WIPocalypse - March

This month has seen brilliant progress on my WIPocalypse projects!  I have finished Honeysuckle Courtyard and am now working on A Place Like Home.  I also put a few stitches into Gardens of London too.

This month's question is:

If money - and time - were not limiters, what projects would be on your stitching bucket list?

I love it when a question is so easy to answer!  I would probably just get pretty much every one of the Chatelaine's and all the silks etc to stitch them with too. There are so many that I love and when I was planning on getting my first one, it was hugely difficult to decide which one to go for.

WIPocalypse - February update

There has been very little stitching going on in the last month what with college applications and interviews, archery, school stuff (both mine at work and the kids).  In fact, the only thing that I have worked on is Honeysuckle Courtyard.  I am doing this for my soon-to-be-ex-husband's parents for their 50th wedding anninversary.

Note the cute little needleminder that Justine sent me recently.  I've never had one before and am loving it!  So is my daughter actually, she doesn't keep getting stabbed by me needles in the arm of the sofa now!!

The topic this month is 'How do you overcome the feeling that you are in a rut with a particular project?'   Well, I hate to say it, but if you know me you will know the answer to this already!  I tend not to.  I tend to move onto a new project although I always intend to go back to it eventually.  My worst habit is not unpicking mistakes straight away which always makes it harder to go back to it.  I did try stitching a length or two of threads in 'unloved' projects once, but it didn't work for long!  I am looking forward to hearing the answers to this question for a bit of inspiration!

Wipocalypse 2015

I have signed up for this again this year and hope to make it further through the year than I have previously.  The projects I am going to choose for WIPocalypse this year are ones that I would REALLY like to finish this year.  In no particular order, they are:

1. Honeysuckle Courtyard - Patricia Ann Designs
2. Gardens of London - Chatelaine
3. Oh Christmas Tree - All Through the Night
4. A Place we Call Home - CCN 
5. Halloween Town SAL - The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery

So that should be enough to get me started!

I would like to make some serious progress on projects this year and be a lot less flittery fluttery with what I stitch.  I think racing to finish Debbie's unicorn last year showed that actually I don't stitch quite as slowly as I thought I did and that when I make an effort to work on just one project I can actually record a decent amount of progress.

Honeysuckle Courtyard

A Place we Call Home

Halloween Town SAL

Gardens of London

Oh Christmas Tree

This is where I am on all my projects at the moment.  Hopefully there will be some progress on each of them this month. 

I think that people probably know about me but if you don't and there is anything you want to, just ask!

WIPocalypse update

Sorry this is late again!

This month I have worked on...absolutely nothing that was on my WIPocalypse list...ooops!

However, I can tell you all about my oldest and newest WIP's.  That's easy!

My oldest is most likely to be a gorgeous Cat's Alphabet sampler by Janlynn.  I started this in or around 2003.  It was my first ever purchase on discovering Hobbycraft.  I didn't know as much back then as I do now and two of the things I didn't know was that the oils from the scroll frame could mark the fabric and that I shouldn't really leave the fabric in sunlight for any length of time.  Do you think you can guess how I learnt both of these?  Yep it was hard to tell which one had done the most damage to the fabric, sun fade or oil marking.  Strangely enough I was toying with the idea of getting a new bit of fabric to start this again as even after all this time, I still love the design. I would however, stitch it on evenweave instead of aida this time.

My newest WIP is definitely Bothy Threads Haberdasher's which I am loving.  I posted a photo of progress in my last post, but don't mind boring you with it again!

There's not much to say about it except I am loving it!!

WIPocalypse - July

I am really not going to bore you with the same photos as yesterday.  Some of my Turtle Trot pieces were also WIPocalypse pieces.  I have finished Santa's House this month and made a bit of progress on my Cut Thru Stable.  As both of them were in my Turtle Trot, that is why there is no photos!

