February WIPocalypse Update

Napping Kitten

It's time for another WIPocalypse update.  These are projects that I am trying to finish before the world ends. LOL.

This month I worked on several projects.  I made some progress on "Napping Kitten".  The image below shows where I left off the last time I worked on it.

I also stitched quite a bit on my "Castle Sampler" by Teresa Wentzler.  I am stitching this project on 28 ct evenweave.  Several sections of the border are stitched over 1 thread, and the central areas are stitched over 2 threads.  I purchased this kit on ebay many years ago for a steal.  The original owner had sorted and organized the threads, made blown up copies of the chart, and started stitching ... however misunderstood the instructions and was stitching the center portion over 1 thread.  It took me a bit to frog out the stitched portion, but it was worth the effort.  It will be beautiful when completed.

I continued my progress on "Afternoon Nap".  

I also stitched on my "Spring Sampler".  The cologne girl's face looks a little funny, but will come into focus once I put in the final stitches and add the back stitching.  

That sums up my stitching this month.  I have been having terrible trouble with my eyesight for the past year, so I am happy that I am making steady progress once again.  I feel incentive to complete as many of my projects as I can, while I am able.

Thanks for stopping by.  Happy Stitching!

WIPocalypse Update for July

The time sure does fly by, especially with the days feeling "all the same" for the past several months.  Anyhow ... time for another WIPocalypse update.

This month I stitched mainly on my "Berry Patch Rooster".  I filled in stitches on the feet and legs, and stitched a large amount of the yellow in the border.

Here is where I left off last time:

 I also stitched a bit on my "Halloween Pumpkin" - I stitched some grey/black on the cat and a bit more of the moon.

And, I stitched a bit on Teresa Wentzler's "Castle Sampler", working more on the border. (Pardon the bad image - my camera batteries are dead, so I had to use my scanner.)  I will be working on this one for a long time to come.  Lots of blending and lots of details.  I do love to work on it, though.

Question of the Month: What new charts or designers are catching your eye this year?

Sad to say, but I have not looked at anything new.  I have been focusing on my current WIPs.  I am interested to see what charts and designers everyone else is stitching.  Maybe I will find a few to add to my holiday wish list.  (hee-hee)

That's all for me.
Happy Stitching!

WIPocalypse Update for April

I'm still here and stitching for the WIPocalypse.  You'd think that I would have lots of stitching accomplished ... not quite ... however I do have some progress to report.
As you can see above, I made progress on my "Berry Patch Rooster".   The photo below shows where I left off last time.

I still have plenty to do: the remainder of the rooster, all of the berries,  most of the border, and all of the back stitching.   But progress was made.

I also had the itch to pick up Theresa Wentzler's "Castle Sampler".   I finished the basic framework of the main border and did more work on the interior border.  It doesn't look like much ... but this was hours and hours of stitching!  Progress!

Previous update:

Lastly, I stitched a bit on my "Women of the Mayflower Sampler".  I don't really have the right floss colors, but I am making do with floss I have on hand..   I really wanted to stitch this now. 

Four hundred years ago the passengers (including a couple of my ancestors) took that long journey on a crowded ship with rough seas and shortages of food and other items, to make their way to the new world for the chance at a better life.  Our few months of quarantine pale in comparison - but this does make a fitting and memorable time to stitch this piece.  1620 ~ 2020

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

I have several projects from the 90's that were boxed up in storage for years.  I do pick them up occasionally and add a few stitches, but haven't really had the incentive to finish them.  I am drawn more to my current projects.  However, I do try to complete at least 1 of my oldest projects each year.   Last year I finished "Carousel Tiger" by Angela Pullen which was a gift from my younger sister back in the 90's.
  
I hope you are all faring well during this crazy time.  
Happy Stitching!

my WIPocalypse post for November

Teresa Wentzler's Castle Sampler

I made some decent progress this month with my WIPocalypse projects.  I stitched on my "Castle Sampler" by Teresa Wentzler.  I focused on the framework and border areas, putting in several hours of stitching.

"American Sampler" by Sandra Sullivan

I completed the alphabet and worked a bit around the yard on "American Sampler" by Sandra Sullivan.  I am mainly using bits of floss leftover from other projects to stitch this one.  I may also play around with "aging" this sampler once I am finished stitching it.  

I found the chart in the book "The DMC Book of Cross Stitch and Counted Thread Work" by Eleanor Van Zandt (published 1994).  There are several types of projects in the book, including some Hardanger (which I have yet to try) and blackwork.
 

