January 2020 WIPocalypse Update

I started this year out with a huge start but a wonderful piece that has been in my stash since the first post I saw.  I purchased the fabric (I am not a fan, I knew I should have stuck with something I knew and loved, but I used what I purchased because I didn't want to buy another piece) this is my inner penny pitcher telling me to suck it up..

I know this post is about my WIPS but technically she is my WIP now 😀.  I've had this in my stash for a little while.  Someone along the way (I think several someones) has enabled me because I've seen her in all her beauty.  So of course I purchased her a couple of years ago and jumped on board this year.

The Raven Queen from Mirabilia has been a project I've wanted to start and for some reason she spoke to me this year.  New Year New Start in many groups this year and she was the chosen one.  In one of the groups the challenge's is to finish her in six months.  This is totally doable and she will take some time but I need to put her in rotation often. So first of February she should be up again for a while and I'm sure for some magical stitches too.

Christmas in London was up next, I don't have a rotation except I can't work on things more than 7 days.. I usually do a Monday - Sunday if I feel like I really want to get progress done.. I usually change out sooner because my stitchy bugs usually looses speed about day 5.  But I have really wanted to stitch on this one and I've enjoyed the past 7 days with Christmas in London.  I lost her for about a year so it was very nice to work on it again..  I used this piece in many stitchy groups.  I managed to stitch 2,293 for this Month.. I consider this a huge WIN!!

The next piece up would be Guardians of Notre Dame by Ingleside Imaginariums.  This was a SAL in 2018 and as usual I fell behind and didn't finish when everyone else probably did.  This happens with every SAL I do.. so lately I've just stopped doing them, but when I saw this one happening I jumped on board and I LOVE this piece.  I did manage some major progress on this one this month also.  I spent 6 nights stitching on this piece and managed a total of 3,195 stitches.. This piece blew my mind when I just kept going.  I am hoping i can do another week like this and I will be close to a finish for sure. 

I changed to Santa's Sleigh next from Nora Corbett I got discouraged quickly but managed to stay with it. I frogged most of what I stitched in the beginning.. Now if you read my introduction, you already know I usually fold this neatly up and put it back where it came from.. Especially this time, I was literally one stitch to far off and it ruined the WHOLE sled.. I probably would have put it away but I was working on Semi Sane Stitchers group and it was where someone picked your WIP for you.. and this was the winner so I had to keep moving along.. What I learned is I felt better when I did this because I got it corrected and I made progress so I was super happy about it.. I did feel like I could have done a lot more, but the frog said NO!.. Total stitches for the Sleigh 2066 so not all hope was lost. 

This next project I wanted to have finished for 2019 but that didn't happen.. The Frog came at me in full force and I had to tear apart 90% of the top as I had failed to calculate the name right.. I was very upset and I did put this one away for a while until now, this piece really needs to be done. I did manage to finish all the stitches before 2020 but I was way to burned out to even think about doing anything else to it.. I guess this will be a February Finish and hopefully sewn up and on its way to his final home.  I did spend about 5 days on this and back stitching was crazy but I managed to get half of it done.  

Dasher from Nora Corbett made its new start debut.  Now considered a WIP right 😏 I did have a great time with this piece.. I did however have to frog again because this piece was also one spot off and I couldn't fix it until I ripped it out.. dang frog needs to leave me alone next month because I can't handle anymore frogging..  I am loving this piece and like the previous one I am sure I will enjoy it until its over.  I don't see this one lasting long either.. I will have to put the order in for his beads shortly I'm sure. Spent 6 days and prob one day frogging but I did managed 1127 stitches to help with my WIPGO board and of course many other stitch groups including Choose my WIP.  

Last but not least for sure was my Snowy Owl from Mill Hill.. I've wanted to do this for a long time now and finally pulled it out and worked on it.. This was on my list for 2020 as a focus piece because I have so many larger projects it will be nice to finish a smaller one..  I also needed this for a SAL because it needed to have a button on it.. and the moon is a button.  This was an easy 300 stitches, I will be happy to see this piece again and work on it some more. 

So the questions this month was what SALs am I participating in different SAL groups.. This month I was in our Magical Stitches group the Wilderness Lodge and there has been so much happening between weekly assignments and monthly extra credit not to mention the insane yearly challenges.. I'm stitching my little heart out for sure.. This group has helped me really complete a lot of things and works really well with my type of changes.. Semi Sane Stitchers was alot of fun this year.. I just joined and really enjoyed January.. We had the Choose my WIP, Serial Stitcher and several others I enjoyed doing.. I've also enjoyed Celtic Stitches, they have some monthly stitchy goals also.. I am probably missing someone but those are the group SAL's I'm in.. As for other SALs well I am trying hard not to join unless I see something I can't live without.. 

