April WIPocalypse Oldest WIPs

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

Each month we have to share the projects we want to complete before the End Of The World.  

Since 2011 I have chosen a number of projects to focus on that year, starting with my "11 in '11" and increasing to "19 in '19" for this year.  You can find the full list here.

This month I stitched on six of my list, including two finishes:

1. Enchanted Alphabet by Lavender & Lace

 
stitched on 32 count Murano in Tiger Lily from Sparklies

2. Discworld Mappe by Lyndisfarne Designs

stitched on 32 count Murano custom-dyed by Sparklies

3. Gathering Eggs by Nora Corbett

stitched on 32 count Vintage Grain Linen

4. Summer Typography by Just Nan

stitched on 32 count Pink Linen

5. Nest Egg by Satsuma Street

stitched on 32 count Belfast in Marie's Daffodil by Chromatic Alchemy

6. Daffodil Egg by Mill Hill

stitched on 16 count aida

Measi always gives us a topic to discuss too.

April – Talk to us about your longest-running WIP or UFO.

That's an easy one - my oldest UFO is from the 1990s - Ernie Bishop's Noel Banner:

Since I took that photo I have stitched a little bit more on the O for my Longest Day Marathons:

Close-up of the L:

Last time I got them out I realised I had used the wrong Perle for the hardanger on the E so that's all got to come out too.  These will be added to my WIPocalypse one year.  I have 9 projects started pre-2016 and will add one per year to my list.

Here's the full list if you are interested:

Designer	Title	Start Date
Ernie Bishop	Noel Letters	01/12/98
Craft Collection	Art Nouveau Head	14/04/11
Marie Suarez	My Lovely Sewing Tools	14/10/11
Samplermakers	Spring Sampler	01/03/12
Yiota's Xstitch	Coffee Fairy	24/04/12
Papillon	Around the World	27/04/12
Scarlet Letter	English Transitional Sampler	11/12/12
Joan Elliott	Faces SAL	05/06/14
Kustom Krafts	Little Snapdragon	01/01/15

My Lovely Sewing Tools is in bold because that's on the list for this year.  It's my favourite out of them all which is why it made the cut. 

My oldest WIP (as in a project currently being worked on) is the Enchanted Alphabet by Lavender & Lace started on 2016.  But this was intended to be a long term project stitching one letter per month and then adding the embellishments a little each month.  Hopefully this will be declared finished this Hallowe'en.

Finally, there is still time to enter the Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop.  All the links now go direct to the relevant post so you don't have to search.  Happy Hunting!

March WIPocalypse New to Me

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

Each month we have to share the projects we want to complete before the End Of The World.  

Since 2011 I have chosen a number of projects to focus on that year, starting with my "11 in '11" and increasing to "19 in '19" for this year.  You can find the full list here.

This month I stitched on five of my list:

1. Enchanted Alphabet by Lavender & Lace

 
stitched on 32 count Murano in Tiger Lily from Sparklies

2. Gardens of London by Chatelaine

stitched on 32 count Belfast in Cotton Clouds by Crafty Kitten

3. Discworld Mappe by Lyndisfarne Designs

stitched on 32 count Murano custom-dyed by Sparklies

4. Summer Typography by Just Nan

stitched on 32 count Pink Linen

6. Nest Egg by Satsuma Street

stitched on 32 count Belfast in Marie's Daffodil by Chromatic Alchemy

nearly finished!

Measi always gives us a topic to discuss too.

March – What newer designers and product creators (fabric or floss dyeing, etc) out there have you discovered and recommend?

