September WIPocalypse Update

"To Everything A Season" Sampler

I'm a bit late for my September WIPocalypse update, but here it is!  These are projects that are in progress, that I hope to finish before the world ends.  

I made some progress on "To Everything a Season" a sampler by Sandy Orton.  This is a fun stitch on 28 count evenweave.  I am working on the top right corner.  Here is where I left off last time:

 I also stitched on my "Spanish Sampler" by Sandy Orton.  

I was working the Horizontal Satin Stitch below the corner.  Unfortunately, a frog was sitting on my shoulder ... I miscounted which threw off 90% of the stitching I had accomplished.  I frogged it out & will restitch at a later time.  

Moving on to "Berry Patch Rooster".  I  managed quite a bit on this one.  (No frogs in sight!)

Here is where I left off last time:

I have chosen this project for my October "One Stitch Per Day" challenge and have been stitching (at least a few stitches) on it every day this month.  I am making great progress so far!

Question of the Month: What finishing style have you never tried but would love to do?  
Hmmm ... I think I would like to try the little houses I have seen, or perhaps one of those "Quaker balls".  Something a bit different than my typical finishing style.

That's all I have this time.
Happy Stitching!
 

June WIPocalypse Update

Linen & Threads 2019 Mystery Sampler - June

It's so hard to believe that the year is half over and it's time for another WIPocalypse update.  

I didn't stitch as much this month as I did in May, but I did work on 3 of my WIPs.  I completed the June section of the Linen & Threads 2019 Mystery Sampler (shown above).

 I added the bats and Jack O'Lantern to my Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Haunted House, and did a bit of stitching on the upstairs bedroom.  Here is where I left off last time:

I just love to stitch on this project!

I also finished the lower left corner of my Spanish Sampler, and did quite a lot of the Four-sided stitch outer border.

I do plan to participate in the "One-a-Day" focus for July.  I hope I can stick with it - I really would like to add another finish to my list soon!

Question of the Month: Half-year recap:  How are you doing with your goals so far this year? 

The goals that I posted in January of this year were:

"My goals for the year are to finish as many of my WIPs as I am able, keep up with any SALs (stitch-alongs) I join, and try to finish more projects than I start!" 

So... I have only finished 2 projects this year (just one was a WIP), but I did keep up with the Linen & Threads 2019 Mystery Sampler (every month - so far) and the gifted Gorgeousness Stitch-along.  I've added 2 projects to my WIPs list, so I need to work harder to finish some projects.  I hope to focus & make better progress for the last half of the year. 

That's all for this update.
Happy stitching!

Gifted Gorgeousness Update for June

Victorian Charm

It's time for the June Gifted Gorgeousness update.  This stitch-along, hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching, features projects that in some way have been gifted -or- are being stitched to be given as gifts. 

I stitched on a few of my gifted projects this month, including "Victorian Charm".  I am slow stitching on this project due to the dark fabric - but I love the design.

Here is where I left off last time: (This photo is closer to the actual fabric color.)

I also stitched on "Linen & Threads 2019 Mystery Sampler", completing 1/2 of this month's chart.

I brought out my lovely "Spanish Sampler" and worked on the lower left corner.

And finally, I stitched on (my favorite) "Cut Thru' Haunted House", finishing the second ghost in the music room.

That's all for now.  I can't wait to see everyone else's progress this month!
Happy Stitching!

my Gifted Gorgeousness Update for May

It's time for another "Gifted Gorgeousness" update.  This stitch-a-long is being hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching.  Gifted Gorgeousness projects are projects that were made to be given as a gift, or in some way or part received as a gift.

I stitched on one of my favorite projects this month, "Spanish Sampler" by Sandy Orton.  This project uses fabric and floss purchased with a gift card - gifted by my Mom.  I finished the top band which included cross stitch and four-sided stitch.  I also finished the top left corner (shown above) with satin stitch, cross stitch and back stitch. 

I stitched on my mini banner, making good progress. I completed the border and filled in a bit here and there.  This project was also purchased with a gift card - gifted by my Mom.

I also stitched a bit on my Summer Sampler, working on the "Camp" section.  This one moves along so slowly ... so many, many color changes!  This project was gifted to me one Xmas by my sweetie with the set of 4 seasons sampler kits.

Last, but not least, I put in some time on my embroidered lap quilt.  This was a gift from a non-stitchy friend.  It is a printed quilt top pieced together in four sections.  I used lazy daisy, split stitch and stem stitch.

That is my progress for the month on my "Gifted Projects".  I can't wait to see what everyone else has been stitching!

Sept Gifted Gorgeousness Update

Cow Sampler

It's time for another "Gifted Gorgeousness" update.  These are projects that were made to be given as a gift -or- in some way or part received as a gift. 

Hooray, I have a finish!  I finished stitching my Cow Sampler soon after my last post. I added some red glass beads to the centers of the red flowers after I completed the stitching.

I also finished "one" of the pair of butterfly pillowcases.  These were gifted to me by a non-stitching friend.  They are printed pillowcases for embroidery.  No instructions ... I used cross stitch, stem stitch, chain stitch, and French knots.  The pink and green flosses are variegated.  After I finish the second pillowcase, I will wash them and most likely add a crocheted edging of some type.

I stitched on my tiny "Rambling Rose Sampler", gifted to me in a prize drawing by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching.  The entire sampler measures just 1-1/2" wide X 2" tall.  I still have rows of flowers at the top and at the bottom, along with the ecru background stitching over the entire piece left to stitch.  

This one does progress slowly - as I use magnifying glasses, as well as a hand held magnifier.  I don't want to make any errors, as frogging would be a nightmare on such tiny, delicate gauze.