I sure hope everyone had an amazing Stitchy Month and let your needles be swift and your stitches be wonderful.. Have a great month all and hope to see everyone's progress in February.  

Happy Stitching Carey

January WIPocalypse 2020 Plans

I've always found this part the hardest part of starting anything..  Introduction!!!  I am seriously laughing at myself right now.. (happens when I am nervous)  I think first I should state I am:  

A Serial Starter..  Not so much a Serial Finisher 😏

I love to make big plans and finish none!

I love to stitch in groups of Facebook people (have not done it in real life) and fall off the face of the earth for a month or so, and then jump right back in.

Ogle over everyone else's progress and put it in my cart, destine to be in my stash I'll never start but I have it and that is all that matters.

I have more haul than I could ever finish.

I have more WIPS than most and I can only work on any given project between 5-7 days.  I then need to switch it up or I can't stitch anymore.  I think this is the reason I start so many new projects.

I don't have a project I haven't had to frog.  If its a large mess I will put it back in the packaging until I am faced with ripping it apart to start over again.  Another reason I might have so many new starts.  

I think that I've ran out of stitching related things about me.  As soon as I post this I am sure I will find more about me that I forgot all about.  I do have a wonderful family, I have an awesome husband who enables me often to purchase more, and four daughters and one grandson.  Recently my oldest daughter has taken up Cross Stitching so I am excited to watch her journey also.  I've been Cross Stitching since I was 14 years old and then dropped off the face of the earth for about 20 years or so (heck it is prob more like 30) and raised my girls by myself till my amazing husband came along.  We both retired from the Military and now we are pursuing our dreams (I have not figured out what they are just yet, I have many).  My husband is currently in school finishing up his education as a gunsmith, and my 3rd daughter is getting ready to graduate high school this year.  I am sure this is about to get a bit crazy this year, but I will hold on as they never get any slower the older I get.  I feel like I already wrote a novel about myself.

As I stated before I always make LOFTY goals for myself and this year in 2020 is no different. 

2020 Stitching Goals

1. Trick Or Treat (HAED) - Randal Spangler 
• Goal is to finish at least 6 pages in 2020, I would like more but I will go with 6
2. The Raven Queen (New Start) - Mirabilia 
• Finish by June
3. Amid Amish Life (L) I've worked the middle and would love to finish the side
• Finish end of the year. 
4. Amid Amish Life (R)
• Finish end of the year
5. Christmas In London - Mirabilia
• This was a focus piece for 2019 but she was missing 90% of the year so this year she is my focus piece and hopefully hanging for Christmas 2020
6. Blitzen - Nora Corbett 
• A new Start for 2020 but would love to have two reindeer on my fabric.
7. Cupid or Commet will be next 
• another new start for 2020 and hoping to finish by end of 2020
8. Santa's Sleigh - Nora Corbett
• Hoping to have this one finished by June 2020
9. Guardians of Norte Dame -  Ingleside Imaginarium's this was 2018 SAL
• Would actually love to finish a SAL 😅
10. Christmas at Home - Lakeside Needlecraft
• Another SAL I never finished 
11. Class Schedule - Aramda Designs 
• Again another SAL I never finished
12. Snow Queen 
• This is going to be a Christmas Present and on my radar to finish for then.. I am hoping for an August/September finish 

So as you can see I have some lofty goals for 2020.  What is worse is this is not my only hobby 😂 I have so many hobbies and never enough time that is for sure.  So if you like stick around I am hoping to post weekly and see how I do with getting my projects complete, Cross Stitch and all.

I did manage to get started on my New Year New WIP

The Raven Queen came out and jumped on my frame.  I really enjoyed stitching her and I can't wait to get back to her. 

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

December WIPocalypse Last Update of 2019

I've been looking back on this year 2019 and realized between all of the SAL's or I should say Facebook groups and WIPocalypse I've gone above and beyond my stitching goals.. I have not completed what I set out to complete BUT I have done way more stitching, since I've been challenged than I ever thought possible.  I've finished a few pieces (two were focus pieces for 2019) and a few of them were just there to complete and it was a very enjoyable stitching year.

With those statements above brings us to the questions of the month.  Recap your accomplishments for the year! Your finishes (your final before and after etc!) - this won't take me long because I didn't have a ton of finishes this year but I did finish a few larger items and so excited to show them to you..


Donner from Nora Corbett started stitching in May 2018 and was a Maynia Start.. this was my first Maynia so I was just having fun with it and starting anything I could.  At the time I didn't have the beads or Krenik but in March I completed him.  He took a trip to Alaska to watch my grandson come into the world.  My first finish of 2019

Next finish was a quick one and one I should have finished shortly after starting. .lol.. Lizzy Kate Dear Santa.. Another March Finish. 

