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

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

May WIPocalypse Update

                    

                                                        

           WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

Each month we have to share projects we want to complete that might just be sitting in our WIP piles for way to long.

Honestly I am unsure where May went.  So much has gone on this month that its a blur.  Maynia started, my husband started his schooling and I started my summer vacation and started my other job and started online classes.  A lot has happened in a short month.  I am sure I will have plenty of WIPS for next year as I started fifteen new ones, I wanted this to be more but in the end fifteen was enough. I have not gone through all my WIPS as of yet but will do that before the end of summer so I know exactly how many I have (I am not sure I really want to know) Well enough about me lets see what actually happened this month.  

Question of the month was where do I love to shop for my stash.  Personally I love to shop everyone else's.  If I find something I like I have no problem rehoming to my stash.  I do love 123 Stitch and my wish list is longer than anything I will ever be able to complete.  Fabric has become more enhanced as my taste have changed over the years and I guess I've become more of a fabric snob.  I love to yard sale and hope I come across a massive haul, but have yet to find that.  I just enjoy collecting and dreaming of stitching it.  

I didn't work on many WIPs this month but I did get a few in.  I started this for Maynia 2018 and as you can see I didn't get very far.  I believe this was taken out for Magical Stitches.  Stitch on a project that I had not seen in at least six months.  How about 12?  Well, I enjoy stitching on this and hopefully it comes to light again soon.

This project has been in my WIP list a while.  I have no idea why I start Stitch alongs and I can't keep up with them something else grabs my attention and then I'm off on another project.  But I still love this project and hope to get back to it soon. 

I did get one more project in before the last project stole the whole month away from me.  This one was started a while back also but I needed to stitch blue stitches and I got to pull this one out and add a couple of hundred stitches before it got put back again. 

As I already told you I did have a lot of new starts but the most exciting news in my opinion is a finish.  Sleepy Hollow didn't go back into my WIP pile.  I couldn't stand putting it back and really used most of may to finish it.  I actually miss stitching on this piece but can't wait to get money saved so I can get this framed and hung on my wall.  So here he is and all his glory.

I hope this finds everyone had a wonderful stitchy month.  I hope you have had wonderful adventures with the needles working overtime.  Until next month may you find the time to enjoy the little things in life.

Carey

Oh How Time Flies when your having fun!!

I am not sure where this week went but it flew by.  There is so much going on I am not sure where to begin.

As you all are aware, I started eating a bit healthier and started my couch to 5k.. This week was a bit harder than the previous, but I did it.. I had to run two days in a row and managed it this weekend.  I hope the weather this week was nicer than last week so I don't do my runs back to back.  I really despise running but I will tell you this, I've found that when I run I can let the world just go away.  I don't think about my college work, kids, work in general.  Its the only time I can be inside my own head and not thinking about anything else.  I really believe this is why I keep going.  We will see if week 3 is any good 😁

I had a photo shoot with a beautiful young lady who is graduating Penn State University this year.  She has accomplished so much in the short time she has been here.  She gives many so much inspiration that I was very excited to enjoy some company with her.  These were taken by my phone but should only tell you that even better ones are on the way.  I have a few that I am very much in love with.

My husband and I went to Geo Cache but his knee isn't doing so well so we drove around and found a very amazing place literally in our back yard.  We live near a town called Boalsburg PA.  This place is the founder of Memorial Day.  It has so much history and so much military background, we were impressed and had a great time looking around.  Here are just a few of the photos I took.


But I am sure you didn't come here to hear about all the things I did all week.. I will say this week I was super impressed with how much stitching I got done.  I have been trying very hard to get some old WIPS done and YES!!! I started a new one.

First part of the week I was working on my Trick or Treat HAED because it fit many of my homework assignments for Magical Stitches on Facebook.  I believe this past week I got 800+ stitches in and I am going for a page finish by the end of the month.  Lets hope so because I need money in my Stitch from Stash budget.

Pulling out a very old favorite of mine, that worked for a lot of Magical homework also. Amid Amish Life from the Cross Stitch and Country Crafts magazine in 1987.  I remember this pattern when it was released and I loved it so much but never stitched it, then I gave the magazines away.  A few years (lets say about 25 years lol) later I found them again.  ALL three of them!! I was so delighted I started them almost instantly.  I did about 300 stitches or more on this piece and I remembered why I've loved it so much.  This is a focus piece this year so I am hoping to finish it. 

Another piece I have not picked out of the WIP pile in a very long time is my Guardians of Notre Dame.  It is awful with the fires that took place this past week.  It has always been a place I've wanted to visit.  I still will but it always breaks my heart when history is lost.  This pattern is done by Ingleside Imaginarioum's on Etsy.  This worked into a few projects for Magical Stitches.  It worked so well I actually got March done besides back stitching.  Now this is also on my radar now and I have to work on it more because it really is such an amazing stitch and I really love doing it. 

                                     

                                     

I purchased this a little bit ago and started it for Maynia 2018 and did nothing after that.  So I needed something (in my head) that reminded me of trains of Hogwarts.  Well it so happens in my stash I had one.. Got my 100 stitches in and my WIP saw the day of light again.  I really enjoyed working on it but not so much the fabric but Oh well.. I'll forget about that when its all done. Silver Belle Run is what this kit is called. 

                                                

                                               

You've all seen this one at least a dozen times but I couldn't help but bring it out and put some worthy stitches into it.  I did get a lot of the back stitching done and frame work and words.  Honestly if I get a chance to work on it this next week, I am hoping for a HUGE finish.. I have been so excited about this one since I've started it that I am giddy with excitement.  I might just have to rush this to the framers to get it done completely.  

                                               

I've really been waiting to start this.  I don't have all the floss but I have this fabric that I purchased from Hand Dyed by Stephanie.  I purchased this about a year ago and what do you know a project that fits the Snow Queen perfect.  This is a play on Frozen, the fabric is called frozen fractionals 28ct.  I did get my 100 stitches in for Magical Stitches lets visit the stores of Harry Potter.  I am not sure I did well at telling a story but I sure did try.  This will be a gift for a special young lady.  Not a focus piece this year but we will see how far I can get on it.  

This week to end the week I have been working on my Physics class also so I think when school starts full time I will be doing less stitching or less sleep.. I am thinking I am going to miss my stitching so sleep might suffer! 

I've also been reading Janet Evanovich  Turbo Twenty-Three.  I have always said if a book can make you laugh really hard out loud its worth the read.  I say with every book she has written, even if its predictable I find funny parts all through it.  So far until college starts I hope to finish this book and work my way in my TBR list.. So i've added another thing to my weekly posts..

Have a great stitchy week!! Even though I've posted this way farther than I anticipated.