2022 WIPocalypse - Introduction

Hello 2022 

You know when you are unsure of what is to come you tip toe... yup that is exactly what I am doing right now.. slowly moving around 2022 like I'm waiting for something to jump out and say BOO!!!

You didn't come here to hear all of that but that is how I'm feeling and its already two weeks into 2022.  I guess this is when I should start my confession if this is an introduction.  I'm a mom of four and have two grandbabies also which I am amazed by all the time.  I am happily married to a muggle man who enables my hobbies (I am not sure this is good) but he also picks on me when I start something new (serial starter noises here).  He knows I enjoy all crafts and we go many times to craft stores and he always asks are you sure you don't need this or this.  I am truly blessed.  

I am a serial starter, and a pusher or enabler whatever you want to call it.  I also love many crafts and would like to give equal attention to all of them.  I love to quilt and enjoy sewing all kinds of things including clothing, small gifts and my newest hobby making Hand Bags and project bags so I'm enjoying working with all kinds of textiles and hoping to explore more in 2022.  I love to crochet a lot and have dabbled in my knitting but I would really love to make a sweater this year.  I do have a sweater machine but man to hear those needles going to town makes my heart so full.  

So I would post photos of what my goals are for all of 2022 but I'm doing things a little different this year.  Goals for Quilting is to finish all of my quilts I've "half" finished and there are a lot.. now finish to me is not quilted because that is another post all together but If I fully finish a quilt I'll make sure you know it too because it truly is an amazing feeling to have a project totally complete.  These quilts don't really have an home to go to just ones I've wanted to work on so they will get completed and put away until I have a forever home to put them in.  

I only have a few Crochet blankets that are also on my finish list this year.  So I am hoping there is some road trips so I can make that happen and I hope I'm not the one driving so I can make some good progress 😏

But lets get to cross stitching because really that's what y'all came for!!  I am working on my WIPGO 2022 board, I am also participating in my Semi Sane Stitches group because both keep me so motivated to stitch more and I really believe it helped me complete some projects.   So I plan I touching EVERY WIP I have and I think when I looked on my spreadsheet (yes I have one of those) I had 65 at my last count but I did find another 4 or 5 that were not on the list and I don't know If I ever posted them so I can't remember when I started them but I'll dig and find a spot with them.  So lets start from the beginning.  

Focus Piece - I have a very large HAED that I do still love (thank goodness) because its massive and I've gotten some stitches already into it.  I do not believe I did much in 2021 so this year it needs some massive work.  Each month I will work on this piece.  This is my Trick or Treat HAED from Randal Spangler.  I am planning on working on weekend on this piece so I can get as many stitches in as possible.  I will take an overall photo for next month so you can see how much I have completed.  This is the page I will be working on this month. 

My plans are to touch and stitch every WIP I have.  I want to make sure I can see things I love to stitch and really get some progress this year.  So I was going to work on projects I started each month.  The problem is I have many months with no starts, so I am robbing May because well Maynia is a thing.  I also am working on my oldest WIPS first so they did get put in January.  I am hoping for a few finishes this month alone.  

So each month I will pick about 5-8 WIPS depending on how large the projects are for the month.  I will work them in on several events to see if I can get as many stitches as I can get.  I am saving weekends for larger pieces or my focus piece if I can get a good amount of stitches on them I will switch it out.  

I am also planning on working on the Cricket Collection months.  Most will be new starts, some have already been started.  I am also tired of my box of overflowing new starts that have been kitted up forever and feel neglected so there will be a wheel spinning happening which tells me what project will be a new start for the month.  So if my new way of doing things works out I will have a start for each month in 2023 and I can continue to touch each project every year and I won't be surprised by a WIP sitting in a bag for years without any love (that is neglect) 

So for the Parade of what you will see this month are: 

Marauder's Map - Artist is no longer on Etsy

Lighthouse - Cricket Collection from 1992

Candy Cane Santa Stocking - Dimensions Gold Collection

Owls Growth Chart - Dimensions 

I hope you enjoy everything you've seen.  Come on back because each month something new will be here.  The only repeat will be my Trick or Treat HAED and I think the progress over the next few months hopefully will be amazing. 

I also update my Instagram often if you would like to see daily progress quicker - 

I also do an update on my YouTube and you get to hear all about life too 😀 I try not to ramble to much but its so exciting sharing everything with friends. 

