Debbie Challenges Revisted

Jo had a fun idea to have a flash back post. Back in 2014 the blog world lost a beautiful person Debbie from California. She always had a wonderful comment on every post I made. I loved seeing her projects. She was always working on something that I would enjoy too. We had very similar tastes. It was a joy to read her blog and read my comments section each day. She loved new starts. In her honor we had some January challenges. We were talking about how many of those challenge pieces we finished on Rachel's FFG check in post last time. Saturday the 13th Jo said was Debbie's birthday so we thought a recap post in her honor would be nice. I'm a little late but here it is. Here is Jo's post. She has finished up all but 2 of her 2015 starts. Rachel has a post here celebrating she has completely finished her 2016 new starts and finished finished them as well. So now they got me curious. I have a feeling I will be really sad when I finish pulling this post together haha.

Jo's explained it perfect so here is her explanation of what the challenges were:

CJC = Crazy January Challenge, one new start for the first 15 days of January

UCJC = Ultimate Crazy January Challenge, one new start for all 31 days of January

DUCJC = Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge, stitch 31 projects one per day for January

SDUCJC = Super Duper Ultimate Crazy January Challenge, 60 starts throughout January and February

 

2015 I did CJC. Just 15 new starts in January.

 

Day 1 -- First of the set of 6 called Christmas Pals Ornaments from Dimensions. I finished the stitching and also finished these as a set of cubes when I finished them all through that year...

 

Day 2 -- I started Think Big by Heritage Crafts. I finished it up in May but it's still in my finished bin waiting to be made into something so it can be displayed. 

Day 3 -- Wish Upon a Starfish by Designs by Lisa. Still a WIP. Really want to finish it this year. We'll see...

Day 4 -- Summer Breeze a Mill Hill Kit. Still a WIP. I don't think I've picked this one up again honestly so it barely has anything on it. This is what it will look like though...

Day 5 -- Spring from Seasonal Wordplay booklet. I finished it in June but it is still waiting to be finished up and on display...

Day 6 -- Let's Be Jolly from Imaginating. Finished up in December still waiting in my box of shame...

Day 7 -- Blackwork Dragon from Dragon Dreams. I finished this one before the end of January that year. This one is hanging proudly on my wall. Loved working on it...

Day 8 -- Winter Wordplay another by Imaginating. Finished the stitching in February that year. This is another finish waiting in my box of shame...

Day 9 -- Family Blessing by Needle Bling Designs. Another one that has never been back out. I made a mistake on it when I started and then didn't pick it back up. Here is what it will look like...

Day 10 -- Inner Tube by Mill Hill.

Last time I worked on it was 2016. I haven't made much progress on it...

Day 11 -- Fall Wordplay. Finished it in November that year and it sits waiting to be finished with the others...

Day 12 --  Impronta D'Amore by Alessandra Adelaide (AAN) I nicknamed this one Paw Print. It has been out only a few times and the last time was in December 2015...

Day 13 -- Life Without Snow from Stoney Creek. Finished in December that year. Still waiting in box of shame. At least it has really good company to wait with doesn't it?

Day 14 -- Let's Be Wicked another word play design. Finished in October that year. Yep it's waiting in the box of shame with the others.

Day 15 -- Summer the last seasonal wordplay design from the Seasonal wordplay book. Finished in September that year.

So I have only 2 finished and able to be displayed. How sad! But there are 8 waiting to be finished for Rachel's FFG SAL. 2 are still WIPs. Only 3 have never been back out. So about what I figured haha.

Then in 2016 I joined in the DUCJC and started a new project every day for all of January. I didn't care about finishes as much then obliviously haha. I won't post pictures of all them but give me a second to tally the list up...

Fully Finished Off -- 9

Need Finished Off -- 9

WIP Status -- 4

Never Back Out -- 9

Not bad really. Still a lot waiting to be finished......I know I know Rachel haha.