Cut Thru' Gypsy Wagon by Amanda Loverseed

I also put some stitches into my "Gypsy Wagon", which is rolling along.  I am back-stitching as I go ... but I may save the French knots until the end.  This is a fun project on which to stitch!

And last, but not least ...  I put a few hours of stitching into "Ride to Dreamland".  This is one of my very old WIPs - but I do make sure to add a few stitches now and then.

Ride to Dreamland

That's all for my update this time.  I can't wait to see what everyone else has worked on this month.

Happy Stitching!

my July WIPocalypse Update

Multi-Coloured Alphabet by Gail Lawther

It's time for another WIPocalypse update.  I did manage a pretty good amount of progress on some of my WIPs this month.

I added a few more blocks of color to my "Multi-Coloured Alphabet" by Gail Lawther.  

I also added more stitching to the border framework of "Castle Sampler" by Teresa Wentzler. 

  
And I put some time into my "Berry Patch Rooster".  

I also found time to whip up a little spider ornament from one of my very old patterns (available here).  I took my little spider chart and stitched him on some plastic canvas, adding red beads for eyes.  I then stitched with variegated floss to fill in a circle shape around him.  I backed the stitched piece with felt and pinked around the edge. Then I added a ribbon and some beads to finish off the ornament.

It felt good to have a finish for the month, even though it was just a small finish!
See you next time.

my October WIPocalypse Update

Her Majesty's Carousel

It's time for another WIPocalypse update.  WIPocalypse projects are all of the projects that I have in progress, that I would like to finish before the world ends. 

I am attempting to stitch (at least a little bit) on ALL of my WIPs this year.   

I finally pulled out "Her Majesty's Carousel" after not touching it for about 2-1/2 years. (shame!)  It appeared to be nearly finished ... however, I now see that there are many parts left to complete.  Aside from finishing the cross stitching and back stitching, there is the gold border to finish, a lot of beading throughout, and some twisted cording to make for the horses reins.  So, I do have a ways to go AND it starts with a single stitch - so I filled in here and there with some of the cross stitching, and I completed the back stitching on the horse's pole.  

I then moved on to Teresa Wentzler's "Summer Carousel Horse".  Oh Boy.  My stitching on this one moves as slow as mud.  I worked for hours on the tail ... here is what I have to show for it:

 Here is where I was last time:

Oh well.  Any progress is good.

I also stitched a bit on "Ride to Dreamland":

It may be hard to tell, but I did make some progress on the flowers from the top center towards the right.  Here is my before shot:

The most enjoyable stitching I did this month was on Sandy Orton's "American Sampler".

I added an entire bird!  lol.  I also worked a bit on the background filler "Alternating Half Cross Stitch", which basically changes the look and color of the linen behind the other stitching.  This project is barely begun ... but I love working on it!    

I did work on a few other projects this month - with one finish, which will be revealed during the upcoming "Halloween Blog Hop".   Stay tuned.

Topic of the month: How did you begin stitching?

I have my Grandma to thank for that.  She was very crafty with sewing, crochet, embroidery, etc...  I remember going with her to a sale (most likely a church sale), where I found some printed floral pillowcases & just had to have them to stitch on.  Never mind that I was very young and had never done any type of stitching before.   Of course, my Grandma bought them for me.  I do have the finished pillowcases tucked away somewhere - I ended up removing my clumsy first stitching and restitching them years later.  

In the 80's I moved on to cross stitching - as it was quite popular and easy to find.  I stitched through the 80's and 90's (hence all the Carousel projects - very popular back then).

That's all for my WIPocalypse update this month.
Happy stitching!

 

my September WIPocalypse Update

Castle Sampler

It's time again for a WIPocalypse update.  Where did the time go?   WIPocalypse projects are all of the projects that I have in progress, that I would like to finish before the world ends.

This month I only managed to work on a couple of my WIPs.  I picked up Teresa Wentzler's Castle Sampler.  Last time I stitched on it, I was so happy to have stitched several of the clouds to the left of the castle.  So much blending, so many slightly different colors ... well, after stitching several clouds, I noticed that all of the clouds were supposed to be done in 1/2 stitch only.  Uugh!   So this month, I frogged out all of the clouds and moved right over to stitch on the border.  One color, no blending, no 1/2 stitches - just plain old cross stitch.  What a relief!  

Here is where I left off last time:

I also stitched on my "Linen Sampler" by  Nancy Rossi.  I managed to finish the leaves across the middle of the sampler, and started stitching the larger alphabet.  I still have quite a ways to go on this one.  

Also this month, I worked on my Gifted Gorgeousness projects (see my previous post), and I stitched on a Halloween project in preparation for next month's festivities.

I have 7 finishes for the year so far - which is surprising, as my stitching time has been sadly lacking.  I still have 22 WIPs that I haven't even touched this year!  So much to do, so little time!  I am really going to try to put at least a few stitches in each of those 22 before the end of the year. 

Question of the Month – Which floss (or color of floss) do you absolutely adore and want to stash constantly?

I really don't have a floss stash.  I tend to have everything kitted up & then use any leftover floss for ornaments as I go along.  If I was going to stash - I would likely stash black floss (for big Quaker samplers and Halloween projects).

That's all I have for my update ... I look forward to seeing what everyone else has worked on this month.

Happy Stitching!







 

my July WIPocalypse Update

It's time for another WIPocalypse update!  I managed quite a bit of stitching last month - I showed several projects in my last post ... here are the remaining projects I stitched on this month.

I made some good progress on "Gathering Honey".  I finished the beehive, added the bees and planted a couple of rows in my garden.  I am completed the back stitching as I work on each section.

This is how it looked last month:

I also pulled out Teresa Wentzler's Castle Sampler:

I stitched on the left band and filled in here and there on the castle.  I made good progress on the clouds ... UNTIL ... I realized that the cloud area was supposed to be done in 1/2 cross stitch!!  GRRR!  It's hard to tell from the photo, but each cloud has between 4 and 6 different colors in it, and each was a blended color.  I'm not sure yet if I will frog it or leave it be.

This is where I left off last time ... very slow progress on this one.

I made some progress on my Halloween Pumpkin:

You can see my progress from the last photo:

Topic of the Month: the Olympics Stitch-along Challenge
I plan to join in on the Olympics Stitch-a-long.  I have so many big projects to work on ... so I think I will participate in the "Rotation Challenge".  There are 17 days of the Olympics, so I will attempt to work on a different project each day.

That's all I have for this update.  Happy Stitching!

DUCJC : Feb 07-11

Whew!  I am still going on the challenge.  This month I am working on a different WIP each day and trying to make a bit of progress on my larger projects.

On Feb 7, I stitched on Castle Sampler by Teresa Wentzler (15.5"x 14.125" on 27ct. evenweave).  I managed to get some more work done on the border around the castle.

project:

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On Feb 8, I picked up "To Everything A Season" Sampler by Sandy Orton (18"x 11" on 28 ct evenweave).  I worked on the 2nd bird & almost got him finished.

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On Feb 9, I returned to "Butterfly Forest" (10" x 16" on 14 ct. aida). I worked on the half stitch background a bit more.

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On Feb 10, I stitched on "Napping Kitten" (5" x 7" on 18 ct. aida), filling in a few spots in the flowers and fur.

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On Feb 11, I brought out my "Linen Sampler" (14"x 18" on 25ct linen).  I stitched the medium blue on all of the small flowers and added a bit of green to the leaves.

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By then end of this challenge, I will have 59 WIPs! (what!)  But, I am having a blast stitching along with all of the other challenge stitchers & enjoying visits to all of your blogs.

Happy Stitching!

my WIPocalypse Update for February

I haven't had a lot of time for stitching this past month, but I do have a few updates to post.

Nature's Alphabet progressed a bit ... I managed to add the L, the G, part of the H, and a bit of the border.  The image below shows where I left off during my last update.

I worked a bit on Teresa Wentzler's Castle Sampler.

I did add some stitching to the castle, but also started the inner border (which moves along much more quickly!).  The image below shows where I left off during my last update.

I also made some progress on my small latch hook rug.  I have completed 40 rows now - about 36%!  This rug (16" x 32") is so easy to work on compared to my large rug (50" x 30"), which takes up so much room as I work.

previously:

currently:

For this WIPocalypse update, Measi asked us, "How many projects do you generally feel comfortable having in progress at a time?  Tell us about your one-at-a-time or rotation habits!"
  
Like so many others: "pre-internet", I used to stitch one project at a time.  I stayed focused, and made quicker progress.  However, I have since caught the "startitis" bug and am finding myself with many WIPs.  There are just so many fabulous patterns out there to stitch!

I find that I enjoy having several projects to work on.  I do not have a planned rotation, I just work on whichever project calls out to me.  Some days my eyes are tired and I will stitch on a project with larger count fabric & whole stitches.  Others days when I feel alert and up to a challenge, I select the most complicated or unusual project to work on.

I guess this concludes my WIPocalypse update.
Happy stitching everyone!