Stuff: Wipocalypse update #4

Well I actually  do have four finishes for this month's update...they are all small, but at least I can put one more old WIP in the pile of finished pieces.  I bored with the unsullied white fabric and recently acquired some walnut crystals, so this is the finished result. When I took this out of the hoop I noticed that the border was off a bit on one side and I pondered frogging (for about a fraction of a second) but *&*^ that, I'll just call it "primitive" instead.

It's been another busy month--a rough month, as we lost a family friend to cancer at age 44.  Between that ordeal and the usual work-kids-school nonsense, stitching smalls has been all I have had the time or energy to do.  This was a freebie from the Ravenelle blog.







And another Christmas ornie--Ho Ho Ho in a Row by Lizzie Kate.  I may actually be ready for Christmas this year.









My last small finish.  I have no idea why Blogger does this...I have tried a dozen times to get this to load correctly!  Anyhow this is May Love by Primitive Hare, one of my new favorite designers.  I made this piece for a contest she held (which I didn't win) but it was fun anyway!

As I am close to 200 followers and I have not done anything like this for a long time, I thought I would have a slightly premature 200-follower giveaway for the sideways pillow here and a few other items as well.  Just leave a comment on this post.  No need to advertise on  your blog, I would just as soon have one of my regular visitors win.




And finally, here is the one slightly larger piece that
has been occupying my time--Raven Bewitched
by Blackbird Designs.  I love the colors in this one,
and the ravens too of course :)

Carol of Carol's Stitching very kindly chose my blog
for the Liebster award which has been making the rounds lately, but as it is about time to rouse the kiddies for school I will have to post about that next time..

**Yikes.  forgot to mention that I will draw a winner for the giveway in about a week on the 21st.  Thanks!***

Three finishes for WIPocalypse update #3

Yes, three finishes.  This is does not mean there will be four finishes for my fourth WIPocalypse update :)  I am still running around like the proverbial chicken with its head cut off during the week, but I do my best to give myself a good case of stitchass on the weekends.  So without further ado, here they are--

Sophie's Sheep (Plum Street Samplers), The Mustard Door (The Goode Huswife) and one actual old WIP, Photobooth Snowmen (Bent Creek).   Please pardon the poor photos.  I took them outside in the garden where the light was better but of course as soon as I picked up the camera the wind started whipping things around. 

The next on the WIP list is Four Diamonds by Chartmakers.  The blurry photo below shows my current progress.  I am hoping to have it done this month but I have to get going on a couple of exchanges.  Thank you all for visiting!

Love & Friendship & Farm Animals

Hello all.  I am trying to post more than my once-a month Wipocalypse report--not an easy task! I envy those of you who manage to do so on a weekly basis...

So here is the farm animal mentioned in the post title--Sophie's Sheep by Plum Street samplers on willow green cashel.  Wrinkled of course, but at least pretty close to being done.  I changed the colors a little to what I had on hand since a run to the LNS to pick up floss was Mission Impossible.

I took part in Lainey's Stitched with Love Exchange--Love and Friendship this round.  A lot of fun as usual.  This is what I sent to Bronwyn in Australia.  The pinkeep is The Trilogy's Happy Heart Heart Day.  Bronwyn says she really enjoyed the Moose Munch!

This is what I received from Fiona.  The adorable pin pillow is by Primitive Betty and the lace is from my favorite, The Victorian Motto Sampler shop.  Thank you Fiona!

This will have to be another short one--gotta run kid #1 to school already.  Until next time...

WIPocalypse Part Two

This will be a very short post.  Now that I actually WANT to stitch, it seems that I have no time. Work. School. Swim team. Scouts. Etc.  I made my wrinkly Photobooth Snowmen my second WIP of the year, but wasn't able to finish in time for the full moon post.  It's disheartening that it takes me so long just to finish teeny pieces.

I did make good on my vow to get cracking on charts that have been sitting untouched in a bin for years--Pink Hill Manor here being one of those.  I love stitching little houses and I (usually) love BBD, so I'm not quite sure why I can't get into the Anniversaries of the Heart series.  Sadly I stalled out on this one, I just got so bored with it .

 I did stitch something for an exchange...which I can't show yet.  And something for a contest...which I don't think I can show yet.  So...a short post but kind of a downer!  I'm blaming my blah mood on winter.  Hopefully I will have more energy next month!

Catching up and my first WIPocalypse 2012 update

Well, I will get the WIPocalypse out of the way first since that will be a quickie.  I started and finished In the Sweet over the weekend--my first WIP success (hopefully not the last, but..).  Here is the before and after.

I am re-starting Secret Pumpkin Patch next.   I have no "before" pics of that one (I am blogging at work again--I am a bad person) but that should also be a quick finish.

Now for the catch-up.  Some time ago (in November of 2011) a Yahoo group to which I belonged announced a fall stitching competition.  No one was supposed to post pictures online prior to the voting on the pieces since voting was to be anonymous.  After several weeks this process finally got off the ground and--my entry was not there.  All that patience expended for nothing, lol.  So here it is--my own semi-original design (with motifs supplied by Jennie Lynn (hope I am spelling her name correctly)  from the Samplermakers group for her Autumn Stitching Challenge.

And here are the promised exchange pictures.  The first I received from Tatyana from the last Blackbird Designs exchange round.