This month's theme was 'It's half way to Christmas. Do you start your holiday stitching this early?  If so, what do you hope to accomplish this year?'

Yes!  I have been stitching Christmas for the last few weeks for a Christmas in July exchange.  It is finally finished and just needs to be made up.  I don't tend to worry about what I stitch seasonally and just stitch what I feel like.  That's probably why Santa's House finally got finished.  This means I don't have any particular plans on what I want to get done.

WIPocalypse

This month I have put a few stitches in Bothy Threads Cut Thru Stable but not enough to warrant a photo, other than that I haven't stitched on any of my other WIPocalypse pieces.

I have never had the chance to go on a stitching retreat but have just signed up for Gaynor's in Ireland next year.

The only places I have ever been to that are stitching related are shows.  I have been to Manchester three times, Birmingham once and Harrogate once too.  Every time though there has been less and less stitching stuff and more for other crafts.  I think unless I was going to meet up with someone that I probably wouldn't go again.

WIPocalypse - May update

This month's topic is:

What designs or themes do you really wish you could find?  What do you think is missing among stitching designs?

Well!  I love horse racing and would love more horse racing designs.  There are only a few that I have found (and bought!)  Apart from that I'm not sure what else I would like to see other than perhaps some official Manchester United kits.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone's answers this month to see where all the gaps are in the market.  I wonder if designers will be trawling blogs to see what they are missing out on too :)

As for stitching...I actually worked on 2 of my 5 WIPocalypse pieces!

First up is Honeysuckle Courtyard by Patricia Ann Designs which will be a golden wedding anniversary gift for Colin's mum and dad next April so I need to get my finger out!

Then I did about 50 stitches on my Cut Thru Stable.  I love this design but hate the fabric and threads.  I am wondering if I should make it a project whereby I stitch one length of thread a night on it.  What do you think?

WIPocalypse

I didn't actually work on any of my WIPocalypse WIP's this month with studying.  I have until May 22nd to do my final assignment and then hopefully I will have completed my degree.  Then stitching in earnest can begin!!!

WIPocalypse 'challenge' for this month was to show our stitching stash storage...grab a cuppa.  I think this will show why I need a craft room all of my very own :)

First up we have 2 plastic drawer units.  On the left there is one drawer for small cuts of fabric, one for charts and a drawer of oddments.  The right hand one has a space where my WIP drawer should be, one for kits and 2 drawers of odds and sods.  The top of this one lifts and has a shallow tray where I store needles, threaders, kreiniks and other bits and bobs.

On top of those units are a couple of small bits.  First is my collection of Six Stranded Sweets which needs the ones I received putting on bobbins

Then there is a box of random threads and silks which I have accumulated by exchanges and 'oooh, that looks nice' type shopping!

There is a small unit with CC, WDW and GAST in it, again with random threads in the bottom drawer.

I have a tub with all my backing fabrics in.  I need a bigger one!

Some smaller boxes with ribbons and other trims for making up finishes.

This is my spare bag of DMC. In the bag there are more bags with the floss separated into bags by each 100.

Then there is another tub with larger cuts of fabric in.

 10 boxes with stitch bows in for every colour of DMC apart from the latest colours.

Bead storage definitely needs improving!

WIP box with som of my WIP's in.  The ones I am working on this year are downstairs in the lounge on a bookshelf.

So there you have it!  

WIPocalypse update

Another rubbish update on these

Cinderella?  Yes, I was plugging away with her slowly, but have lost the love for her at the minute.  I am feeling a bit of an itch to stitch her though so hopefully there could be progress on her next month.

Around the World, Cut Thru Stable, Honeysuckle Courtyard and Santa's Village are all sat next to me, on the bookcase, gathering dust!  I did actually put a couple of stitches into Around the World.  I won't give you a spot the difference, just where I am now! This is part 7 I think.

Papillon Creations
Around the World in 80 Stitches

WIPocalypse - February update

Happy Valentine's Day to you all!  I hope you are feeling loved today.

