September 2018 plans

Well hello September!
I am continuing to reduce my plans for the months until my stitchy bug shows that it will stick around.

1) ORNAMENT A MONTH

• I am now behind for July and August... so I am going to try and get caught up by doing at least two this month.  I have started one... I just have to finish it
• I also need to get an ornament ready for November retreat... so I really need to get on these!

2) YEAR IN CHALK

• October is up next

3) DUTCH TILE SAL

• I would like to stay caught up on this SAL.  I am only one part behind as of the 3rd of September.  The 6th part comes out on the 8th and the 7th on the 21st.  While weekends are going to be busy this month, I should be able to manage this. 
• Maybe I will have a finish in October after the 8th part comes out!!

4) WIP

• There are so many things I want to start... but need to keep WIPS at a maximum of 10 (where I find it comfortable).  
• This means getting back to focusing on something during the month.
• My oldest non-UFO wips are Canada Sampler and Tapestry.  I will make one of these my focus until its done... probably Tapestry.

Wishing you all a happy, and productive September!

March 2018 plans update

Lets see how March went!


1) ORNAMENT A MONTH - DONE
Continued on with the Tiny Tidings XXII series and started Mr and Mrs Santa on March 11th
Finished

2) YEAR IN CHALK - April    DONE
I finished this one early in the month as well (March 5)



Year in Chalk (April) - Hands on Design
Fabric by Stephanie - 32ct linen Slate
GAST - Chalk and Ohio Lemon Pie

3) FOCUS WIP - Cirque des Coeur - DONE

Here is where I was at the end of February

 

You have probably already seen, but I had a happy dance on March 4th!

Ink Circles - Cirque des Coeur
32ct white lugana
Carries Creations Silk - Renegade

 

4) SAL - Long Dog Samplers Mystery - Part 1 - YES
Fabric finally arrived on March 6th!

This fabric doesn't photograph well, but this is the most accurate pic I got.


32ct Slate Blue

I got Part 1 done on March 12th

5) NEW START - Death By Cross Stitch - YES
Started March 16th.  DMC 154 on 32ct antique white Lugana

 

Progress to March 17th

6) 2nd FOCUS WIP - Fairy Alighting - YES and DONE

Here is Fairy when I started working on her again

 

I made excellent progress on her in March and had a finish very late on the 31st/very early on the first

 

 

 

 

 

April 2018 Plans

Here are my plans for the month of April
Still a good list, but not as much as work will be consuming a lot of my time.

1) ORNAMENT A MONTH

• Continue a start and finish on one part of the newest Tiny Tidings (xxii)

2) YEAR IN CHALK

• Start and Finish May

3) SAL - Long Dog Samplers Mystery - Sneek

• Start and finish Part 2 (currently one part behind)

4) FOCUS WIP

• I haven't decided 100% what my next focus will be.  I have decided to work on the above three items first and then see what calls to me

5) INK CIRCLES MONDAY

• I would like to get back to this.  I think it is time for Valentina, my travel project, to get a finish and this small design would be good for April.
  For those curious, it was created by 2 friends (Christin and Becca) and I since we all wanted to get some progress done on our Ink Circles.  Christin and Becca have a SAL and Becca and I have one too... so its a nice way to get some progress done.
  Please join us on Instagram with the hash tag #InkCirclesMonday if you want!

March 2018 Plans

Here are my plans for the month of March

1) ORNAMENT A MONTH

• Continue a start and finish on one part of the newest Tiny Tidings (xxii)
• I think I also have a plan for after the 5 are done... but more on that later...

2) YEAR IN CHALK

• Start and Finish April

3) FOCUS WIP

• Continue working on Cirque des Coeur (Ink Circles) - I should be able to get this one done in March!

4) SAL - Long Dog Samplers Mystery - Sneek

• Start and finish Part 1 (currently one part behind)

5) NEW START

• At March retreat, I will FINALLY be starting Death by Cross Stitch! Dani and I are starting together, as both of us have finished our BAP's :)

6) 2nd FOCUS WIP

• Fairy Alighting is on deck to become the focus piece once cirque is done

With work getting busier, this might be more of a challenge... but if I stitch a bit every day I should be good. The only plan I don't see getting finished is #4 - the SAL.  But if I don't finish part 1 its not a huge deal... I will just work on the rest of it in April with part 2.  I just don't' want to get toooo far behind :)

Hearts and cubes

Last week was supposed to be cirque des coeurs from Ink Circles
I started off ok, but I didn't get very far.






On the weekend I decided to pull out my Seba Cube SAL
This I actually made some progress on! I managed to get the rest of cube 1 and a start on cube 2












Cube 1 design






Cube 2 design

Since I have a busy week with my University course so I'm going to stick with the cubes!
Let's hope I can stick with it :)

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Happy 2016!

