WIPocalypse ~ July 31, 2015

This month I finished 3 projects. Twp were new starts and one was a carry over from last year.

In summary: I started the year with 14 WIPs

• To date I have completed 3 of these WIPs
• One was completed this last month
• I started 18 new projects this year
• To date I have completed 12 of them; 2 of them in July

This months finishes are: 

A Cardinal painted Canvas by Amanda Lawford

Another bag tag for my husband: 

And finally Arizona Star designed by Laura Perin:

This month"s Question is what makes you pick up a long abandoned UFO instead of starting a new project? 

Actually looking at the number of new starts I have had this year I don't think I do. However, I do look at my WIP (UFOs if you prefer) list at the begging of the year and make a plan about which ones I want to finish and what projects from my stash I want to start. Then I try not to buy new projects but this year I have had started two long term projects that create a lot of new starts. One is to make Christmas ornaments for my MIL, children and grandchildren each year and the other is to make a bag tag for each state my husband plays golf in at the rate of two per month. By year end this will result in 6 ornaments and 14 bag tags which will all be started and finished this year as well as trying complete 8 of the WIPs I started the year with. So far I have finished 2 of the ornaments, 3 bag tags and  3 of the WIPs. I better stitch faster. 

WIPocalypse ~ July 2, 2015

This month I met with a little more success than last month. While 

I finished 6 projects they were all smalls and none of them were on 

my beginning of the year WIP list. In other words they were all new

starts in 2015.

In summary: I started the year with 14 WIPs

• To date I have completed 2 of these WIPs
• None were completed in the last month 
• I started 12 new projects this year
• To date I have completed 10 of them; 6 of them in June.
• I have stitched on 7 WIPS this month and finished 6. 
• I worked on Arizona Star but did not complete it. My goal is to finish it in July.

In June I decided to stitch bag tags for my DH for every state he has 

played golf in. He has a goal to play in all fifty states. I am modifying 

a design from Jean Farish called "America Land that I Love". This 

month I completed Hawaii and Ohio. 

I found acrylic bag tags that you can insert stitching in and i am backing each one with fabric with a  golf related design. 

This month I also completed the first bag tag I started for him describing a big accomplishment. The 17th green at TPC Sawgrass is on an island and is one of the most difficult holes even for professional golfers. Scoring par on this hole is an awesome accomplishment.  For this bag tag I stitch two pieces and put them back to back. 

As part of  quilt project I stitched one state, Idaho. 

I completed the 2nd day of Christmas, a painted canvas by Kathy Schenkel. I now have three of the series done. 

Last but not least I completed Cappuccino designed by Little House Needleworks

Our Question of the month is:
Reality or Fantasy. Figures or Abstract. Which do you prefer to stitch?

When I look at what my choices have been over the years I would have to say I lean towards Fantasy and Abstract pieces but I also do pieces that are realistic and on occasion I have done figures. In needlepoint I prefer geometric designs which I would categorize as abstract but I also have stitched and own painted canvases like the one above which might be considered more real than fantasy.  In my cross stitch and embroidery I have  done mostly fantasy, like TW's Unicorn or Stretch;  geometric designs or message pieces from Lizzie Kate. The only figures I have done have been the pieces of Mirabilia  designs I stitched as part of a SAL back in 2006.

WIPocalypse 2015 ~ April & May~

I missed reporting in April so I will report for both April and May. While there is no question for us to respond to in May in April the questions were: Which specialty stitches do you love doing on projects? which do you dread?

My least favorite stitch to do is french knots. I avoid them or replace them with beads. My favorite stitch are all variety of Rhodes stitches. I love the texture they add to a piece.

This month's question is: Do you look for LNSs when you travel? What is the favorite shop you've ever found?

 I do look for LNSs when I travel. I use a Needle Travel Site  to look up shops I might visit. I have only been to half a dozen LNSs so far and Family Arts in Phoenix is one I would visit again.

My WIPocalypse summary to date:

• I started the year with 14 WIPs
• To date I have completed 2 of these WIPs
• None were completed in the last month 
• I started 8 new projects this year
• To date I have completed 3 of them; 2 of them in the past month. 
• I have stitched on 6 of my WIPS this month and finished 2. 