So of the designs I want to work on this year for the WIPocalypse, what did I do?

Cinderella?  Oh yes, she is coming along great guns as my main focus piece.
Around the World, Santa's Village?  Nope, never touched them.
Cut Thru Stable?  Yes, I put around 15 stitches of pale pink into it.
Honeysuckle Courtyard? No, but that will be my focus once I finish Cinderella.

You may recognise the photo above.  I haven't done anything on her for a few days as it is assignment time again!

So how many projects do I feel comfortable with?  Hahahah...well as when I was updating my WIP's/UFO's page the other day I had 80 I suppose that must be the number I am comfortable with!!  I'd love to say one but I would be lying :)

SAL's for 2014

2013 saw me joining up for several SAL's which did inspire me for the first few months until I got bogged down with my university module.  So hoping that at least the same will happen again, I am going to sign up for the following SAL's.

WIPocalypse 2014

Just Nan SAL 2014

 

This is run by Zeb and you can sign up here
I have borrowed the rules from Zeb - saves me making spelling mistakes or getting it wrong :)

Each month you stitch a Just Nan design. It can be big, it can be small, but it must be Just Nan. It’s ok if you’ve got a piece that you’re stretching out over several months too. At the end of the month post on your blog photos of your progress (or completed stitching) and a write up. Once you’ve done that come along to this site, find the latest SAL blog post by me (post date!), and comment that you’ve updated. Then, check out what other members have done, and enjoy in the Just Nan goodness.

Themes below are shamelessly stolen from here, which is where you can go to register your interest as well :) Heather is very kindly allowing us to send ideas for the mystery themes although Jo wants one where we all send our stitching to her...hmmm...no sure of that one!!

Jardin January

The holidays were a little stressful...let's relax in a nice garden. Work on any piece with flowers or gardens.

February

It's a Mystery...for now!

March Madness

Work on something different every day...it's madness...of the funnest possible kind.

April

It's a Mystery...for now!

Menagerie May

Is it a zoo in your stack of WIPs? How many projects can you find that include animals or birds?

June 

It's a Mystery...for now!

Jubilee July

It's time to celebrate! What are you celebrating this year? Stitch on your holiday-related projects, OR find some WIPs you know you'll never finish and set them free.

August

It's a Mystery...for now!

Supersize September

Dip your needle into the vast swath of fabric dedicated to your BIGGEST projects!

October

It's a Mystery...for now!

No-Xs November

What can you make without making an X?? Blackwork, hardanger, embroidery, needlelace, and the list goes on! Don't panic...you can even backstitch for the month!

December

It's a Mystery...for now!

Stitch From Stash

A year of stitching from stash with a £15 budget per month.  Hop over to Mel's blog Epic Stitching for more details and to sign up by 2nd January.

Turtle Trot 2014

I am going to shamelessly steal the rules from Bap Attack which is where you need to go to sign up.  

1. You must have a blog, because you'll be posting links to it. If you don't have a blog, you can still work on those old projects, lol. You just won't be eligible for the contest.

2. Pick 10 unfinished projects (why not 14 for 2014? I can't cope with where this will end up - 43 projects in 2043? Yikes)

3. Take a picture of them and make a blog post by the 10th of January.

4. Each month, by the 10th, post whatever progress pics you have.

WIPocalypse truth

I saw this on facebook and it really tickled me.  And talking of facebook, if anyone wants to add me please feel free.  I'm Sharon Stevens and my profile pic is of a fuchsia cross stitch.  There's probably a really easy way to do it but I don't know what!

Round up of 2012, 2013 goals

Well WIPocalypse didn't happen, we didn't all die...what a relief!

Thanks to the wonderful WIPocalypse I actually finished 8 designs that may otherwise still be languishing in my WIP/UFO box.  The one I really wanted done, got done - Cut Thru Garden Shed so that was good news.