It has been a very long time since I last posted on my blog. Not really sure why, but having issues with apps on my iPad didn't help. Also, Instagram just seems easier lately, so I tend to post there more then anywhere (bbrown426 if you want to follow me)
I am going to try and get back to posting one a week again... Let's see how it goes :)

I will update you on what I have worked on for the last quarter of 2015 later. Now on to this year.

On January 1st I started Spring Quakers from Rosewood Manor.
This was a SAL with Dani and Christin.

Dani and I both managed to finish this yesturday!! I used the Valdani threads (which were lovely) and stitched it on 32ct Queen Anne's Lace.



I absolutely loved this one, and can't wait to start the other 3!

Today I am going to attempt a rotation. University has cut into my stitching time, so I'm thinking that one project a week will still let me see progress :)
First up is Little Alien Schoolgirl from Ink Circles. I'm doing this one with the called for Weeks threads and I'm sticking it on Stephs 32ct toasted almond Lugana.
Here is my starting pic for the week




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Update - Halloween town and Celtic banner

It has been a few weeks so I though it was time for an update.

I am trying a weekly theme SAL again (from Facebook), and last week was holiday week. I picked up the AAN Mystery SAL - Halloween town
Left is the start, right is where I stopped last Saturday




After I had enough of the Halloween town, I pulled out Fortunate Traveller but Christin thought it would be a good idea for her to get a little further on hers, so them I pulled out Celtic Banner. I then realized it was Sampler a Week.
Again, start is on left, and today is on the right




This week is choose your own week (SAL runs Sunday to Saturday). I might stay on Celtic Banner, but not sure. After a few hours of driving and shopping, I'm exhausted and not sure I feel like stitching tonight.

Hope you all have had a great weekend!

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November 2013 Ornament SAL

Stitching Lotus has been doing a monthly Ornament SAL all year.
I have been really good and have actually participated every month!

This month I actually stitched up the last two dragon dreams ornaments so I can work on getting them on my tree this year

2014 Blogging SAL

I thought I would do an update with blogging SAL's that have/are going on in 2013 and if they are continuing into 2014

First up is the Ornament SAL

Stitching Lotus posted this on October 30th

As for next year, I’ve had a lot of you contact me to say you are interested in another Ornament SAL. I’m wondering if, perhaps, a smalls SAL would work for everyone. I’d really, really love to stitch some TW smalls next year, very few of which are ornaments. Let me know what you think in the comments below, send me an email, or contact me on Twitter at @silverlotus152.


By the sounds of it this will continue but as a smalls SAL instead of just ornaments.  I think this is a great idea and will be joining in!


Next up is the Totally Useless Stitch-a-long (TUSAL)

In the past few years I have absolutely loved this SAL.  I confirmed with daffy-cat that she will be doing this again next year!   If you don't know, in this SAL you save your ORTS and post on your blog :)


Third up is the International Hermit and Stitching Weekend (IHSW)

Details from the post :

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend takes place every 3rd full weekend of each month, from Friday till Sunday. In our very busy and hectic lives, IHSW is a chance for us to squirrel some time away for ourselves and "Hermit and Stitch." It is a time set aside to take care of us and our love for stitching.

I emailed Joyszeroo and got confirmation that this will continue next year!



Another SAL is WIPocalypse.

This was started in 2012 with the end of the world looming over us.  How could we just leave our WIPs sitting unfinished?
Measi continued this in 2013 adding some monthly themes as well

I got confirmation from Melissa that this one will continue as well into 2014


Last on my list is Theme-a-licious

This one is theme based, with a different theme for each month.  We post on the 15th with progress pics and then again on the last day of the month.

Still waiting to see if this one is a go for next year.

What other blogging SAL's are out there?  which ones do you participate in?

Leaf Happy Dance

Last night I got to stitch while I watched my lecture.

This gave that little extra time I needed to FINISH the maple leaf!

I finished the stitching just around 9pm and beaded until it was done.

Alessandra Adelaide - AAN
Maple Leaf
Jan 1'13 - Jan 14'13

Stitched on 32ct opalescent
with Threadworx 1089 (bleeding hearts)
and Mill Hill beads 0968

Smaug update + 2013 SAL's

Blair's Stupid Dragon now has an official name.  After watching Part 1 of the Hobbit  I have decided to name it after the dragon the took over the lonely mountain.  When I first picked up this pattern (over 7 years ago) I reminded me of Lord of The Rings, but  didn't like the name Balrog (from the mines of Moria).  Since  the dragon is actually  a dragon and not a demon, I have decided that Smaug is a better name :)  It will still be known affectionately as "Blair's stupid dragon" but has a real first name.

Speaking of him, here is an update

Smaug @ Dec 23'12

I thought I would also mention some of the SAL's I intend to take part in next year.

Participated in last year

TUSAL:

Description for Daffycat's site:

What is an ORT? ORT or ort ~ Capitalized, it stands for Old Ratty Threads. These are the cast-off thread ends a needleworker cuts away. These ends are often saved in clear jars as a decorative object. The word, "ort" does appear in the dictionary, meaning: a bit of something left over; usually concerning food. 

