August's topic for discussion is:
"Have you participated in any of the mystery SALs on Facebook (or other social media)? What do you think makes a successful mystery SAL?"
I am participating in four mystery SALs at present, all of which are supported by facebook groups:
All four SALs are free, although there are fees for advance notifications in the Stitchonomy SALs.
What makes them successful? Well, that depends on the participant, I suppose. Of course, the style and subject matter of the project is paramount (if you don't like samplers, for example, you probably wouldn't want to try a mystery sampler), and successful completion of an SAL may hinge on how complex, how difficult, how complex it is. If the subject matter doesn't appeal; if it the chart is so complex that it is difficult to keep up (and if there is pressure to keep up); if the project turns out to be to long and the stitcher tires of it half-way though...then it won't be a success, in my opinion. I see a lot of them started and then abandoned midway in these groups, usually because the participant is new to SALs (sometimes even to stitchery!) and takes on a really really BIG and complex one as their first. It doesn't take too many visits by the frog before one is strongly motivated to give up and try something else.
I really like the ones where the designer appreciates alterations to his/her pattern. Some don't mind color alterations but would like to keep the pattern intact and actually forbid posting on their group(s) if such alterations occur. Others don't mind stitchers fiddling with the pattern, and some even encourage personalization. So long as the minimal rules are followed and the group remains supportive (and not argumentative), the latter kind of SALs are usually a success, largely because they allow the participant to "put their own stamp" on the piece, thereby keeping up interest for the SAL duration..
~~~~~WIPS~~~~~
While "stay at home" orders here in Ohio are slowly lifting (we're still on a "mandatory mask" order right now and cautioned to "go out" only if necessary), I have had the time to do quite a bit of stitching.
I have put in no time in on "Love Is..." but quite a lot on "Biltmore". I have nearly completed the backstitching (which was a bear: the partial stitches on AIDA were horrid), and there is still a "title" to stitch below the image:
"Have you participated in any of the mystery SALs on Facebook (or other social media)? What do you think makes a successful mystery SAL?"
I am participating in four mystery SALs at present, all of which are supported by facebook groups:
- "52 weeks of Blackwork" by Peppermint Purple, which has weekly installments throughout the year
- "A Year of SALs" by Stitchonomy. There are five separate SALs (three now complete), with installments released at 2 day intervals
- "Christmas Shadowbox SAL" by Nancy Wahler (and featured in Just CrossStitch Magazine") with a new installment in each of five issues (digital as well as magazine versions)
- "Friends & Family" by Linen & Threads, with installments released each month on their web site
All four SALs are free, although there are fees for advance notifications in the Stitchonomy SALs.
What makes them successful? Well, that depends on the participant, I suppose. Of course, the style and subject matter of the project is paramount (if you don't like samplers, for example, you probably wouldn't want to try a mystery sampler), and successful completion of an SAL may hinge on how complex, how difficult, how complex it is. If the subject matter doesn't appeal; if it the chart is so complex that it is difficult to keep up (and if there is pressure to keep up); if the project turns out to be to long and the stitcher tires of it half-way though...then it won't be a success, in my opinion. I see a lot of them started and then abandoned midway in these groups, usually because the participant is new to SALs (sometimes even to stitchery!) and takes on a really really BIG and complex one as their first. It doesn't take too many visits by the frog before one is strongly motivated to give up and try something else.
I really like the ones where the designer appreciates alterations to his/her pattern. Some don't mind color alterations but would like to keep the pattern intact and actually forbid posting on their group(s) if such alterations occur. Others don't mind stitchers fiddling with the pattern, and some even encourage personalization. So long as the minimal rules are followed and the group remains supportive (and not argumentative), the latter kind of SALs are usually a success, largely because they allow the participant to "put their own stamp" on the piece, thereby keeping up interest for the SAL duration..
~~~~~WIPS~~~~~
While "stay at home" orders here in Ohio are slowly lifting (we're still on a "mandatory mask" order right now and cautioned to "go out" only if necessary), I have had the time to do quite a bit of stitching.
I have put in no time in on "Love Is..." but quite a lot on "Biltmore". I have nearly completed the backstitching (which was a bear: the partial stitches on AIDA were horrid), and there is still a "title" to stitch below the image:
I still have not dared to try re-starting "Save the Stitches" until I have cleared the decks of these other two WIPs.
~~~~~Travelling Needlepoint~~~~~
No progress to report on "Butterfly on Scroll".
~~~~~Completions~~~~~
None to report, unless you count finishing the monthly stages of three SALs and completion of one SAL described below.
~~~~~SALs~~~~~
I have stitched on all four SALs...
