My July WIPocalypse Update

                                 Bothy Threads cut thru' Haunted House

 It's time for another WIPocalypse update!  AND I have finishes!  I worked on Bothy Threads cut thru' Haunted House for the entire month of July, and it paid off.  

When I started the project in 2019, I took the light blue Aida that came with the kit and did a little dyeing to enhance it. This was one of my all time favorite projects to stitch.  I love all the little details.  

The other finish I have is an original design that I created to make a gift for my sister.  I stitched this cute puppy on plastic canvas, backed it with felt and turned it into a keyring.

Question of the Month:  What are the fully finished pieces (framed or other finish style) that you are most satisfied that you have done?

My holiday banners are some of my favorite finishes.  I like to swap them out as the seasons change.  I hope to make some more banners in the future. 

That's all for this month's update.  I'm happy to be stitching more and making progress on my projects.

Happy stitching!

My June 2025 WIPocalypse Update

Butterfly Forest

It has been a full year since I have posted a WIPocalypse update.  I have been battling eye problems for the past couple of years, which seem to have now stabilized.  I have a new pair of glasses, which are enabling me to see better and stitch easier.  Yay!  So ... I am once again making progress on my long list of WIPs.

I have been revisiting projects and here are the ones in which I have made the most progress:

Bothy Threads Cut thru' Gypsy Wagon currently:

previously:

Bothy Threads Cut thru' Haunted House currently:

previously:

Castle Sampler currently:

previously:

Pandemic Sampler currently:

previously:

 

Hopefully I will continue to make good progress and have a few finishes soon.  I don't plan on starting any new big projects this year, but will make a few ornaments before the holiday season.

Once again, "Happy Stitching!"

my May WIPocalypse update

Time for the May WIPocalypse update.  These are all projects I hope to finish before the end of the world.  Despite having continuing vision issues, I managed to work on a few of my projects. 

I stitched on "Butterfly Forest" making quite a bit of progress on the background trees, and to the large butterfly wing.

Butterfly Forest

I also made progress on the "Candy Nutcracker" stocking that I am stitching.

Candy Nutcracker Stocking

I stitched a bit on my "Cut thru' Pirate Ship".

Cut thru' Pirate Ship

And I was happy to work on my "Cut thru' Haunted House", which is my favorite current project.

Cut thru' Haunted House

I also completed rows on my "Monterey Sunset" latch hooked rug, which is much easier to do when my eyes won't cooperate.  I will post photos in a future update when I am further along.

Question of the month:  How do you personally distinguish between a Work in Progress (WIP) and an Unfinished Object (UFO)?

Like many other stitchers, I tend to consider my projects as WIPs until I decide that I am no longer going to work on the project.  I haven't completely given up on any, yet... so I consider them all WIPs.  LOL

I hope to make continued progress on my WIPs, even if it is slow progress.  I feel the need for a finish or two in the upcoming months.

Happy Stitching!

January WIPocalypse Update

Eeyore and Bees

It has been quite awhile since I have posted a WIPocalypse update.  I have finished some of my WIPs, and started a few new ones since my last update.  I will stick to progress I made most recently.  Here are my updates for 2024.

I finished "Eeyore and Bees", which was a gifted kit from my sister.  

I made good progress on Afternoon Nap"

Here is where I left off last time:

I also put some stitching time into my Pandemic sampler:

I made progress on my Bothy Threads Cut 'thru Haunted House:

I also worked on "Halloween Pumpkin":

And my Bothy Threads Cut 'thru Pirate Ship:

I really hope to have some finishes on my older WIPs this year.  I currently have under 40 WIPs  ... but I was gifted several kits that are waiting to be started.  LOL.  

Question of the Month: Tell us about the oldest WIP you have in your stash.

I have 9 WIPs on my list that were started in the 90's.  They were among several kits that had been packed and put into storage during a move.  When I found the box in storage, I pulled out several kits and added them to my WIP list.  I did finish 2 of the added stash and hope to finish more this year.

