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

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..

As most may have noticed I’ve been gone for a very long time.  I have much to update everyone on but most important we finally moved.  We drove from Alaska to Pennsylvania and not in the ordinary way (straight there) we decided to take six weeks and see some of our beautiful country and visit some family we have not seen in many years. We tented most of the way until we got to the areas where temperatures were way too hot to camp. When we did finally make it to Pennsylvania it was job search time but that is also when I finally got to pick up my stitching again.  I have been super busy with two jobs and not as much stitching time as I would like but I’ve spent at least an hour a day (even if I must wake up super early to get it in).

I have worked on several different projects since I have been here but most important I have put my Trick or Treat – Heaven and Earth Design by Randal Spangler on my Quantum frame and she is going to stay there until the end of 2019.  I have sworn to put two threads in her each day.  I have come to realize this is a lot of time since I am stitching 1/1 full X.  The lengths are not short either, so I might change that up a bit, but I am loving the progress I have made.  I am so close to my first page finish (I am already excited just thinking about it). I could have that page finished as early as this weekend, but I did realize it is 20 separate colors, so this takes time.  Why did I choose a HAED that is so large and so much confetti and my first I’ll never know? Top one is when I decided to put herb back on the frame and the bottom one IS A PAGE FINISH.  Finally something to be so unbelievably happy about.  This piece has so much confetti in it that I honestly never thought it would happen but Page 1 complete.

I have also worked on several others either for challenges or to keep up a weekly rotation.

I worked on Pleasures of Winter about a week or so and a few days on the road.  The road did not provide me with much stitch time.  I honestly was driving a lot and when we stopped it was to either sleep or see something cool.  I’m not complaining. I did get more progress in our new apartment because it was a piece I could easily pick up when we moved here.  I will say stitching in a lawn chair is not the most comfortable way but it's a way 

Our Home which was a focus piece for me end of August.  This was a Stitch Mania start 2018 and I finished it this year.. Yea first piece I’ve completed!!!!  Left where I started and after 8 days I finished her.  Not a huge project but with two jobs I can’t believe I stuck with her and finished it.

Amazing Grace was also a Stitch Maynia Start for 2018.  I didn’t get a lot done with her but she came out for 7 days and I tried each day to at least put a color in.  I am happy where she is, I won't pick this piece up for a very long time but when I do I am sure I will get it done quickly because she is such a Jem to work on and I do enjoy it. 

Hummingbirds I also believe was a Stitch Mania Start for 2018 and I keep this one at work so when Im not planning all my stitch time I sit back and relax and put a few stitches in this piece. I don't have a current photo of where it is now but she is getting slow progress on my lunch breaks.

I picked up quotes to live by from Stitchrovia and I so love doing this piece.  This was also a Stitch Maynia focus for Artist of the month. I wished I had one color I am missing because I would have gotten a bit more done but for now she is coming along.

Sleepy Hollow this was my Dec 31^ststart.. Left 2017 out with a bang.  I so love this piece and can’t wait to see this piece in a frame and on my wall.  This is one of my focus pieces for 2019 if I don’t finish it this year.

Amid Amish Life came out for a few. Stitch Mania has a stitch something outdoorsy so I worked on the walkway driveway piece.  Not to mention I really enjoy this piece even with all the fractional stitches. 

Doner from Mirabilia was also a Stitch Maynia 2018 start and I really enjoyed putting a few stitches in this piece for sure.  Now to just finish some DMC and order the Krenik and I can be onto beading.  This very well could be another finished for 2018. 

I have also come up with a new rotation to kind of play in with Stitch Maynia but I am not sure I’ll be able to do it since Trick or Treat has really captivated me.  This might slow down a bit and keep up with my two threads after this page finish. 

I have also thought of my goals for 2019 and what my focal pieces will be and what I want to finish for in 2019.  I might have a few done before then.  We will see what 2018 still has in its hat.  I have also kinda sorta planned what I will be working on and what I will be starting. I have a had a bit of time during my lunch breaks to figure this out.  I’ll give more detail later as everyone knows SAL’s come up and so many more things and plans change ALL the time.

I believe I might jump on board the WIPocalypse, I know its late but maybe it will help me keep focused on some older pieces (there isn't to much) or just get some finishes in the bucket. 

I will try to keep myself updated on a weekly if not a monthly.  I do have my Instagram which is where i update more frequently but I do love writing about my work I'm doing. 