Unfortunately, because I've been stitching from stash I haven't really been in a position to discover many new designers or products.  I checked my 19 list and the only two new-to-me designers are Cottage Garden Samplings and Sue Hillis.  Neither of whom are particularly new to anyone else!  Last year my new find was Mrs Peggotty and her Alice in Wonderland designs.  I completed Alice last year and will be starting the Queen of Hearts in April:

Mrs Peggotty Arts

I suppose I could include my new hobby of rock painting in here!  I found a painted rock near the bus stop last Summer and joined the Facebook group to let the person know it had been found.  Of course, this started a whole new hobby for me.  One which I am thoroughly enjoying.  Painting rocks is considerably quicker than cross stitch for one thing.  Here is my latest, a little Easter Monster by Chris Ryniak, my new favourite artist:

Chris Ryniak on Instagram

Finally, I will be hosting my Annual Easter Treasure Hunt on Good Friday the 19th April. If you would like to take part this year, just leave a comment here. The week before Easter I will send you a letter of the alphabet which will form part of the mystery phrase. On Good Friday you will post that letter along with a photo of something seasonal that you have stitched (could be Easter or Spring or just something cheerful and sunny or floral). We all hop around like little bunnies to find the Mystery Phrase!

February WIPocalypse Listening and Watching

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

Each month we have to share the projects we want to complete before the End Of The World.  

Since 2011 I have chosen a number of projects to focus on that year, starting with my "11 in '11" and increasing to "19 in '19" for this year.  You can find the full list here.

This month I stitched on seven of my list, with 2 finishes:

1. Enchanted Alphabet by Lavender & Lace

 
stitched on 32 count Murano in Tiger Lily from Sparklies

2. Gardens of London by Chatelaine

stitched on 32 count Belfast in Cotton Clouds by Crafty Kitten

3. Discworld Mappe by Lyndisfarne Designs

stitched on 32 count Murano custom-dyed by Sparklies

4. Alice & the Flamingo by Mrs Peggotty

stitched over 1 on 25 count blue evenweave

5. Summer Typography by Just Nan

stitched on 32 count Pink Linen

6. Nest Egg by Satsuma Street

stitched on 32 count Belfast in Marie's Daffodil by Chromatic Alchemy

7. Poinsettia by Ink Circles

stitched over 1 on 28 count green evenweave

Measi always gives us a topic to discuss too.

February – What do you listen to while stitching?
It will one of a number of things:

1. Other people chatting if I'm at coffee morning

2. Planet Rock on the radio

3. FlossTube (if I'm alone) or Good Mythical Morning (if the Large Boy is at home)
4. Telltales sounds of the Small Boy getting up to mischief!

Let's talk about FlossTube though as it's the most stitchy related.  I follow a number of FlossTubers now and have several favourites.  Is it fair to pick out a couple?  Probably not!  Let's just say that three of my favourites are bloggers as well as YouTubers.  I think there's something about knowing the person blogs as well as makes videos which makes me feel we have more in common.

This afternoon I was listening to Stitching Noni, so here's a link to her latest video.

Finally, I'm slowly updating the Happy Dance blog.  When Photobucket wanted to charge us all to use their service they removed access to all our photos but then realised they weren't allowed to do that and put them back but with a nasty Photobucket watermark on.  So I am gradually working through older blog entries and my Happy Dance blog to replace them all.  It's not a fun task but it is nice to look at some older finishes!

January WIPocalypse SALs

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

Each month we have to share the projects we want to complete before the End Of The World.  

Since 2011 I have chosen a number of projects to focus on that year, starting with my "11 in '11" and increasing to "19 in '19" for this year.  You can find the full list here.

This month I stitched on five of my list:

1. Enchanted Alphabet by Lavender & Lace

stitched on 32 count Murano in Tiger Lily from Sparklies

2. Gardens of London by Chatelaine

stitched on 32 count Belfast in Cotton Clouds by Crafty Kitten

3. Discworld Mappe by Lyndisfarne Designs

4. Alice & the Flamingo by Mrs Peggotty

5. Summer Typography by Just Nan

stitched on 32 count Pink Linen

Measi always gives us a topic to discuss too.

January - What SAL’s are you participating in this year?

Quite a few as it turns out!  Most of them are the more open kind of SAL where you fit your existing stitching into the theme rather than stitching on the same project as everyone else.

You can find links for most of my SALs in the sidebar of my blog.