Happy Stitching ~ Carey

WIPocalypse 2021 - Lets get this party started

 2021

Beginning of a new year also means we can all write our own pages once again.  We can't start new things or just wipe the slate clean and just begin.  I know we have all had a rough year, I honestly don't want to go back or even begin 2020 again but I will say I did get a lot done in 2020 and I did have some amazing things happen in 2020.  It was not all a horrible year but I would rather not repeat.  

With all of that being said I am back 😁 and wished I would have been able to stick with my blog for some of 2020.  I did have some great things happen as I've stated but at some point you will see what I did actually complete.  I have some lofty goals again or 2021 and I'm working on specific items this year and hoping for my most ever finishes so lets not wait and I can spill the beans to y'all.  

This year I am apart of WIPGO 2021! Again LOL

I have made my own board but really gave myself some HUGE goals..  I didn't think some would be attainable but already three days into the new year I've already made some amazing strides.. Here is what we can expect, or at least I can hope to achieve in 2021 with my WIPGO Board.  

My Lofty goals this year are to 

1) stay within my budget 

2) Stitch at least 8 Pages on my Trick or Treat HAED 

3) Finish 262 Words

4) I am not sure how many Dimensions Kits I will finish but I will make progress on more than a few this year because it is a Dimensions Year because I have so many that I need to actually work on them.  

I also Crochet and Quilt and would like to keep up with those also and have some project that need some attention as well.. So you might see a few of those as I go along in 2021.. I have several other hobbies and some rambling on with my own lift.. bear with me I love having an output.. 

I can't wait to get to know everyone and enjoy everyone's stitching as well. 

I usually update my Instagram daily or way more often than my blog so come on by and say Hi.

@thepatientstitcher 

I also have my Youtube Channel and try to keep that one as updated also.. These are all the amazing outputs I have and I love doing them now. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8aXLd1uvHHoXpjZaeyiYPA

Happy Stitching Everyone and look forward to seeing all everyone does in 2021..

The Patient Stitcher 

AKA Carey 

March WIPocalypse Update

Well I will say its been a while since I've updated... So I assume it will be a book but I will try my BEST to keep this short and sweet.  I have been known to be a bit long winded but I will say I have stitched my little heart out in the last few months.

I would also like to take a moment in recent times to Pray for all of our First Responders out there who are doing the job others can't and for providing (as always) that comfort in such difficult times.  We are all in such uncertain times right now and I hope all that read this are well and stay safe and find comfort in whatever you can.  Much love to you all 💕

I will start off in February, gosh it seems so long ago as we are already in APRIL.. 😳

I received this last year in April and started it for a friends little girl.. I did start working on it but not as much as I probably should have. I did manage a good week or two here or there but when May of last year hit I did get another job during the summer and man that took up a lot of time.  My husband goes to school in Pittsburgh so that also was hard going back and forth..  So much happened in the year lol.. Determined to get as much done in 2019 I made this my focus piece in December and right before Christmas I managed to get it all stitched,  then to come to find out I spelled her name all wrong.. WHAT!!!!

I ripped 🐸 all of it out only to start all over again.. This was so hard for me to do, so I put it away for a couple of days and then went back to re-finish it.. By this time I was exhausted and honestly didn't want to see the project again.. I did leave it by my chair, just in case I wanted to put any stitches into it.  By January I did pick it up here and there and made great progress.. at this point the "when is this project ever going to get finished kicked in.." I really burnt myself out on this project so much.  I told myself.. Self - stitch this piece today then put it away.. and so on and so forth.. eventually it finally came down to beads and french knots.. I'm not the biggest fan of french knots but once I get started I'm usually fine.  I did add the beads as an extra because it just needed a little more.. I also added HL Krenik to her name because what little girl doesn't need more sparkle, Right?!

Well Monday after my walk and all those other things I had to do, beads and french knots were complete. I have finally finished this piece and I am so excited to actually FFO it.. I will make sure I
post a photo of that also.

Dimensions - Gold Collection Sleigh Ride at Dusk Stocking.. April 2019 - February 2020

After I finished the stocking I worked on The Raven Queen from Mirabilia.  I worked on this because I love her and for some reason Magical Stitches had some homework that really worked well for this project.  90% of my homework I managed to get done with her.  I also worked on my Extra Credit homework and finished all but one. The last time I had her out was the 1st of January as my new start for 2020.. She did get some good stitches in but I quickly put her away.

