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!

August Stitching

*I found this post saved as a draft from August.  I have finished a few more projects since then, and will post them soon.

I stitched up this little Durene Jones bird on plastic canvas, and made it into a keychain for my mom in August.

Trick or Treat Halloween Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on Jo's Hallowe'en Blog Hop!

This blog hop is being hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching.  Please visit the start of the Hallowe'en Blog Hop if you would like to collect the letters for the mystery phrase.

My latest piece of Halloween stitching is this cute little ornament by Katia Potrich:

I stitched the ornament on 14ct plastic canvas, added a satin ribbon, and backed the ornament with purple felt.  I made a few small changes, but you can find the free chart here: https://potrichina.com/171-2/#jp-carousel-192 

Trick or Treat?  Here is what you have been searching for .... 

The secret letter is "S".

Now fly off back to Jo to finish the blog hop: www.serendipitousstitching.blogspot.co.uk

Happy Halloween!
 

 

 
 

a Woodland Christmas Ornament

 

I have an ornament finish for January.  My ornament is adapted from the "Woodland Christmas" chart by Fern Ridge Collections.  The chart was featured in the 2014 Just Cross Stitch ornament issue.

I stitched with one strand of variegated floss on 28 ct fabric.  The pattern features diamond eyelet stitch, diagonal satin stitch, French knots, cross stitch and back stitch.

I stitched the tree and deer part of the chart, and added the "NOEL" to the bottom center.  I completed the ornament as a padded flat finish with dark green felt backing, a satin ribbon and some gold and brown beads.

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!

 

 

 

 

Skating Snowman - A Tiny Finish

 

Skating Snowman - Kooler Design Studio via Janlynn 

 

This is the first project I have actually completed in a really long time.  The past few years have been extremely difficult for me, so I am just happy to have finished one cross stitch project!

I miss my stitching, so I am going to try to put a few stitches into "something" every day.  Baby steps ...

 

 

LOVE at Christmas

LOVE at Christmas by Durene Jones

 

One more finish for the year!  I haven't done much stitching lately, but I saw this cute freebie from Durene Jones over on her facebook group and had to stitch it for my Mom.

I put a thin layer of quilt batting between the stitched piece and a felt backing.  I hand stitched around the border, added a ribbon loop for hanging, a dangling snowflake charm, and some purple buttons to accent the design.  I'm happy with the result!

Wishing all of you a safe and happy holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

 

WIPocalypse Update for February

Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Haunted House

Hello!  This is my February WIPocalypse post.  Things have been pretty brutal here the past few months, but I still managed a bit of progress since my last update.

I stitched on (my favorite) "Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Haunted House". I am adding the back stitching to the roof and bedroom, on which I completed the cross stitching.  So I am moving right along.

I also stitched a bit on "Berry Patch Rooster".  I have made a lot of progress with this one and plan to keep on going.

 This month I had a request for a pattern featuring a camel ... so I whipped up this chart: "Scenic Camel", which I am sharing on my hobby site as a free chart.
  http://hobbyloco.com/patterns/camel.html

I did finish my "Linen & Threads 2020 Mystery Sampler" the first week of January - I just hadn't posted since December.  So here it is:

 And I stitched a little Halloween ornament in January:

I do think I will try the "March one stitch per day challenge".  Most likely I will keep working on my "Berry Patch Rooster".  I would love to have a finish soon!

Question of the Month: In honor of “Leap Year,” tell the story of a time you had to make some sort of a “leap” in stitching – taking the chance on a new style of stitching, attending a meetup or class, etc.  

My latest leap would be the leap into fabric dyeing that I made last year.  I hadn't ever dyed fabric using actual dye. Just a few coffee and tea experiments.  However, I has terrific results using a small tie-dye kit when I dyed the fabric for my "Linen & Threads Sampler" (shown above).  I loved it so much that I took a chance on the fabric from my Bothy Threads kit (it was originally a pale blue), and couldn't be happier with how it turned out!

That's about all for this update.  
Happy Stitching!

WIPocalypse Update for December

The year is drawing to a close, and it is time to post my December WIPocalypse update and year end recap.

The past few months have been busy for me, with not a lot of stitching time.  However I did manage to stitch a cute red beaded snowflake.  The original pattern (found in "Cross Stitch for the Holidays" Winter 2011) called for French knots - but I used some glass seed beads that I had on hand for a little bit of sparkle.
I made some progress on "Berry Patch Rooster":

"Women of the Mayflower": I'm not happy with the colors I used on the last motif ... I have to think about this a bit more.

"Linen and Threads 2019 Mystery Sampler": I kept up with this all year ... I should have it finished very soon, just a few more butterflies to go.  This is the last picture I took of it (it is not really THAT blue).

On a Christmasy note ... I pulled some boxes out of storage and found two needlepoint stocking that I stitched years ago.  I did not add a date to them, so I can only guess that I stitched them in the mid-90's.

I stitched on 37 different projects in 2019.  I finished 8 projects, and I made some great progress on a few of my old WIPs. 

And ... (drumroll, please) ... Here is my little montage of finishes for 2019

I managed to finish 5 small projects and 3 of my old WIPs!  I did start 3 new larger projects - so my  WIPs count is still sitting at 42.  Not my best year of finishes, but I am happy to have completed the ones I did. 

Wishing all of you a safe and happy new year!
Happy stitching.

August WIPocalypse Update

Time for another WIPocalypse update.  These are projects that are in progress, that I hope to finish before the world ends.  

