March WIPocalypse SAL Update

Another month has past and it is time for another update.

This month I worked on and finished 4 WIPs started prior to 2019.

Farmhouse Christmas: Farm Folks - Little House Needleworks

Farmhouse Christmas: Baa Baa Black Sheep - Little House Needleworks 

A Year in Chalk: January - Hands On Design

Penquin #2 - Vee and Company

I also managed to finish 3 ornaments for February and  March in the JCS Stitchalong (Facebook)

City Sidewalks - Glendon Place (2018 JCS Christmas Ornament Issue)

Two Stags and A Star - Blue Ribbon Designs (2018 JCS Christmas Ornament Issue)

Carolling Cardinals - Blue Ribbon Designs (2018 JCS Christmas Ornament Issue)

Finally, I finished the March card and the April ATC for the Cross Stitch Card and ATC SAL (Facebook), worked on the The Elizabeth Hancock Sampler for the March - One Stitch per Day Challenge (WIPocalypse ) and the Ultimate Cross Stitch Group (Facebook) non-counting event, pulled out another WIP started prior to 2019 and made a new start for Sunday High Tea (Friday Off the Grid - Facebook)

St. Patrick's Day Mini Cat - Lynn B - Happiness is Crossstitching Blog

This was my March card for Cross Stitch Card and ATC SAL.  I also finished the April ATC but I won't show it has been received by partner.

Before and after of The Elizabeth Hancock Sampler - Little House Needleworks.  I tried to work on this a little everyday.  If I missed a day, I did double.

Night Sky Bear - Stitches Lovers Shop (Etsy)  This was a Stitch Maynia start in 2018 and is the 2nd to last one I need to finish.

Alice in Wonderland - Bothy Thread (artwork by Deborah Street of Bramble Crafts) - this was my new start for Sunday High Tea (Facebook - Friday Off the Grid)

Until next month.

Take care and happy stitching!!!!

SALs and other stitchy events

Good Morning!

Yesterday I outlined my weekly stitching schedule and showed a few pictures of what I am currently stitching on.  However, there are few other pieces in the mix that are part of SALs and Challenges.

JCS Stitch Along

I have been a part of this FB group a couple of years.  Each year a vote is taken on which 12 ornaments we will stitch from the current Just Cross Stitch Christmas issue (you can stitch something else from the same issue if you don't like one of the chosen ornaments.)  Each year I start out strong but start to flounder by the summertime and only get a few done.   However, this year I am ahead of the game (one of the reasons my basket is already full) and already have 10 of the 12 already stitched and fully finished.  I was waiting on some threads for the last two and will probably start on them either today or Monday.

These are ones I have completed:

From the top left (clockwise) - 2017 Christmas Bauble - Patricia Ann Designs (May), Very Merry - Lizzie Kate (March), Frosty Friends - Blue Ribbon Designs (February), Santa's Coming - Swallick Stitchery (November), Warm Hands, Warm Heart - The Little Stitcher (January) and On the Runway - Snowflake Stitchery (April)

From the top left (clockwise) - So Much Fun at the North Pole - The Frosted Pumpkin (July), Hats Off to the Holidays - SamSarah Designs (June), Believe - Primrose Needleworks (September) and A Forest of Trees - JBW Designs (August)

Happy Halloween SAL

Another FB group  Bewitched Stitches I belong to is currently doing a Happy Halloween SAL that runs until November 30th.  I working on Halloween Cat by Satsuma Street for this SAL.  I am using the called for fabric (30ct WDW Periwinkle linen) and threads (DMC)      

I love how the designer uses colours in her designs.

Every Day Counts

The Ultimate Cross Stitchers Group on FB has a challenge every month to get so many stitches in.  This month it is 3075.  They provide a calendar with a daily stitch count to help you keep on track.  I just joined at the beginning of September and decided to focus on piece nthat had bee feeling neglected for the past few months.  As of yesterday I was 2406 stitches in.  The chart is called Welcome Santa (Dimensions - Debbie Mumm)

My starting point:

Where I was as of yesterday:

That is it for today.

Take care and Happy Stitching!!!!

Lots of Stitching!!!!

As a result of joining 3 ornament SALs (Christmas Ornament SAL 2013, Halloween Ornament SAL 2013, and the 20I3 Ornament SAL) plus the 123 Stitch MB Monthly Freebie Challenges I have a number of finishes.

This first one was my February choice for the Halloween Ornament SAL - Black Cat Alphabet - JBW Designs:

The following are the 123 MB Monthly Challenges for December, January and February:

February - Spring - The Stitcherhood

January - Let It Snow - Barbara Ana Designs

December - Silly Flake - The Cute Mermaid Designs

And for the 2013 Ornament SAL, I stitched Valentine - The Primitive Hare.
 

I am currently working on my February Christmas Ornament - Penquin Hugs - Paw Printings,

the first of the LHN Little Sheep Virtues - Hope and my stitched piece for the current exchange at Stitched with Love Exchanges - Hop into Springtime.

Happy Stitching!!!!

Thank you for visiting!!!

