2022 WIPocalypse - Introduction

Hello 2022 

You know when you are unsure of what is to come you tip toe... yup that is exactly what I am doing right now.. slowly moving around 2022 like I'm waiting for something to jump out and say BOO!!!

You didn't come here to hear all of that but that is how I'm feeling and its already two weeks into 2022.  I guess this is when I should start my confession if this is an introduction.  I'm a mom of four and have two grandbabies also which I am amazed by all the time.  I am happily married to a muggle man who enables my hobbies (I am not sure this is good) but he also picks on me when I start something new (serial starter noises here).  He knows I enjoy all crafts and we go many times to craft stores and he always asks are you sure you don't need this or this.  I am truly blessed.  

I am a serial starter, and a pusher or enabler whatever you want to call it.  I also love many crafts and would like to give equal attention to all of them.  I love to quilt and enjoy sewing all kinds of things including clothing, small gifts and my newest hobby making Hand Bags and project bags so I'm enjoying working with all kinds of textiles and hoping to explore more in 2022.  I love to crochet a lot and have dabbled in my knitting but I would really love to make a sweater this year.  I do have a sweater machine but man to hear those needles going to town makes my heart so full.  

So I would post photos of what my goals are for all of 2022 but I'm doing things a little different this year.  Goals for Quilting is to finish all of my quilts I've "half" finished and there are a lot.. now finish to me is not quilted because that is another post all together but If I fully finish a quilt I'll make sure you know it too because it truly is an amazing feeling to have a project totally complete.  These quilts don't really have an home to go to just ones I've wanted to work on so they will get completed and put away until I have a forever home to put them in.  

I only have a few Crochet blankets that are also on my finish list this year.  So I am hoping there is some road trips so I can make that happen and I hope I'm not the one driving so I can make some good progress 😏

But lets get to cross stitching because really that's what y'all came for!!  I am working on my WIPGO 2022 board, I am also participating in my Semi Sane Stitches group because both keep me so motivated to stitch more and I really believe it helped me complete some projects.   So I plan I touching EVERY WIP I have and I think when I looked on my spreadsheet (yes I have one of those) I had 65 at my last count but I did find another 4 or 5 that were not on the list and I don't know If I ever posted them so I can't remember when I started them but I'll dig and find a spot with them.  So lets start from the beginning.  

Focus Piece - I have a very large HAED that I do still love (thank goodness) because its massive and I've gotten some stitches already into it.  I do not believe I did much in 2021 so this year it needs some massive work.  Each month I will work on this piece.  This is my Trick or Treat HAED from Randal Spangler.  I am planning on working on weekend on this piece so I can get as many stitches in as possible.  I will take an overall photo for next month so you can see how much I have completed.  This is the page I will be working on this month. 

My plans are to touch and stitch every WIP I have.  I want to make sure I can see things I love to stitch and really get some progress this year.  So I was going to work on projects I started each month.  The problem is I have many months with no starts, so I am robbing May because well Maynia is a thing.  I also am working on my oldest WIPS first so they did get put in January.  I am hoping for a few finishes this month alone.  

So each month I will pick about 5-8 WIPS depending on how large the projects are for the month.  I will work them in on several events to see if I can get as many stitches as I can get.  I am saving weekends for larger pieces or my focus piece if I can get a good amount of stitches on them I will switch it out.  

I am also planning on working on the Cricket Collection months.  Most will be new starts, some have already been started.  I am also tired of my box of overflowing new starts that have been kitted up forever and feel neglected so there will be a wheel spinning happening which tells me what project will be a new start for the month.  So if my new way of doing things works out I will have a start for each month in 2023 and I can continue to touch each project every year and I won't be surprised by a WIP sitting in a bag for years without any love (that is neglect) 

So for the Parade of what you will see this month are: 

Marauder's Map - Artist is no longer on Etsy

Lighthouse - Cricket Collection from 1992

Candy Cane Santa Stocking - Dimensions Gold Collection

Owls Growth Chart - Dimensions 

I hope you enjoy everything you've seen.  Come on back because each month something new will be here.  The only repeat will be my Trick or Treat HAED and I think the progress over the next few months hopefully will be amazing. 

I also update my Instagram often if you would like to see daily progress quicker - 

I also do an update on my YouTube and you get to hear all about life too 😀 I try not to ramble to much but its so exciting sharing everything with friends. 

Happy Stitching ~ Carey

WIPocalypse 2021 - Lets get this party started

 2021

Beginning of a new year also means we can all write our own pages once again.  We can't start new things or just wipe the slate clean and just begin.  I know we have all had a rough year, I honestly don't want to go back or even begin 2020 again but I will say I did get a lot done in 2020 and I did have some amazing things happen in 2020.  It was not all a horrible year but I would rather not repeat.  