Rambling Rose Miniature Sampler

I was so excited to pull out my "Spanish Sampler" and add some stitches.  I finished the top right corner, which features Algerian eyelet stitches, satin stitches, and a bit of back stitching.

I worked on the top border as well using cross stitch and four-sided back stitch.  This project is fun to work on - lots of different stitches to come!
 

This is what it will become:

I think I have covered all of my gifted projects for the month.   I can't wait to see what everyone else has been stitching!

 

my January Gifted Gorgeousness update

Time for my first Gifted Gorgeousness update of the year.  Gifted Gorgeousness projects are projects that were made to be given as a gift -or- in some way or part received as a gift. 

Shown above is my first finish of the year.  I stitched this cute little bear from a chart by Durene Jones, which I found in Cross Stitch Crazy magazine.  The magazine was a gift to me from my sweetie -and- I turned the stitched bear into a "get well card" for my Great Aunt.  

I took a little bit of time off over the holidays and was happy to have more stitching time!  So ... lots of updates this month: 

I had neglected my "Butterfly Forest" all year, so I put some stitches into it.  This was a kit I received a few birthdays back.

I worked on both of my "Pooh" kits (gifted to me by a non-stitchy friend).  Say hello to Piglet (finally)!  I also completed all of the back stitching in the central image of my "Too Much Honey" sampler.

I gave Pooh some feet and finished his back stitching, as well as filling in the rest of the fence  color on "a Chirpy Sort of Place".

I pulled out my "Rose Lap Quilt"  (gifted to me by another non-stitchy friend), and finished stitching the central motif - where the 4 panels are stitched together.  This section was stitched with lazy daisy, french knot, and stem stitches.

I put some stitches into my beautiful "Hummingbird and Fuchsias" project.  This was a gifted kit from my Mom.  It is a printed cross stitch/embroidery project. 

 
I also decided to reboot my "Spanish Sampler" (floss and fabric were purchased with a gift card from my Mom).  I  started over with a piece of "even" evenweave.  "Ta-Da!" Now it is square, as it should be.  

And finally, I added several rows to my "Monterey Sunset" latch hook rug. (Purchased with a gift card.)  This is a great cold weather project - it keeps my lap warm while I am hooking it.  This rug project measures 50" across and 30" high.  It has 98 rows - each of which takes me about an hour to complete.

I think that covers everything!  Whew!  It was so much fun to have time to work on my projects this month.  I hope to continue my progress throughout the year and have several more finishes.

Happy Stitching! 

November Gifted Gorgeousness and WIPocalypse Update

It's time once again for both a Gifted Gorgeousness update and a WIPocalypse update.  I haven't had much time for stitching due to my current workload ... so I am combining both updates.

Shown above is my progress on "A Chirpy Sort of Place" which was gifted to me by a non-stitchy friend, who gave me 2 Pooh kits.  The 2 Pooh kits have lots of areas of solid color, which make them great to work on when I am tired or having trouble concentrating.  Below is where I left off last time:

I also stitched on "Simple Blessings" by Sandy Orton.  I am stitching this Quaker sampler from a pattern in "The Best of Kooler Design Studio", which was a gift.  This book has so many wonderful patterns!

I finally added the second turkey to my little "Give Thanks" sampler, which was a freebie pattern from DMC.  I wish I had more stitching time to finish this, as I don't really have any finished Thanksgiving themed pieces.

I also started another Sandy Orton Sampler using floss purchased with a gift card from my Mom.  This is the "Spanish Sampler" and is worked from the outside border in towards the center.  It has many specialty stitches, so it should be a nice challenge.  I have finished the outside cross stitch border 191 x 191 stitches and started working on a corner motif.

Here is where it is headed:

WIPocalypse question of the month: What pattern (or designer) is on your must-try-to-stitch bucket list?

I'm afraid I don't have a simple answer to this question.  I have seen so many wonderful designers over the years.  I would love to stitch "Bothy Threads" cut-thru Haunted House and cut-thru Castle, a Long Dog sampler, a Chatelaine, a Glendon Place dessert, an Ink Circles design or two or three, and I'm sure there are many more!

That's all for this update.
Happy Stitching!

Sugar Skulls and Uneven Evenweave

I stitched up these cute sugar skulls from a free pattern found here:
http://commonthread.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Octubre-Halloween-Chart.pdf

I stitched the skulls on 14 count white plastic canvas, backed the ornaments with black felt and added a black satin ribbon loop for hanging.

Last week I had a dental appointment that I was dreading, so I made myself a "goodie package" to look forward to when it was over.  My goodie package included the pattern, fabric, threads and beads I needed to start Sandy Orton's "Spanish Sampler".  (shown below)

Well ... I survived the dentist and excitedly started the sampler. I measured and cut the fabric and zigzag stitched the edges.   Following the instructions, I started stitching from the outside border.  

After counting and recounting.  Measuring and remeasuring.  Stitching and frogging and stitching again ... I knew something was "off".  I finally realized that my evenweave was in fact, uneven!

When I figured that out, I continued on with the border to get an idea of how the project would be affected.

This is what my border looks like currently:

Stitched on 28 count over 2 threads: I ended up with 13 stitches to the inch across and 14 stitches to the inch down, which makes this "evenweave" 26 x 28 count. Uugh!

I know this doesn't look like much progress, but I have 2 days and several hours into the project.  My sweetie thinks that the stitching will draw the focus and no-one will even think about the project not being square.

Me: "Well, I'm a slightly irregular person, so the project suits me."
Sweetie: "SLIGHTLY?"

So, I will probably continue on with the project and see how it goes.  lol. 

PS.  The uneven evenweave is MCG Textiles: