WIPocalypse - 08.03.12

So here's my next WIPocalypse update with two finishes!

Secret Project 2 - Baby - Finished 22nd February 2012 - first finish for 2012!!!  Pictures to follow as soon as I can.


Living with Charm - Lizzie Kate - COMPLETED 06.03.12

Nativity - third part started - 2 parts fully complete - 9 to start.

Six Fat Men - Lizzie Kate - 3 out of 6 complete - part 4 started.

Cinnamon Cat Birth Sampler - started 21.12.11 - 5,111 of 11,068 stitches - 46.18% complete

Gerbera Daisy Cushion - Just Cross Stitch Magazine - 23,726 of 28,224 stitches - 84.06% complete - no progress since last update

Hickory Dickory Dock QS - HAED - 20,344 of 26,775 stitches - 75.98% complete as of 02.01.12 - no progress since last update

Secret Project 1 - Ink Circles - I won't be able to publish any pictures of this project but will update my stats - 11.49% complete - no progress since last update

Forbidden Doorway SK SAL - HAED - started 08.01.12 - completed 567 of 21,258 stitches which is 2.67% complete - no progress since last update.

Hanging Loose Christmas Ornaments - Cross Stitcher Magazine (November 2011) - as of 18.01.12 12.5% complete - no progress since last update.

A new project to add to the WIPocalypse is String of Hearts - not yet started but here's a picture of the finished design.

Living with Charm - HAPPY DANCE as of 6th March 2012

Today I put the last stitch in on Living with Charm by Lizzie Kate.  I started stitching this on 17th September 2011 and finished today 6th March 2012.  It is stitched on Dawn Blush 20 count hand dyed aida from Crafty Kitten.  I've really enjoyed stitching this with the different fonts for the words and the colours, at first glance I really didn't think they went together that well but having completed it I am really pleased with how it turned out.  So here are all my progress pictures for this piece ending with the finished piece of course.  I intend to get this framed soon so will hopefully be able to put those pictures up in the not too distant future.

Baby Patchwork as of 5th March 2012

I've been concentrating on Baby Patchwork as my friend's baby is due to be born in the next couple of weeks. I've done another 922 stitches since my last post which makes it 46% complete.  I'm really enjoying stitching this and planning in my mind how I will set out the baby's name and birth details.

I don't know if you've noticed but I've set up a new page which is my "Stitching Journal".  I'd seen a lot on other forums about people keeping track of their progress with a stitching journal and I thought I'd utilise my blog to start one of my own.  Basically it's just a small entry (nearly) every day detailing what I've stitched that day and anything else I want to keep a note of.  Mainly it's for me but of course you're all welcome to read along with me.  I've also spent some time going through my "must do" projects and these are now listed on my "Current & Future Projects" page.  I've grouped them by size (stitch count) and my intention is that when I finish a small project I can add a new small one and if I finish a large project and can add a new large one etc.

Anyway I'm rambling now because it's the middle of the night and I am up with my little boy who unfortunately has chicken pox.  Very tempted to do some stitching but don't know if my sleep deprived brain and tired eyes could really make much progress!

Here's a couple of pics of my poorly (yet still cheeky) little boy.

Piece finish Happy Dance for Nativity as of 29.02.12

I'm really pleased with the progress that I've made on the Nativity.  I'm  keeping up with stitching one piece a month and have now completed the largest piece.  So doing a small happy dance for a piece finish.  I have now completed 16.7% of this project.

I've mainly be concentrating on the Baby Patchwork Birth Sampler as the baby I am stitching it for is due to be born mid-March and I want to get it finished as soon as I can after he is born.  I've completed 1,232 stitches since my last update which now makes it 37.9% complete.

Updates as of 23rd February 2012

Well after my quick post last night I thought I'd update you on the progress for which I can show you pictures.

First update is of the plastic canvas nativity.  I completed the smallest piece of the set which is the baby Jesus in the manger.

I'm very close to finishing the largest piece of the set which is the background, I just need to fill in the blue and do the back stitching.

                          

I've done a little bit more on the Six Fat Men.

Finally this is a picture of what I am going to add to my rotation next.  It's called String of Hearts and was in issue 206 of Cross Stitch Collection.

First Happy Dance of 2012!

Well I've stayed up way past my normal bed time to complete my first finish for 2012.  Unfortunately it's one of my secret projects so I can't put any photos up yet but hopefully it won't be too long until I can.

Still having a little dance even though I can't share it yet.

WIPocalypse - 07.02.12

My second WIPocalypse update.  Unfortuately this month I seem to have added more to my stash than I have done work on my WIPocalypse projects.  I am under no illusion that any of my new additions will be completed this year though.


Forbidden Doorway SK SAL - HAED - started 08.01.12 - completed 567 of 21,258 stitches which is 2.67% complete.