1. The People's Choice - posts on the first Saturday of each month - theme in sidebar

2. Fully Finished Gallery - post your FFOs on the 10th of each month

3. Gifted Gorgeousness - post anything gifted on the 15th of each month

4. Hallowe'en Ornie Blog - a different spooky theme each month

5. Christmas Ornie Blog - a different festive theme each month

6. Smalls SAL - last Friday of each month

7. WIPocalypse - last Sunday of each month

8. The TUSAL - post on the New Moon each month

9. Stitch-from-Stash - keep track of your spending and try stitching from your stash

10. 10-a-Day - stitch just 10 stitches on a project each day

Last year I stitched a Temperature SAL designed by Hetti which everyone enjoyed seeing grow and has prompted the question - will I do another one this year?

I was undecided and left it to serendipity.  Serendipity duly provided me a new design for this year!  I did not go looking for this, one of my FB friends posted it on her timeline and I was smitten.

Isn't it beautiful?  There is a branch for each month and the leaves are stitched in the temperature for the day.

The designer is Tom et Lily Creations and can be found here - Tom et Lily Creations - SAL temperature.  It is not a free design but the chart is only 10 Euros or you can buy it with the thread pack too.  There is also a Facebook group you can join, presumably once you buy the chart.  I have to wait until February to buy this but I am sure I can catch up quickly with January.  I've been noting the temperatures and have my colour key already.  I will use the same colours as last year.

Finally, I will be running the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop on Valentine's Day.

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

 

It's really very simple, all you have to do is email me a picture of something you have stitched which is suitable for a stitching friend on Valentine's Day.  It could be a heart, or a pair of cute creatures, or the word "love" or anything which warms your heart. Really anything you think a fellow stitcher would like to receive in her email Inbox.   It can be something you've stitched in the past or something you've made especially for this year.  It could also be quilted or sewn this year as I know some of my followers do other crafts too.

Send me the email by 10th February.

When I have all the emails I will randomise them and send one to each participant on 13th February.  Then on 14th February you must post the picture you receive onto your blog under the heading

 Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 

There will be a list on my blog of everyone joining in, so check out all the blogs and find out who got your picture and identify yourself  in their comments as their

Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 

Does that make sense to everyone?  I hope so!

If you'd like to be involved then leave a comment on this post or send me an email if you are "no-reply".   I'll be putting little reminders up from time to time and will email on 9th February to make sure you send the pic in time.  

January IHSW

IHSW or International Hermit and Stitch Weekend always starts on the third Friday of the month.  It's a chance to lock yourself away and focus on your stitching for the weekend.  You can take part on your blog or via the Facebook page.  Links at the bottom of this post.

Unfortunately I had to work on Saturday and Monday, which is usually my catch-up day if I work one of the weekend days.  Never mind, I did manage a couple of daisies on my lunchbreak project on those two days.  This is Just Nan's Thanks a Bunch:

stitched on 32 count white linen

I cleared Sunday afternoon to focus on my Discworld Mappe with the goal of completing the darker pink in the banner.  This is where I was at the start of Friday:

This is where I was at the end of Friday:

And this is where I am now:

Goal achieved!  To give you some idea of the size and scope of this piece, here is the cover photo with the page numbers for the pages I have stitched on already:

This is a good chance to show the progress on my two daily projects.  The first is my Ten-a-Day project which is Just Nan's Summer Typography, the fourth and final one in the series:

Day 76 - 760 stitches

stitched on 32 count Pink Linen

The second daily piece is Mrs Peggotty's Alice & the Flamingo.  Here is where I was last IHSW:

And here is where I am now:

stitched over 1 on 25 count blue evenweave

I stitched all the border to the right and bottom, frogged and restitched the pale green in her skirt, filled in the grass and made a start on the final tree.

A few people have said that they don't do Facebook and asked if I could host a link-up for them, so here it is! Just add your name and the link to your actual IHSW post, not just your blog home page.  

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The next IHSW will be 15th - 17th February so make sure you note the date in your diary or come and join us in the Facebook Group - IHSW on Facebook.  If you don't do Facebook then you can check in here.

Finally, I will be running the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop on Valentine's Day.