I could do a year full of starting new pieces I'm sure with my stash of waiting to be started patterns but I am really trying hard to finish the pieces I have in my two tubs of WIPs. Plus this year you can tell by my counts on the side. I'm trying to FULLY finish my stitching instead of hiding it away. So I'm doing better in my opinion. Honestly stitching is about the process for me. I love the joy of stitching. Not so much having to show off my finishes. Of course that part is nice too though. I'm sure I will always be the kind of person to have a bunch of things going at the same time. I love being about switch out projects if I get bored.

More so than anything by doing this recap I realized how long some of us have been friends. Jo, Rachel and several others posted on those new starts then and still comment now. How fun to think how long we've known each other. Just random strangers with the same hobby. I can't say enough how much I love blogging and the people I have met because of it. I really enjoyed this look back. I always wonder what the next blog game/SAL/challenge will be.

2016 Smalls SAL Final Post

This year I joined a fun SAL and it's time for the final check in for the Smalls SAL. The point was to pick a pattern to work on each month. It could be anything you considered small. The goal was to work on your choice each month and at the end of the year have 12 completed projects. I had this leaflet in my stash for I have no idea how long...

I thought this would be the perfect plan and just hoped I would stick to it. I was doing the DUCJC (Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge) so I started the Jan one in Jan but didn't get to finish it till Feb. I finished all the other ones during the month they were for. So last but not least here is Dec Whimsy just finished up a few minutes ago...

(31) December 30th

A Year of Whimsy by Dimensions (Out of Print)

Stitched on Perforated Paper

Used Suggested DMC

Started whole project for DUCJC Jan 1st, 2016.
Took 6 Days.

 

I have a piece of cork board beside my calendar right by my computer. I use a thumbtack and they can hang where I will see them everyday. I love them!!! Here is the whole set now...

The whole project ended up taking me 57 days to complete. I'm so happy I stuck with them and got them all finished up!! If you follow the link at the top of this post or on my sidebar you can sign up to join in next year. It was a great push for me to stick with these. Plus they are finished finishes even!! I will be announcing soon my patterns for next year but I'll tell ya I have another monthly series picked out.

2 Finishes to Report

In this midst of the hustle and bustle of the Christmas rush I've been stealing time to stitch. I have two finishes to report.

Finish # 29 Snow Kisses by VeeandCo Cross Stitch

Fabric is 28ct Navy Evenweave Threads DMC

Started for DUCJC Jan 11th, 2016

Took 6 Days

This was one of my 2016 DUCJC starts and I really wanted to finish it up. So happy to mark it off my list. Pretty sure this makes 14 of the 31 starts now. Not as good as I wanted of course but I'll take it. As always I've added many projects throughout the year so that doesn't help. Like this next project...

I was ordering some things  forced to purchase some new stash. I had bought a 2016 PALs Exclusive pattern and wanted was forced into buying the threads for it. Haha. Anyway enough excuses I also spotted a piece that I wanted to do for my mom sometime. It's hard to stitch a surprise for my mom since we own a house together. Yesterday she happened to leave the house and be gone for several hours so I hurried and started the new piece. I was able to finish it last night quickly after she had went to bed. So I will be able to give it to her for Christmas now. I'm so glad! Anyway here is the finished piece...

Finish # 30 Grandma Stitch Wit Kit by Dimensions

Used kit materials. My first embroidery piece.

Finished with included hoop.

Took 1 Day. Finished December 14th, 2016 

I didn't notice until I received it that it was embroidery instead of cross stitch. It was really easy but I have to admit I didn't enjoy it as much as cross stitching. So I'll have to watch more careful next time I'm forced to go shopping haha. 

Now I have two finishes. In my mind that's always a good reason to start a new piece. Plus I did receive those beautiful new specialty threads so it only makes sense I make sure they work and go into the fabric correctly haha. Yes I have a long list of things I have to work on and plus my I should be working on Grandpa's piece. Let me show you the beautiful new pattern I want to start though...

This is a 2016 PALs Exclusive from Silver Creek Samplers called Taking it e-Sea but I think I heard she is going to release it next year sometime for everyone else. It uses beautiful Gentle Art and Weeks Dye threads. So hopefully now you understand why I must start it. Tomorrow Fred (hubby) has the day off work so Mom and me are going shopping. Saturday I'll be busy most the day wrapping presents so I'm making today a lazy day. I deserve it. We are in for some interesting weather this weekend. Right now we have 7 inches of snow on the ground and below zero temps. We are supposed to get rain/snow/ice from tomorrow afternoon till Saturday night. Who knows what will happen. Hope everyone has a great weekend! See ya Monday.

