The first WIPocalypse

I managed to get lots of stitching done since the last full moon.  Mainly because the dogs and I didn't have many classes in January . . . . .  sad for them, happy for stitching.  The Tulip Sampler got many x's and back stitching added to it.  One large block and 2 smaller ones are now finished:

 

I also spent time on Flower Power, finishing the third band of lattice and the words.  However, I decided to revamp the words a bit by making them a little fancier than the pattern:

I like my letters but don't like the way they ended up on the fabric.  The first line looks great, the second I don't like.  I hated to have the orphan "may" just hanging there by itself so I began the second line of verse on the same physical line.  Hmmmmm, not the best layout.

Soooo, I did a little 'photoshop-ing' and changed it to look like this:

I like this better but . . . . before I go ripping it out, I'm going to let it set for awhile.   I may think of a different and perhaps, better, way of doing it.  I really prefer things centered but didn't feel like charting the whole thing out because what usually happens when I chart things out, I do it wrong and things don't get centered correctly  -- driving me totally nuts.  BTW -- the little zig-zaggy lines aren't complete.  There's more to be added to them.

I finished 2 smaller projects that have been sitting around for some time now.  The first is Get into the Spirit by Brittercup.  This was one of my 2011 Crazy Challenge choices that was never finished . . . until now that is:

And this one is probably 4 or 5 years in the stitching.  It's one of those cute Mill Hill beaded kits on paper called Bountiful Kitties.  I'm tickled pink that it's finally finished.

 These two are finished because I joined a couple SAL's --  the Christmas Ornament SAL  and the Halloween Ornament SAL -- devoted to stitching an ornie a month.

And there you have it, a months worth of WIPocalypse stitching.  I hope February is just as productive for both you and me. 

The last WIPocalypse for 2012

Even though I had lots of Christmas stitching to do, I managed to pick up the Tulip Sampler in December and finished the big square on the bottom plus two smaller squares above it :

I also found some time to work on Flower Power from Anne Strite-Kurtz. This was a 2011 Crazy Challenge piece that didn't get very far in 2011.  I finished the third band -- hooray!

This year has been a fruitful one for me - stitching-wise.  I finished quite a few stitchy items . . .

and still have quite a few to go . . .

These (and any others that may strike my fancy during the coming year) will be the ones I concentrate on for the 2013 WIPocalypse.  Wish me luck.  And I'll also wish you good stitching luck in 2013.  May the games begin . . .

WIPocalypse update for November

I was driving home last night under a gorgeous full moon and remembered it's WIPocalpyse time.  Most of November was spent stitching for Christmas with a little Adriana thrown in just for yucks.

First up is Adriana.  I back stitched the birds' legs, beaks and some of their wings.  It's almost finished but I may not make it for this year.

The big hurrah! for November was finishing the Advent Calender and picking out fabric for it.  I plan to make it into a small wall hanging.  I really want to get it done before Christmas but am not sure that will happen.  Doing this kind of finishing is new to me -- I only did it once before -- and need to be nice and calm and relaxed before attempting it.  Right now, that's not my mental state.

The other Christmas stuff I've been stitching are presents for various friends and family and are on the top burner right now.  I forgot to get the designer for the Santa with drum but he's from an old issue of Country Cross Stitch Magazine.  The Stitching Sisters isn't finished yet.  I may remove the gold thread and replace it with something darker.  I like the way the spools show up but the individual strands of it aren't so visible.  And what can I say -- I just love that little angel.  Last Christmas I stitched a forest of trees, this year I stitched a sky full of angels. 

Have a great weekend!

October WIPocalypse

Unfortunately, I didn't get as much done this month as I had hoped.  Poor Adriana, which I wanted to have done by this update, didn't get anymore stitches added.  Nor did the Sticklounge Advent Calender or the Old European Sampler.  Sigh.

Instead, I spent an enjoyable month on Halloween and Exchanges (one of which is still a secret):

I did finally finish Something Wicked by La-D-Da.  It only needed the spiders added but had fallen to the bottom of my pile and was hidden -- until now:

I can't remember when I started this one but it was at least a year ago, maybe more (time flies when you're having fun).  I doubt it'll get 'ornamentized' before tomorrow but at least it's ready for the process.

 
The last piece I stitched on was the Christmas SAL from Carole and I'm happy to report it is up to date:

Carole's original design called for lots of white thread but the white doesn't show up well on my tea stained fabric (at least not stitched 1 over 1, it doesn't).  So I picked a light brown for the snow instead -- hmmm, better than yellow, don't you think?

