October WIPocalypse Update

Where have the last few months gone.. I've missed August, September and now October has flown by and I've not been able to post.  I've always believed family comes first and then the rest just falls into place.  Earlier in August my husband had a scare and was hospitalized for High Blood Pressure and some strain on his heart.. That took us all for a roller coaster ride and the scare is still there but we are aware of it and I think that makes a huge difference.

I also started back to work in August and my stitching was even more depleted with two jobs, kids etc.  Still back to work and not working the second job as much, so I got to stitch a few things.  Then the dreaded phone call from your family.. My mom was in the hospital in October for Quad Bypass and that took its toll on our family.  She is doing much better but plans have changed and things didn't get done.  I am blessed to get to spend time with my mom.

Then the holiday season BAM!!! right in your face.. how does this all happen so quickly.

So I did get to stitch on many little projects for Magical stitches but I didn't write it down because when you have situation you just miss a few things.. I can't even remember what I did.  But in the last few months I did have some Amazing finishes..

I did get a page finish in on my Trick or Treat HAED.  I was just re-evaluating this piece and I am pretty sure that I will not get all the things completed that I wanted to get done by the end of the year.  I have a piece I need to work on and might try to finish before Christmas and will be taking a majority of my time between now and then so I am pretty positive that I won't get that goal completed but there is always next year.  But here is the page finish and maybe I can sneak another one in by end of December.

One that I've had on my scroll frames and I refused to take it off until I had all the back stitching done is my Amid Amish Life.  She is complete with all the bells and whistles.  I am very proud of this one, I've wanted to do this piece for about 20+ years now and I've finally made at least one of the three a completed project.  I have the other two pieces as WIPS at the moment and next year they will be in rotation and on my list to complete in 2020.

I will say this is all I have folks and I've enjoyed updating this because it feels like forever since I've done it.

Have a great day and enjoy your stitching moments when you get them.
Carey
thepatientstitcher

July Update WIPocalypse

Beginning of the month turned out as a slow starter.  I've been busy with school work and family home visiting so something just fall and just pick them up when you get a chance to breath.

I'm in a group for Magical Stitches on Facebook and honestly it's a great group of people and encouragement is awesome.  I think also the different assignments (homework) encourage you to stitch more and to stitch forgotten pieces that might be at the bottom of the WIPS that have not seen a frame in a while.

This piece is one of those pieces.  I started this in Maynia 2018 and did that day to start the stitches and has not seen any since that day.  Not that I don't love it just other pieces have taken up some extra time.  This was also not a focus piece for me this year but I did need to find a piece I have not worked on in five months or oldest WIP this is prob not my oldest WIP but its been a long time since i've worked on it.  I got another 300 stitches into this piece so more progress is great progress.  I might try to fit it into some other homework this month. I didn't manage to find another spot to put more stitches into it but I am sure I will work on it again soon.  It was fun to work on and a beautiful piece also.

I did manage to finish the outline and the 1 of 9 patterns for Quotes to Live by from Stitchrovia.  I've enjoyed this piece so much and can't wait to work on the others. 

I also worked on another piece that has not been out in a while as I've gotten frustrated with how my stitches were coming out and I totally tossed it and restarted.  I am super happy with the fabric choice and my stitches in this piece now.  Marauder's Map is just another piece that eventually I'll put up in my craft room.  I love Harry Potter and this is the perfect piece for me to enjoy.

I did get at least 2500 stitches into my Amid Amish Life and it brought it to and end.  Not a complete finish but I will say when all you have the backstitching to do you feel very accomplished.  I am going to do 30 minutes each day to see how much backstitching I can get done.

I did get to work on two Heaven and Earth Designs this month.  I used one for Magical Stitches Homework and needed some pink for Professor Umbridge's favorite color.  It was a very light pink but what was great is I finished a full line at the top of the page and again an accomplishment that stitches finally went into this piece.  I started this in 2018 and have not touched it since then.

Trick or Treat also finally came back out as I did have a page finish a few months ago and when I have a page finish I usually feel exhausted with a piece.  I did feel a bit guilty that I put it in my closet and didn't even look at it.  I did get it back out and have stitched at least 2000 stitches this month and I am beyond excited about the progress I've made on it.  My goal for this piece was to have it done all the way across which is 8 pages.  I still believe i can make this happen but I do need to keep at it.  I will post a fuller view when I finish this page up.

WIPocalypse Question of the Month: How do you get yourself out of a stitching drought?

I will say I've not been in a drought the last few years.  I did have to take a break when I moved but I did bring stitching with me so I could do it when I had downtime.  I didn't stitch as much as I thought I would.  My last drought lasted over 20+ years and I hope to never have that happen to me again.  I did raise four girls and had a 21+ year military career I am not sure I had a whole lot of time.  When I get a feeling of not stitching I do go to You tubers and they always seem to inspire me and I get a patter and start stitching.  I also try to stitch at least 30 minutes a day.  Its my Zen!  

Have a happy Stitchy month.  I hope August isn't to hot for everyone and you get so much time to relax and enjoy your projects.  

Carey

April 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.

The beginning of the month started out working on a few projects.  As everyone knows if I can work on Trick or Treat from Randal Spangler I would be complete.  I can't work on it all the time or I would be burnt out.  Somehow; I do manage to stitch on this piece more than I ever expected and I thinks its because I've seen so much progress on it and its coming to life with every stitch.  I worked on this for 18 Days this month, and when I say 18 days if I put a single stitch in this piece I say I worked on it 😏.  When starting this month I was unsure of where I would be by the end of the month but to my surprise 2200 stitches went into her this month.  I am so happy with the progress I've made.  A page finish was a bit of a stretch but in the end that is exactly what i got and i'm tickled pink.

