Try, Try Again

I meant to post again last week but I kept getting sidetracked. Then, I meant to post on Sunday for WIPocalypse full moon but sat my butt on the back porch and stitched instead. This really wouldn't be a problem but circumstances prevented me from WIPocalypse last month so it's about time I make a WIPocalypse post!

Now that my traveling patterns are all finished I've been concentrating on my Prairie Schooler 12 Days of Christmas ornaments. I finished 10 Lords-a-leaping! Isn't he handsome?

Wait! He looks kinda funny. Oh no...I forgot his eye and golden buttons!

There, that's better! Hmmmmm, still looks odd. Is something missing?

Holly berries! GEE ~ Is this one done yet? How long have I been at this hobby? I think I'd better check all the other ones I've already "finished" too...

I made a really good start on number 11 as well:

Traveling Pattern? You mean the Shepherd's Bush one? Oh, heck...I nearly forgot that as well! Sorry, sorry, sorry! That is heading out to Kathy of Kathy's Sit and Stitch. Congratulations Kathy! Those of you really, really wanting to stitch this please bookmark Kathy's blog and be watching for her finish!

I'm trying to arrange a treat for you. Yes, that was cryptic, wasn't it?

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Blackbirds and Cherries

When I was half-way through stitching this blackbird I kept seeing red cherries on black fabric in my mind. I knew I'd seen that fabric before but I didn't own any of it. I couldn't tell if this wanted to be a little pillow or a pocket or what but I was sure it needed black fabric with red cherries so I stopped by Hobby Lobby on my way home from work and bought a yard. Yes, Lynda and Kathy (you smarties) it is a Mary Engelbreit print. The very minute I was done stitching I was ready to finish and had decided this wanted to be a stitcher's pocket. Now, even though I had never made one before...it turned out very well!

Design ~ Red Winged Blackbird

Designer ~ Bent Creek

Fabric ~ 28 count Khaki Monaco

 Fiber ~ DMC

This finish was sent to Barbi of Blissfully Stitching as an RAK. You can read about it here.

The next time I make one of these, I think I might try to make the backing piece a tiny bit larger and see if I can't reduce the part where the pocket goes on. Kinda even things up? I forgot to put something IN the pocket part when I took the pictures ~ whoops! The ric rac was so easy and big thanks go to Karen for her  recent tips about it!

Since Thursday was the full moon ~ that means it's WIPocalypse time and that means ~ I'm late! I was too busy finishing to bother posting and I'm sticking to that story. At least I had an actual finish to post and that is the whole point of WIPocalypse anyway! Thank you, Measi...for hosting this...I can chalk up another finish out of that over-full bin!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Full Moon Madness

Those of you visiting here because it's the Full Moon and you have just updated your blog with a TUSAL post...I hate to tell you but you're doin' it wrong. You are 'bout two weeks late, girl! The TUSAL goes on the NEW MOON. It's WIPocalypse time on the FULL MOON! Whoops!

I have been chugging right along, working on that overflowing basket of want-to-stitch projects. My Finery of Nature was my focus in January, it was posted about here. I won't bore you with a repeat photo since that was my very last post. In February my focus is also my Theme-a-licious project, Bent Creek's Bad Hare Day:

This is the progress after only six days. Can you tell how much I LOVE stitching Bent Creek designs? Holey Moses, this is a fast stitch! I'm sure once I get to the hare and those big blocks of one color I might not be quite as enthused. The border is full of fiddly gaps and skips, which I thought would be really bitchy but it fooled me ~ easy and frog-free as the come. Those funny gaps get filled in with another color of green so this isn't quite as far along as it appears.

This fun project is from that big basket I showed you once before. There are so many designs left in that basket that I really-really want to stitch...how fun to have blog games to join in on and get some of them stitched! Thank you, Measi!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

WIPocalypse Now

First full moon of the year that means it's WIPocalypse time! I'm literally astonished at my progress so far. This is unheard of in my stitching chair. The border got a little repetitive so I stitched a couple of flowers before I unstuck my rear from the chair. This project must be really interesting to me for me to stitch so much so fast.

Still linty. Don't look too close.

I find I'm frogging a bit more than usual. The dark fabric makes it difficult to see holes and I keep missing or adding a hole. At least I'm in the habit of checking to see if things are lining up so I catch it before I get too far but now I'm nervous I'll miss one and not catch it before it's really far gone! Dratted frogs.

If you would like to join us for WIPocalypse and "stitch like it's the end of the world" ~ click here!

I know I am supposed to make a list for WIPocalypse. I can't do it. Don't get me wrong, I love lists in general. Shopping lists, things to do lists, things I want lists ~ all of them! But I can't make a list of to-stitch items without feeling completely overwhelmed and becoming very stressed out. Since this is my hobby the last thing I want to do is get stressed about it! I haven't had a "real" loss of mojo in ten or twelve years so I am NOT risking it. My WIPocalypse list will have to remain the vague thoughts in my head and the pile of charts in my basket. I guess I could show you the basket:

Now, how is that for a list? You see why I could get a little freaked out? I admit I have no self control when it comes to my hobby. Now that we all have that straight lets just say for WIPocalypse I'd like to complete The Finery of Nature, make some progress on each of my long-time WIPs as seen in the left sidebar and fill in the gaps with designs from my basket. I will make every effort to go through the basket and sort it into some kind of reasonable order at some point. I heard those snickers! Stop laughing!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Joining In The Fun

I'm not usually a "joiner." You know...the girl that has two dozen club/church/friendship groups to go to every week? I am shy and quiet and usually tend to go my own way. But 2012 looks like there are loads of awesome things to do online!

First up comes the TUSAL. This one is easy since I've been hosting for the past year! TUSAL posts on the NEW moon each month.

Then there is Measi's WIPocalypse. This one should be fun since there is an overflowing bin of things that want stitching and an overloaded WIP bin of stuff that needs working on. WIPocalypse posts on the FULL moon each month.

Next we have Joysze's International Hermit and Stitch Weekend. There is nothing I like better than a do-not-disturb-stitching-session! IHSW "meets" the 3rd weekend of each month, posting on the Monday following.

There is also Heather's Theme-a-licious to follow! Every month is a fun theme to stitch too. It will be fun trying to come up with interesting posts each month. Theme-a-licious posts on the 15th and again on the last day each month.

Finally, we have Becky's BAP Challenge. This is a project to stitch between January 1st and December 31st of 2012. The project must be at least 10 x 12 and not a current WIP. There is a prize to be given away (a $100 GC) drawn from those that finish their project. This challenge is a post-any-time but does need to be updated when there is progress.

Holy crows! I'm gonna be so busy! I wonder if there is anything left out there for me to join?

So this brings me to that picture I'm teasing you with up there! That is Dimensions The Finery of Nature, a kit I have had in my stash for years. I will be starting this for the BAP Challenge which also takes up the Theme-a-licious of Jardin January. Starting this one will also count towards my WIPocalypse goal of reducing my unworked-but-wanting-to-stitch stash. I should be able to make good progress during the International Hermit and Stitch weekends, filling up that ORT jar for the TUSAL.

I hope I can remember all this stuff.

I'm in the process of kitting up this kit. Yeah, I said that right. It came as a kit but I just don't like it! First off, I didn't like the aida ~ toss ~ replaced with 28 count black Jobelan. Then I couldn't bring myself to use the yucky threads it came with. Today I matched them all up with DMC and I will buy those after work tomorrow. I'd be really mad if I ran out of a color after I had a major frog. DMC is just safer, even if it is only in my head. I am excited about my new start!

I do have quite a few other things in my stash that need stitching too. Updates will follow. If I don't get lost.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox