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.

Spring weather and sickness

I was excited for April to begin.  The key word there "was"

Oh my goodness!! Did April start off with a bang..

I decided to start on my health and start eating right and try to figure out what is going on with my body as I am aging.  I started eating good proteins and fruits and veggies.  Trying very hard to get my water intake on a daily (this was a struggle).  I will continue.. but there was MORE!

I also started on Monday my couch to 5k to add some exercise into my schedule and I really enjoyed it on Monday.  The weather was amazing but a bit chilly.  The weather is starting to turn to a wonderful spring temperatures and I am enjoying it so much. This time in Alaska the weather is still windy and a bit cold but you still get outside and enjoy whatever you can. 

Tuesday was a different day all together.. I started feeling not so well by the afternoon and Wednesday was it.. I was down for the count, I couldn't breath and enjoy anything.  I didn't even feel like stitching.. Yes! You heard me correct.. I did manage a few stitches between sleep and medication, but not as much as I would have loved to do. 

So I put a few stitches in my Trick or Treat from Heaven and Earth Design.  I am enjoying it this past week as I can see another page finish now that I'm on the mend I can stitch in the morning before work.   I don't have a current photo so next week I can update that.


My focus piece for the year is my Sleepy Hollow and let me tell you I did get some work done on it when I was awake..  I can see the finish line coming into site.  I am going to miss this piece but I am really excited to actually have a finish this year that I meant to finish.  I believe another great week on this and It will be complete.  The best part is yet to come.. BEADS!!!!

I think the progress on this piece has made my sickness bearable..

I also got out on Sunday and took photos of some birds as the weather here has been so amazing and beautiful.  I got some great walks in on Sat.  I'll post some photos soon as I enjoy taking photos and I also just love nature.. Its about to go insane here with birds coming back and wildlife just roaming.. This excites me so much.. And spring means that all the animals are going to start having little ones... How cool..

Enjoy your stitching time.. I hope you have some wonderful stitching moments and enjoy each day.  Breathe in and out and enjoy the wonderful things that we have.  Until next time...

March 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.

Oh My what a busy month this has been.  I feel extremely productive this month.  First let’s start off with the Question of The Month:

What newer designers and product creators (fabric or floss dyeing, etc) out there have you discovered and recommended?

This is a great question because I am new to fabric dying and floss dyeing.  In only the last year have I jumped feet first into fabric rabbit hole, and oh my have I become the hoarder now.  I will admit I have used most of what I have purchased and tried to keep it to purchase fabric with a purpose.  It's worked well for me.  I have used Picture this Plus and Fiberlious.  I have also subscribed to them because I love that I have no idea what I am going to get but as soon as I get it I find something perfect for it.  I have seen some Etsy stores but I have yet to jump.  I am sure they are wonderful too.  As for floss I again just used my first hand dyed floss in my Sleep Hollow from Glendon Place but it wasn't the last piece that required it.  Oh my how the floss is so soft and amazing.  It makes it almost hard to use DMC after using the beautiful hand dyed floss.  I am excited to use more and start an even larger project with more floss and other wonderful new things to do.  As for Designers I think I discover them like many others, through enabling or from Stitch Maynia which is another enabling force..lol 

Well onto Stitching updates..  I think this was one of the greatest months of stitching that I've had in a long time.  I have some great progress and a few finishes also.  So let the parade begin!!

The first few days of the month I worked on my Trick or Treat Heaven and Earth Design by Randal Spangler.  I really didn't have the urge to get into my WIP pile so I just kept stitching.  Everyone should know this is out all the time so if I get even 15 minutes I put a few stitches in.  I did get a lot done on it this month.  Maybe April will have another page finish?  If you notice the first photo is where I started beginning of the month and yes It's upside down.. Its because this is a very large piece and I have a hard time getting my arm in the center so someone suggested I stitch upside down.  It took a few minutes to get the hang of it.. BUT it works and makes stitching much easier. 

I feel wonderful that I can see a steeple and the next few pages are blue and the bottom are full of confetti and crazy.  It takes a lot of time and concentration for a 100 stitch block to have 25 or more colors in it.. but I will make it through.  Again as I've said before this is one of my 2019 Focal pieces.  It is my goal to get to the end of this row.  I think it is totally possible at the moment.. 

The next in my rotation was Sleepy Hollow from Glendon Place.  This is another focal piece for 2019 and again I feel this will make my complete list before the end of the year.  This is the first piece my husband told me he loved and he gets all up in my stitching space when I have this out.  I also made great progress this month.  It did get seven days, I wished these days were all days but mostly one hour at a time.  Top was before and I posted some of the back stitching because it really brings this piece to life.  Also this is my first piece I used hand dyed floss on and I was in love with it.

The next project I pulled out of my magic box of WIPS was Donner from Nora Corbett.  I remember seeing Mrs. O' So Crafty stitching this on flosstube and was sold.  I have decided to stitch all of them on one piece of fabric and the sleigh and Rudolph separate.  This was not a focal piece this year but ended up being a finish.  One thing everyone should know is I've never stitched beads before and I am in Love.. Thank you to all who have posted how to do it either on floss tube or otherwise.  I can't remember who to thank because I think I watched several.  Another reason why the community is so amazing, sharing knowledge is so awesome and encouraging.  So here is where I left off In January when I was waiting for my Grandson. and of course the finish. I did only work on this for Five days.  This left time for other projects.. I love it!!

