[I am following Anne Brooke‘s 2021 #52tagshannemade slow stitch challenge to make a little tag every week of the year – see them all here!] Anne asked us to use the shapes we had saved from last week’s tag using reverse applique to use for this week’s tag using applique.

In follow up with what I learned that week about having a style, I also love a little bit of sweet lace just as much as a little bit of the unexpected (but I am still working on what that means in my style). Here, I chose to use straight stitches in a dark tone to highlight different aspects and maybe reduce some of the “femininity” (though obviously it is still very girlish!).

I don’t usually relish cold weather, but with the gloomy skies and lack of desire to be outside (and a TA!), I found I had plenty of time to sit and sew (and sleep!). I was very behind on this challenge, plus a birthday gift I began back in Florida was now well overdue, and it was all slowly eating away at me. I like to stay on track, else I worry to abandon projects and not return (I fear this about Stitch Club but I am not ready to cut the cord just yet!).

I’ve done challenges before, and one year-long challenge, but this particular one is really interesting to me because I am able to see the pattern of my style. The colors, the textures, the arrangements, the areas I draw inspiration from, and so on. I am grateful to Anne for coordinating this!