So I got some on this project and only worked on her for five days. For some reason the black and grey seemed to get to me super fast and I didn't get a full week to work on her. I did however realize that she is coming together rather quickly and I don't think it will take me to long to have a finish with her. I did order her special threads and beads, my husband gifted me a generous gift card for my birthday in November and now just using it.. I am shocked its taken me this long. I also added some of Dashers things so I can work on that when it comes up again. I will say she has not been out since 😐 but will be making an appearance in April.

My next project I'll show is an amazing one and one you have seen many times but somehow in two months I manage TWO (thats right I'm a bit shocked myself) TWO page finishes. Sometimes the confetti just gets to me but I still can't seem to put this piece down. Trick or Treat from Randal Spangler, this Heaven and Earth Design was a piece I picked up as soon as I saw it. This was also my very first HAED... why I picked something with 88 pages was beyond me. This will be up again for Magical Stitches so I am sure it will be a staple for each month.

Next up for a very short period of time.. This really should have already been completed and will hopefully make it to the FO pile this month. Happy Halloween from Lakeside Needlecraft for some reason I lost it with this piece but its so close to a finish, I'll find some homework this month I can stick it in and just be done with it..

I worked on the Snow Queen for a little bit. This is going to be a Christmas Present this year so I really need to move on it or I'll stress out. I did make some great progress on her. I worked on her in both months and will be coming out again in April.

I needed something with vines for a homework assignment. I didn't realize that I did so much backstitching but I made some AMAZING Progress because of it. Amazing Grace is one of the hymns I love so very much. It is beautiful and bring me to tears in a matter of seconds. With my Mother in Law passing last year I couldn't even look at it. She finally came out of hiding for almost two years. I am hoping to put this on my finish list this year too. That list just seems to GROW.. I wished I had a b better before photo but this is it

I worked on my Christmas Sleigh and really got some great progress on this also. I honestly can't remember much more of for what reason it came out but it did.. They say the mind is the first thing to go. I am thinking I can put this in rotation a few more times and it will be ready for Krenik and Beads.

The Guardians made a debut again and I am also thinking this one is so close and it's so amazing to get so many stitches on this piece. I really enjoy it every time it comes up. This will probably make another appearance in April also and If I get another great push like in January this could a finish very soon.

I think that is about all that I've done over the last few months. I will work on my weekly or even monthly updates better.. I have devised a plan.. We will see if I can stick to anything these days.

Happy Stitching
Carey

January 2020 WIPocalypse Update

I started this year out with a huge start but a wonderful piece that has been in my stash since the first post I saw.  I purchased the fabric (I am not a fan, I knew I should have stuck with something I knew and loved, but I used what I purchased because I didn't want to buy another piece) this is my inner penny pitcher telling me to suck it up..

I know this post is about my WIPS but technically she is my WIP now 😀.  I've had this in my stash for a little while.  Someone along the way (I think several someones) has enabled me because I've seen her in all her beauty.  So of course I purchased her a couple of years ago and jumped on board this year.

The Raven Queen from Mirabilia has been a project I've wanted to start and for some reason she spoke to me this year.  New Year New Start in many groups this year and she was the chosen one.  In one of the groups the challenge's is to finish her in six months.  This is totally doable and she will take some time but I need to put her in rotation often. So first of February she should be up again for a while and I'm sure for some magical stitches too.

Christmas in London was up next, I don't have a rotation except I can't work on things more than 7 days.. I usually do a Monday - Sunday if I feel like I really want to get progress done.. I usually change out sooner because my stitchy bugs usually looses speed about day 5.  But I have really wanted to stitch on this one and I've enjoyed the past 7 days with Christmas in London.  I lost her for about a year so it was very nice to work on it again..  I used this piece in many stitchy groups.  I managed to stitch 2,293 for this Month.. I consider this a huge WIN!!

The next piece up would be Guardians of Notre Dame by Ingleside Imaginariums.  This was a SAL in 2018 and as usual I fell behind and didn't finish when everyone else probably did.  This happens with every SAL I do.. so lately I've just stopped doing them, but when I saw this one happening I jumped on board and I LOVE this piece.  I did manage some major progress on this one this month also.  I spent 6 nights stitching on this piece and managed a total of 3,195 stitches.. This piece blew my mind when I just kept going.  I am hoping i can do another week like this and I will be close to a finish for sure. 

