WIPocalypse SAL Check In - February

Another month is coming to a close and it is time to for another Wipocalypse Check-in.

All in all I had a very good month   I finished 3 WIPs and started 3 new ones, one of which I managed to finish.

The following are the 3 WIPs I finished this month.

Seasons in Chalk Art: Fall -  Hands on Design (JCS October 2016)

 A Year in Chalk: February - Hands on Design

Cancer - Crab Zodiac Sign - Satsuma Street

My new starts which are now WIPs are Winter Wonderland by Blackbird Designs

and City Sidewalks by Glendon Place (JCS Christmas Ornament 2018 issue).  This is the February Ornament in the JCS Stitch along (Facebook.)

The last new start (and finish) was an ATC for the Cross Stitch Card and ATC SAL (Facebook).  My partner hasn't acknowledged receipt yet so I won't post a picture.

Edited:   I forgot to mention about 2 additional finishes this month - Moonrise Ornaments I & III by Whispered By The Wind.

This month's question is "What do you listen to while stitching?"   While I don't mind being by myself, I do like to have sound around me.  So while I am stitching I like to have either the television or Flosstube running or I enjoy listening to audiobooks - especially mysteries or thrillers

Until next month!!!!

Take care and Happy Stitching!!!

Janaury WIPocalypse

The last Sunday in the Month - time for my January WIPocalypse report.

All in all I would say I had a really good month.  First off, I finished 4 WIPs started prior to 2019 and even managed to fully finish one.

Away We Ride by Blackbird Designs

Snow Sampler by Country Cottage Needleworks

Spirit of Christmas Mystery Sampler by Lizzie Kate

October Word Play by With Thy Needle & Thread

I also managed to get in 6 new starts (smalls) and finished 4 of them.

 Seasonal Celebrations: Winter - Country Cottage Needleworks

This was for the January Stitch-along on Little House and Country Cottage Stitching Group (Facebook)

The February Stitch-along is called "Finish it Up".  You either finish up the January stitch-along or pick another WIP from LHN or CCN to finish up.  I have several in my WIP pile and will start off with the final 2 parts in LHN's Farmhouse Christmas Series.

 Farm Folks

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Joy - Rovaris (2018 JCS Christmas Issue)

This is the 1st in the year long JCS Stitch-along (Facebook).  I substituted the DMC 816 with DMC Etoile C816 and used 1 strand of DMC white and 1 strand of DMC Etoile White.  I found the Etoile easy to work with and like the little sparkle it adds to the ornament.

 Crazy For Canada - Beaver - Jenny Barton (Cross Stitch Crazy - June 2014)

Last year I participated in the Steotchalong and was part of the Team Introverted Procrastinators. We are trying to put together a collaborative piece with a contribution from as many team members as possible and this is mine. (Hopefully not too many will procrastinate, I kind of waited to the last minute myself.)

This is just a sneak peak of  what I stitched for the Cross Stitch Card and ATC SAL(Facebook).  I will post the whole thing once I know my partner has received it. In this group we alternate each month stitching a card or an ATC based on a chosen theme.  January was the Year of the Pig.

 Moonrise: Ornament #III - Whispered by the Wind
Edited: I am taking part in the Hallowe'en Ornie SAL 2019. January's theme is Haunted House.  

Moonrise: Ornament #I

I stitched this for the Grave New Beginning SAL hosted by Bewitched Stitches (Facebook)

The final WIP I worked on this month is Seasons in Chalk Art: Fall by Hands on Design (JCS October 2016).  

Take Care and Happy Stitching!!!!!

Summer is over, I'm retired and I'm back!!!!!!!!

Hi Everyone!!!!!

It has been a looooonnnnnggg time since I lasted posted - almost 2 years.   As stated in my post title - I have recently retired and I am still adjusting to this new phase of my life (the past 3 months I have spent mostly out at our trailer so up to now it has been more of an extended vacation).  However, one thing I thought I would like to do now that my time is my own, is to start blogging again.

I know that the big thing now is Flosstube.   While I have contemplated doing one I am not sure I am ready - too many ifs, ands and buts.

I love watching Flosstube, though.  I am latecomer to the Flosstube scene - only started to watch them on a regular basis in January.  Unfortunately (or fortunately) I am the type that needs to see everybody's videos right from the beginning.   Therefore, I have been doing a lot of binge watching as I add to my list of favourites.   I really enjoy listening to fellow stitchers talk about their stitching and how it makes them feel (a lot of which I can relate to), seeing what they are working on and how they finish them (Yvonne (The Night Owl Stitcher) and Priscilla (Priscilla & Chelsea) really rock.) and getting a peek at their current stash and recent acquisitions.  The only problem I have with Flosstube is it what is has done to my wallet😀.

If you are familiar with my blog you will know that I am a Serial Starter and more of a process stitcher rather than progress.  While I love finishes (who doesn't and since I generally work on small to medium size projects, I get enough of those throughout the year). I mostly love how stitching makes me feel (contented) and being able to stitch on whatever I want when I want.   No deadlines for this gal and no guilt at how many WIPS I have (they will get done when they get done.)

While I am still working on establishing a routine in most aspects of my new retired life, I have establish one in my stitching life.  It is a result of becoming more active on Instagram (@lorettacarmensusanna) and watching Flosstube.   My weeks generally works like this:

Sundays(#santasundayxs) and Mondays(#merrymondayxs)

On Sundays & Mondays I work on anything Christmas related.  Christmas along with animals and birds are my favourite themes.   As you may recall I like to do a variety of Christmas ornaments that I put in a basket and let my family pick one for themselves.

This is how my basket looks right now and I am still working on adding some more.

I currently stitching on ornaments a friend asked me to stitch for her when she saw the ones I stitched last year.  I normally don't do this but since they are smalls I am okay with it.

   

They are the Penquin 1 & 2 by Vee and Co Cross Stitch Designs.  I am doing 2 of each design.  I finished 1 (still needs to be fully finished) and started a second.

Altough the fabric looks bluish on my screen it is a more greenish opalescent 28ct fabric.  It was in my stash with no label so I don't know where I got it from or what the actual colour name.

Tuesdays & Thursdays (#surprisewipseptember)

On these 2 days I use a android  app called Decision Roulette to pick one my many WIPS to work on that day.  I don't have all my WIPS entered on the wheel yet but I am working on it.

Wednesday (#witchywednesdayxs)

Wednesdays are reserved for Halloween stitching.  I am currently working on Early Witches by The Primitive Hare.   It was originally a Mystery SAL in 2015 that I joined and that is close to being finished. (See I told you that the WIPS would eventually get done.)

Fridays (#fallfridayxs)

Currently Fridays are for Fall Stitching.  Eventually I might do other seasons of the year.  My current project is Seasons in Chalk Art: Fall by Hands on Design (based on the Artwork by Priscilla Blain) from the October 2016 issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine.

 Saturdays (no #) 

Saturdays are reserved for Canadiana stitching.  I recently finished the Canadian Patriotic Snippets by Jeannette Douglas Designs and now working on Cross Canada Cross Stitch by Many Flowers Design Company (no longer available.)

Well, I think I have rambled on enough.  I will be back (hopefully tomorrow) with more pics and what I have been up to stitchywise.

Take care and happy stitching!!!!