Hanging Loose Christmas Ornaments - Cross Stitcher Magazine (November 2011) - as of 18.01.12 12.5% complete

Nativity - first part started

Secret Project 2 - Baby - I will be able to post pictures of this later this year -  two thirds of first afghan square finished

Living with Charm - Lizzie Kate - Part 10 complete as of 14.01.12

Cinnamon Cat Birth Sampler - started 21.12.11 - 2,957 of 11,068 stitches - 26.72% complete - no progress since last update

Gerbera Daisy Cushion - Just Cross Stitch Magazine - 23,726 of 28,224 stitches - 84.06% complete - no progress since last update

Hickory Dickory Dock QS - HAED - 20,344 of 26,775 stitches - 75.98% complete as of 02.01.12 - no progress since last update

Secret Project 1 - Ink Circles - I won't be able to publish any pictures of this project but will update my stats - 11.49% complete - no progress since last update

Six Fat Men - Lizzie Kate - 3 out of 6 complete - no progress since last update

Miscellaneous as of 04.02.12

I'm making good progress with my secret project and have probably done about a two thirds of the first square so far.  The fabric I am stitching it on is quite difficult to work with so it's taking me much longer than a normal project would but it's nice to stitch on something different for a change.

One of the goals I have set myself for the year is to complete the 24 Christmas ornaments on plastic canvas from the November 2011 issue of Cross Stitcher Magazine.  I am hoping to turn them into some form of advent calendar so I need to stitch at least 2 a month to reach my goal.  Up to now I have completed 3.  I am substituting the french knots with beads and some of the backstitching with metallic threads with the hope this will add a little sparkle to the ornaments.  So having completed 3 of 24 ornaments I have completed 12.5% of this project.

I've also started stitching the plastic canvas nativity which I hope to have finished for Christmas.  There are 12 pieces in total so at 1 piece a month it seems like quite an achievable goal.  Also they are quite basic designs and have large blocks of colour so I am hoping when the light gets better I may be able to stitch on them in the car going to and from work.  I've started with the biggest part of the set which is the background and here's my progress so far.  If you want to see the finished design you can find it here.

I was thrilled to see on Jill Rensel's blog that she has framed a Living with Charm piece.  It just looks stunning.  It is my goal one day to have one of my pieces framed by Jill.  Here's the link if you want to look.

I'm extremely excited to have signed up to stitch my first Chatelaine - I've chosen to stitch the Anniversay Fairy Tale Castle.  The first part is released at the beginning of April so I have until then to save up my pennies and then decide whether I am going to stitch it in the recommended silks or use the DMC conversion.  I'm thinking I will have to go with the DMC conversion but we'll see.

I've also splurged again in the HAED sale and bought the four Randall Spangler story keeps recently released.  I will also get the fifth one when it comes out as I want to stitch them all on one piece of fabric.  I'm thinking a hand dyed piece so that the fabric acts like matting in between the pictures but I'm not sure yet what colour fabric I will stitch on.

Forbidden Doorway SK as of 14.01.12

I've not made a great deal of progress on the SK SAL only completing 567 stitches which makes it 2.67% complete.  I am moving on as I have to do some work on one of my secret projects.  Here's my progress picture so far.

I've also completed the next section of Living with Charm - I now have only 2 sections left to do.

As I am working on one of my secret projects next there won't be an update for a while.  

WIPocalypse - 09.01.12

So here's my first WIPocalypse update.

Cinnamon Cat Birth Sampler - started 21.12.11 - 2,957 of 11,068 stitches - 26.72% complete

Gerbera Daisy Cushion - 23,726 of 28,224 stitches - 84.06% complete

Hickory Dickory Dock QS - 20,344 of 26,775 stitches - 75.98% complete as of 02.01.12

Living with Charm - Part 9 complete as of 03.01.12

Secret Project 1 - I won't be able to publish any pictures of this project but will update my stats - 11.49% complete

Secret Project 2 - I will be able to post pictures of this later this year -  not yet started

Six Fat Men - 3 out of 6 complete

Forbidden Doorway SK SAL - not yet started

Baby Patchwork as of 07.01.12

I've been stitching on Baby Patchwork for the last few days and have now completed 2,957 of 11,068 which is 26.72% complete.  On the original pattern the name and birth details are done in cross stitch and look quite bulky.  I've decided to stitch the whole background in white and then back stitch the details, I think it will look better this way and will also enable me to fit more information in.  So here's the progress picture.

I've also completed part 9 of Living with Charm which makes it 75% complete.  I now have a deadline to finish this project which is spurring me on.

 I also had a lovely surprise this morning.  I received £100 of Hobbycraft vouchers after entering a competition in Cross Stitcher Magazine.  I had only said to a friend of mine yesterday that I sometimes wondered if anyone actually won these competitions - well I guess someone was listening and decided to prove me wrong.  The ironic thing is I took my Christmas money to Hobbycraft a few days ago and bought everything I needed so I guess the vouchers may have to wait awhile before I spend them.  I can't decide whether to splurge on a couple of big items or just keep myself in threads and needles for a while.

Heather's Giveaway

Heather is having a fantastic giveaway of CCN and LHN charts - please visit her blog here and enter to be in with a chance of winning.

Hickory Dickory Dock as of 02.01.12

I've now completed a further 1,078 stitches on Hickory Dickory Dock which makes it 20,344 of 26,775 complete which is 75.98% complete.  I can see the outline of the second mouse coming out from the bottom left of the clock face I've decided that I want to get this completed by June so I can submit it for the HAED reward program.  At my current pace I should be able to achieve this as long as life doesn't get in the way.

I've also completed part 8 of Living with Charm and am pretty close to finishing part 9.

Next I am going to work on Six Fat Men again.