April Goals, WIPocalypse, IHSW... oh my!

Well we're half way into the month of April and I'm finally getting to my stitching goals.  I'll have to do better in May!

March Stitching Goal - Recap
Finish Page 8 on The Accolade - No
Start Page 9 on The Accolade - No
Finish PS Ornaments - Yes
Have a new start - Yes!
Do a little finishing - Nope!

April Stitching Goals
Work on TW's Birth Announcement
Stitch an ornament
Do some finishing

This month's WIPocalypse post is a pretty easy one, as since the last report I've been working on only one thing, and that's Teresa Wentzler's Birth Announcement.  So here it is since I don't have a before photo for you, since I started it a few weeks ago and since the last report.  I'm stitching this for my best friend from high school who had a son in early March.

Red Threads - Rosewood Manor

Last weekend I needed a wee break from gold, gold and more gold so I stitched and finished these two little ornaments.

This upcoming weekend is a four day weekend for me and its the IHSW so we'll see how much I'll get done on Birth Announcement!!!!

Belated WIPocalypse and IHSW

I did a lot of great stitching over the March Break, and then the tail end was one of my Timberhouse Retreats (pictures coming soon) and of course when you've been off of work for a week, it takes a bit to get back into the swing of things! (and its quite tiring)

This weekend is IHSW, and I have no plans but to stay home and stitch!  Well and do a little baking on Sunday, its my favorite custodian's birthday on Monday (we share a Birthday month, mine is this upcoming Thursday, the 27th!) he loves apple crisp so I'll be making one to take into work for him on Monday.

Here's my WIPocalypse progress which was due this past Sunday!  Since my last report I have focused most of my stitching time on The Accolade... until my little road trip to Stitcher's Garden two weeks ago.

I probably should work on my fair lady this weekend as one of my goals for March is to finish page 8 and as you can see, the end of this page is not far off!

I initially put down the Accolade to stitch up this beauty, Flowers in Black, White and Red.  I picked up this piece at Stitcher's Garden, and started it the next day.  This piece stitched up in just a few days.

Next up it was time to wrap up those Prarie Schooler ornaments I had started back in January, and I did just that while at the Timberhouse Retreat last weekend.  Here's all the ornaments all stitched up together, outlined in backstitch and backing pieces stitched and ready to go.  This is all ready to be pressed, and cut up to be whip stitched together.

Since the last WIPocalypse I finished....  The Poisonous Poinsettia (to cats)

The Pyromaniac Angel

Candy Cane Smoking Santa

The Cozy Cottage

Chubby Snowman

Finally The Scrawny Reindeer

Since I wrapped the Prarie Schooler ornaments fairly early on during the Retreat weekend, I pulled out another January start to work on, Three Little Maids which I ALSO managed to finish up on Sunday evening after I got home.

The rest of this week I've been working on yet another ornament, this guy has been calling my name since I picked up the chart in January.  I picked up all of the threads for Snow Woes by Heart in Hand at Stitcher's Garden and decided he was next, I haven't been in any rush to get back to my over one stitching.

So there you have it, this is where all of my recently touched projects stand!

WIPocalypse - The February Edition

I'm sure I just did a WIPocalypse reporte but it looks like its time again!

This month's question is :How many projects do you generally feel comfortable having in progress at a time? Tell us about your one-at-a-time or rotation habits!

Well I often end up with MULTIPLE projects on the go though deep down in my heart I'm a one at a time girl!  I always like to have at least two projects on the go one BIG project and something small and portable (like ornaments).  Lately I seem to have fallen into the habit of having three projects on the go, one BIG over two one BIG over one and something small.

Right now I have even more than that on the go... but that's because I have a few January Crazy Challenge pieces I haven't gotten back to finishing.  

Honestly, having so many projects on the go stresses me out, I know I'm happiest when I see significant progress on a project.

Right now I'm back on a one at a time streak, and I've been solely focused on The Accolade when I'm at home.  Since the last time I've shown it off I've finished off page 7 and I'm well into page 8

Here it is the last time you saw it

Here it is as of yesterday

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

PhotoHunts and WIPocalypse

I really meant to blog several times this past week, but I've been so caught up in my stitching that a lot was left undone this week.  I should of posted a PhotoHunt last weekend, then I should of done a WIPocalypse post a few days ago... and lookie, its PhotoHunt time again!

So here it is, all in one!

Last week's PhotoHunt theme was "silly"

This is the silliest, best, most favorite bathroom sign I've ever seen!  I came across this at a gas station just as I was about to enter Cape Breton this summer.

This week's theme is "rousing"

This is my friend Dan's 50th Anniversary Edition Corvette.  There is nothing more rousing that driving a powerful sports car, especially when its a manual transmission!  Boy this baby purrrrs!

I've not done a WIPocalypse post in forever... so I won't go into that was then, this is now sort of thing.  I just show you what I've gotten done and where I am with my current WIPs.

There was my Ink Circles finish, Cirque des Circles at the beginning of September.  This was my summer holidays project I stitched the majority of this from the end of July to the beginning of September.

Next I stitched up a JBW which will be an ornament, this one is the French Country Dove, I've got another one on the go, but no picture ... sorry!

Earlier in the Summer Kathy had asked me to add to her Sweetheart Tree Round Robin, this is the Bleeding Hearts Heart.  It was a quick enjoyable stitch!

Then last week I finished up page 6 on the Accolade!  I am now officially at the half way point on this BAP!  It would be so nice to wrap up this project this year... but the eyes can only handle so much over one at a time!

The last week I've been obsessed by my latest Teresa Wentzler!  Fortunate Traveler!  I started this back on May 1st with Christin, Bonnie, and Beatrice.  The first picture shows where I put it down after a few days work in May.  The second picture shows all of the border outlines stitched up, as of tonight.

May WIPocalypse

Its that time in the moon-cycle again, time for the WIPocalypse.  I've not done one since the beginning of April so I have no true comparisons for you from the last one.  I've pretty much just been working on Kathy's ABC Christmas Sampler and I stitched one ornament.

So no surprises in when I'm going to show you here!

 My May ornament, Glad Tidings by Bent Creek

Kathy's ABC Christmas Sampler up to the letter S completed.

After I finished the letter "S" for Santa I have taken a break for a few days, and I'm working on a small!  If I don't waste a lot of time today, I should have a wee, adorable happy dance to share with you!

WIPocacalypse, Ornament SAL and Stitchy Stuff!

I have been a woefully poor SAL participant lately.  Actually I'm going to blame it on the calendar on my phone because it didn't alert me appropriately, and well it was a busy week between my birthday and Easter weekend.  So lets get all caught up on all the SALs and wonderful stitchyness that's been going on Chez Dani!

Let's start with WIPocalypse and since I have ornaments to share as well this will be about my bigger WIPs and non-ornamenty stitchery.

The Accolade as of the February WIPocalypse

The Accolade as of March 19th

ABC Christmas Sampler as of the February WIPocalypse

ABC Christmas Sampler as of March 31st

Just Nan's Honey Bunny - Limited Edition Kit

finished this almost two weeks ago

 Tartan Thistle Scissor Keep - Kit

stitching finished on Saturday finishing done on Sunday

This has been my travel project for the last little while

Now for the Ornaments

 Just Nan's Gingerbread Mouse - Limited Edition Kit

Dove of Birds - JBW Designs

 Freebie

Gift tags from Cross Stitcher

Issue 260 December 2012

Well that's about it!  I'm all caught up on sharing my stitching with you!