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

 

It's really very simple, all you have to do is email me a picture of something you have stitched which is suitable for a stitching friend on Valentine's Day.  It could be a heart, or a pair of cute creatures, or the word "love" or anything which warms your heart. Really anything you think a fellow stitcher would like to receive in her email Inbox.   It can be something you've stitched in the past or something you've made especially for this year.  It could also be quilted or sewn this year as I know some of my followers do other crafts too.

Send me the email by 10th February.

When I have all the emails I will randomise them and send one to each participant on 13th February.  Then on 14th February you must post the picture you receive onto your blog under the heading

 Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 

There will be a list on my blog of everyone joining in, so check out all the blogs and find out who got your picture and identify yourself  in their comments as their

Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 

Does that make sense to everyone?  I hope so!

If you'd like to be involved then leave a comment on this post or send me an email if you are "no-reply".   I'll be putting little reminders up from time to time and will email on 9th February to make sure you send the pic in time.  

Becoming a OAAT Stitcher!

Sort of anyway if you don't count the Ten-a-Day, the Temperature SAL and the Bath Time stitching!

The Focus on a Finish project is currently Just Nan's 12 Days of Christmas.  I had been doing one a month throughout the year and have just two left to complete in November and December.  It made sense to work on both together to save changing colours so much.

stitched on 32 count Vintage Grain linen

Getting close to a finish, just some black, some gold, the numbers and some backstitch.  Easily finished in time for Christmas this year.

The Temperature SAL is now firmly in the Green colours (7 to 14 degrees C)

One more column on the left and then the final four days of December have an entire side each.  Hetti has suggested that we had the words Temperature SAL and our location in the top and bottom borders which is a great idea.

I'm on Day 42 of my Ten-a-Day project which is currently Summer Typography:

stitched on 32 count Pink linen
(which looks nothing like that photo!)

It's really nice to be stitching something Summery even though I had to double check that was a yellow sun and not a white snowflake!

My rock painting has turned to Winter though.  Our group is hosting an Advent Calendar.  The chief Admin came up with 25 themes and we add a rock each day.  Here's a random selection of Christmas rocks I have done (not in any order, just added randomly).

Some will be hidden in the shop, some are off to Dover with a friend and some will be hidden near the local Primary School.  Too cold and muddy for the woods right now!

Finally, the Advent Calendar Blog Hop is now up and running.  We've seen some beautiful stitching and heard some lovely songs too.  I'm off to find out what today's choice is and update the post.  Don't forget to leave a comment on the post of the day.

November WIPocalypse New Techniques

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

Each month we have to share the projects we want to complete before the End Of The World.  For me, this will be my "18 in '18".  Many of them are part of SALs so I will be working on them each month.

This month I worked on 4 of my 18 projects:

1. Joan Elliott - Reading Fairy

stitched on 28 count Jazlyn in Aurora by Crafty Kitten

2. Just Nan - Haunted Autumn Mouse in a House

3. Mrs Peggotty - Alice & The Flamingo

stitched over 1 on 25 count blue evenweave

4. Just Nan - Summer Typography

stitched on 32 count Pink Linen

This will make you smile.  Each day I take a quick photo with my iPad and upload it to Facebook.  I don't worry about lighting at all, just as it comes.  So this is the first 20 days photos.  You wouldn't believe it's the same fabric, would you?  The first day is the most colour-accurate.

Each month Measi gives us a discussion topic:

November – What new stitches or techniques did you learn this year? 

I made my first mouse!



I have done 3D designs before but this was my first Just Nan mouse.

There may be some new speciality stitches in my Chatelaine but I'm not sure.



I can't wait to do more on this next year!  I plan to spend at least one week each month stitching on Gardens of London.  It would be nice to get all four corner gardens done.  I accept that this will be a VERY long term project.

Of course, rock painting is new too but you saw my latest batch in my previous post!  I might start a blog just for my rocks...

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎅🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Finally, I have all the names for the Advent Calendar Blog Hop entered into my spreadsheet so now all I have to do is email everyone with their dates and draft the post ready for the 1st.

I hope that you are all looking forward to it as much as I am!