I changed to Santa's Sleigh next from Nora Corbett I got discouraged quickly but managed to stay with it. I frogged most of what I stitched in the beginning.. Now if you read my introduction, you already know I usually fold this neatly up and put it back where it came from.. Especially this time, I was literally one stitch to far off and it ruined the WHOLE sled.. I probably would have put it away but I was working on Semi Sane Stitchers group and it was where someone picked your WIP for you.. and this was the winner so I had to keep moving along.. What I learned is I felt better when I did this because I got it corrected and I made progress so I was super happy about it.. I did feel like I could have done a lot more, but the frog said NO!.. Total stitches for the Sleigh 2066 so not all hope was lost. 

This next project I wanted to have finished for 2019 but that didn't happen.. The Frog came at me in full force and I had to tear apart 90% of the top as I had failed to calculate the name right.. I was very upset and I did put this one away for a while until now, this piece really needs to be done. I did manage to finish all the stitches before 2020 but I was way to burned out to even think about doing anything else to it.. I guess this will be a February Finish and hopefully sewn up and on its way to his final home.  I did spend about 5 days on this and back stitching was crazy but I managed to get half of it done.  

Dasher from Nora Corbett made its new start debut.  Now considered a WIP right 😏 I did have a great time with this piece.. I did however have to frog again because this piece was also one spot off and I couldn't fix it until I ripped it out.. dang frog needs to leave me alone next month because I can't handle anymore frogging..  I am loving this piece and like the previous one I am sure I will enjoy it until its over.  I don't see this one lasting long either.. I will have to put the order in for his beads shortly I'm sure. Spent 6 days and prob one day frogging but I did managed 1127 stitches to help with my WIPGO board and of course many other stitch groups including Choose my WIP.  

Last but not least for sure was my Snowy Owl from Mill Hill.. I've wanted to do this for a long time now and finally pulled it out and worked on it.. This was on my list for 2020 as a focus piece because I have so many larger projects it will be nice to finish a smaller one..  I also needed this for a SAL because it needed to have a button on it.. and the moon is a button.  This was an easy 300 stitches, I will be happy to see this piece again and work on it some more. 

So the questions this month was what SALs am I participating in different SAL groups.. This month I was in our Magical Stitches group the Wilderness Lodge and there has been so much happening between weekly assignments and monthly extra credit not to mention the insane yearly challenges.. I'm stitching my little heart out for sure.. This group has helped me really complete a lot of things and works really well with my type of changes.. Semi Sane Stitchers was alot of fun this year.. I just joined and really enjoyed January.. We had the Choose my WIP, Serial Stitcher and several others I enjoyed doing.. I've also enjoyed Celtic Stitches, they have some monthly stitchy goals also.. I am probably missing someone but those are the group SAL's I'm in.. As for other SALs well I am trying hard not to join unless I see something I can't live without.. 

I sure hope everyone had an amazing Stitchy Month and let your needles be swift and your stitches be wonderful.. Have a great month all and hope to see everyone's progress in February.  

Happy Stitching Carey

January WIPocalypse 2020 Plans

I've always found this part the hardest part of starting anything..  Introduction!!!  I am seriously laughing at myself right now.. (happens when I am nervous)  I think first I should state I am:  

A Serial Starter..  Not so much a Serial Finisher 😏

I love to make big plans and finish none!

I love to stitch in groups of Facebook people (have not done it in real life) and fall off the face of the earth for a month or so, and then jump right back in.

Ogle over everyone else's progress and put it in my cart, destine to be in my stash I'll never start but I have it and that is all that matters.

I have more haul than I could ever finish.

I have more WIPS than most and I can only work on any given project between 5-7 days.  I then need to switch it up or I can't stitch anymore.  I think this is the reason I start so many new projects.

I don't have a project I haven't had to frog.  If its a large mess I will put it back in the packaging until I am faced with ripping it apart to start over again.  Another reason I might have so many new starts.  

I think that I've ran out of stitching related things about me.  As soon as I post this I am sure I will find more about me that I forgot all about.  I do have a wonderful family, I have an awesome husband who enables me often to purchase more, and four daughters and one grandson.  Recently my oldest daughter has taken up Cross Stitching so I am excited to watch her journey also.  I've been Cross Stitching since I was 14 years old and then dropped off the face of the earth for about 20 years or so (heck it is prob more like 30) and raised my girls by myself till my amazing husband came along.  We both retired from the Military and now we are pursuing our dreams (I have not figured out what they are just yet, I have many).  My husband is currently in school finishing up his education as a gunsmith, and my 3rd daughter is getting ready to graduate high school this year.  I am sure this is about to get a bit crazy this year, but I will hold on as they never get any slower the older I get.  I feel like I already wrote a novel about myself.