Monday Update?

I guess I missed a Monday Update post didn't I? LOL We went out Christmas shopping the whole day yesterday so I missed updating. We went out last Friday shopping too and had wishful thinking of how much we would get done. Yeah right haha. We ended up just walking a lap of the mall and being stuck in traffic instead. Yesterday we did get a lot done finally. So anyway here is my Monday Tuesday update.

Last week we had a just all around crappy week. It didn't seem like we got anything done at all. We wanted to decorate for Christmas but the dust bunnies attacked and we realized it was time for a deep clean. So the decorations are still waiting impatiently to be put out. We did get our Christmas tree Saturday at a local tree farm. Here it is all decorated...

I also didn't get to pick up my stitching last week. Which I'm sure didn't help my stress level. So Sunday I unplugged from the world and forced myself to pick up my stitching again. I pulled out a DUCJC 2016 start that I hadn't worked on since...

 

This is called Snow Kisses from VeeandCo Designs. The picture right above this shows my Jan 11th progress. Here is where I got after the 2nd day of progress...

I think I'll keep this one out for a bit. It's really cold and we even had our first accumulating snow Sunday (only 2 inches) so a snowman seems like the right pick for right now. Here's hoping for a stress free week for everyone reading this.

Busy Busy but a finish to report

I've been so crazy busy. We had a very nice Thanksgiving here in our home. Life has been going non stop it seems like since my last update. I did get to work on my canvas work class piece. I remembered to post on Instagram just hadn't sit down to do a blog post until now. Of course I just not realized I don't have a picture to share of my canvas piece so I guess that will wait till the next post. I did get the first 5 bands of the 26 done. It's fun to work on. Just need time haha. I also have put a few days of work into the Family Crest.

Anyway the reason I got on here to post was to share a finish...

(28) November 27th

A Year of Whimsy by Dimensions (Out of Print)

Stitched on Perforated Paper

Used Suggested DMC

Started whole project for DUCJC Jan 1st, 2016.
Took 5 Days.

 

I can't believe I only have one month left. I have enjoyed these guys so much! Plus I've stuck with finishing them up each month. I think that's the first time I've picked a monthly project and actually stuck with it the whole year haha.

 

Today we put away all our fall decorations. Now we have that just robbed look haha. Now we can get busy putting out the Christmas/Snowmen decorations. Fred (hubby) put out the front of the house Christmas lights yesterday. I just LOVE the bright colors and lights of this time of year. I'm getting more stitching time this time of year just need more blog updating time too haha. Hope everyone is doing well and had a Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate now.

Monday Update

Over the weekend I pulled out another DUCJC piece I started in Jan 2016. This one is Ocean of Wisdom by Erica Michaels. Here is a reminder of what it will look like...

 This is what I got done on that first day in January...

Here it is now after Day 3 of Progress...

So little!!! It's another 40ct gauze piece and even though Yes my eyes do get tired I LOVE working on it!! The little anchor fits on the end of my finger tip. I'm using DMC floss and on this you just do a half stitch instead of the full X. Now I have to put it down and get back to Grandpa's Family Crest for a few days.

Voice of the Sea Finished

I have a finish to report. Plus it's a finished finish the best kind. Here are some pics...

 

 

The Voice of the Sea

Hands on Designs 2014 PALs Exclusive

Fabric 28ct Evenweave Sapphire Blue

DMC Threads 2 Charms were included with Chart

That makes 13 of my 31 2016 DUCJC marked off now. My 27th finish of the year.

Monday Update

After working on Beach Blessings during my stitching retreat the piece kept calling to me to be finished up. I put 2 days into working on my Grandpa's Family Crest and then went back to work on Beach Blessings. I started it for the Jan DUCJC Day #25. Here it is all finished up...