 

Getting Ready for 2012

In preparation for my 2012 stitching I have joined the following SALs:

Crazy January Challenge 2012
Theme-a-licious 2012
WIPocalypse

2012 could be very interesting.  I spent part of the evening looking through my stash to see what I would like to stitch (so many choices) and then I put a few stitches into the Merry Moose and Frosty Flakes

I have set up pages for each of the SALs and I plan to making a list for each of them over the weekend.

Goodnight all and happy stitching!!!!

Wow! It's been awhile!!!!!

I just checked the date on my last post. It has been over a month since I have posted anything. The basic problem is that I haven't been stitching much. Life!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have made significant progress on the Naptime Dragon in the past week and I will try to post a progress pic tonight. I am way behind on this SAL. I am still on page 1 and pages 5 & 6 were released last Friday. I haven't done much on the Peacock Tapestry or the Night Before Christmas or stitched any ornaments lately. Hopefully, I will be getting back on track this week.

I will be starting another SAL on Friday. (I know, I'm weak!!!!!) The pattern is called Cherish Each Day. The Designer is Helga Mandl. You can find out more information about the SAL by clicking SAL 2010 on the sidebar.

Back soon with some pictures. Take care!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stitching Projects for February

The following are the projects I will be stitching in February:
2008 Buff-bellied Hummingbird (Commerative Hummingbirds of the World) © 2008 Crossed Wing Collection
Twas the Night Before Christmas © 2004 Little Old Me Designs - Michele Harper (A Gift to members of the Designers Message Board - Needleworkers Haven)
Peacock Tapestry - Teresa Wentzler © 1999 Leisure Arts, Inc.

Christmas Ornaments:
Twelve Days of Christmas - Day Three © 2003 Teresa Wentzler, TW Designworks (This is for my brother. I stitched Day One and Day Two for him
already and I promised this year to get the rest of them done.)
Nutcracker - Winter Holiday Nutcracker Ballet © 2008 Mill Hill
Winter Samper Ornament © Little House Needleworks - 2009 JCS Christmas Ornament Magazine

SALs:
ВСЕМИРНАЯ БИСКОРНЮ - WHOLE WORLD BISCORNU SAL
KUSTOM KRAFTS YAHOO GROUP SAL - NAPTIME DRAGON
ALLESSANDRA ADELAIDE SAL - THE CHRISTMAS TREE
LITTLE HOUSE NEEDLEWORKS MONTHLY ORNAMENTS SAL TOO
2010 CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT CHALLENGE


Current Reads:
The Boleyn Inheritance - Philippa Gregory
Devil May Care - Elizabeth Peters (audiobook)
Last Man Standing - David Baladucci (e-book)

An Update of Sorts

I spent most of this week stitching for my partner in the "Ready For Spring" Exchange", which of course I won't post a picture of until she has received it. The deadline for mailing is March 1st.

Because of this I made little progress on the Peacock and the Hummingbird. I will wait until next week to post pictures.

However, being a certifiable serial starter, I did start a couple of little projects this week. The first is as SAL called Whole World Biscornu. Each month we will be stitching a biscornu representing a different country. The first one is Russia. (The site is Russian but includes a English translation.) This is my progress so far. I am stitching 1 over 1 on 25ct cream DMC evenweave.

The second is another SAL offered by Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks. It is called "A Christmas Tree". I decided to make it ornament size and am stitching it 1 over 1 on 32ct Parkland Belfast Linen from Silkweaver. I have completed the first part. The next part comes out at the begining of March. The pattern calls for 10 different shades of green (DMC) and gold and red MH beads.
Despite these 2 projects (and the TW 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments that I am also stitching), I am not a big fan of stitching 1 over 1. Its seems like I spend a lot of time "frogging" when I do this type of stitching :(.

Don't Forget to check out my giveaway ending February 13th. See the post above. All you have to do is post a comment on that post for a chance to win.

Happy Stitching!!!!!!!!!!!

First Christmas Ornaments for 2010

I completed 2 Christmas Ornaments this week. Both are Mill Hill kits.

Winter Holiday - Nutcracker Ballet - Mouse King © Mill Hill

Winter Greetings - Charmed Ornaments - Believe © Mill Hill

I am still working on Day 3 of the TW Twelve Days of Christmas. This is going to take a little longer to complete. I also started 2 more ornaments - LHN Winter Sampler from the 2009 JCS Christmas Ornament Magazine and another Mill Hill Kit - Nutcracker.

Earlier this week I broke down and ordered the first 2 charts of the LHN Monthly Ornaments. I love her designs and since I am always stitching ornaments I couldn't resist any longer. I "needed" them (LOL).

As a result I also joined the Little House Needleworks Monthly Ornaments Stitch-A-Long Blog
Too! Since it will be a couple of weeks before I get them I pulled out all the patterns for LHN and CCN ornaments from the JCS Christmas Ornament Magazines. I am hoping to stitch a few of them this year.

This seems to be my year for joining. I also signed up for the 2010 Ornament Challenge. Not a big deal. All I need to do is stitch at least one ornament a month and post a picture. I am doing it anyways.