Until next time, Happy Stitching, Tell your loved ones you love them and give them one huge hug, and keep on stitching. 

Carey

Where does the time go?

A while has passed since I have updated what's been going on.   I will hold back from the last two months MIA but this week a project I started on New Year's Day.  Sleepy Hollow from Glendon Place made its debut again this week.  The last time I working on this project was in January and I did get a lot done but I put it away so I could work on another.  This is how he looked before I stitched on it this week.

I did get a lot of progress done for five days but I did end up frogging a good portion before I put it away also.

Here is where he is today, with a lot of patients and so many other things going on in my life I did manage seven more days.  I wished I could stitch all day but life goes on.

Pardon all the parked threads but it's a work in progress and I didn't get a chance to finish them all off.  One more great thing this week was I worked with Kreinik for the first time.  It is a bit difficult to work with and isn't as easy as DMC or others but I was excited to work with it.

Up close and personal of my bat and Kreinik work.  Nothing major yet but this project has plenty of it to get done soon.  

This next week I'll be working on Quotes to Live By from Stitchrovia from Etsy.  These are going to be so amazing when I get done.  I know others have done them before but they really are so beautiful and well done.  So next update I am hoping for the first block to be finished.  That is my goal for the week.  If that does happen I will continue to work on Guardians or Classroom Sal.  

I hope you give you some great updates this week.  What will you be working on?

Have a fabulous stitchy week.  May your needles be full and your chair be comfy. 

Carey

Upcoming Plans, Goals and Challenges

I am new to all of the Facebook groups dedicated to Cross Stitchers, but I am loving all of the support the cross stitch community gives.  I have found Stitch Maynia on Facebook and of course have been enabled a lot on my own journey.  I have many projects I would like to start and Stitch Maynia will help get them started and keep me going on my WIPs.

Plans -

I plan on doing every event Stitch Maynia offers this year (including all SALs) I will make them work for me if I can be inventive enough 😉

So here it goes:

Maynia SAL's
Christmas Year Round - Santa Clause
Fifty Nifty United States - Your home state
Halloween All year Round - Pumpkin
Princess SAL - your favorite Princess
Temperature SAL - 

1-31st Start a new project - This project I've been wanting to do FOREVER.  More on this one later because for some reason she is special to me. Mirabilia Christmas In London
1-31st Tour De Designers 2018 - Glendon Place - I just purchased and received the kit for Sleepy Hollow and Im so excited to get this one started also. 
5th Full Coverage - I have plenty to work on for this one.  I want to work on my Trick or Treat HAED from Robert Spangler but it is hard to see how much work actually goes into this one since I am doing one color at a time and its SUPER CONFETTI.  It will prob be Trick or treat or Old World Map which I am also starting on the first for the New HAED year

15th Work that WIP
18th New Start - I have had this one for a while and its kitted and so ready to get worked on. Quotes to Live by from Stitchrovia OMG this is one of my most favorite pieces.
20th Color a Day Aquarius - this is an Electric Blue or Turquoise.  I think I will keep working on my Quotes to live by since he boarder is that exact blue.

HAED -
They are having the New HAED year and I choose to stitch Old World Map so watch for progress as I get that going.  I will do this one page by page EEEK.

SAL's -

Harry Potter Classroom SAL will start 1 Jan - I am still waiting for fabric so I might have to play catch up on this one but I am ready to begin.  If you would like to sign up there is still time.  
Class Schedule SAL

One other thing I am doing the year is kinda exciting.  I LOVE.. Did I say L O V E to spend money on my crafts and sometimes I get WAY to carried away with things.  This year I have joined the forces and will begin my Stitch from Stash 2018, because we all know that most of us have enough stash for at least 5 other people and we will never in an eternity stitch what we want to get done.  I know I have enough patterns to keep me busy, dmc floss for prob everyone I know.  I am a bit low on fabric and specialty floss but I will see what I can do with my monthly allowance.

I start out with $25 and I have to keep track of everything I spend.  If I finish something I get money put on my account and so on and so forth.  I'll keep you all updated on my happenings and to keep me accountable.  I am hoping with all my extra stitching I can accomplish some finishes this year.  I am very excited about this.  I will post photos once I get started and links incase you too would like to stitch anything Im stitching.

Happy Stitching all and enjoy each stitch you put in because a stitch is progress.
Carey