Here they are the  6 projects I worked on this month:

Heart for Cancer Patient Project

Golf Bag Tag for my DH

Mardi Gras

Crazy Point Block

2nd Day of Christmas

Arizona Star

WIPocalypse ~ March~

This past month has seen more snow and very cold temperatures. It would seem like a great time to stitch. However, I have often felt the urge to 'hibernate' when I come in from work. That is I just want to climb under the covers and come out when ever spring decides to arrive. Even so I did get some stitching time in this month.
I completed TW's Byzantine Ornament I on March 1st, which I started on February 1st.  I am looking forward to finishing the series.

I also started and finished a bargello bell ornament. This design is from NAPA Needlepoint . If you search on her site you will find three other bell designs that she posted.

Our ANG Chapter is stitching a memorial wreath for a dear member who passed away last year. It was my turn in the round robin so I stitched five blocks last week. They are the two on the left and the top three on the right.

I have also completed one section of the ANG pilot stitch project I am doing called Crazy Point.

I stitched on TW's 2nd Day of Christmas and made some progress. The set of ornament designs will be completed s a wall hanging. 

I started my ANG Correspondence Course called Mardi Gras.

I wish I had gotten more done but as the days get longer I stitch more so I hope to have great progress to report next month.

The question for this month is: If time and money were not limiting factors, what projects would be on your stitching bucket list?
I have 153 designs on my stash list but I have not updated it in at least two years. My guess is that I have at least a third of them that I do not want to stitch.   I have about 20 undocumented designs most of which I want to do. Whether or not I own them here are some designs I know I want to stitch.

•  TW designs such as Egyptian Sampler and Millennium, Companions, Tradewinds, Noah's Ark, Christmas Wreath.
• a number of Chatelaine Designs such as Taj Mahal, Water Garden, Japanese Garden Mandala, and Egypt Garden Mandala
• A few Mirabilia Designs such as  Mother's Arm, Bliss Fairy, The Baby Boat. Fairy Moon, and Christmas Elegance.
• Fairy Dreams by L& L 
•  Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow 
• Picture Gallery with Views of Modern Rome.  This is one that I would need a second life time to do but I have admired it for years. The stitch count is 500 X 338 and it uses 110 colors. Everything else on the list I have a shot at doing. 

WIPocalypse ~February~

We have been more fortunate than most areas in the northeast. Buffalo to the west of us, got 7 feet of snow earlier in the winter. The NYS Thruway has been closed from our entrance west to Buffalo and south of Buffalo on more than one occasion this winter and all we got was a dusting of snow. Our house is only a mile from the thruway entrance so you have an example of how strange our weather can be in this part of NYS. When this latest snow storm came through the k-12 schools got a snow day, the community colleges all closed, but not the four year universities because their student populations are mostly resident. So off to work I went. Unfortunately I didn't get any cozy snowed in snow days but finished stitching two WIPS all the same. This may be the best month I have all year in terms of finishes.

 I completed the Christmas Tree Forest on January 13, 2015.
This was from the JCS 2009 Edition of  Christmas Ornaments 

 I completed the Christmas Tree Forest on January 13, 2015.

I completed Take Time for Friends (Family) on January 17, 2015.

This is a Jeanette Douglas Design.

The question for this month was to discuss what I do when I get stuck in a rut with a given piece of needlework. 

This usually happen to me for one of  three reasons: 

1. I am close to the end and it seems like I will never finish.
2.  I have hit a section I find difficult to do.
3. I am bored with the piece for some reason.

If I am close to the end I stitch one length of thread on the piece and then stitch something else for the rest of the evening.  If I am bored with it I put it away for a while and focus on something else. If I have gotten to a section I find difficult I usually put it away for a while until I feel up to the challenge again. 

2015 WIPocalypse ~ January ~

This month's post calls for an introduction and sharing my stitching goals. I started cross stitching seriously in 2000 when I was introduce to Teresa Wentzler designs. I have since also learned  to needlepoint and knit. I am starting the year with 18 WIPs, all of which can be seen here. There are 4 knitting/crochet projects, 6 needlepoint projects, and 8 cross stitch projects.

My goal is to complete half of the projects in each category. The ones I have selected are:

1. Steeler Scarf for my son in law
2. Socks 
3. Arizona Star
4. Echos of Elizabeth
5. Garden of Babylon
6. Dragon Ride
7. Christmas Tree ornament 
8. Take Time for Friends
9. Wedding Sampler

I know I will have some new starts this year. The ones I know are

1. an ANG class piece called Mardi Gras
2. knitted cotton dishcloths
3. 6  Christmas ornaments
4. a pilot stitching project