1. "52 Weeks of Blackwork" by Purple Peppermint; various randomly selected shades of pink, purple and blue DMC on 28ct tea-colored evenweave. Completed weekly installments Week 31 through Week 35, plus some additional borders. Week 36 comes into my mailbox on September 2
~~~~~Travelling Needlepoint~~~~~
No progress to report on "Butterfly on Scroll".
~~~~~Completions~~~~~
None to report, unless you count finishing the monthly stages of three SALs and completion of one SAL described below.
~~~~~SALs~~~~~
I have stitched on all four SALs...
1. "52 Weeks of Blackwork" by Purple Peppermint; various randomly selected shades of pink, purple and blue DMC on 28ct tea-colored evenweave. Completed weekly installments Week 31 through Week 35, plus some additional borders. Week 36 comes into my mailbox on September 2
2. Linen & Threads 2020 SAL "Friends and Family", stitched on 28ct "Lavender Sunset" (not very lavender) Jobelin using Threadworx "Rocky Mountain (1070). August installment completed on August 3rd. The September installment is due online on September 1.
3. "Christmas Shadowbox Sampler" by Faithwurks Designs & Just CrossStitch. Installment 4 (on the left) was finished August 11 (not counting beads and other embellishments) on 28ct slubby white linen Using DMC, Weeks, Kreinik and Rainbow Gallery threads, as called for in the pattern. I have changed out the colors in the bedroom, however. Installment 5 is due in the next issue of Just CrossStitch.
4. Stitchonomy 2020 SAL, part 3 "Fantastic Fungi", officially started mid July. A pattern was released every other day. The SAL was complete (!) on August 12.
The fabric is Jade lugano, 28 ct, and the floss is DMC as called for in the charts (except for the border where I used DMC 310). Other changes include backstitching to sharpen my images and beads for the small background motifs.
I think the next SAL, "Halloween 2020", is due sometime in late September, with subscribers getting some advance information early in the month. The floss requirements have been released and I have ordered the floss kit; but have kitted up a substitute set of fabric and floss in the event the kit doesn't arrive in time (the postal service is definitely slow these days).
~~~~~ In the Pipeline~~~~~
Nothing new at the moment, although fabric and floss (two sets - what I get for double ordering!) for "Pandemic" by Long Dog Samplers have finally arrived. Now to make choices as to which colors of threads to go with which color of fabric. This is a HUGE project and I may chicken out long before I get started.
And Halloween chart in four parts "Spook Town Square" by Glendon Place) has arrived but hasn't been kitted up yet.
~~~~~Goals for September~~~~~
I still am not at all inclined to get out there and play, travel or otherwise risk my health. So I will continue to "stay home" as follows
What I HOPE to do in September is:
Meanwhile, I'm saying home, keeping healthy and hoping the same for all of you!
I think the next SAL, "Halloween 2020", is due sometime in late September, with subscribers getting some advance information early in the month. The floss requirements have been released and I have ordered the floss kit; but have kitted up a substitute set of fabric and floss in the event the kit doesn't arrive in time (the postal service is definitely slow these days).
~~~~~ In the Pipeline~~~~~
Nothing new at the moment, although fabric and floss (two sets - what I get for double ordering!) for "Pandemic" by Long Dog Samplers have finally arrived. Now to make choices as to which colors of threads to go with which color of fabric. This is a HUGE project and I may chicken out long before I get started.
And Halloween chart in four parts "Spook Town Square" by Glendon Place) has arrived but hasn't been kitted up yet.
~~~~~Goals for September~~~~~
I still am not at all inclined to get out there and play, travel or otherwise risk my health. So I will continue to "stay home" as follows
- I am still watching online chats, tutorials and the like for paper crafting which can take up as much as 8 hours a week that otherwise could be devoted to stitchery.
- I have signed up for a year-long art community where members engage in facilitated learning through monthly mixed media art projects and challenges. I competed the second challenge and project and a short class in Art Journaling. The third challenge and project is scheduled for September.
- I managed to get back up to 14% of my storage space on my DVR, and then backslid to 11% again. I have several recorded television programs to catch up, all of which do not lend themselves well to stitching at the same time.
- I am sticking to my goal of at least 30 minutes a day of reading, both for pleasure and for enlightenment (I love histories and biographies).
What I HOPE to do in September is:
- a) keep up with "52 Weeks of Blackwork": the installments, weekly on Wednesdays, are small and, along with some additional border stitching, are doable in one night of stitching per installment. I just need to motivate on the border stitching...
- b) try to stitch on "Love Is..."
- c) Finish "Biltmore".
Meanwhile, I'm saying home, keeping healthy and hoping the same for all of you!