That's all for this update.  I hope you are all well, and wish you happy stitching!

June WIPocalypse Update

BeeHive Sampler Progress

It's time for another WIPocaylpse update.  The last update I posted was back in February.  I do have quite a few project updates, starting with "Beehive Sampler".

Beehive Sampler

I completed the bee band and started working on the Bargello band (shown at the top of the post).  I have about 80% of the sampler finished. 

I also made progress on "Afternoon Nap", filling in areas of the cat and stitching the green area around the ear.

Afternoon Nap

I started stitching the sunflower on my "Summer Sampler".

Summer Sampler

I worked a bit more on a border area and alphabet on my "Castle Sampler".

Castle Sampler

I stitched quite a bit on my "To Everything a Season" sampler, working on the greenery and basket.  I am nearing a finish on this one!

To Everything a Season Sampler

I stitched more of the sky and tree blossoms on "Napping Kitten".

Napping Kitten

I managed a few more inches of the border on my "Linen Sampler".

Linen Sampler

I stitched on my Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Pirate Ship.
 

Cut Thru' Pirate Ship

And made more progress on my Cut Thru' Haunted House.

Cut Thru' Haunted House

 And finally ... I completed another embroidered flower cluster on my "Rose Lap Quilt".

Rose Lap Quilt

That's all of the update photos I have ... I think I have a few other projects that I need to photograph and update, but that will wait until next time.

The topic of the month is:
Half-year recap:  How are you doing with your goals so far this year?

I set some pretty easy goals this year, as I am working 2 jobs and am usually too tired to stitch.  My goals for the year are to work on each of my WIPs, and try to get a few projects finished.  Out of 41 WIPs, I have worked on only 10!  I am trying to step up my stitching ... so I hope to actually achieve my goals this year.  I have made a lot of progress on a few of those projects and am nearing finishes ... so time will tell.

Happy Stitching!

 

 

February WIPocalypse Update

Looks like it's time for another WIPocaylpse update.  I haven't done one in such a long time. 

I started getting up a bit earlier to take time for stitching in the morning, because I found that waiting until the end of the day wasn't working for me.  I was always too tired and bleary eyed to get much done (and had to frog often).  Anyhoo ... I actually accomplished enough to post.

Above is shown where I am with my "Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Haunted House" (which was my "marathon" piece to work on during the Olympics).  Look how much progress I made from my last update:

 The only other project I stitched on this month was my "To Everything A Season" Sampler by Sandy Orton.  I've only worked on it this past week, but can see the progress I have made.

Here is where I am today:

Making progress down the left side border, and some stitches in the central flower basket.  Here is where I left off last time:

Question of the month: What stitch-a-longs (SALs) are you participating in this year?

I made so little progress on my WIPs over the past few years, that I decided to focus on my current projects this year and avoid starting anything new (except an ornament or two).  However, if my current projects fit into a stitch-along theme, I am all for it.  

I guess that's all I have for this update.

Happy Stitching! 

Praying for peace!

 

  

September 2021 WIPocalypse Update

Women of the Mayflower

 It's time for another WIPocalypse update.  I am getting close to a finish with "Women of the Mayflower" by Sarah Ullman.  I stitched most of this sampler during 2020, and am just filling in the motifs that I need to complete it.  I have a small area to frog, but there is not much stitching remaining.  

 

Pandemic by Long Dog Samplers

 

I also put a few stitches into my Pandemic sampler.  I feel that the bright colors are a bit overpowering, so I have been thinking about mixing in areas of black throughout the sampler to tame things down a bit.  It is far easier to stitch a large sampler in a single color or two ... It is a challenge to keep things in balance when you are using a handful of colors and "flying by the seat of your pants".  I do enjoy stitching this sampler & the bright and happy colors I selected.
 

Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Pirate Ship

Another project I stitched on this month is Bothy Threads "Cut Thru' Pirate Ship".  These Cut Thru' kits are fun to stitch.  When you do the back stitching, it feels like watching a Polaroid picture develop.  The photo below shows where I left off on my last update:

Question of the Month: List five projects you have unstarted in your stash that you’d like to start in the (relatively) near future.