Why would you save these and why on earth post a picture on your blog? Not everyone saves them. Some stitchers just toss them in the trash or let them decorate the sofa and floor. Sometimes this inadvertent decorating draws ire from those living with us. Saving these clippings in one place creates a random tangle of lovely colored thread. Posting a photo of this pile is "progress" of a sort and thus, the Totally Useless Stitch A Long was born. 

WIPocolypse:

From Measi's Blog:

In the first half of 2011, I made a completely off-the-cuff joking post (while undoubtedly rather bouncy on a combination of sugar and/or caffeine) that I was going to reserve 2012 to stitch as if the world was going to end and cut back some of my ever-increasing work in progress pile. I called it the WIpocalypse, playing on the Mayan Calendar “Apocalypse” that the world would end in December 2012. The play on words (apparently I was punnier than I thought I was) actually excited a LOT of other stitchers, and by the end of 2011, I had over 300 people who also expressed interest in joining “The WIPocalypse.” So here we are! Perhaps the name is now out of date for 2013, but hey, I like the name. It’s distinctive and easy to remember, right?

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend:

From Joysze's Blog:

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend takes place every 3rd weekend of each month. In our very busy and hectic lives, IHSW is a chance for us to squirrel some time away for ourselves and "Hermit and Stitch." It is a time set aside to take care of us and our love for stitching.

New for 2013

Ornament SAL:

From Silverlotus's Blog:

Who doesn’t love stitching ornaments? Decorating Christmas trees, Halloween trees and even Easter trees with stitched ornaments is a great way to show off your work, and to give yourself a quick finish. And, of course, stitching with friends is much more fun than stitching alone.

Theme-a-licious:

From Heather's Blog: Note - this is the info for 2012... 2013 is coming per Heather :)

I've followed monthly themes in the past, just for fun and to help me make my way through my diverse and vast stack of stash and WIPs. You can dedicate the whole month to the theme, or a week during the month, or weekends, or whatever you want! Just come join us and have fun. We'll post on the last day of the month, to celebrate that month's successes and share plans for the coming month, then on the 15th to check in on progress! I'll host a Mr. Linky post on those days and you can link back to it.

Hope you all participate in at least one of these with me :)

Pre 2013 Planning

I did manage to work on the dragon last night, but forgot to take pictures.  Will do tomorrow :)

How many of you plan for the following year, stitching wise?  I normally don't do too much planing, other than a bucket list of patterns I want to do... which seems to keep GROWING!

A group of us in my stitching group like to do a January 1st start each year.  This year is was the seasonal mandalas from Ink Circles.  I finished mine in August.

This year we wanted to go with something a little smaller for a few reasons.  We decided in September to do the Maple Leaf by Alessandra Adelaide.

A few months early, Dani and Christin were talking about doing another Teresa Wentzler.  I had started the castle but thought it might be fun to join in with them.  After much discussion  they (maybe us?) decided on Fortunate Traveler.  Beatrice has also decided to join us.  I asked that we waited a bit in 2013 to start due to tax season for me.  Being the great ladies they are, we agreed on a May 1'13 start.  

Have you ever done a TW?  She sure likes her blended colours.  For one idea on how to deal with these, check out Christin's Blog today.  She has a demo on how she does a needle roll to deal with all the blended needles.  I am going to try this route for this BAP and see what I think.

Are you a facebook user?  if you are add me :)  I am on ALL THE TIME!

Anyway, I belong to a group of stitching called the Superstar Serial Starters and Devine Disaplined Divas, and their sister group the Stitchalong.  Talk about a bunch of enablers!!!  Genie is our group Mom, and she does a wonderful job of keeping the group in line and away from posts that cause fights (religion, politics etc).  Be warned, there is some non-stitching talk but normally not much.  Some days you might see a bunch of half naked men though.  Well this little group (over 1,000 members) has been on a role with creating SAL's for next year and into 2014!!!  I have thought about many, but have only decided to sign up for a few....so far

On January 1st I am also going to start the Sampler Game Board by Drawn Thread.  Kathy and Beatrice are also doing this one as well.

On March 1st I am also going to start Belle Letters by GigiR Designs (Letter B).  I have not decided who thread of fabric I am going to use yet.

There was a ton more that have interested me, but I think I am going to limit it at this for the time being!

I still am working toward getting Blair's Dragon done by Christmas, so hopefully my WIP's will still dwindle down as I add to them!

What are your plans for 2013?

W(h)ip it good SAL update

So last week did not go as well as planned for the SSS/DDD SAL
I dId very little on either The stupid dragon or Rosetta
Dragon after SAL




Rosetta after SAL




I have a very busy week ahead, but hopefully lots of stitchy time on the upcoming weekend!!
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