WIPocalypse 2020 Check-In, January 26, 2020

Question of the month: What SAL’s are you participating in this year? Well, for someone who hasn't stitched for nearly a year, I was overly ambitious. I signed up for four SALs, in addition to WIPocalypse! I thought maybe they'd keep me diverted from my BAP UFO/WIPs and allow me to get in some practice on linen/evenweave. SAL #1 is the Stitchonomy Year of SALs.  It appealed to me because it came in small installments over a two month period for each SAL, with the first one - "Homely Houseplants" - starting in earnest on February 1, although the "frame" was released in January. And I have stitched the frame! The second SAL is "A Year of Blackwork" from Peppermint Purple. Installments on this one come faster - one a week - but they are small and it gives me a chance to get back into handling blackwork with my wonky hand. To date, there are four releases as well as four potential borders (I picked the most complex one, naturally!) and here is my progress to date: The third one is the Linen & Threads 2020 Mystery Sampler, with installments coming monthly.  I only got this far,  only to find that I had miscalculated my fabric size so I have to start over!  I have yet to frog the stitching and put the piece back in my stash: New fabric is here but I'm not at all sure that the threads I have work --- despite the description of the new yard of fabric as lavender, when it sits next to purple, it turns green! VERY green! So new thread is on order. here's hoping it works as this is getting to be a very expensive SAL! The fourth SAL is "Christmas Shadowbox Mystery SAL with Faithwurks Designs & Just CrossStitch". It will be released in segments starting in the April, 2020 issue of Just CrossStitch, continuing through December 2020. It is meant to be in a "tray" of sorts and the variety of threads and embellishments is humongous. I'm thinking I may simplify, substituting threads, omitting charms and the like, and stitching it as a simple sampler. I have the list of supplies and will decide when the issue arrives... ​~~~~~ As for finishes this month, there actually is one! The second Michael Powell "Beach Huts Scissor Keep" from his kit of the same name: Now that the two scissor keep pieces are done, I've decided to NOT make a scissor keep but to make two small ornaments instead.  And the two smaller designs in the kit, meant to become a key fob, may or may not be stitched... ~~~~~ Other progress on WIPs: I actually stitched on "Love Is..." --- almost completed a row of words, and found out why this is a near-UFO. I HATE stitching words! Especially when they include French knots! And there is SOOOO much left to do! On the left is where I left off  in February 2017; on the right, Where I am now...