Late for almost everything in April :(

Unfortunately, my stitching schedule went out the window for April.  My dad was in the hospital for a few weeks so the month was mostly spent in the car driving back and forth to visit him.  He's out now so things should return to normal.

Anyways, for April's WIPocalypse I didn't get as much done as I planned.  Only 2 projects received any attention.  The tulip sampler has one more square finished:

And the great pumpkin conspiracy has another pumpkin and some blue zigzags:

For the Gifted Gorgeousness SAL I finished Nevermore (which is a birthday present for a friend):

 

For the Halloween ornie SAL (this month's subject being tombstones) I took pieces of Nevermore for my ornament:

 



 

And then I started a new project that the Sampler Life group is stitching.  I love this square from Faby Reilly:

 

 

 

Just what I need .... another project ;)

 

And last but not least, for the final days of April, I decided to pick up Primitive Santa and put in his coat sleeve.

 

 

 

And that's it for April's stitching.  I hope May is a better month.

 

 

WIPocalypse update for March's full moon

Of course the big news was finishing Mary Wigham but I was too excited to wait a couple days to post her pics for March's WIPocalypse update.  If you want to see Miss Mary in all her glory, just check out my previous post.  And yes, I'm still grinning and dancing.

I did a little stitching on Autumn Log Cabin this month and I am now officially around the corner.  I'm slowly getting closer to finishing this one.

And then I picked up Rosewood Manor's Tulip Sampler (an attempt to drag Spring back to Pennsylvania ... ugh!  will the snow ever go away?).  Another square done and the beginnings of a second one.  Not too shabby ;)

And finally, The Great Pumpkin Conspiracy has 4 new leaves and another bird.  Without actually counting stitches, I'm guessing this one is a little under half finished.  I think I'm going to get off the ground and move to the sky next time I pick this one up.

This is the first time I've tried a stitching rotation with so many projects.  It's going well so far and definitely keeping my interest.  It's a relatively informal rotation.  I didn't set an amount of time to stitch each piece or a particular day for a project or whatever.  Instead, I made a chart of the projects I wanted to work on this year and the months.  As I work on a project that month, I put a checkmark next to it (which makes me happy).   I stitch on the larger pieces for a day or 2 or 3 or whatever before switching.  While the smaller ornaments are stitched until finished.  Easy peasy pumpkin pie :)

I'm looking forward to the time change this weekend ... it'll be great having more daylight in the evenings.  Surely Spring can't be too far behind.

 

February's WIPocalypse projects

It's the second full moon of 2015 already and time for the WIPocalypse update.  I did pretty well on my projects this month.  First up is the Great Pumpkin Conspiracy from Cross-eyed Cricket.  This one went from here

to here

 

 

Secondly, Mary Wigham went from here

 

to here

Unfortunately, Autumn Log Cabin didn't get a single new stitch in it.  But because I did so much on Mary Wigham, I'm okay with that.  Actually, I'm more than okay.  I am tickled pink!  She's so close to happy dance day my feet have started tapping. 

 

 

First WIPocalypse of 2015

Hard to believe we are into 2015 already but here we are.  For my first WIPocalypse project I have Autumn Log Cabin from Gracewood Stitches.  I didn't manage much stitching, about 4 or 5 thread lengths, but that's how I'm going to work this one -- a few threads at a time.  This border seems to go on forever and I get bored easily with it at this point.  So, to keep from giving up entirely, if I only do a little at a time, it will get done.

I also managed a to get lots done on The Great Pumpkin Conspiracy from Cross-Eyed Cricket.  I love this one and am so happy to get something accomplished with it.

Two other projects that got some loving are the Inch sampler and Symmetry but since I just posted about them, you can check out my previous entries for their pics.  Still happy dancing' over Symmetry, btw.

I did not touch Mary Wigham or the Tulip Sampler this time because I need to spend quality time with Rockin' Around the Tree to get it done before the February deadline.  I'm almost finished with part 2 and loving how this tree is growing.

Have a good January!

A super moon WIPocalypse update

I went out the other night to see the super moon and, frankly, it didn't look any closer or bigger than other full moons.  It was, however, a beautiful sight to see.

For my WIPocalypse update, I'm sad to say nothing on the older WIPs.  However, I did get some stitching in this month.  To begin, I started something new.  It's a sampler of inch sized blocks from a Facebook group.  Right now there are only 3 blocks done on my sampler.  When it's finished there will be 100.  I can't decide on a color for the separating border.  Many of the stitchers are using black thread, which looks nice.  I may use a dark brown like DMC 3371 but since I'm so indecisive, I'm leaving it blank for now.