I didn't start too many new projects that didn't get finished - also good news.

So for 2013 I am taking part in the following:

• Turtle Trot SAL
• 6 Fat Men/Snow Belles SAL (haven't got the Snow Belles yet)
• TUSAL (and my glass is all ready to go)
• WIPocalypse
• Theme-a-licious

So between them all I should stay on track - fingers crossed.

I also got the Santa's village series on autoship from The Patchwork Rabbit for Christmas so I want to keep up with that.  I have ordered a lovely piece of Chocolate Milk 28ct jobelan from Steph's Fabbys to stitch it on and am just waiting for that to arrive.  If you have never tried either company, I really would recommend them both.

The designs I am planning on focussing on for WIPocalypse and adding in to my Theme-a-licious months are the following.  3 of them a technically obligation stitches in so much as they will have a new home to go to when they are finished.  

1. Cinderella - Joan Elliott
2. Henry VIII and his 6 wives - DMC
3. Friends are like Angels - Lizzie Kate
4. Horse Racing - John Clayton
5. Garden Tools - Anchor
6. Around the World - Papillon Creations
7. Confetti of Hardanger - Abi Gurden
8. Maggie the Messmaker - Dimensions Gold Collection
9. Honeysuckle Court - Patricia Ann Designs
10. 6 Fat Men - Lizzie Kate
11. Football Cushion - Sheena Rogers
12. Tatty Teddy Bookmark - Anchor
13. She sells seashells - Country Cottage Needleworks

I would also like to be able to send birthday cards, maybe a small gift to people I have met through blogging.  Or maybe be able to RAK someone who is having a tough time of it during the year.  If you would be open to possibly receiving something from me (so far no one has said 'OMG, what did you send me that for?) then could you email me with your name, address, date of birth, any real likes/dislikes, and anything else you think is relevant.  I promise I am not some mad psycho who will stalk you and I will not sell your details to any third party organisations - or whatever it is companies always put when you sign up with them...lol.  My email is in my profile but just in case of any problems, it is sharonjstevens at msn dot com - with the usual changes of at and dot.

Very belated WIPocalypse post

Well I have been stitching away through WIPocalypse even though I keep forgetting to update for it.  First up is Confetti of Hardanger by Abi Gurden.  I had so many problems with part 3 that I left that and did part 4 instead.  I went back to Part 3 a few days ago and managed to work out where I was going wrong and correct it.  I am also trying a new technique for the eyelets where instead of a controlled pull I just give a sharp tug.  This has really helped to open up the hole in the centre and I really like the look of them.  There is a close up of the eyelets and then a view of the piece as a whole. 

I know I only posted this a few days ago and strictly speaking it wasn't a WIP but it's cute so you can see it again...lol.

And then is a giraffe that I started about 3 1/2 years ago.  I am going to try to stitch one or two lengths of thread on this each day.  I really hate the fabric.  It's a very stiff aida and splitting the fabric for quarter stitches requires a pneumatic drill not a needle.

I did a little bit more on the Flip It's series but have run out some of the threads or didn't buy them to start with so it will have to wait.  I might move onto February whilst I wait for them.

The final project to get some love was Sunflower Fairy.  I have no idea why but I just had an urge to work on her one night and in that time stitched everything except the green.

At the moment I am working on a RR and I have a Christmas Exchange to decide on too.  I am thinking of doing a rotation to try and stop my butterfly tendencies which show no sign of abating at the moment.  I have roughed out a plan and posted it on a separate page.  Have a look if you like.

And finally....don't forget to enter the giveaway on the previous post if you would like to.

Two Little Lovebirds, Theme-a-licious, WIPocalypse updates

I have been very remiss at posting updates for my Theme-a-licious and WIPocalypse stitching.  I haven't really been stitching much at all lately.  I have worked on my Confetti of Hardanger and have unpicked more than I have stitched.  One bit of it had to be restitched 4 times before I finally got it right.  Another bit I stitched and thought it was fine and then eventually realised it was wrong.  So for now as I am so despondent with the piece, it has been stuffed in a bag and gone in the WIP/UFO box until I am ready to fight with it again!!!