I have a finish this month!  I managed to complete my Winnie the Pooh project, "A Chirpy Sort of Place".  This was a fun stitch!  With just a handful of colors, it was easy to stitch and follow the chart while watching TV.  This was a kit that a friend found at a church sale & sent to me a few years ago.

I completed the August section of the "Linen and Threads 2019 Mystery Sampler".  I'm sure that September's section will be released this weekend.   

I also managed a bit of stitching on my current favorite project, Bothy Threads "Cut Thru' Haunted House".  I just love this one so much!  I stitched more of the roof area and bedroom.  I am always smiling when I stitch on this.  The ghosties seem to keep the frogs away as well.  It is an easy chart to follow!  Big print, no partial stitches and separate pages for the back stitching.  

Question of the Month: What do you have on your stitching bucket list?  (for example, specific projects, designers, fibers, etc)  

Wow!  I want to stitch so many things!  I would love to stitch the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' North Pole House, Magic School, and Castle.  I would love to stitch a Long Dog Sampler.  I would love to stitch a Glendon Place dessert project (they are all so lovely).  I would love to stitch a Chatelaine.  That's my "short" bucket list off the top of my head ... I am just happy to be stitching at all!  And if I don't manage to stitch these, it's still fun to see other people stitch them.

Wish I had more time to stitch ... maybe next month.
Happy Stitching!

my Gifted Gorgeousness Update for July

Carousel Tiger by Angela Pullen

It's time for the July 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 a finish this month!  Finally!  I have completed stitching my Carousel Tiger.  This is the third in a set that my sister gifted to me in the late 90's.  It is a bit hard to tell, but all of the gold areas (corners, pole and trim on the saddle) are stitched with sparkly gold metallic blending filament (which is a pain to work with, but looks lovely).  I finished stitching the Carousel Lion in 1998, and the Carousel Zebra in 2014.  The Tiger was by far the most difficult of the three. 

Carousel Lion by Angela Pullen

Carousel Zebra by Angela Pullen

I stitched on several other gifted projects this month including:
"A Chirpy Sort of Place" (I worked on the borders and lower right corner.)

 
"Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Gypsy Wagon" (I fixed a miscount in the roof area and stitched to the left of the dresser.)

"Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Haunted House" (Stitched in the upstairs bedroom area.  Completed the sickle.)

 I finished the flowers in the first section of my "Rose Lap Quilt".  

And I completed about 1/2 of the stitching for this month's section of "Linen & Threads 2019 Mystery Sampler".

Whew!  A busy month.  I am happy with my progress and hope to have a few more finishes before the end of the year!

Happy Stitching!

my WIPocalyspe update for April

American sampler by Sandra Sullivan

It's time for another WIPocalypse update!   WIPocalypse projects are all of those works in progress that we hope to finish before the world ends.

This month was short on stitching time, but I did manage progress on a few of my projects and a finish!  I completed the stitching on "American Sampler" by Sandra Sullivan.  I stitched the sampler from a book using leftover threads.  I do plan to "age" it with tea/coffee staining and maybe some other creative ways.

I also completed April's section of the Linen and Threads 2019 Mystery Sampler.

Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Haunted House

And I put some stitches into "Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Haunted House".  I am having a lot of fun with this one!

"Stitch Maynia" is coming up soon.  I don't plan to start any new projects, but I plan to stitch on a different one of my WIPs each day during the month of May.  Hopefully I will make some good progress for the month.

Question of the Month: Talk to us about your longest-running WIP or UFO.  

Looking through my WIPs, I see many projects that I started in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016.  Playing along in the Crazy January Challenge was a big contributor to my WIPs list. (lol)  Silly me, I got carried away and started tons of big projects.  

However, I do have about 9 projects that date back to the 90's.  Between 1992 and 2001, I moved 3 times.  Years ago, I discovered a box in storage that contained all of these projects (plus another half dozen that I have since completed).  It was a bit like Christmas.  I am more excited to work on newer projects, but I do occasionally pull out one of the old ones and give it some love.

I can't wait to see what everyone else has been working on.
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!

my Gifted Gorgeousness Update for November

Dutch Sampler by Sandy Orton

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

Today I am super happy to have a finish to show!

I finished stitching "Dutch Sampler" by Sandy Orton just this morning.  This was a fun stitch with Algerian eyelets and double running stitch, both of which were new to me.  I stitched on mushroom colored 28 ct evenweave, which along with the threads, was gifted to me.  The chart can be found in Better Homes and Gardens "Treasures in Needlework" magazine from Fall 1992. 

Creative Cats

I worked a bit on "Creative Cats" which was a kit gifted to me in the late 90's.  This is a printed piece, which is embellished with many stitches, such as satin stitch, stem stitch, straight stitch, lazy daisies and French knots.  

Every time I think I am closer to finishing, I find another area that I missed.  I still have quite a bit of stitching to do ... but this project is moving along.

I have also been stitching on my Christmas sampler.  The chart is from Cross Stitcher Magazine (Nov 2017), which was gifted to me last year.  I hope to finish this one by Christmas.

Last but not least ... I have started stitching Bothy Threads "Cut Thru' Gypsy Wagon".  A friend has nicely "loaned" the pattern to me (sort of a gift, but I must return it).  lol.  I have been wanting to stitch a Cut Thru' design for awhile and am too eager to wait. (I have some on my list for Santa).

Bothy Threads - Cut Thru' Gypsy Wagon

That's all I have right now ... I think I made great progress this month & hope to continue the trend next time.

Happy Stitching!