2025 Introduction, Plans and life

 

Hi All that have come to the dungeon of literally everything stitching related. I love to Cross Stitch, Sew, Quilt, crochet and many other things as well. I could tell you all the things I don't do which would have been faster but this year I am planning on adding even more to the list of accomplishments. 

I've been stitching since I was 11 so that would be around 40 years, I did take a break while having children so that was well over 15 years and I didn't touch anything and the years really went by, so many new things came out while I was raising kids and cross-stitch became a huge hit all over again. It was amazing to see and honestly a bit overwhelming as well. 

I have some huge goals this year but if you have seen any of my stuff out there you will have already known I don't seem to have little project.  I have a few but many are way over the top. 

Goals for the year. 

I will be doing two WIPGO boards from Jessie Does Stuff. She has an facebook and youtube channel that explains it all. I have however gone a bit overboard this year.  I've not started many things over the last few years so my TBS (to be started) pile was way overflowing so I'm taking care of that.  I will be starting 25 New projects and spinning the wheel from 100 - 1000 stitches those projects will get. 

I'm also doing a Finished WIPGO board as well. Some of these are far behind a finish so I'll be working on them monthly to make sure they are done in 2025. I will say this is going to be a huge feat in itself but I'm super excited to hopefully have 25 finishes. Time will certainly tell. 

I will also participate in the stitch from stash because we all know that we do not need to totally spend each paycheck. (Said no one ever 😂).  This is a facebook group as well that Stephanie runs. It's amazing and can keep you on track if you fall off the wagon so what it brings you back to reality. 

One of the projects I've been working on for a VERY long time and will not be done in 2025 is my Trick or Treat HEAD by Randal Spangler charted by Heaven and Earth Designs.  You will see it a lot this year and excited to get some progress on this piece. 50% is a huge chunk to say I'll get to but it would be a pure delight if it happened. 

One last thing I am doing is stitching in every WIP I have.  I think I have close to 70 of them. I will be picking a few each month and spinning the wheel from 100 - 1000 to see how many stitches each WIP gets. I hope to get through two totes worth of projects. If I actually finish both totes I might go through them again. We will see, I feel just getting any stitches in those projects is amazing. 

Well here goes 2025 lets see how amazing she is going to be. 

Happy Stitching 

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

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..

Week with no name

This week has started out amazing to me.  Most don't know this but I've been wanting to go to school for many years for Meteorology, I'm still not there just yet but I did put in my application for Penn State University for the weather program that you can get online.  While I am working on other classes I need I figured I might as well do whatever I can before I get accepted and maybe I'll be one step ahead of the game.  Waiting is always the worst aspect of anything and I didn't know how long before I would know if I was accepted.  Well, Valentine's Day was amazing not only because it's the day of LOVE but I got my acceptance for the program I applied for.  I needed to wait a few days while the process took place but by the end of the week I was already enrolled for summer 2019.  Good by stitches and hello homework.  The only good news is I don't work summers so I think I can balance both.

Tuesday gave us all a snow day.  We received a good 8 inches of snow and a good 1/4 inch of ice on top of that.  I don't have any photos to give you but I think we all know what it looks like and I agree I believe the ground hog was way wrong.  I loved the snow day because I really got to enjoy almost a full day of stitching minus the normal things like housework and making dinner.

The rest of the week went quickly and I enjoyed stitching time and really enjoyed how far I got on my Trick or Treat.  I went with a huge goal this week but knew I couldn't make it but I love to try.

My goal was a page finish this week but I did have a lot of work that needed to be done.  However; I am impressed with the work that did get done and I know a page finish is on the books before the end of February.

I think I'll put in some stitches in the morning before work and work on my next project after work.

So here is my before and after.

A little something to brighten your week because he sure brightens mine.  Prince Declan is now two weeks old.  I can't wait for them to visit this summer so I can get as many snuggles as humanly possible.

I really hope you all enjoy your week.

Happy Stitching Everyone
Carey

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Can you believe it is 2018! It's here to stay and I have been looking forward to it for a while actually. I have been wanting to get into my cross-stitch more than ever and getting involved in challenges to keep the ideas fresh and enticing.  So far this year I have had three (yes, count them three) new starts and they were the ones I was most excited about.  I will share them with you because they are all I've worked on this past week.  

Last year I had seen Sleepy Hollow stitched up by a few people and I fell in LOVE with this design from Glendon Place.  They had a wonderful sale for Black Friday I believe and I dove straight in and purchased fabric and all the specialty items because I have no idea where to get all of them from.  So one stop shop worked great for me.  Not only was this an amazing transaction it was also the best shipping I've ever had.  When this arrived I showed everyone (no one cared lol) because I was shocked they also signed it for me too.  

