April WIPocalypse

 Question of the Month:  Let’s talk fabric – what is your go-to fabric dyer, your preferred type, count, color, etc? 

I am an aida stitcher.  No favorite dyer I just buy the size I need and most of  the time the color is white.  I have gotten some different colors of aida from my local LNS.

This month I participated in SPRINGO with the Magazine Monthly Cross Stitch Challenge group on facebook.  I picked seven projects one for each letter in SPRINGO.  Then random 35 numbers filled my bingo board.  Each project had 5 chances for their numbers to be called.  Here are the projects I worked on for SPRINGO:

S - Suncatchers.  This one was called twice and I added 442 stitches

 P - Crane Paradise was called 5 times and I added 903 stitches

 R - Hello Autumn (has a Red Truck) was called 4 times and I added 683 stitches

 I - QS Magic Island was called 4 times and I added 878 stitches

N - Butterfly Fairy Night was called 4 times and I added 1,041stitches.  I finished the moon and worked on the area under her face. 

G - Unplug & Go Outside was called 3 times and I added 786 stitches

O-Jolly Jingle Bell Elf (Ornament) was called 3 times and I added 641 stitches

 I did stitch on some of my other wips during the month:

 

 I worked on Autumn Sampler a few times and added 687 stitches

Owl Faces I added 720 stitches

 

I worked on Jolly Snowman one day and added 116 stitches

Queen of the Sea came out a few times and I added 324 stitches

 

Hedge Hog I added 592 stitches

We went camping for 4 days and I took along a small project.  I started Country Crow Teapot from Cross Country Stitching June 2011.  I made a good start and added 663 stitches

And I had a finish this month!  I have finally finished Dandelion Fairy Kingdom by Ching-Chou Kuik/HAED.  Stitched on 14ct white aida 2 strands full cross.  Started 6/1/18 and finished 4/7/25

 For May I plan on starting Owl #9 as another baby is due in June.  I will be doing the May acrostic with the Magazine Monthly Cross Stitch facebook group as it gets me working on projects that are either near a finish or ones I don't touch often.  And of course more camping.

 

March WIPocalypse

This month's question is: Which are your favorite three designers? (question thanks to Martha D.) 

Joan Elliott and Teresa Wentzler are two of my favorite designers.  After that I just stitch whatever catches my eye.

 This month I did the March acrostic with Magazine Monthly Challenge facebook group.  Here are the projects that I worked on for the acrostic:

Jolly Snowman by Joan Elliott.

 

Suncatchers.  Finished the first turtle.

Autumn Sampler.  Got more of the white done.  I will backstitch it to make it more noticeable.

 

Dandelion Fairy Kingdom was on my acrostic and I usually stitched on it every day.  I did finish page 29.  One small partial page left.  Hope to finish it in April.

Hedge Hog kit.  I kept this one out and worked on it at night.  My ott lite died and I could see with my regular light to stitch this one.  Good progress made.

 

Crane Paradise worked on more greenery

Jolly Jingle Bell Pal Elf added some more stitches. Hope to make more progress on this one in April.

After I finished my acrostic my ott lite died.  I had it for 30 years.  I ordered a new bulb and when it came it just would not go in.  I checked it with the old bulb and it was exactly the same.  While I was trying to get it in I pushed too hard and broke the new bulb.  So I went out and bought a new ott lite.  Much smaller than the one I had.  Nice and bright though.

I also worked on the following projects:

 

Queen of the Sea - more stitches added

 QS Magic Island I finished page 3.  I usually only work on this one during the weekends.  Once Dandelion Fairy Kingdom is done this will become my daily piece.

 

Princess & Dragon was also on my acrostic. Then when I finished both of the pages for my full coverage projects I pulled this on out to stitch on during the day.  4 additional days of work for a total of 1,061 stitches added.
 

 

I worked on Funky Cats the last few days in the evening.  808 stitches added.

Then for the last day in March I decided to have a new start.  Owl Faces from Etsy.

 

This is being stitched on 14ct tan aida.  It is much darker looking in person.  352 stitches added.

 

I did visit my local  LNS this month and bought fabric, threads and beads as I am kitting up some new starts.  Most of the projects I am kitting up seem to be large projects.

I also caved and bought my first Stitches Sew Beautiful pattern.  They  were having a sale.  I picked out this cute owl pattern

 In April I will be participating in SPRINGO with the Magazine Monthly Challenge Group.  I picked seven projects - one for each letter.  Each project has the possibility of being called 5 times and I need to do at least 100 stitches each time it is called.  I am hoping to make good progress on the projects I have selected for SPRINGO.