I don't think I have many projects that are unstarted. lol.  I have had a few rough years, so for me it is just about focusing on making progress on my WIP list (about 40), and trying to get some finishes in before the year ends.

On another note, I do plan to participate in "October Focus Month", by selecting one of my WIPs and putting at least one stitch each day during October into it.  I haven't selected which project, yet ... but in the past, the "focus months" have really helped me to finish WIPs.

That's all I have to post this month.

Happy Stitching!

 

 

August 2021 WIPocalypse Update

 

Berry Patch Rooster

 

It has been a long time since I posted a WIPocalypse update.  I thought it would be a good time, since I actually have a finish.  

I finished stitching "Berry Patch Rooster".  I picked up this project as a kit while on vacation in 2012.  I didn't start stitching it until 2013, and then it was just a bit of stitching here and there, as I rotated between projects. 

I did select this project for a focus month and made some good progress.  I have kept it close by for the past couple of months ... so I could toss in a few stitches when I had time.  The back stitching took longer than expected, but I did manage to finish it this week.  Hooray!  I'm not sure if I will frame it, or make it into a pillow. 

Another project I worked on recently is Bothy Threads "Cut Thru' Haunted House".  This is still one of my favorite projects to stitch.  I did all of the back stitching on the roof and bedroom.  I completed the bats, moon, and flag on the right side, and continued stitching downwards.  The image below shows where I left off during my last update:

 

I worked on a few other projects in the past few months, and will update them as I get them photographed. 

Question of the Month: Which of your project finishes made you the most proud? The most relieved?

Gosh,  I guess I have some WIPs that I will be most relieved to finish someday. (ha-ha)

One that I was proud to finish was this one: 

Back in the 90's, I found this kit and wanted to stitch it for my Dad.  A 1928 Ford Model A (he restored antique cars most of his life).  I can't remember how long it took to stitch, but I did finish and frame it for him for his birthday.  I wish I had a better picture of it. 

I guess that's all for my update.  I can't wait to see what everyone else has accomplished. Happy Stitching!

 

 

 

 

WIPocalypse Update for May

I'm still here and stitching for the WIPocalypse.  This stitch along features works in progress that I hope to finish before the world ends.

This month I managed to put stitches into several projects.  Shown above is my "Spring Sampler".  I stitched the Lily of the Valley section, and a bit of the frame to the right of that.

I always enjoy stitching on this sampler during the Spring!  *Bonus: the Lily of the Valley is my birth flower.

Continuing on ... I also stitched a bit on my "Summer Sampler".  I stitched the cream background behind the "camp" section and added the "Wish you were here" cursive text.

I finished most of the butterfly in the top left of "Butterfly Forest".  I have a bit more color to stitch and then the back stitching to complete the butterfly.

I also stitched on my "Bothy Threads cut thru' Pirate Ship".  I added more of the ship.

Finally, I have been working on "Hummingbird and Fuchsias".  This is a printed piece.  I have such a hard time getting the stitches even as I stitch on the printed areas of the cotton fabric.  I am having to let it be "not perfect" and it seems to be looking fine despite my "not perfect" stitching. 

I made quite a bit of progress with the leaves - but do have lots of back stitching to add.

Question of the Month: Tell us about a piece that you absolutely loved stitching.

Such a hard question.  I have so many projects that I loved stitching.  (I really love stitching the bothy threads cut thru' kits!) 

I will just post a couple of my favorites.

Nature's Alphabet by Sandy Orton.  This kit had only about a dozen colors. Simple and straight forward.  No blended colors, no fractional stitches, no back stitching.  It was fun and easy to stitch.

I also enjoyed stitching "Simple Blessings" by Sandy Orton.  I opted to stitch it in red and black.  It was another simple stitch with no blending or fractional stitching.  Easy to follow and a lovely finish.

That's all I have for my update this month.
Happy Stitching!