 

Another project for this update is an exchange over at Fair and Square.  The subject of this exchange was NATURE.  Anything .... anything at all in nature.  Hmmm, such a big area from which to choose.   So I asked my partner, Linda, what she likes in nature.  She replied 'Everything'.  Well that narrowed things down a bit.  But when I learned a favorite color of hers is blue, I immediately knew she would love a blue butterfly (after all, who doesn't like butterflies).  So I picked my favorite butterfly pattern.  And so for about the 4th time now, I stitched the butterfly from Butterflies and Flowers, an older design from Carolina Cross Stitch.  Happily, Linda likes my butterfly.

I love this pattern.  It's fun to change the colors and play with the stitch inside the wings.  Here are a couple more I've stitched.

 

 

 

And because I can't get this darned tablet to do what I want, here's the link for Measi's WIPocalypse blog to check out the other WIPocalypsers (now that's a mouth full).  That's where I'm going after I'm done here to see what everyone's been stitching.  Have a good stitchy day!



WIPocalypse August

Is it WIPocalypse time already??  Where did the month go.

I have nothing new to show for Mary Wigham or the Tulip Sampler.  I've been working on exchanges and ornaments.  However, the topic for the month (which I usually forget about) is:
Tell us about your oldest and newest WIPs.

So here goes.  I have 2 projects from 2008 that are lying cold and untouched.  The first one is a hardanger Christmas tree.  It's nearly finished.  All the eyelets are done, the blanket stitching around the outside is complete, I think all the little tulips are stitched.  I can't remember what else besides the cutting and wrapping needs done but I don't think it would take me long to finish it.  It's gorgeous .... if I would just get back to it. 

The other old project is a Celtic Sampler.  I love this one but I've reached the part in the pattern where the quotation is and I *hate* the quotation.  I've tried finding one I like to replace it but haven't been successful.  I saw this sampler finished at a local fair the year I started it and that stitcher replaced the quote also ... didn't like that one either.  So it sits .... unfinished.

For some reason, I don't want to work on large projects right now so I've been doing ornaments and smaller projects.  I've been enjoying my Halloween stitching this year and just started a Christmas ornament for my nephew.  When it's done, I'll get a picture posted.  Another project that's been keeping me busy is a Friendship Sampler the ladies in my EGA group are doing.  I get a new sampler each month to add to.  This has been loads of fun.  Unfortunately I can't post any pictures until they're all done. 

I'm late for July's WIPocalypse ....

 but here's the full moon as seen from my back yard .... and then the batteries in my camera died.

This means it's time for a WIPocalypse update.  Unfortunately, there isn't much to show.  Mary Wigham laid untouched and unloved this month while Autumn Log House received a tiny peck on the cheek only (as seen in the upper left corner).

I've been busy with exchange stitching.

Hey.  What can I say??

I'm fickle.

WIPocalypse update for June

I actually spent some more time on Mary Wigwam for WIPocalypse this month. The flower pot on the left is finished and on the upper right, I started the light blue plant under the rose wreath (see the little arrows).  While in this area I noticed that the yellow flower next to it wasn't complete.  So I completed it. Yay!

And then I decided to pick up Autumn Log Cabin which has been languishing for months now.  I stitched the top 2 oak leaves and their accompanying acorns.  I'm getting ready to round the corner now, making this last border half finished.  Double yay!

 

That's about it for this month's old WIPs.  Hopefully next month will go as well.

May WIPocalypse update

Ack!  I'm doing a terrible job with WIPocalypse projects this year.  My intentions were to work on Mary Wigham and The Tulip Sample but I haven't touched them -- not even once.  Here is a picture of these 2 projects.  Maybe if I look at them here, I'll get motivated to stitch on them.  They are both about half done.

What I have been working on is an exchange piece that I can't show to you but here's the fabric I plan backing it with:

And here's El Muro II, a SAL I've been working on.  It's coming along nicely and I'm happy with my color changes.  This is such a cute little village.

And lastly, I've finished my monster for the Halloween SAL.  It's Wicked Night from The Primitive Hare and, yes, it is a bit large for a small but I LOVE(!!!) it.  It needs to be 'aged' in coffee yet before I finish it into something.  It's stitched on 22 ct ivory hardanger fabric with dmc 3371.

It's hard to believe May is half over and considering the yucky spring we've been having, even harder still.  We are supposed to get another inch of rain today.  My back yard is a mushy mess and the grass is growing higher every minute.  ..... sigh .....

Enjoy your day!

April WIPocalypse

It's been awhile since I posted anything wipocalypse related this year.  I've been too busy fighting the new computer to do much posting.  But now that things seem to be settling down on that front, I plan to have more fun with this 'pita' technology.

