recipes; Nothing new this month so still just five.
• 14 Less Lengths in my stash! Well…I’ve used another length of fabric, but I bought two in London, although two lengths in London was pretty restrained for me!
• 15 Posts a month; I’ve just done a quick tally and I counted 24 posts, must be a record for me!
• 16 cross-stitch smalls; I made three cross-stitch smalls this month, so my tally is fourteen, well ahead on this one!
  

  

  
• 17 items of clothing made. I think I’ve done quite well this month as I’ve made a dress and finished my Chanel jacket. So far this year I’ve made five things, so not bad, but a bit of catching up to do.
• 18 Walks; Our training has finally begun, so I’ve managed two walks with my friends so four walks so far and lots of dates in the diary for more practice walks.