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.

Busy ... busy ....

I've been busy .... I finished The Might Oak (though I would love to find a couple squirrel charms to add to it):

Plus spent some time on White Christmas (all the eyelets are finished -- hooray!!! -- I thought they would never be done.  And no, I will not count them.):

Another WIP finished  ... introducing the Waterlily Pond complete with sparkly dragonfly (it didn't call for a dragonfly but my pond needed a bug .... and more glitter):

And lastly, I picked up another WIP -- Sudoku -- and am going gangbusters on it:

The last time I posted about it, there was tons of stitching left to go:

Even though this piece is supposed to be based on Sudoko, I gave up on that concept a long time ago.  Instead, I'm just playing around with stitches and colors and having a much better time with it.  The whole Sudoko thing was making me cazy and spoiling my fun .... so it needed to go.

I'm happy as a clam since I got so much done on these older projects. 

May your stitching time be productive!

WIPocalypse for March

Sorry to be a little late ......

I didn't get much stitching done over the past month but I have a couple pics to show for my WIPocalypse update. The first is Adriana. I'm working on the 5th part of this SAL and with luck will get it finished this weekend.  I almost had a heart attack last Sunday as I was stitching those obscenely looong legs and realized I may run out of fabric.  Sigh .... I need to go back to first grade and learn how to count again.

I also stitched a few more eyelets on White Christmas.  It's coming along, slowly but surely.

Work is still incredibly busy (thus the lack of stitching).

I did, however, start a new project -- even though I made a very stern New Years Resolution that I was not not not going to start anything new in 2012 until I finished a couple older projects.  So much for resolutions . . . .

Introducing The Mighty Oak, designed by Daniela:

Later ......



WIPocalypse - A Quick February Update

I missed the full moon but I have a couple pics for my February update.  The first one is White Christmas. 

There isn't much to show because I ran out of the Kreinik thread last week.  I bought  more over the weekend so I'll be able to continue on with it now.

My second piece is the SAL Adriana.  I stitched lots on it and will continue to do so since it has a time limit and I want to get it done. 

I bought some cheap finger nail polish over the weekend for painting charms.  As soon as I figure out how to hold the little buggers while painting them, I'll give it a go.  I'm thinking double sided tape.

Take care everyone.

Kickin' that frog!

Well, I decided to kick that *&#$% frog and just go on with my Heart Note Alley.  I have in my stash (at least I think I have, though I haven't found it yet) a gold frog charm that needs to be attached to this row.  I'm thinking this is the best place for my nasty, ol' froggie ... so close to all those yummy little butterflies and unable to snatch a single one.  < evil snicker >   Revenge is indeed sweet!

Soooo, does anyone know how to paint metal charms? I'm not sure gold will fit in, I was thinking maybe a pale frog would look more pathetic, er, better here.

I also spent some time on White Christmas.  I have almost four of the diamonds ringed with shiny blue eyelets (there are scads of eyelets on this piece, when will they be done?!?). 

Unfortunately, I will run out of the thread very soon.  No fear -- I already called my LNS and she has 3 spools in stock and set aside for me.   And since she's having her annual Super Bowl Sale next week, I will pick up my thread and buy other stitchy stuff :)

This weekend the weather is supposed to be kinda sucky.  I plan on staying in, doing laundry and finishing the next part of Adriana.  Pretty exciting stuff!

Have a good one ......

A fruitful IHSW

I got lots of stitching done -- yay!

First and foremost, I finished part 2 of the Adriana SAL -- I love this design.  And since I'm so far behind with it, it will be getting the majority of my stitching attention until I get caught up.

I also got some eyelets stitched on the hardanger piece, White Christmas.  The kloster blocks on the top of the tree are now finished and I started the blue eyelets in the middle area.  I may use only the blue thread for the internal eyelets.  When I put silver thread next to the piece, I don't like it -- the silver looks 'dirty'.  Maybe I don't have the right kind.  I also have some very pretty shiny white thread.  I may try this, or not .... I really like the blue.  I found some nice dark blue beads in my stash that look perfect and may use either white or clear beads (or both) and/or get some light blue beads .... right now it's still a project in flux.

Pre-IHSW, I worked on the Old European Sampler -- I've been stitching the repetitive stuff, when I'm tired and need something repetitive to stitch.

Last week, I also worked on Heart Note Alley. 

This piece is so pretty but I almost tossed it out the window.  The sweet row with the butterflies (above the irises) has been giving me fits.  I have had counting problems with the stems right from the first flower.  And so  I decided, since I was doing it now and cursing and swearing at it now, I may as well finish the whole painful thing now and be done with it!  Grrrrr!

Well, as I struggled to get it finished and approached the end, I noticed it wasn't going to finish all nice and symmetrical .... sigh ..... crap.

So, should I tear the stems out and do it again (boohoo) or just let it go?  Will I like it asymmetrical?  I couldn't say, until I thought of the wonderful world of Photoshop.  So I photoshoped a rough approximation of the finished row.  What do you think?  See how the last flower is cut off  .... can I live with that???

I am undecided .... but I really don't want to redo that row again.  Of course, now that I know what I did wrong (I did eventually figure it out), it shouldn't be so bad.  Right?? 

For now, I'm just living with the Photoshoped version.

WIPocalypse beginning

Sigh, things haven't been going exactly as planned this year.  I haven't gotten any stitching in for about a week now and I'm starting to get cranky. 

The 'plan' was to work on my hardanger tree first.  I did get a 'before' picture

 and a 'what is should look like when finished' picture

but that's it.  I didn't even get the roller bars on the frame.

I did spend a little time over the new year weekend working on my Odds & Ends -- it isn't finished yet but there isn't much more to go.  So I think this will be my first WIPocalypse piece now.

One good thing (though it didn't happen in 2012) -- I finished my 2011 Santa -- hooray! 

I'm trying to decide if I like the yellow in the border.  It's a little bright compared with the other colors.  Except the beard -- which positively glows and draws the eye right to Santa's face.  The important thing is he's finished.

I hope your 2012 is beginning better than mine.