So after all that there isn't an update really!!

I did finish Two Little Lovebirds by Love thy Thread.  It is a really cute design and should have stitched up really quickly if anyone else but me was stitching it.

It looks much better in real life.  I'm not sure what all the pulls and wrinkles are in the picture but they are not really there.  I love the trim, it sets the cushion off brilliantly and the blue is almost the same colour as the wedding theme.

Theme-a-licious and WIPocalypse August 31st

I have posted all my Theme-a-licious progress on the Theme-a-licious page above.  As to WIPocalypse I have worked on and finished The Great Escape, It Never Rains, an anniversary card, blackwork owl and something else that I can't remember.  I won't post pictures as they have all been posted before.  If you would like a look just scroll down.

I would like to finish at least one more WIP before the end of the year.  Really I could do with WIPocalypse running next year too as I have actually had around 7 long term WIP's completed so far this year.  Maybe they were wrong and the world will actually end in 2013?

Thank you to those who have visited Rachael's blog she was really pleased to have the extra visitors.

July Theme-a-licious and 1st August WIPocalypse

First of all a big welcome to all my new followers and a big thank you to everyone who comments.  I do try to reply to comments via email but not everyone has an address provided.  So if I done't respond, hopefully it isn't just me being ignorant, it's because I can't.

Well.......I've had a bit of a finishing frenzy over the last week.  I thought I would get some of my WIP's ermm that would probably be UFO's if I'm truthful.

First up is a Country Companions design from DMC which I think is called It Never Rains...  This may well be my oldest UFO.  I started this in our old house and as we've been here for 10 years, that makes it pretty old!  Anyway IT IS DONE!

It Never Rains...   DMC
finished 23rd July 2012

Next is a Mouseloft penguin.  Now seriously, who could EVER leave a Mouseloft kit as a UFO?  It's no bigger than 2" square.  Honestly!  Anyway it is done and will probably be made into a tree ornie.

Mouseloft Penguin
finished 23rd July 2012

Another long standing UFO but not as bad as the Country Companions one.  This is a little blackwork owl from X-calibre designs.  This was the first one I bought to learn how to do blackwork.  I believe that if you do it properly the back looks like the back...a bit like hardanger I suppose.  I obviously didn't do it properly as the back looks nothing like the front.  Thankfully the front looks ok though!!

Blackwork Owl - X-calibre
finished 25th July 2012

And finally, well for finishes at least, is this little anniversary card.  The writing was red but I thought I would change it so I can use it for Colin's mum and dad's wedding anniversary, which is obviously their golden one...hehe.  Again it was one of those pieces that should NEVER have been a UFO as it just wasn't big enough.

Anniversary card
unknown designer

I then used the random generator to choose my next WIP to work on.  It landed on this one.  I spent a little bit of time working on it but it is 18ct aida which is definitely NOT my favourite fabric to work on.  I am going to leave it out and put 1 strand a day in it to keep it ticking over.

Garden Tools
Fleur de Lis

I have been working on She Sells Seashells as well and hope that will be my next finish.  Watching the Olympics at the same time is not a good idea.  I am doing nearly as much frogging as stitching.


Other news....

********I PASSED********

I got my Open University module exam result on Tuesday.  I got a Grade 2 pass.  As the OU had already admitted that one of the questions was 'unusually difficult' and were 'standardising' the results, I knew it wasn't my imagination that it was a hard exam.  Now I am trying to decide whether or not to continue my degree or not.  I worked really hard with studying and revising for my last module and felt that the exam didn't allow me to show my knowledge.  There were many students who put in a complaint about the exam so it's good that the OU listened and investigated but it left me really demoralised.

That's it for now...Happy Stitching!!