As I stated before I always make LOFTY goals for myself and this year in 2020 is no different. 

2020 Stitching Goals

1. Trick Or Treat (HAED) - Randal Spangler 
• Goal is to finish at least 6 pages in 2020, I would like more but I will go with 6
2. The Raven Queen (New Start) - Mirabilia 
• Finish by June
3. Amid Amish Life (L) I've worked the middle and would love to finish the side
• Finish end of the year. 
4. Amid Amish Life (R)
• Finish end of the year
5. Christmas In London - Mirabilia
• This was a focus piece for 2019 but she was missing 90% of the year so this year she is my focus piece and hopefully hanging for Christmas 2020
6. Blitzen - Nora Corbett 
• A new Start for 2020 but would love to have two reindeer on my fabric.
7. Cupid or Commet will be next 
• another new start for 2020 and hoping to finish by end of 2020
8. Santa's Sleigh - Nora Corbett
• Hoping to have this one finished by June 2020
9. Guardians of Norte Dame -  Ingleside Imaginarium's this was 2018 SAL
• Would actually love to finish a SAL 😅
10. Christmas at Home - Lakeside Needlecraft
• Another SAL I never finished 
11. Class Schedule - Aramda Designs 
• Again another SAL I never finished
12. Snow Queen 
• This is going to be a Christmas Present and on my radar to finish for then.. I am hoping for an August/September finish 

So as you can see I have some lofty goals for 2020.  What is worse is this is not my only hobby 😂 I have so many hobbies and never enough time that is for sure.  So if you like stick around I am hoping to post weekly and see how I do with getting my projects complete, Cross Stitch and all.

I did manage to get started on my New Year New WIP

The Raven Queen came out and jumped on my frame.  I really enjoyed stitching her and I can't wait to get back to her. 

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

December WIPocalypse Last Update of 2019

I've been looking back on this year 2019 and realized between all of the SAL's or I should say Facebook groups and WIPocalypse I've gone above and beyond my stitching goals.. I have not completed what I set out to complete BUT I have done way more stitching, since I've been challenged than I ever thought possible.  I've finished a few pieces (two were focus pieces for 2019) and a few of them were just there to complete and it was a very enjoyable stitching year.

With those statements above brings us to the questions of the month.  Recap your accomplishments for the year! Your finishes (your final before and after etc!) - this won't take me long because I didn't have a ton of finishes this year but I did finish a few larger items and so excited to show them to you..


Donner from Nora Corbett started stitching in May 2018 and was a Maynia Start.. this was my first Maynia so I was just having fun with it and starting anything I could.  At the time I didn't have the beads or Krenik but in March I completed him.  He took a trip to Alaska to watch my grandson come into the world.  My first finish of 2019

Next finish was a quick one and one I should have finished shortly after starting. .lol.. Lizzy Kate Dear Santa.. Another March Finish. 

Sleepy Hollow from Glendon Place - this was an enablers piece.  I can't remember where I saw it.. I'm sure it was a flosstuber or a Maynia post because at the time I didn't fully catch onto other Facebook pages.. I dove face first and couldn't wait to start it.. Sleepy Hollow was a last start of 2017, stitched on 28 ct cashel linen from PTP called Haunted.  This is not FFO'd yet but will be soon.  I can't wait to hang it because I am so in love with this piece.  This was a focus piece for 2019 and completed it in May. 

Amid Amish life - this was a focus piece for me for 2019.  I felt it was a bit over kill but it was a piece I wanted to see a lot of progress on.  Then some Magical Stitches put me into high gear, I used this piece so much I completed it in October and I am so pleased.. now to complete I can now focus on the two sides and have a fully completed pattern..

Not a finish for 2019 and won't be finished probably until 2030 BUT I did feel like I got so much done this year.. My Trick or Treat HAED really got a lot of love this year..  This was a focus piece for me too but I didn't get as much done as I wanted to get done.  Many things happened and I didn't get a chance to work on it as much as I really wanted to.. Trust me there will be some very LOFTY Goals in 2020.

I've been working on my Dimensions Stocking for most of December and I guess the real questions is did I get it Finished before Christmas and in the mail?  The answer is No but I did get it stitched.  I need to back stitch and finish it to send it off but I am very happy with it.  

As I look back at 2019 it was not a bad stitchy year.  I did enjoy many things I did this year and have accomplished so much.. I am hoping for a much busier 2020 and more finishes.  I sure hope everyone else had an amazing 2019 and to a very stitchy 2020.