My First Bead

After this amazing finish I got finish fever and thought heck I really need to do this again!!.. Well I got my wish.  I started this Lizzy Kate piece over a year ago and should have been done way before now, but it got lost in the WIP pile and never saw daylight until now.  Another finish took me one day but I'm claiming it. 

So I got to stitch on another WIP this month.  I was also going for a finish but I will say if I didn't go to the Lancaster Quilt Show I would have managed another finish.  I am a person who has a hard time working on a project more than seven days.  I get bored and just don't want to stitch on it anymore.  This was hard because Its so close to a finish.  This is Quotes to Live By from Stitchrovia.  I love everything about it including the fabric I purchased from Heaven and Earth Designs.  I didn't think I would like it.  I purchased if or a different piece and hated it.  I didn't know anything about fabric at the time and just bought whatever BIG MISTAKE!!! I will have to look at the tag when I get a chance to remember exactly what it is.  But here is my progress

I did have to change some colors of the back stitching or scroll work because it just blended right in but I think it turned out well.  I can't wait to purchase the rest to get this done.

So Challenge was to stitch everyday in March and I've completed that.  I keep track in my bullet journal and its so nice to see at the end of the month what I've worked on and stitched on.  What I've finished and so on... 

Focusing on April I've already pulled out my Sleepy Hollow again and ready to put some days into that one.  I am also working on giving my sewing some time also.  So each week I am going to do a rotation of  three days of sewing and 4 days of cross stitch and then switch.  I am not sure what else will be on my list for April but I would like to be more organized for next month.. I'm not holding my breathe. 

My Stitch From Stash this month was ok too.. needed some fabric for Maynia and going to learn to dye my own soon so we will see how that goes. 

Stitch From Stash March
Balanced Forwarded			$    33.23
Spending Limit		$    25.00	$    58.23
Finishes
Donner - Nora Corbett		$    12.00	$    70.23
Dear Santa - Lizzy Kate		$       5.00	$    75.23
Purchases
Stoney Creek - Monthly free sampler and fabric		$    14.25	$    60.98
5 Stockings purchased from Facebook		$    40.00	$    20.98
Hobby Lobby Fabric		$    45.97	$  (24.99)

Happy Stitching Everyone.  I hope April brings you tons of Joy and lots of sun too..

January WIPocalypse

I usually have a problem with the few weeks after Christmas.  All decorations get put away and the house seems a bit empty and everyone starts back in the routine of the home.  I don't have a problem with routine but this year I got to spend more time with my family and that was very nice.  I found the somber of regular routine this year.  With that being said I've gotten back into a routine of my stitching and into a great rotation.  I have found myself really the last few months just concentrating on my Trick or Treat Heaven and Earth Design and still enjoying it every day.  With the new year I need to get back on track again.  I miss changing out projects and seeing all the progress a few days can make.

Trick or Treat I found myself finishing another line in Page 3 which makes me so happy.  I am also using this project for Celtic Stitching parade, count those stitches and trying to make great progress. I'm also stitching Halloween all year long and this is a piece I'm using for that. I really wanted to work on my Mira but for some reason she has found a place in my house and is hiding, I'm scared because I can't find her and I really wanted to stitch on her this week but my next focal piece is my Sleepy Hollow from Glendon Place so that went on my scroll instead but progress on any project is progress.  I will have to try again to find my Christmas In London because she will be up next or I'll have to change my rotation all over again.

So here is my Trick or Treat HAED before and after I have felt I made lots of progress on this piece in January mind you I didn't stitch the lat month because I flew home to Alaska to welcome a new addition.  Surprise at the end.

This was my progress by the end of the month or should I say until we left for Alaska.  I did think about this the whole time but I had important things to do. 

While I couldn't find my Christmas in London I did stitch for two weeks on my Sleepy Hollow.  I honestly found myself not being able to put this down and Enjoyed stitching on it.  I can actually see some decent progress and also can see the ending of it.  This is great because this is a focal piece this year and would love to finish it before the end of the year or Halloween and have it hanging up would be a plus.

I did bring three projects with me on my trip to Alaska and I really only work on one while I was here.  Donner from Nora Corbett made its debut again.  This WIP was a 2018 Maynia start and I really have only worked on it a few times since then.  I've made huge strides on this piece and if I would have had a needle to do beading I would have started that too.  Next month I have put it in rotation for a finish in February.

The big celebration (was supposed to be in January) was the arrival of my Grandson Declan Mathew Mackenzie.  He arrived on Feb 2 @ 12:20 in the morning and I will say not a moment to late since Meme is getting on a flight to go home later that day.  My daughter past her due date on baby #1 so we had no idea when Baby D was going to make his appearance.  I did have a one on one conversation with this young man and he didn't disappoint.  The problem with this trip is I got really sick so no kisses only looking at him and I got to hold him.

QOM: This is usually a long winded one I see a SAL someone is doing and I usually jump in feet first but this year I searched and I honestly didn't see anything I really had to do.  So for traditional stitch alongs I have not done any but for motivation I've joined other groups that help keep you motivated like Celtic Stitches they have kept me motivated by doing little contests and have really pushed me to get a lot of work done.   When Maynia has a SAL that works with my WIPS I jump feet first.  I will do Maynia again this year but so far this month has been jam packed with adventure and tons of stitching.  Till next month Happy Stitching