Sleepy Hollow from Glendon Place - this was an enablers piece.  I can't remember where I saw it.. I'm sure it was a flosstuber or a Maynia post because at the time I didn't fully catch onto other Facebook pages.. I dove face first and couldn't wait to start it.. Sleepy Hollow was a last start of 2017, stitched on 28 ct cashel linen from PTP called Haunted.  This is not FFO'd yet but will be soon.  I can't wait to hang it because I am so in love with this piece.  This was a focus piece for 2019 and completed it in May. 

Amid Amish life - this was a focus piece for me for 2019.  I felt it was a bit over kill but it was a piece I wanted to see a lot of progress on.  Then some Magical Stitches put me into high gear, I used this piece so much I completed it in October and I am so pleased.. now to complete I can now focus on the two sides and have a fully completed pattern..

Not a finish for 2019 and won't be finished probably until 2030 BUT I did feel like I got so much done this year.. My Trick or Treat HAED really got a lot of love this year..  This was a focus piece for me too but I didn't get as much done as I wanted to get done.  Many things happened and I didn't get a chance to work on it as much as I really wanted to.. Trust me there will be some very LOFTY Goals in 2020.

I've been working on my Dimensions Stocking for most of December and I guess the real questions is did I get it Finished before Christmas and in the mail?  The answer is No but I did get it stitched.  I need to back stitch and finish it to send it off but I am very happy with it.  

As I look back at 2019 it was not a bad stitchy year.  I did enjoy many things I did this year and have accomplished so much.. I am hoping for a much busier 2020 and more finishes.  I sure hope everyone else had an amazing 2019 and to a very stitchy 2020.

November WIPocalypse Update

http://measi.net/measiblog/

November came and went with such great hast.   I looked at one glance and gone.  Again this month is a bit boring but I did manage to work on a project.  I am not sure it is classified as WIPocalypse but I am going to update anyways.

WIPocalypse Question of the month: What new stitches or techniques did you learn this year?
I was excited this year to learn to stitch with beads.  I didn't learn any new stitches but working with beads was so much fun and learning how to stitch them to the fabric was super important.  I did work with Krenik this year and hand died floss.  Both were interesting and I learned a lot with those too.  This next year I will be doing different stitches.

This month has been crazy with craft projects, hockey, travel and of course family.

A little bit of an update and I promise not to take all day for those who came to read about my Cross Stitch progress.

My mother is recovering slow from her Quad Bypass, I wished they could get her sugars under control but at this point we will take what we can get and recovery is ever so slow but progress is progress.

We have been traveling non stop with my daughters hockey so we've been super busy with that.  I think this is a reason why my stitching has suffered such catastrophic failure.  I wouldn't trade it for the world because she is enjoying the rest of her young life.  She just turned 16 and I sure hope he sticks with it.

Another thing that has taken up some of my stitching time is my quilting.  My facebook group Quilting BOM does a 12 Days of Christmas and I can't help but join and enjoy getting to know another person.  This year I did exactly that and enjoyed making her a table runner for her 12th day.  Thank goodness she knows nothing of my blog so we are all good.  I did make her a few other things, one I am planning on making for myself and using it for my Cross Stitch.  All photos below 😀

This year has not been the best year for health issues or family passing's.  I hope 2020 works out to be better than this year.  My Grandmother would have been 92 on Thanksgiving but didn't make it this year.  I didn't have the best relationship with her later on in life but I was working on trying to get to know her again.  Life is so short to wait till the last minute.  I am glad for the time I have had with her and what I've shared recently.  I will remember how she could cook anything and that she cared for me when no one else ever did.  I will miss her and I know she is looking down on us all.

My birthday was on November 30th and I was sicker than a dog.  I really had that kind of a month.  My plans for stitching all day and going into debt with the Stitch from Stash (none existent budget) went the window.. I couldn't stand food or food commercials and the smell would make me run for cover.  I am very glad it ended the next day because it was horrible.

So with the long winded version I gave you, I sure hope you are around.  I feel like I got some great progress on this piece.  I am not sure if I told you about it before but I told someone I would do this for her daughter after she got it back with no stitches at all.  Someone was supposed to do this for her and held it captive for a while.  I worked on it here and there and then life happened.. I then misplaced it and finally found again.  Its been on the scroll frame ever since and still there now.

I'm pretty happy with how this turned out.. I've not been updating to much as for Social Media because if I can manage to get it done before Christmas I am going to send it to her as a surprise.  I'm very excited about this and hoping I have enough time. 

I will also be planning for the upcoming year.. so many SAL's happening but I will have some focus pieces I'll post soon and we will see how this year goes.. I've worked on my Bullet Journal and have come up with a quote for the year and a word.. I am looking forward not behind.. 

As usual I sure hope your stitching is bringing you joy.  Your needles are burning away at all those projects and everyone is healthy and happy.  Happy Stitching All. Till next time, I will try to actually make it on time in December, marked my calendar. 

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