I'm not signing up for any more exchanges or SAL's until after the new year.  I need to get more Christmas gifts stitched and will be spending most of my stitching time getting them done. 

And I really want to get Adriana finished before the world ends.

Sept WIPocalypse

I am happy to report that I've been a busy little stitcher this past month, albeit a little erratic -- hopping around from project to project like a honey bee bounces among the clover.  And it was FUN!

I'll begin with Adriana -- I am almost finished with this lovely (still more backstitching to go).  I should be able to have this finished by the next WIPocalypse update:

And since I was doing Christmas ornies for my nephews, I decided to pick up the Advent Calender, a Sticklounge SAL from December.  I stitched the lower, right two ornies this past week.  This one I want to have done in time for Christmas this year:

I found this next little cutie recently and just had to stitch it before the world ends.  I'll probably make it into a Christmas ornie.  I found it on the Freebie Gallery blog (great place):

And then another new start that just has to get done before the world obliterates itself is the Christmas SAL by Carole:

I also managed to get some finish-finishing in:

Wee Three

A Brittercup kitty

And some framing (though I didn't do it myself):

And to All A Good Night

Lily Pond

Sudoku

Rose Wreath Santa

I hope your month was just as productive.

A Blue WIPocalypse

For the second August WIPocalypse update I pulled out Adriana -- something that hasn't seen the light of day for a few months.   I started the final part of this SAL and want to get it finished.  There isn't much more to do in the way of x's but there is a bit of bs-ing yet.  It shouldn't be a problem because the bs-ing is mostly outlining -- kind of mindless.

Another piece I worked on (though not very much) was the Old European Sampler.

Actually, I got a bit disgusted with it and that's why I pulled out Adriana to work on.  For some reason, I don't enjoy working on this piece.  Maybe it's the colors? (though I did a Santa in the same colors and had a blast with him)  Or maybe the tightness?  (it is driving me a bit bonkers)  Maybe the fabric? (normally I like lugana)  Maybe the size? (I seem to want to stitch smaller things right now, go figure)  Maybe the repetition? (it does seem to go on forever)  Whatever the reason, when I went to bed Saturday night, I decided I was done with it.  Finished!  No more.  I would put it away and just forget about it.  I have lots of other projects I enjoy doing so why bother.  The end!

But after working on Adriana on Sunday, I cooled down and will give it another go.

I also managed to do a little more on the Tulip Sampler.  I thought I would get more of the big square done but only the border is completed.  I decided to do the border in rice stitches instead of cross stitches just to be a little different.  This is such a pretty pattern and I just love the colors.  And when I finish with tulips I'm going to start Halloween Quilt Sampler another Rosewood Manor piece with lots of bs-ing in it.  I already bought the pattern :) 

I have another update that isn't WIPocalpyse related -- I'm almost finished with Along Came a Spider.  Madame Spider just needs her legs.  The pattern calls for 4 -- egads! that will not do!  My nephew would never let me hear the last of it if I didn't give her the proper number of legs.  And the proper number she shall have -- 8 black hairy ones!  EEK!

Have a good weekend!

And Happy Labor Day!

One more Christmas Friday post

I remembered to take a picture of the Christmas ornies for my nephews:

I bought some tiny black buttons to put on the Candy Sock over the stitched black buttons.  I think that will make a cute addition to it.  These 2 patterns are so cute -- I may need to stitch a pair for myself in my spare time.

I also got another square done on Rosewood Manor's Tulip sampler (the tall skinny one on the bottom).  For some reason or other, this one made me nervous -- all that backstitching just wasn't relaxing this time.  I was sooo glad when it was finished!  I hope this doesn't happen again -  there's still tons of bs-ing to do on this piece.  The square under this one is big and has lots of cross stitching in it so I'm planning on doing it next.  Hopefully that will be more fun and then I can go on to another session of bs-ing with a fresh, happy attitude.

That's the plan.

 My weekend is going to be spent grooming dogs, doing laundry and stitching.  Should be fun!  I hope your weekend is just as fun.

The first August WIPocalypse update

I've been busy the last couple weeks stitching surprises for friends so the only updates I have for this WIPocalypse update are things I've already posted, mainly finishing ornaments and the Old European Sampler.  If you want to see them, look back a couple posts.  Sorry ...  I don't have any new pictures to post.