We will also be camping the end of April.  I have kitted up a few small projects to take with me.

February WIPocalypse

 This month's WIPocalypse question is: What stitch-a-longs (SALs) are you participating in this year?

I am not participating in any SAL's this year.  But I do enjoy watching everyone's progress on the different SAL's they participate in.

 

Here is what I stitched on this month:

Butterfly Fairy Night.  I worked more in the moon.

I worked some more on my Gnome piece.

 I made more progress on Princess & the Dragon.This is probably one of the easier Teresa Wentzler dragon pieces.  No specialty stitches and no over one.  I am stitching it on 14ct aida with no problems.

 Worked some more on Suncatchers.  Working on finishing the first turtle.  

Jolly Snowman had 287 stitches added

Homestead Harvest.  Working on the house.  White.  Ugh.  But at least the fabric is not white.  Hard to tell from this picture but it is a light brown color.

 

Hello Autumn - filled in more of the truck.

 Autumn Sampler.  Stitching white on white.  My kit came with white fabric.  I should have coffee tea dyed it before starting it. Very hard to see where I stitched and there is still more white.  Slow progress as I was watching a good movie with my husband.

 

I finished Owl #8.  Now I just need to wait for the baby to be born to add the name and birth date.

 Dandelion Fairy Kingdom.  This month I finished page 27 and page 28.  Only 2 more pages to go and this one will be done.

I then rewarded myself with a new start.  Queen of the Sea by Stoney Creek.  I have had this one in my stash a long time.  And here is my progress:

 

257 stitches 2 x 1 full cross on 14ct white aida.

 

Crane Paradise received alot of attention this month.  Still working on the last page which has 3 more flowers and lots of greenery.

QS Magic Island halfway done with page 3.

 

For March I want to start and finish page 29 on Dandelion Fairy Kingdom and make some good progress on my pieces that are on the March Acrostic.

 

 

 

January WIPocalypse

 Question of the Month:  Tell us about the oldest WIP you have in your stash.

My oldest wip is Butterfly Fairy Night that I started on 9/11/14.  This one lingers as it is my only project stitched on evenweave.  I have made so many mistakes on it - going over 3 threads, one thread etc that I am having a hard time getting it to line up.  I did finish Butterfly Fairy Day on evenweave and did not have any problems with that one.  Finally in 2024 I did get in the groove with this one and am no longer struggling to stitch on the evenweave.  I had wanted to finish it in 2024 but maybe I will aim for 2025.  Here is where I am at:

In January I participate in Brringo with the Magazine Monthly Challenge facebook group.  I worked on 15 projects.  Here are the projects:

Princess & the Dragon was on my board twice.  I worked on the border each time.

Homestead Harvest had 188 stitches added

Hedge Hog Kit by Riolos was worked on twice.  Still working on greenery.

Autumn Sampler was on my board twice

Jolly Snowman by Joan Elliott was on the board 3 times.

Owl #8 was started and was on the board twice.  I am changing the colors up on this one also.

Sun Catchers was a new start.  The prompt was a piece someone else inspired you to do.  I was watching Amy Loves Toads on floss tube and she did this piece.  I had it in my stash and decided to work on it.

Here it is after one day of stitching.

Crane Paradise was on my board 3 times.  I am working on the last bottom page.

Jolly Jingle Bell Pals - Elf from Cross Stitch & Needlework January 2009 was another new start

And my progress on the Elf - a small start

Funky Cat was worked on for one day.

Another new start was Snowflake Card by Rhona Norris from the World of Cross Stitching 209.  It was the free gift.  The prompt was for a monochrome design.  I did not have any in my WIP pile and looked for something small.  This one fit the bill.  First time stitching with Madera Metallic.  It is a nice shiny purple.  It called for some stitches in 4 strands and some in 2 strands.  And here is my finish piece.  First finish of 2025.

Unplug  & Go Outside was on my board once.  I also worked on it the last week of January to give it an extra push towards a finish this year.

Dandelion Fairy Kingdom I almost finished page 27.  I usually stitch on this one every afternoon.  There were a few afternoons I did not stitch on it and if I had this page would be finished.

QS Magic Island.  This was on my Brringo board 3 times.  I also stitch on this one on the weekends. 

January was a good stitching month.  I had 4 new starts, 1 finish.  I stitched every day.  I worked on all my WIPs except for 2.

February Plans - Finish page 27 on Dandelion Fairy Kingdom, Work the February Acrostic for Magazine Monthly Challenge, work on the 2 WIPs that did not get worked on in January.