I couldn't hold out till New Year's Day so this became my 2017 New Year's Eve Start.  I think I will make this a habit every year.   Stitched on 28ct Haunted Cashel Linen by Picture this Plus 2/2 and I have enjoyed the progress so far.  

This is in my rotation this week and I will be doing and update on Sunday (hopefully) or you can see my daily updates on my Instagram @thepatientstitcher.  I seem to update that often because it helps me keep track of everything I do.  It is really a great resource to remember when you start something. 

So this leads to my "Official" starts for 2018.  I happen to love the Facebook Stitch Maynia site because it fills my head with notions ill finish EVERYTHING I purchase or I need to buy it or I see someone stitching something and I have to have it.  Well, they also have these amazing SAL's that the admins have set up which makes my stitching even more eventful and really is up my alley when it comes to change and setting goals. 

I have written each of them down so I can challenge myself to do them all and even if I don't like some of them I can think outside the box and still participate.  So many of my projects fit into challenges set forth in the Stitch Maynia SAL's.

New Year Start was Christmas in London by Mirabilia.  I have been dying to stitch this since I purchased it last year.  Mind you I have seen so many people stitch Mermaids and many other things and I have had no desire to stitch beautiful dresses and tails.  This pattern took me by surprise and spoke to me so now I own her and we are in love stitching together.  Before the end of the year I purchased the beads and the Krenik to be able to finish her.  Mind you I have never done beading or Krenik I am still old school, I have no idea what I got myself into because the beads were OMG a lot.  Well just this past week my Stitchy Stash came in and I am going to enjoy this beautiful masterpiece. I worked on her for five days and I was happy with my progress thus far.  She will be back in rotation as soon as I hear from my stitch partner who also bought it because I was showing it off.  I would love to work in it together so we will see when she comes up again.  

I have told you that I recently started stitching again after about 20 years of not touching a dang thing.  I can't remember what exactly got me back into it but as I do with anything I dove in head first and started my stash up real good.  I do believe seeing the Heaven and Earth Designs got me back into it and I couldn't believe there was no back stitching or anything just plain ole cross stitch.  So of course I dove right in and purchased way to many that I will never get a chance to stitch but one never knows.  Right!?  For my HAED start I choose the Old World Map because my husband thought it was very beautiful.  So New Years Day I put in my first 200 stitches and I was more than elated with the progress.  This piece is a confetti heaven piece, not that I am loving that part but I am loving my progress.  I do only rotate my HEAD on weekends because that is when I seem to have more time to stitch but I think this one will be in a weekly rotation at least once a month because I love it that much.  This past weekend I put 1000 stitches in and I was excited to see a little cherub take form.  

I don't just stitch at home, I feel idle time is a bit boring so I also have a lunch project that I just keep at work and when I get a chance I work on it.  I have been working this one for a while now but it's slowly coming along.  Amid Amish Life was released in sections in Cross Stitch & Country Crafts in July/Aug 1987.  I had all of these magazines way back when but life throws you curve balls and I eventually got rid of everything.  This past summer I was in a second hand store reminiscing about all those cross stitch magazine I once had and this piece hit my heart again.  I bought all of those magazines and my love began once again.  I have been stitching this since summer and here is the progress I have made since then.  My goal is to finish this in 2018 so we will see how it goes. 

I feel like this post is going to take forever and I can't believe I have worked on so many projects since my last post but I'm not done.  I also worked on the Class Schedule SAL to hopefully have at least a boarder done before the release of January's block.  It was fun to play catch up and was fun to banter with all of the other stitchers as to what will be the first release.  I have yet to stitch January's block so I will work on that this week and post progress next weekend.  But here is what she looks like so far.  Stitched on 32 Ct Lugana in Phantom by Picture this Plus.

The last thing that I believe I need to confess is I am working on my Stitch from Stash 2018 and I am no not good at this.  I was doing great until the 2nd of January when I see this AMAZING SAL that is being done and I was in a trance and only took 2 seconds to spend $18 of my $25 this month.  I did keep myself under control because I did have about $60 worth of merchandise and saved it all for later so I didn't overspend.  I should get extra money for self control. 

So here is my totals so far.

Purchases - Guardians of Notre Dame Mystery Stitch Along $18

No Finishes at this time

Money left to spend $7 I think I can handle this we will see. I am hoping to carry most over for a few months to purchase new fabric for a few projects later this spring. 

Until this weekend Happy Stitching all.   I hope you all find your stitchy place and have some fabric fun and enjoy the moment.  

Carey