Happy Stitching!

More Stitchin', Knittin' and Readin'

Well, tonight was my "Smalls and Monthly Theme SAL" night so I stitched on the Christmas Ornament I started for the SS Exchange(NH). I was also going to stitch on my CWC Winter Feeder that I started in January for the Winter Theme SAL,unfortunately I couldn't find my spool of Kreinik #32 BF that I needed for the snow. That is so frustrating, I am so close to finishing this piece. I am going ask my DH to pick up a spool for me tomorrow. Hopefully my LNS has it in stock.

I also did some knitting this evening. I started on the Mid Month dishcloth KAL (it looks like it is going to be a round one) and I managed the first 15 rows on the body of my wolf.

While I stitched I listen to The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry. Before I shut the lights out I want to read a couple more chapters in the Winter Study by Nevada Barr.

Good Night

Stitching, Knitting, Reading and A New Mystery SAL

Well the 1st two days of my Stitching Schedule went well but on Wednesday I had a meeting and on Thursday and Friday I decided to finish up my piece for the Green Theme SAL (see previous post). I had to work on Saturday and went to the ballet in the evening (Romeo and Juliet) so I was only able to get some stitching done today. Below is a slideshow of my current WIPs. I resurrected a former PK Mystery SAL from 2005 - Glad Shamrocks - and am hoping to work on that one Friday evenings. I am also working on another Christmas ornament but it is for a Secret Santa Exchange so I won't say anymore about it.

Last year I joined the Whoduknit Yahoo! Group . This is a group for knitters who enjoy reading Mystery novels. Each month we are to read a suggested book and to create a knitted project based on one the characters or whatever strikes our fancy. To date I have only managed to read some of the books but never could come with anything to knit. However, this month we are currently reading Winter Study by Nevada Barr. When I saw that there was wolves in the story I decided to look for a pattern for a wolf. I found one here. I finished knitting the head up today and this is the result.Right now, he kind of looks like a mouse but I am hoping that by the time I attached the ears & body it will be more wolf-looking.

This morning I received a link to the current newsletter from Papillon Creations . She is starting a new Mystery SAL next week. (I must resist, I must resist, I must resist!!!!!!!!LOL )
I save all the parts from last year's SAL (How Does Your Garden Grow?) which I thought was quite pretty but never got around to starting it. This new one is called "Castles in the Air" and will cost £1 (about $1.40 US/$1.80 CDN) to join. It will be in 24 parts released monthly. I love Mystery SALs and will probably join in. Now I just have to find the time to actually stitch it.

Another Update

Well I started on the Kustom Kraft Mystery SAL last Sunday and finished the 1st page this evening. I love the colours although I still don't know what I am stitching. I am thinking leaves
right now.
Earlier this week I finished May in the Oakhaven Designs SAL. I have to post a picture on the Yahoo! group site and then request the pattern for June. I am really enjoying this SAL. They are cute and quick stitches.



I had nice surprise waiting for me when I came home this evening. I participated in a Valentine Exchange at Needleworkers Haven and my partner's package arrived today. (I sent my package to her today. Hopefully, she won't have to wait too long before it arrives. I find that packages from Canada to USA arrive quicker than packages coming the USA into Canada.)

Emily sent me this lovely Valentine Ornament

plus these goodies. I have the Sweethear Ornament hanging on my Bedroom door and put the window gels up on my patio door. (The chocolate is of course almost gone! I did share with my DH.)






I started on "Dove Chart" for the Love Theme SAL I am taking part in at NH. I hoping to have it finished by next weekend. I plan to work on some Christmas ornaments and and the TNBC SAL this weekend.

Happy Stitching!!!!!

Loretta

P.S. I was reading the Dragon My Needle Blog earlier this evening and we are being "chastised" for not mentioning in our blogs that there will be a prize(s) (TBA) at the end of the year for the Totally Useless SAL. So after seeing the error of my ways I am mentioning it now. LOL

LCR

Another Update

The following are pictures of my WIPs:

Winter Ornament 2008 © 2008 Passione Ricamo

Winter Feeder © 1998 Crossed Wing Collection

Twas the Night Before Christmas © 2008 Michele Harper (Little Old Me Designs)

This is part 4 (April) of the Oakhaven Designs - Tonia Pappan 2008 SAL:

I am starting another Mystery SAL today. This one is offered through the Kustom Krafts Yahoo! Group. Dyan goofed this morning and sent out all the parts at once but since we don`t have a picture we won`t know what we are stitching until we get into it a bit more. I love Mystery SALs and I am really looking forward to stitching this one.

My plan is too complete one UFO this month and to stitch at least 3 Christmas ornaments. The Winter Ornament above will be one of them and the UFO will be another. I think the third one will be one of the companion ornaments for the `Twas the Night Before Christmas`. I am also taking in another Theme SAL at NH. The theme this month is Love. The pattern I have chosen is part a calender series I received with my purchase of `The World of Cross Stitching` magazine (UK) a couple of years ago. It is called `Dove Chart` by Jenny Barton.

Happy stitching

Loretta