Work on my 365-day Project continues. I've been thinking where I would sign my piece when completed. I include the quilt name, hours worked, signature and date on my quilt labels, but this project is a bit different. I thought the back of this piece would be the best spot to add the date.

365 PROJECT - Buttons & Stitches - dated on the back

I knew where I wanted "2018" to be placed so I began:

I wondered if I should have marked the numbers before stitching . . . but I just went for it:

I wanted the digits close together, then I added the number "1":

I wasn't sure how to stitch the "8" - as two circles or as I write it? I took a deep breath and persevered:

The finishing touch is the hot-pink french knot that I add to every project I complete (this one needed two):

I am linking up with Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching - join me and check out the projects that others are working on.

A reminder about my inspiration for 2018:

Last year, I followed Ashley Hackshaw AKA Lil Blue Boo with her One Year of Stitches and Buttons - Embroidery Hoop 365 Project and Sara Barnes - Brown Paper Bag's One Year of Stitches as Seen Through One's Embroidery Hoop projects.

THANK YOU - MERCI - GRACIAS - TAK - KIITOS - GRAZIE - DANKE!!

When I first started my 365-day Project - Buttons & Stitches - I heard from Sarah in the United Kingdom. She was interested in starting the same project.

For inspiration, I asked for her address and sent her a package of buttons. Over these past few months, we have kept in touch and offer words of encouragement to each other on our works of art.

I've enjoyed seeing familiar buttons, from my button jar, creatively displayed and embellished on her embroidery hoop. She has many more stitches on hers than I have on mine. And, it looks like we are both working in color clusters - mine is more free-form and it looks like Sarah has a design plan sketched out. You can view her project here.

Soon after we began our artistic journey together, I received a package from the United Kingdom. Tucked inside was a postcard with a thank you note and a lovely crewel work Tudor rose needle case.

The Tudor rose is the floral heraldic traditional emblem of England. The red and white rose emblem is done in blue/greens, above - and I love it!

Sarah's needle case holds my needles and embroidery thread and is used each day. It is displayed on the corner of my sewing cabinet with my 365-day Project and collection of buttons that wait to be added to my canvas. Thank you so much, Sarah, for this beautiful gift!