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!

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!

 

 

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!

WIPocalypse and Stitch Maynia Update

Whale Watching

It's time again for another WIPocalypse update.  This has been the busiest stitching month I've had all year!  The first 2 weeks of May, I worked on 16 projects (shown in my last update), and the past 11 days, I have worked on 9 projects - including a small original design.

"Whale Watching" (shown above) is one of my designs - which I have posted as a freebie on my website, here:  http://hobbyloco.com/patterns/whale_watching.html 

Here are the other projects I stitched on this month:

Rose Lap Quilt

I stitched a few more flowers on my "Rose Lap Quilt", a printed embroidery project that was gifted to me by a non-stitchy friend.

Ride to Dreamland

I stitched a bit on "Ride to Dreamland" - working on part of the stitching that uses the sparkly blending filament. 

Summer Carousel Horse

I stitched on the flowers and greenery at the top of Teresa Wentzler's "Summer Carousel Horse".

Hummingbird and Fuchsias

I stitched more on "Hummingbird and Fuchsias", a printed cross stitch kit gifted by my Mom.

Gathering Honey

I kept "Gathering Honey" from gathering dust and stitched a row in the garden.

Cut Thru' Pirate Ship

I finished another pirate on my ship!  This one has a hook for a hand and a peg leg.

American Sampler

I also stitched a bit on Sandy Orton's "American Sampler".  Mainly filling in the left pillar and working on the framing for the center section.  Slow progress ... but progress nonetheless.

I had a visit form the frogs when I stitched on my "Linen & Threads 2019 Mystery Sampler".  I had to remove a bunch of stitches and am just about finished restitching and completing the May section.  I will include a photo with my next update.

Question of the Month: Where do you love to shop for stash?  

I love a bargain - so I tend follow a sale or coupon to locate my stash.  My relatives often send me "gift cards", and I tend to combine gift cards with coupons and sales to stretch them as far as I can.   

That's all I have for this update.  It sure has been a crazy month!
See you next time.
Happy Stitching!

my Gifted Gorgeousness Update for February

Carousel Tiger

It's time for another Gifted Gorgeousness update.  This stitch-along, hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching, features projects that in some way have been gifted -or- are being stitched to be given as gifts. 

I have so many gifted projects that I'm sure to be participating in this stitch along for many years to come.

Since I stitched the head on my "Berry Patch Rooster" for my last update, I decided to stitch the head on my "Carousel Tiger" for this update (shown above).  Whenever I work on this project, I remember why it is taking me soooo long to finish it.  1) hard to read chart, 2) many color changes, 3) blended colors and use of blending filament, and 4) lots of fractional stitching on Aida.

I have finished the other 2 carousel animals (lion and zebra), so I am anxious to finish this one, too!

Linen and Threads 2019 Mystery Sampler

I worked on the Linen and Threads 2019 Mystery Sampler this month.  I am about 1/2 way through February in the stitch along, so right on track. 

It is not too late to join in on the fun, you can grab the chart and details here: http://linenandthreads.com/mystery-sampler-stitch-a-long,

I also stitched a bit on my "Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Pirate Ship".  This was a Christmas gift, which I started on Christmas day.  

Now .... I have another new start (what?!?) that I received as a Valentine's gift from my sweetie.  This kit has been on my wish list for a couple of years & happened to go on sale last month.  So ... I am now also stitching "Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Haunted House".

I had some dye left over from last time, so I took the light blue 16 ct Zweigart Aida from the kit and put my own spin on it.

I love the way it turned out!  There are darker blues and purples towards the top - which look like a cloudy sky.  There are more green areas near the bottom.  The lighter area on the top right is near where the moon will be, and if you look closely, there appears to be is a creepy face looking downward in the center.  (That will likely be stitched over, but I will know it's there. lol.)  

I have only stitched a small area so far, but I know I will really enjoy stitching this one.

OK ... so now I have to ask ... 
Would anyone like to stitch along with me on "Bothy Threads Cut Thru'" projects?  
I remember that Debbie (http://debbiescrossstitch.blogspot.com/) was hosting a group for this & I really would like to stitch along with someone.   Any takers?

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

my Gifted Gorgeousness Update for January

Bothy Threads - Cut Thru' Pirate Ship

 It's time for another Gifted Gorgeousness update.  This stitch-along, hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching, features projects that in some way have been gifted -or- are being stitched to be given as gifts. 

I stitched on 3 of my gifted projects this month!  I added the back stitching to the little pirate on the Cut Thru' Pirate Ship, and stitched more of the ship (shown above).

I also did quite a bit of stitching on my Spring Sampler:

It's hard to see the progress, but I worked on several areas of this sampler.  It has a ton of back stitching in several colors!

Here is where I left off last time: 

And finally ... I put in some stitching time on the Linen & Threads 2019 Mystery Sampler.
This is a free year-long SAL (stitch along) with a section of the chart provided each month by Linen and Threads.

I am stitching with plain DMC black on 28 count Monaco that I tie dyed with a Tulip Tie-Dye kit.  I am right on schedule with my peacock and should have him finished before the end of the month.

It is not too late to join in on the fun, you can grab the chart and details here: http://linenandthreads.com/mystery-sampler-stitch-a-long, and there is a facebook group where several folks are posting photos of their projects.  It is fun to see all of the different color, thread, and fabric choices people have made.  Many are adding beads to their peacocks.

That's all for this month.
Happy Stitching!

my December WIPocalypse Update

Christmas Sampler

It's time for the final WIPocalypse update of the year.  I seem to have made pretty good progress this year on my WIPs.  I began the year with 44 WIPs and managed to finish 4 of them.  In addition, I started and finished 6 new projects - giving me a a total of 10 finishes!  

Well... I also started 2 new projects that are current WIPs, so I end the year with 42 WIPs.  (At least I did make some progress in taking the number down from 44 to 42.)  All of my WIPs can be seen here: Current WIPs and  all of my finishes for the year can be seen here: 2018 Finishes

I stitched on several projects this month.  I finished my Christmas Sampler (shown above), which I love!   I stitched the completed sampler onto red felt, added a couple of hanging loops, did a blanket stitch around all of the edges, and added the perfect twig to hang it by.

I stitched on my "Linen Sampler", making some progress on the uppercase alphabet.

More stitches added to my "American Sampler":

More stitches added to "Cut Thru' Gypsy Wagon":

I worked quite a bit on my "Spring Sampler": (slow moving due to the many color changes and back stitching - but I love the design!)

And finally ... my NEW addition.  I received Bothy Threads "Cut Thru' Pirate Ship" as a gift this Christmas, and promptly started stitching it:

So, lots of stitching was accomplished this month!  I will be posting next week about my stitching goals for 2019.

Have a stitchy, safe and happy New Years Eve!