With all of that being said I am back 😁 and wished I would have been able to stick with my blog for some of 2020.  I did have some great things happen as I've stated but at some point you will see what I did actually complete.  I have some lofty goals again or 2021 and I'm working on specific items this year and hoping for my most ever finishes so lets not wait and I can spill the beans to y'all.  

This year I am apart of WIPGO 2021! Again LOL

I have made my own board but really gave myself some HUGE goals..  I didn't think some would be attainable but already three days into the new year I've already made some amazing strides.. Here is what we can expect, or at least I can hope to achieve in 2021 with my WIPGO Board.  

My Lofty goals this year are to 

1) stay within my budget 

2) Stitch at least 8 Pages on my Trick or Treat HAED 

3) Finish 262 Words

4) I am not sure how many Dimensions Kits I will finish but I will make progress on more than a few this year because it is a Dimensions Year because I have so many that I need to actually work on them.  

I also Crochet and Quilt and would like to keep up with those also and have some project that need some attention as well.. So you might see a few of those as I go along in 2021.. I have several other hobbies and some rambling on with my own lift.. bear with me I love having an output.. 

I can't wait to get to know everyone and enjoy everyone's stitching as well. 

I usually update my Instagram daily or way more often than my blog so come on by and say Hi.

@thepatientstitcher 

I also have my Youtube Channel and try to keep that one as updated also.. These are all the amazing outputs I have and I love doing them now. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8aXLd1uvHHoXpjZaeyiYPA

Happy Stitching Everyone and look forward to seeing all everyone does in 2021..

The Patient Stitcher 

AKA Carey 

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

June WIPocalypse Update

Not sure there is much to report this month.  This has been a super busy month since my grandson and daughter are still here and spending as much time as I can with them.  I also started working my summer job which is nice, Joann Fabric is a nice place to work and its nice to talk about all of the fun projects I've got or they are working on.  I am also still doing school so that takes up most of my day. I have managed a few hours here and there so I am happy with any and all progress I've made for sure.

I have worked on projects that I started this year for Maynia but I'll post some of them later because they are technically not WIPS as I started with WIPocalypse.  This just means I have to take the time and update more.

Earlier this month I took out a WIP that I've been working on for a few and is a focus piece for the year. Amid Amish Life is one of my favorites.  I'm sure I've shared the story on this and I used this piece is many School Of Magical Stitches homework and extra credit assignments along the way.  I've made amazing progress and can't wait to get back to it and see if I can use it again this month.

I started middle of the month and she was a bit sparse on the left side because I have not gotten back to this side since I started the building about a year ago but I've since finished the building and worked on clouds, trees and some border also.  She looks awesome.  I did work on some parked threads and I was a bit frustrated with my cat whom seems to think that dangling strings (or even NOT dandling strings) were hers to chew on and leave me with nothing to stitch with.  So I took care of some of my parked threads and started to put my pieces while not working on them in my closest.

I also got a few good hours in on Pleasures of winter a Dimensions Gold collection piece.  I've noticed that I have a lot of kits from them and for some reason they all appeal to me so I'll try to finish them at some point in time.  I am happy with this weeks progress as I got most of the cabin completed.  Goal was to work no the cabin and back stitch it because this piece has so much backstitching but I didn't get the cabin finished.. Almost does count and the progress is wonderful and I was very happy. 

Measi always gives us a topic to discuss too.

June – Half-year recap: How are you doing with your goals so far this year?

So far this year I am super happy with where I am at with my projects.  I have 5 focus pieces that I wanted to finish in 2019 and one is already completed which was the Sleepy Hollow from Glendon Place.  I would also like to finish my Amid Amish Life and its very close and I think I can finish that also.  I wanted to finish all the way to the end of my Trick or Treat HAED and its still looking like I can do that also but I do need work on it.  I wanted to finish my Christmas in London from Mirabilia but I still can't find her since I've moved so I am thinking she won't happen this year.  I've gone through lots of boxes but still nothing, I'm sure she is here just taking a little siesta while I work on others. I have finished others that were not on the list so I am thinking I've done amazing this year.  I've gotten more done than I even thought was possible. 

My plans are the same work on as much as my homework and life allow, while still keeping it the one thing that helps me relax and enjoy to relax to. Happy Stitching everyone and enjoy the weather before it becomes unbearable.  

Carey

May WIPocalypse Update

                    

                                                        

           WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carey

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..