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!

Happy Boo Day, early

I don't know if time will allow for a post tomorrow, so happy Halloween everyone!  Here is my finish-finished Talking Board which now lives with my friend Olga (who was pretty pleased with it) and a design from the JCS Halloween book, Wicked Night by The Primitive Hare. 

I got the idea for the tray from Jane's blog Mamie Jane...she is not a stitcher but repurposes lots of older items and has some great ideas.

 I fell in love with this design the moment I saw it. I did this for my BFF but will stitch another for myself.  Sleepy Hollow is one of my all-time favorite stories.

This is the design I stitched for my partner Grace  for the Seasonal Exchange. It is another one from the JCS Halloween book (which has some fantastic designs in my opinion) called Pumpkin Tree from Plum Street Samplers, done on natural linen with the recommended threads and finished as a pinkeep.  In turn I received this gorgeous flatfold from Grace--a design from The Gift of Stitching Magazine, done on her own hand-dyed fabric.  Thank you again Grace!

I hope everyone has a great Boo Day and thank you for visiting and for all your lovely comments!

A quickie in which fence cat says "o hai"

I always amaze myself when I am able to post twice in two days, but I had a finish last night and time this morning, and that almost never happens.  I'm sure most of you already know but this is Fence Cat's Halloween by Berit of Jaunty Fox Designs, done on Carved Pumpkin linen from Weeks (?) and finished as a pillow.  I can't believe it's a little over a week until my favoite day!

a little post with no clever name

Cow test successful! I'm trying to post for the second time this week...a few days earlier dear old Blogger would not let me upload any pictures.  If I'd known it would work today I would have started with something more interesting...


Things have been crazy busy with school and the approaching holidays, but I do have a few things to show. Not much as my stitching time has been almost nonexistent.  The first of my many exchanges has been completed--This is what I sent Elisa for the Rotating Designer (Prairie Schooler this round) exchange.  This a portion of Pumpkin Patch, with the colors changed up a little bit.  My DD begged to be allowed to keep this one!  Fortunately my partner likes it too.

This lovely creation is what I received from Teresa.  I love stitching bags so needless to say I was thrilled!  The designs are from the PS chart Boo to You.

This little guy, along with the rickrack from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shop, was sent to Berit for being the first to guess that the WIP in my last post was in fact The Talking Board from Primitive Needle.  He is from BBD's Casting a Spell booklet.  

Speaking of which, my WIP is a WIP no longer. Pardon the wrinkles, it has not met with an iron quite yet.  I have a somewhat different idea for finishing (borrowed from another blogger, not a stitcher) so look for pictures of this one in fully finished form sometime before Halloween. 

Til next time, thank you all for visiting!

my monthly post

I had fully intended to post to this blog more often, but in the mad dash in the morning to get two kids off to two different schools, feed everyone, make lunches, etc.  it just doesn't happen, and I usually have but that one small window of uninterrupted computer access during the day :(  Just as well, I don't have a whole lot to show...I have been stitching, but mostly for exchanges (four to be exact--not sure exactly what I was thinking) so not much I can show right now.  I did take a couple of my old finishes and put them into box form, including the one above--a Goode Huswife quaker design done on willow green linen and trimmed with some of the antique lace I acquired at a garage sale during my recent trip.   The other is BBD's Peacock Pincushion, done on the recommended fabric with Belle Soie Cranberry (I think). 

I do have one other BBD finish (please forgive the quality of the photos and the lurid green background, I took some rather hasty snaps this morning on my son's funky cordoroy chair), Home of the Brave done with Cherry Bark on some very pretty Silkweaver fabric which I forgot the name of since I take everything out of its package once it arrives :)  The other snap is of my almost-finish, In the Sweet by La D Da.  Despite being within a few dozen stitches of finishing this little piece I have chucked it aside for the time being as the frogs are enamoured of those (*(&^ little flowers at the bottom...

This is what I am working on currently--love this pattern, the fabric (R &R 18th Century Mustard Seed) and threads (Belle Soie Noir).  This is will be a gift for a like-minded friend for an upcoming holiday :) Since it is only a few days until fall, and a little over a month until my favorite day of the year, I will give away a little something to the first person who guesses the name of the pattern and designer.  Just comment on this post, and if you want to play make sure I have a way to contact you.  Thanks much for visting!