While I was working on my Trick or Treat I've also been double dipping! I worked on my Sleepy Hollow from Glendon Place.  This as you already know is one of my focus pieces this year to complete.  I will say after this month Sleepy Hollow will be in the finish pile next month and hopefully off to the framers shortly afterwards.  I have enjoyed getting the last little details done on this.  Back stitching took forever and there was a lot of it. I still need to work on beading, back stitching and some krenik but its so close to complete its scary and exciting.  

Another double dipper and sometimes a triple stack for a few days was one of my all time favorites Amid Amish Life.  This has really been one piece that just takes me back to when I first saw this.  I am glad its on my WIP list and also on my focus list this year.  It was really nice to stitch on this again.  I've found the love I have for it.  It's nice to see projects that have not seen the light of day for a long time and then you stitch on them and don't want to put them down at all. 

A WIP I've not taken out in a very long time is the Guardians of Notre Dame.  Its crazy to see such and amazing piece of history go up in flames.  I will keep this on my bucket list but I think its awful to watch such a tragedy.  I started this WIP in 2018 and kept up until month three and then I was packing a house and trying to move so stitching was not on my mind for many months 😒. I wished I would have kept up with this SAL because all finished pieces are so stunning.  When I started this piece I instantly thought of a clock and I've seen finished ones and love them.  Totally still a clock when its finished.   Not a focus piece for 2019 but it will come out again soon.  I did manage at least 800 stitches on this piece because of magical stitches that needed to be completed..

Another piece I decided to pull out for 100 stitches but will see again I think because I enjoyed it again.  It is a piece I started in Maynia 2018 and have not touched it since.  This is how the story goes for a lot of things in my life.  I hope to find more time for it in the future.  This is called Silver Belle Run.  This is my first piece like this and look forward to working on it again.  I did only put 100 stitches but 100 stitches closer to a finish right!

Another piece I did start in Maynia 2018 is Old World Map.  This piece has been speaking to me for a while but the first photo is the Continental Stitch or Tent Stitch.  I did use two threads and did give it a lot of time but the thickness is not my style so I scrapped it and started in the middle of the fabric and works in a different area.  So I am still working on it and is still a WIP! I am also still in love with this one too. 

Question of the Month: Talk to us about your longest-running WIP or UFO.

So far I do have one that is my longest running WIP it is a lighthouse I started in early 2000.  I've been looking through all my things to finally find it and finish it.  I've manage to not loose the book and I've seen it a few things when I've packed and unpacked but living in such a small space and a storage unit its lost again.  I really don't have a huge story about it but when I was in the Coast Guard lighthouses are apart of our history and I thought they were amazing.  Soon I will finish this piece and make me happy to display it.  

I hope this finds your needles speedy and your stitchy bug just going crazy.  I know this is late but April was a great month for me.  I am not sure May will be as prosperous but I hope a few stitches will happen. 

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.

April Showers Brings May Flowers

The title is a bit deceiving because we have had some beautiful weather until Friday came along.  All week was amazing.. I got to run three days this week so that made me feel fantastic, three more than the last time I actually tried to do the couch to 5k.  Weather changed on Friday with pouring down rain and thunder and lightning... oh my favorite things to hear and watch.  One of these days I will photograph it but for now I'll admire.

Recently I've joined a stitching group called Magical Stitches.  I've already got myself on a fantastic rotation but man I will say when I am faced with a challenge or in the case "homework" I really work my tail off.

I ran Monday and cooked and cleaned and sat and let me tell you, I told my husband "I'm not stopping till I hit 500 stitches" well we watched The Voice and guess what I got 500 stitches on my Trick or Treat HAED and I did that three more times this week.. I am very pleased with what I got accomplished.. Before and After   I might be able to make a page finish happen by the send of April. 

This week a focus piece was Amid Amish Life from Cross Stitch & Country Crafts July/August 87 Issue.  I've always loved this pattern but when It came out I was in no place to do it.  I found these issues at a second hand store and quickly retrieved them and started them right away.  I can see this being finished this year and is a focus for the year.  I will continue to work on it this next week to see if I can get further along.. I am trying to work this into some Magical Stitches and did make 500 stitches in this piece this week.  Very happy with my progress on this piece. 

Last year when we moved from Alaska to Pennsylvania I was missing my flowers and my flower gardens and you name it.  One thing you don't know about me is that I love gardening.  I missed it and as soon as it started getting warmer I was in the store ready to start planting.   Here is my porch and a photo of one of our flowers we planted.  Oh one other thing is I absolutely love photography and enjoy seeing things through a different perspective. 

Some of you have seen photos of my grandson but recently my daughter came to visit and my grandson is here visiting.  How can a grandmother stitch when she is holding her grandbaby?  I've been enjoying having them and watching him grow up is so amazing.  He is talking up a storm and smiling all the time.  This was the first time he fell asleep in my arms... I've loved having them around.. I will soak up as much as I can because I know they will leave soon. 

                                                

I've enjoyed my stitchy week!! I hope your week was productive and full of stitchy goodness.  I hope next week something inspires you and you are out of stitchy control.. 

HAPPY STITCHING

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..