My plan for 2014 WIPocalypse was to work on Mary Wigham and the Tulip Sampler.   Wellll, neither of which has been touched to date.  So for this report I've got a picture of The Way to Happiness sampler that I'm doing for myself.

 

At first I wasn't too sure I liked these colors, mainly because I really liked the colors of the green one for my friend.  However, the more I stitch it, the more I like it.

WIPocalypse & IHSW for November

I'm sorry it's been awhile since I posted last.  Blame it on my shoulder (which is loads better -- not completely, but it's getting there).  Unfortunately typing and stitching (among other things) have been on the back burners.  Typing has been confined to work-related stuff  and not to fun stuff like blog hopping or posting.   And stitching has been kept at a minimum.  I've been working on my Santa and though he's a recent start, I'm including him in my WIPocalpyse report.  I'm almost done with his coat and have just his beard and all the beads to add.  I'm sure he'll be done by year's end.

 

I also got a little stitching related fun in over the weekend for IHSW.   It was basically a finishing kind of weekend.  I made the cording for a bunch of ornaments (however, I didn't get them all attached) and assembled 2 little pillows.

The pillows still need the cording made for them. The smaller one is getting red cording around it and the larger one will probably get blue or maybe white (I haven't decided yet). Once all the cording is attached, I'll add some buttons, bows or other baubles to each of the ornies. 

And last but not least, I do have one finish to show you.  It's a little Christmas bird all ready for the tree:

Happy stitching!!

My September WIPocalypse update

I knew it must be WIPocalypse time because last night as I was driving home the full moon was shining so brightly.  It was beautiful!

I'm sorry to say that I haven't worked a smidge on any of my older projects.  I've been stitching Halloween and Christmas ornaments and Exchange pieces exclusively.  Two exchanges are still in process so I can't show you anything on them yet -- both are Halloween related.  I participated in an exchange hosted by Mii Stitch last month and haven't posted the item I sent my partner Heather yet.  So, here it is:

I found this pattern in an old Just Cross Stitch issue (May/June 1995).  It's called Sandcastle by Marie Barber.  The theme of the exchange was Summer Holiday and nothing reminds me of summer fun like a sandcastle.  I liked this pattern so much, I stitched another for myself.  I didn't have any more of the dark linen, so I put it on some coffee stained linen instead.  I think I like it better on the darker fabric -- it just shows up better against the darker background.

I'm currently working on a cute little snowman ornament (times 2) and am almost finished with them.  They just need the words, Let It Snow, added (though I may add a little border, just for fun).

The pattern can be found in the 2009 Christmas issue of  Just Cross Stitch.  It's called Let It Snow by designer Glory Bee.

And finally, I started a new Christmas ornie with tons of bling:

It's by Threedles Needleart Design and is called Christmas 2011.  The silver thread is driving me nuts, not because it's difficult to stitch with but because it's so shiny.  All that glitter is straining on my eyes so I only stitch this one early in the morning when I'm fresh.

And that's about it for September.  I hope you have a nice weekend.  Mine is going to be busy with dog-related activities but I hope to get a little stitching in on Saturday for IHSW.

WIPocalypse for June

I'm a little late getting this up but here it is . . . .  a little finish for WIPocalypse:

 

This sweet little thing is the final project offered by one of my favorite places on the internet, the Sticklounge yahoo group.  Sadly, at the end of this month it will be closed.  I have enjoyed this group tremendously.  A really BIG thank you to the moderators, 2 lovely ladies from Germany, for all their hard work and to the designers that provided so many wonderful projects.  Many thanks!!


I also had Iris (another great Sticklounge offering) framed and picked it up over the weekend.  I love it!

Unfortunately, I didn't get any work done on some of my older projects -- hopefully in July.  Have a good Thursday!

My first WIP for this year.

Unfortunately, I haven't stitched on any of the WIP's from last year thus far in 2013.  I'm hoping that will change in June because I miss working on them.  I did, however, finish  Iris in the month of May:

In the original pattern, there is an 'S' in the large empty area at the bottom.  I decided to leave  it out but I'm  not sure I like it as is.    Originally, I was going to put a little pulled thread stitch in that spot.  But now I think it needs some color there.  That empty spot draws my eye down to it too strongly.

I tried a large flower bead in the spot and I like it.  The colors are good, the size is good, the plastic bead catches a little light.  The problem is that the bead stands out a quite bit from the fabric ... but maybe that isn't much of a problem?  It really does look nice in this pic. 

Hmmmm, after seeing these pics, I'm leaning toward using the bead, especially since I just noticed that the five petals in the bead mimic the 2 five-petaled flowers at the top.  If I use it, I'll need to figure out a way to attach it with thread.  Invisible thread will probably work okay here.  It isn't my favorite thing but I hate using glue more.

 Enjoy what remains of your May.