This is the stitched piece from my partner Colleen from the Stitched with Love Winter Wonderland exchange.  Colleen sent tons of other goodies as well (most of which have already been put to use).  Oddly enough, this was the very same pattern that I stitched for my partner in this exchange.   Unfortunately, the pictures of what I sent for both exchanges are on my home computer--the dangers of blogging at work!   I will try to remember them for my next update.  Thank you again Tatyana and Colleen--sorry it has taken me so long to post pictures!

Any finally, some recent stitching that I have not gotten around to showing off.   I won a fantastic de-stash giveaway not too long ago from Danielle of Peace Love and Stitching--many charts that I been eyeing, and some even kitted up!
Danielle had gotten a start on this cute little Shepherd's Bush pincushion so it was a quick finish for me.  Sorry for the blurry picture, this is a teeny thing and I have a difficult time taking pictures of teeny!

 This guy was also part of the giveaway. I wanted this little LHN sheepie from the first moment I saw him.  I am thinking of doing a simple finish  like this as a pincushion without the borders and snow at the bottom.

I've got a few more finishes but I should probably at least pretend to be working for a while.  Until next time...

The WIPocalypse is coming! (and other stuff)

 
Is anyone still out there?  I have been caught in the avalanche of activity that comes upon me from the beginning of November through the end of the year--daughter's birthday, my birthday friends' birthdays, scouting events, Thanksgiving, the general Christmas shopping/festivities insanity, in addition to the extra school and work obligations...so, in short, not a lot of stitching.  Almost none in fact, aside from Christmas ornaments, most of which didn't even get photographed before going off to new homes.

I hope everyone had a good holiday.  We had a very relaxed Christmas (meaning DH's family did not put in an appearance : )) and I have spent the last few days wearing PJ's well into the afternoon, eating cookies and watching past episodes of Doctor Who and American Horror Story..perfect for Christmas...and now, sadly, reality has set in and am back at work. 

I did receive some lovely exchanges--one from the latest BBD round from Tatyana, and one from the Stitched with Love Winter Wonderland exchange from Colleen--but since I am at work the only pictures I have are the ones on my phone, so I will have to share photos next time.

As have many of you, I joined Measi's 2012 WIPocalypse and spent the better part of last evening going through my stash and compiling my list.  I have about 15 WIPs in progress (I always seem to have around 15 in progress, no matter how many I finish)  and dozens of untouched charts, some decades old.  Of the WIPs I picked nine that I am most likely to get finished:
--In the Sweet (La D Da).   Really only a few stitches left so this should be easy.
--Secret Pumpkin Patch (The Trilogy).  Pretty close on this one too.
--Photobooth Snowmen (Bent Creek).  This was going to be an ornie for my friend.  Maybe next Christmas.
--Santa Claws (The Goode Huswife).  I was going to make this for DD.  Again, maybe next Christmas.
--Kindred Spirits (The Primitive Needle).  This has seriously been languishing forever, and there is not a lot to do.
--Snow Garden (Blackbird Designs).  I started this about two years ago I think.  It's a small design what takes me so long??
--Bertie's Stocking (Shepherd's Bush).  Again, about 2-3 years in the making. And almost done.
--Four Diamonds (Carriage House Samplings).  I started this one recently then got sidetracked by Christmas.
--Alphabet Heart.  I don't know the designer--this was a freebie off the web.

My plan (which will soon go awry I'm sure) is to finish one WIP and  one previously unstitched chart per month.  We will see how long that lasts.    I will post my progress next month, along with pics of the exchanges.  Hope everyone has a great new year!

Over already?!, another exchange and another leg on the journey

I am trying not to slip into post-Halloween depression...another 364 days to wait!  Oh well.  It's not like I will stop stitching Halloween.  Speaking of which, we exchangers in the Stitched with Love Fall into Halloween exchange got word that we could post our goodies on our blogs, so...

here is what I received from Christina..the adorable pin pillow is Halloween Pin Garden by Raise the Roof Designs, and she also sent a Halloween banner (which is still in DD's room and probably will be for quite a while), floss, beads, Steweb scissors (which I had coveted forever), the new BBD Halloween chart, spiderweb napkins and Halloween address labels.  To say the least, a great package, thank you again Christina!

This is what I sent to my partner Heather--the pattern is Babs and Boo by Fresher Threads (I think) from the JCS Halloween book, but instead of stitching the little ghost I substituted a pumpkin button.  I included the Lizzie Kate chart, pumpkin candle mat and stuffed pumpkin, mini holiday cookie cutters and recipe cards and a little DMC magnetized needle case. Hopefully Heather likes everything!  

For those LOTR fans who were following my somewhat leisurely walk, I have finally made it the 458 miles from Hobbiton to Rivendell.  I started out strong on this challenge and did pretty well during summer, but once the kids started school...oh well.  I am now off on the next leg of the journey from Rivendell to Lothlorien, 462 miles.   I am hoping to finish by June 1 next year  but we'll see how that goes :0

By the way, I have made it through this holiday once again without getting a good scare..I don't know if it's because I'm jaded or because real life is so much more horrific than anything an author or screenwriter can come up with, but in any event, I am in search of good scary (suspenseful, not gory) movies or books to get me through my Halloween withdrawal.  Any suggestions would be appreciated!