Here There and Everywhere

You'd think by the title of this post I was travelling, but nope!  It just perfectly describes my attention span (or lack there of) when it comes to stitching these last few weeks.  Or probably ADD is the best way to describe it.

I thought my last new start/finish would settle me down into one project but that didn't work.  Since my last post I've worked on (and those who know me well know that I don't usually have a lot of WIPs on the go nor do I bounce around from project to project) :

Cirque Des Triangles by Ink Circles, I started this on my trip to the Dominican Republic at the end of February.  These designs make fantastic travel projects, one thread colour and you don't have to hop all over the place.  Over the last couple of years I've started one of these "Cirque" designs on my annual "work trip" to the DR.  I'm stitching this on a piece of 32ct Queen Ann's Lace (which was disappointingly too "muddy" to stitch Spring Quakers on) with DMC 4022, which is a very striking combination and honestly makes me think of the ocean in the DR!  I worked on this for about a week after my Peacock Alphabet finish and managed to stitch up page 3, this means the top half is done.  I then promptly lost interest and put it away.

Next to see the light of day was The Big Red by The Silver Lining, I started this one many, many, many years ago and it has sat ignored until this past Christmas when I picked it up.  During my focus time on this piece over the holidays I managed to work my way up from the middle to the top and I've stitched pages 1-4. This piece is being stitched over one on 25ct summer khaki lugana using a combination of DMC and Anchor floss.  For about a night or two I plugged away on page 5, then it went away again.

Cranberry Christmas

Prairie Schooler

Stitched on 40ct Mellow from Picture This Plus

Stitched with DMC

Last week I decided, oh boy I haven't stitched an ornament in awhile!!!  This year I've even managed to get out of my habit of the monthly Christmas Ornament which I have done for years and years!  Some time ago I started stitching up the ornaments from Prairie Schooler's Cranberry Christmas chart.  These are being stitched over two on 40ct linen from Picture This Plus with three colours of DMC.  So this ornament got worked on for a couple of days, then put down for a new start (see what I mean!  Serious ADD here!), but I promptly made myself pick it back up on Sunday which resulted in a Happy Dance that evening!

New start did I say that?  Ahem yeah I did.  So I've thrown yet another project in the mix (and by the way I have yet to admit to all of my WIPs to you).  I've been talking with one of my stitching friends out our next Teresa Wentzler start and that it would be about a year out while I wait for Christin and Bonnie to FINISH The Fortunate Traveller (which I finished last year) so we can start Fantasy Triptych.   During these discussions this friend mentioned she was hating the piece of fabric she started The Guardian on...  So I thought on Friday I'd look at the chart in my stash, I knew I had it... well I had the kit... looking turned to sorting floss... sorting floss turned into a new start!  This has managed to hold my attention for oh four days in a row now!  Almost a record!

Tune in next time to see if I stick with The Guardian! (or follow me on Instagram for instant gratification @tkd_chick)

Belated WIP Wednesday

Were you looking for my WIP Wednesday post last night or today?  Sorry I didn't get anything up on my blog, I was too tired to blog.

I'm still not settled 100% on any one project, this week saw me working on three of my WIPs.  My friends and regular readers know that's very unlike me to flit from one project to the other!  I am certainly a one at a time girl!

I've put a few more thread lengths into Arabian Woman, a Lanarte Kit.  I think I'm going to really look forward to focusing on her at some point.

I've also put a few hours over the weekend on The Big Red by The Silver Lining, I think I missed working over one!

I think I've spent most of my stitching time on Peacock by Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks.  On the up side, I finished all of the dark outlining and now its time to fill it in with all of the gorgeous blues that remind me of the beach in the Dominican Republic!  Also I'd say the end is in sight with this piece!

I was determined to do a little finishing this weekend, its certainly piling up!  I finished up these three motifs from Red Threads by Rosewood Manor.  These are all whip stitched together with a beaded edge.

Next out of the to be finished bin was this Primitive Hare freebie.  I've done a flat finish on this and embellished it with a red/white polka-dot ribbon bow on the top and a pearl head pin.  Ideally I'd like to get a few pieces finished each weekend, we'll see how ambitious I am this weekend!

WIPWednesday, Small Finishes and What's Next?

Happy Wednesday fair readers!  Which means its WIPWednesday and one of my blogging days!

As usual I like to start with the happy stuff, and I've had two small Happy Dances since my last post.

Red Threads

Rosewood Manor

Stitched with NPI Silk

Stitched on 32ct Natural Linen

This first little guy, was already well under way, so there wasn't much left to do.  This has been my "purse project" and I've been dragging it around with me most places but not really working on it.  So I finally put the last stitches into it.

French Country Star

JBW Designs

Just Cross Stitch - Ornament Issue 2010

Stitched with WDW Garnet

Stitched Over One on 25ct Sand/Gold Lugana

Next up is this month's ornament, I had a hard time settling on which one I wanted to stitch.  I finally picked up this sweet little stitch by JBW which was in one of my Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issues.  If I can, and it may be rather ambitious I'd like to finish this star-shaped!

I haven't settled on a new focus project yet, and really that's okay.  This week I've picked away at two different projects.

I kind of have it in my mind to finish up my January 1st start from this year, Peacock by Alessandra Adelaide.  Christin and I started them together, but she's been done hers for awhile now. Usually I'm the first to finish!  I've had a hard time getting "into" this project.