Unless you count this one of Missy Meadow when she was a puppy:

Have a great day!

WIPocalypse -- July update

I spent alot of time stitching since my last WIPocalypse update.  Unfortunately I didn't do anything on White Christmas -- the hardanger piece.  Instead, I picked up the beagle puppy (started January 2011) and stitched lots on it.  All that's left to do is the collar, eggs, grass and backstitching:

I'm planning on making the grass green (instead of the original straw color) and adding a few small lazy daisy flowers in it.  This piece should definitely be done by the next update.

Another WIP from 2011 is the Tulip Sampler by Rosewood Manor.  Because of all the backstitching on this piece, I'm going slow on it so that I don't burn out from said backstitching.  Probably only stitching one or two squares a month.  I finished the 2 squares in the pink rectangle over the weekend:

The original plan was to finish one of the squares over the weekend but things went so smoothly, I finished them both.  I have to say that even though there is tons of backstitching, it isn't as bad as I thought it would be.  Dare I say, I'm finding it almost relaxing.  I think it's because there is a pattern to it within each square -- making it almost mindless.  Imagine that!

And lastly, I worked on the Old European Sampler and am still making headway on it -- slowly but surely:

With a little luck, I should get around the corner in the near future (maybe by the weekend since this in my Mon-Fri stitching project).   I think once this is done, the piece will go faster -- or at least seem to go faster.

I hope everyone that celebrates it, has a safe and fun 4th of July!

June WIPocalypse

I'm late but I did get lots done.  And so without further ado .......

Almost all the white bells are stitched in White Christmas (only have 3 more sets at the top to stitch -- woo hoo!).  Once this is done, I can start the cutting.

The Old European Sampler has been gathering dust so I pulled it out and got some done on it also. 

The Tulip Sampler hasn't seen the light of day since January of 2011 when I first began it as part of the 2011 Crazy January Challenge.  I just love the colors in this one and intend to give it some major TLC.

The next few pics are a biscornu and some ornies that have been stitched for some time and needed to be "finished".  The biscornu is called Tumbling Spools (I think).  I forget the designer's name but it was offered in an EGA magazine issue from 2010 or maybe 2009 (hmmmm ... memory like a steel trap).

I decided I wanted to add the 4 buttons on the underside corners to match the spools.  Who knew that I, a lover of pink, didn't have a single pink button??  After a quick visit to JoAnn's, I do now.

These 3 Christmas ornies were from the 2011 Crazy Challenge also.  I finished the actual cross stitching in 2011 but never made them into ornaments until now.  As of now, I'm thinking I may remove the red beads from the sugar shocked reindeer's cording.  I'm not sure I like it.

And even though this isn't part of WIPocalypse (unless you count the "finishing" part) I want to include this lovely stitched by Linda B as an exchange from the Fair and Square group:

Hmmm .... can you tell I've added "finishing" to my WIPocalypse list?  When the world ends, I want to get all my little stitchings "finished".

May's WIPocalypse update

It's a day early but I won't be near a computer tomorrow so here goes . . . . .

I added a couple 'new' old projects to my WIPocalypse list.  The first one is the Golden Cat by designer Patricia Emlet.  I began this project 10-24-2010 and really want to get it finished.  All that's left to stitch now is the hind foot and tail tip.

The second 'new' old project is Wee Three by designer Lorri Birmingham.  This piece was one of my Crazy January 2011 projects that was never touched after January 2011.  Now the first Santa is finished.

Sudoku is almost finished.  I added a line of backstitch around the top and right sides only and am deciding if I like it.  Right now, I'm leaning toward liking it.  It sets a stronger edge to the whole thing.

I also spent some quality stitching time on White Christmas (finished all the eyelets -- hooray!) and completed (happy dance time) the Lily Pond.  Since I already posted pics of these in April, I'm not going to re-post them here.  Just go back a couple posts if you're interested.

So there you have it .... my May update and I must admit, I'm pleased with it.  One project finished, two almost finished, a third one in the works and all those eyelets done (hooray -- I'm soooo glad they're done).

I hope your month was as productive as mine.

April WIPocalyse

It's that time again.  Unfortunately, I didn't get any stitching in on my hardanger tree but I did pick up another WIP that hasn't seen the light of day for many moons:

I added all the sparkle to the pond.  Now it really looks like water.

The other 2 projects for this update are The Mighty Oak

and Heart Note Alley

We are still swamped at work so this is just another quickie ...... enjoy the day!