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

Maynia 2019 Week 1

I am sure like most stitchers, I don't really need a reason to start a new project! But with Maynia here it gives me even more reason to start MANY!!!

I've done well up until now starting no projects until end of April.  I was saving up for Maynia.  

I have many Dimensions Kits and I so love them.  Its easier in my opinion and they are already kitted so this makes it so appealing to me.  I just happen to love all of them.  I did only work on a few kits this week but trust me, more are on the way.  First up, is Cardinal on Sled.  I've had this one for a little but and so excited to start this.  I just love Cardinals.  I've had one at my back door at the feeder for a while now.  I hope to bring this one out again.

I've had this one in my collection for well over a year.  I've also had the fabric too! I've known what I was going to stitch on but didn't know when.  How perfect to start this during Maynia.  I think this will come out again very soon.  I really enjoy stitching Nora Corbett patterns. 

This might have been an enabled purchase, because I've seen so many stitch each season that I couldn't help myself when someone was selling this one and it just magically jumped into my stash.  I can see myself returning to her very soon as she was a lot of fun to stitch even though I didn't stitch on her for long. 

I got this a few years ago because I wanted to have this hanging in my craft room. I felt great with what I got accomplished in a few hours.  I also see this coming out again soon. 

Cricket Collection has had my attention for a long time.  I think I own all the seasons and many other patterns because they are fun to stitch or at least look amazing.  I did get to my goal and snowman was complete before the end of the night.  I love that I got this far.  I hope to also pick this one up again and enjoy stitching on this again.  

I will be back again next week with all my new starts and hopefully update my WIP album.  It could be very extensive after this month.  

Happy Stitching All!!

Remember if you can't stitch much just do one stitch a day and see if you get bit again.  One stitch is all it takes to relax you and let you fall back into the stitching world. 

April WIPocalypse Update

                                                                   

                                                       

            WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oh How Time Flies when your having fun!!

I am not sure where this week went but it flew by.  There is so much going on I am not sure where to begin.

As you all are aware, I started eating a bit healthier and started my couch to 5k.. This week was a bit harder than the previous, but I did it.. I had to run two days in a row and managed it this weekend.  I hope the weather this week was nicer than last week so I don't do my runs back to back.  I really despise running but I will tell you this, I've found that when I run I can let the world just go away.  I don't think about my college work, kids, work in general.  Its the only time I can be inside my own head and not thinking about anything else.  I really believe this is why I keep going.  We will see if week 3 is any good 😁

I had a photo shoot with a beautiful young lady who is graduating Penn State University this year.  She has accomplished so much in the short time she has been here.  She gives many so much inspiration that I was very excited to enjoy some company with her.  These were taken by my phone but should only tell you that even better ones are on the way.  I have a few that I am very much in love with.

My husband and I went to Geo Cache but his knee isn't doing so well so we drove around and found a very amazing place literally in our back yard.  We live near a town called Boalsburg PA.  This place is the founder of Memorial Day.  It has so much history and so much military background, we were impressed and had a great time looking around.  Here are just a few of the photos I took.


But I am sure you didn't come here to hear about all the things I did all week.. I will say this week I was super impressed with how much stitching I got done.  I have been trying very hard to get some old WIPS done and YES!!! I started a new one.

First part of the week I was working on my Trick or Treat HAED because it fit many of my homework assignments for Magical Stitches on Facebook.  I believe this past week I got 800+ stitches in and I am going for a page finish by the end of the month.  Lets hope so because I need money in my Stitch from Stash budget.

Pulling out a very old favorite of mine, that worked for a lot of Magical homework also. Amid Amish Life from the Cross Stitch and Country Crafts magazine in 1987.  I remember this pattern when it was released and I loved it so much but never stitched it, then I gave the magazines away.  A few years (lets say about 25 years lol) later I found them again.  ALL three of them!! I was so delighted I started them almost instantly.  I did about 300 stitches or more on this piece and I remembered why I've loved it so much.  This is a focus piece this year so I am hoping to finish it. 

Another piece I have not picked out of the WIP pile in a very long time is my Guardians of Notre Dame.  It is awful with the fires that took place this past week.  It has always been a place I've wanted to visit.  I still will but it always breaks my heart when history is lost.  This pattern is done by Ingleside Imaginarioum's on Etsy.  This worked into a few projects for Magical Stitches.  It worked so well I actually got March done besides back stitching.  Now this is also on my radar now and I have to work on it more because it really is such an amazing stitch and I really love doing it. 

                                     

                                     

I purchased this a little bit ago and started it for Maynia 2018 and did nothing after that.  So I needed something (in my head) that reminded me of trains of Hogwarts.  Well it so happens in my stash I had one.. Got my 100 stitches in and my WIP saw the day of light again.  I really enjoyed working on it but not so much the fabric but Oh well.. I'll forget about that when its all done. Silver Belle Run is what this kit is called. 

                                                

                                               

You've all seen this one at least a dozen times but I couldn't help but bring it out and put some worthy stitches into it.  I did get a lot of the back stitching done and frame work and words.  Honestly if I get a chance to work on it this next week, I am hoping for a HUGE finish.. I have been so excited about this one since I've started it that I am giddy with excitement.  I might just have to rush this to the framers to get it done completely.  

                                               

I've really been waiting to start this.  I don't have all the floss but I have this fabric that I purchased from Hand Dyed by Stephanie.  I purchased this about a year ago and what do you know a project that fits the Snow Queen perfect.  This is a play on Frozen, the fabric is called frozen fractionals 28ct.  I did get my 100 stitches in for Magical Stitches lets visit the stores of Harry Potter.  I am not sure I did well at telling a story but I sure did try.  This will be a gift for a special young lady.  Not a focus piece this year but we will see how far I can get on it.  

This week to end the week I have been working on my Physics class also so I think when school starts full time I will be doing less stitching or less sleep.. I am thinking I am going to miss my stitching so sleep might suffer! 

I've also been reading Janet Evanovich  Turbo Twenty-Three.  I have always said if a book can make you laugh really hard out loud its worth the read.  I say with every book she has written, even if its predictable I find funny parts all through it.  So far until college starts I hope to finish this book and work my way in my TBR list.. So i've added another thing to my weekly posts..

Have a great stitchy week!! Even though I've posted this way farther than I anticipated.

April Showers Brings May Flowers

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                                

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

HAPPY STITCHING