When I haven't been able to get "into" Peacock I've pulled out an oldie, but goodie Arabian Woman a kit from Lanarte.  I fell in love with and bought this project a long time ago, and it cost me a fair bit.  A few years ago I put some stitches in it to make myself get back to it.  I've enjoyed working on it this week.  The fabric on this piece comes painted and there's a little "+" where to start so I've slowly worked my way from that start point, to my happy place, the top left hand corner.

As promised last week here are the other projects I have started in my stitching basket... Which project would you like to watch come to life?  Leave me a comment!

Mini River Cottage - Michael Powell

The Big Red - The Silver Lining

 Cirque des Carreaux - Ink Circles

Fortunate Traveller - Teresa Wentzler

Wipocalypse 2014

Besides getting caught up on my PhotoHunts you really haven't heard from me at all this month!  January is almost over and its been an exhausting month physically and psychologically!  I've alternated between not being able to sleep/sleep through the night the first few weeks of the month to now barely being able to stay awake!  Friday night I laid down for a bit at about 5PM I didn't get up until 7:30AM!

I have been stitching when I've had the energy to, but lets get caught up on all of the blogging activities I decided to take part in this year!  The first thing I've missed is the first Wipocalypse of the year!  This month it took place on January 16th!

With this first Wipocalypse we are to introduce ourselves, our projects and our goals for the year.

The Stitcher:

Most recent picture of myself

I'm know by my friends and the stitching community as Dani, I'm in my late 30's.  I am a Library Technician in a High School which I've been working at for 12 years now.  I live with my partner Todd and our two cats Hunter and Zeus, no kids.

My first finish - started in grade 8 (1988ish) finished 1997

My Mum first taught me how to cross stitch when I was around 12-13 years old when "Santa" left a little cross stitch kit in my stocking.  That first project, was a disaster!  I started another project as a teen in middle school but I never finished it until I was an adult, when I was unemployed for a few months in 1997.  Since that time, I've never stopped.  I've been stitching for 17 years now... wow!

I started blogging in September of 2003, that's 11 years now.  I like to think that I'm one of the early Stitching Bloggers.  I'm hoping to keep blogging for many years as long as the ability exists and the audience is still there.

Through stitching and blogging many wonderful people have come into my life.  I am very grateful for what stitching and the online communities have brought into my life.

The Projects:

 The Accolade (NOT a HEAD)

Started in 2006 most of the work has been done in 2012/13

Almost done pages 1-7 of 12

Stitched one over one on 25ct lugana

 Arabian Woman - Lanarte Kit

Started November 2013

 Prarie Schooler - Christmas Favorites

Started January 2014

 Camelot Mini Samper - Teresa Wentzler

Started January 2014

 Mini River Cottage - Michael Powell Kit

Started January 2014

 The Big Red - The Sivler Lining

Started January 2012 - barely touched since

One over one on 25ct Lugana

 The Fortunate Traveller - Teresa Wentzler

Started May 1 2014

Combination of over two and over one on 28ct

 Stitching Row - Bent Creek

Started January 2014

Three Little Miads - Heritage Stitchcraft

Started January 2014

Goals for 2014:

• Finish all of my January Crazy Challenge Starts
• Finish The Accolade
• Finish borders and story on Fortunate Traveller
• Make progress on Big Red
• Stitch and finish a minimum of 12 ornaments

And there you have it... the first WIPocalypse of 2014

First WIPocalypse for 2013

Last night as I got home from stitching with Tracey and Leslie, I realized oh its a full moon!  I double checked my calendar and yes, its time for the first WIPocalypse Report of 2013.  This year there are themes involved but I'd like to stick with last year's format.  Its neat to see how much I can accomplish from one full moon to the next.

First of all I'd like to start with my non-Crazy Challenge pieces.

There is The Accolade, which I've gotten a lot done on recently, and yesterday I just finished a 4-day rotation on it.

December progress

Progress as of yesterday

Kathy's ABC Christmas Sampler

 December WIPocalypse

 January progress

In late December I started to put in a few lengths on The Big Red by The Sliver Lining, it was the one 2012 Crazy Challenge pieces I didn't finish... for obvious reasons I think!

The Big Red, barely started

Now onto my Crazy Challenge pieces for 2013

January 1st start... finished!  Maple Leaf by Alessandra Adelaide Needlework

January 2nd start... finished!  Cross Stitcher In Residence by Lizzie Kate

January 3rd start Winter Cottage by Michael Powell

January 4th start Tartan Thistle Scissorkeep

January 5th start ... finished (just finished this on Thursday) Love Dove by JBW Designs

January 6th start ... finished Flowers and Vines Dove by JBW Designs

January 7th start Dove of Birds by JWB (difficult to get a good picture)

January 8th start Merry Cats-Mas by The Chocolate Cat

January 9th start ... finished Peace Pin Button by Jeannette Douglas

January 10th start T'is Read by La-D-Da

January 11th start ... finished Merry Little Christmas Ornament by The Drawn Thread

January 12th start The Cat's Meyow by The Drawn Thread

January 13th start ... finished just today!  Heartstruck Quakers by Midnight Stitching

January 14th start Heartsturck Quakers by Midnight Stitching

January 15th start Tartan Thistle Needlecase

Wow!  I've done a lot since the last full moon!!!!