Beach Blessings by Erica Michaels

Adaptation of her Beach Blessings Chart with different border for 2015 PALs Retreat

Fabric 36ct Molino Solo Evenweave

Threads 7 Gentle Art and 2 DMC 1 strand over 2

Started Jan 25, 2016 for DUCJC Took 9 Days

I really enjoy working with the Gentle Art threads. I also enjoyed working on 36ct since you can only use 1 thread over 2. I plan to finish it into a little display pillow. After finishing this one up I picked up another PALs piece. Here is what it will look like...

It's another one I started for DUCJC Day #30. Here is my 2nd Day progress...

Almost finished the one side. Just need to finish the red outline for putting it together and attach the charm.

My mom's arm is still healing. It is slowly getting better she can at least move it a bit. I still feel way behind. I need to take a day and catch up on my blog reading. I miss seeing everyone's beautiful work. The laundry is finally mostly caught up on. What a stupid thing. You do it and then turn around and have new laundry to do. Kind of like dishes. Oh well guess we all have to keep doing it don't we?

Just in time October Whimsy

 (Finish 25) October 31st

A Year of Whimsy by Dimensions (Out of Print)

Stitched on Perforated Paper

Used Suggested DMC

Started whole project for DUCJC Jan 1st, 2016.
Took 6 Days.

 

Just in time! I literally just finished this one and hurried to get it posted before November gets here. This was a close one. Love it though!! I can't believe I only have two of these whimsy's left.

Friday Mom and I was outside doing some yardwork. We were pulling up our tomato plants since they were done for the season. I just heard her screaming and saw her holding her arm. She was barely able to walk inside the house. She told me she thought she did something to her arm. She couldn't move it at all. So I insisted she go get it looked. Didn't seem like it was okay to wait and see what happened. I worried her arm was out of socket. She went to a walk in clinic and they sent her immediately to a specialist. The lady told her she thinks she tore her bicep tendon muscle. OUCH!! No surgery required because of mom's age. It wouldn't really help much and it would be a horrible recovery. So she gave her pain meds and told her to ice it. Now that some time has passed I don't think it was a complete tear I think she just pulled it. She is still in pain but I think she really lucked out. She is finally able to move it more today. The healing process will be a long one but hopefully not as long as originally thought to be. Not a nice welcome home from the garden. Fred and me were able to get it all finished up Saturday.

By the way Happy Halloween!! I'm so behind on blog reading but I wanted to get my October Whimsy finished up before I turned the calendar to November. Goal met now I can breath a little.

August Gifted Gorgeousness / Monday Update

Today is time for a Gifted Gorgeousness check in. I'm still in the middle of my busy busy time. Since the last check in (July 15th) I have found time to work on my Elshire Family Crest for my Grandpa though. Only 4 days worth of work unfortunately! Here is where I was for the July 15th check in...

Here is where I am now...

I have made progress just not as much as I would like. My needles just pretty much stopped on me. So that meant I needed a break. I worked on a few other pieces. Last Monday I finished up a Pumpkin face Halloween project. Then I put 2 days into another DUCJC piece. It's not a gift though so stop reading if you are here for Gifted Gorgeousness haha.

Now onto the Monday Update part of my post. I worked on one of the Christmas Treasures. Remember them from 2016 DUCJC?

I decided to have fun with Jodyri threads that I won in a giveaway and just make them Treasures not Christmas Treasures. Here is the first one finished up...

I finished it up in March. I used Tulip Garden thread with that one. Here is my progress on the 2nd one...

I'm using Jodyri thread Autumn Berries. I just LOVE this thread and it's color blend. This is my progress after 2 days. This one is on a sparkly Aida fabric. Love the way it's turning out.

We had another fun Thursday through Saturday out garage sale hunting. This time was the Lincoln Hiway Buy Way. The part we did goes across Ohio. We stayed at a hotel along the route 2 nights. We ended up with a little less than 200 garage sales. The only thing I found stitching related was two more project boxes for $1.25! Jeremiah got some awesome books for school though!! 2 really amazing Life magazine published books about the September 11th attack. They were marked $25 and $20 originally and we got them for $5! They are full of personal stories and just amazing pictures. There was another one that is Letters Home from World War 2. They included photo copies of the original letters. We glanced through it and just can't wait to read the history of these personal stories. It was $1! I found some workbooks for his school work that were originally $15 each and got them for $1 or $2. So we some great deals!! It was horrible hot and we are so sore from all the walking and getting in and out but we had so much fun!!

There is a little of this and a little of that going on this week. We'll be starting up our school year one day soon too. But I'm hoping to pick back up the Family Crest and work on it till Friday. Hopefully my needles will find the mojo and get to stitching!

Halloween Minis

On DUCJC 2016 Day 2 I started Artecy Halloween Mini's. Here is a reminder of what they will look like...

I started with the pumpkin face. Here he is all finished...

I had to use my new Walking Dead Q-snap huggy too of course since it was a scary piece. I love how it turned out. I'm using 14ct Aida for these. I'm thinking they will make fantastic cube finishes when/if I ever get them done haha. Now I'm trying to decide what to work on. I needed a break from the Family Crest. My needles got bored and just refused to move on that one. Luckily I have a HUGE supply of WIPs haha.

Monday Update - 3 Finishes!!!

When I get time to actually stitch I get a lot done haha. Friday I was able to finish up the July Whimsy...

 

(Finished 17) July 29th

A Year of Whimsy by Dimensions (Out of Print)

Stitched on Perforated Paper

Used Suggested DMC

Started whole project for DUCJC Jan 1st, 2016.
Started this one July 26th, 2016. Took 4 Days.

 

After that I picked up a DUCJC piece Tour Postcard from Summer House Stitche Workes. It was my #12 start in January. Here it is all finished up...

I finished it on Saturday. Sunday I picked up my last postcard start Beach Postcard from Summer House Stitche Workes. It was my #9 start.

I can't wait to finish these post card designs onto the burlap frames and decorate them. Hopefully I'll find time to do that soon. This week I'm going to work on the Family Crest. Hope everyone has a great week. Welcome to August!!

I'm alive!

Yes I'm still alive. I took a few days to enjoy just being home. It took me 8 loads of laundry to catch up haha. Then I finally picked my needle up again. It felt great.

I was able to get May finished from the Year of Whimsy leaflet. I was worried I wasn't going to get to this one but now she's done and still in May.

Saturday we got our tomato garden planted. We also got some other pretty flowers planted. Of course now my hurt hurts from all the bending and exercising muscles evidently I don't have haha. I'm still busy busy. I have a lot to do before Thursday. Then I leave and go with a friend to a concert. Friday afternoon hubby is coming up and we'll camp with our friends for the holiday weekend. Can't wait but have a lot to do first. So there's my quick update. I know I missed WIPocalypse and Gifted Gorgeousness. I'll have to jump back in next month hopefully. I'm also a million behind on blog reading. Just haven't been spending time on the computer lately. At least I got one blog update in. Now I'm off I'm off.

Monday Update / Gifted Gorgeousness / IHSW

Grab a drink and pull up a chair it's a big update today. I decided to put the computer aside and stitch so it's time to catch up today.

First up is Gifted Gorgeousness. I worked on several pieces but for this check in I will share with you another beach themed piece that my mom got me at the PALs retreat last year...

This one is called Beach Blessings. It's from Erica Michael's. I'm stitching it on 36ct 1 thread over 2 with GAST threads. I love working with them. They turn out so pretty. I started this one for the DUCJC Jan 25th. This is now 3 days of progress.

This weekend was a IHSW (International Hermit Stitch Weekend). I picked up the Spring Bell Pull from Stoney Creek. Here is where I got after the weekend on the P block...

Love the cute rabbit and adorable caterpillar on the top. My needle really fell in love with this block and I was happy to get so much progress over the weekend.

I'm also going to check in with the Monday Stitchery Link Party. Follow the link and see what some others have been working on lately.

A quick look ahead and my life is getting busy busy. 3 sleepies (how we count down to something haha) until we leave for a camping trip. 3 sleepies after that I leave on a trip with Mom and Jeremiah to Minnesota. Memorial Day another camping trip. Next weekend after that I leave with Fred for our anniversary trip. So I'm excited and yet thinking WOW. Hopefully I'll steal time for X's in there too.