WIPocalypse 2021 Check-In - December 26, 2021

 The topic for this month's discussion is:

"Recap your accomplishments for the year! (Your finishes, your final before/after photos, etc)."

This will be somewhat lengthy and photo-heavy. So please bear with me...

In January, here is where I was:

****​* Long Term WIP:
 
​The only long-term WIP in my project bag is Elizabeth Almond's "Save the stitches", shown below, left to right - before (November 2014) and now (November 2021)

Clearly, this has been low on my "finiosh-it" list, with the stitching interrupted by two wrist surgeries and subsequent PT  before I could even pick up a needle, let alone a large Q-snap frame with a yard of fabric!  And as a result, a reluctance to start again, but I did manage to get four of the blocks done in between SALs this year!

*****SALs started in 2020

There was only one - the Stitchonomy "Winter 2020" SAL, finished in January 202:

*****SALs started and finished in 2021

There were four, listed left to right: Stitchonomy "Homely Houseplants 2", finished in May, 2021; Stitchonomy "Color Works", finished in August 2021; Stitchonomy "Halloween Storybook", finished in October 2021; and Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Magazine "Christmas Quaker", finished in October, 2021

***** In-progress SALs started in 2021 

There are two. The first is Stitchonomy "Christmas SAL 2021", started December 2021, in progress. Stitched on white AIDA in the colors specified (except I am substituting DNC Diamante gold for a yellow and Diamante silver for ornament hangers). There is a pot to be stitched at the bottom of the tree but I am waiting to see if I prefer one of the alternatives before stitching it.

​Since this is a mystery SAL, I can only reveal what is public, even though I belong to the pattern club and have three more ornaments stitched:
​

The second is a Lakeside Needlecraft free "Christmas SAL", started in December 2021 and in progress. Stitched on white Aida using recommended threads. 

***** Kits started in 2021 

"Hope & Strength" by Glenwood Place, stitched on Jade Lugana using the recommended threads. Started in March ​and in progress:

I could have (should have) done better but I spent a lot of my "stitchery time" working on a virtual mixed media art class and "Attending" several virtual weekend card-making classes. 

What are my plans for 2022? Well, in addition to the unfinished pieces described above, There are several SALs fully or partly kitted up and in my project bag:

• Elizabeth Almond's' "Kogin" SAL  
• a Lakeside Needlecraft SAL "Crystallized" which hasn't started yet
• a Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Magazine SAL, which is still missing some required Kreinik thread), 
• as well as a World of Cross Stitch chart by Jenny Van De Wiele called "Miniature Marvels"

And then there are the absurdly large number of fully kitted pieces I purchased over the past two years:

• Three needlepoint kits by Needle Delights Original, designed by Kathy Rees: "Tahiti", "Bora Bora" and "Tropical Seas"
  
• Two Bothy Threads kits, based on art by Jessica Hogarth: "Love Paris" and "Love London"
• Two Artecy kits, designs by Tereena Clarke: "London Abstract" and "London Bus" 
  
• Four Bothy Threads kits from the art of Sally Swannell: The New England Homes series: "Spring", "Winter", "Fall", and "Summer"
  
• One kit from Charting Creations, from the art of Robert Finale: "Palace"
  

We can only wait and see it I manage to whittle this list down at all!

​Stay healthy and safe out there, everyone!

WIPocalypse 2021 Check-In - November 28, 2021

 

The topic for this month's discussion is: What new discoveries did you have in the stitching world this year? Can't exactly call this a new stitching discovery because I had heard of Sashiko but... there is apparently a variant called Kogin, which originated in the Aomori Prefecture of Northern Japan. And there is an Elizabeth Almond SAL which, of course I had to purchase! I look forward to tackling a new kind (to me) of embroidery! ​ ~~~~~WIPS~~~~~ I actually DID stitch on my Elizabeth Almond's blackwork "Save the Stitches" sampler. I finished up blocks 70 - 74: Not a lot, I admit but it took some time to get back in the blackwork groove (and I did misread the blue stitching in the chart on the bottom left but didn't discover that mistake until it was so far along that I left it  as is... I also made some progress on the Glendon Place sampler "Hope & Strength" - I got a start on the lion on the right border: Again, not a whole lot of stitching but it is something, right? ~~~~~SALs~~~~~ 1.  The Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Christmas Quaker is now complete: It just needs pressing and framing. In December, there will be a new Faithwurks/Just Cross-stitch SAL.. the first part of the pattern is supposedly due out December 7... ​2. Elizabeth Almond's "Kogin" SAL - the kit is in hand, but I haven't started yet... ~~~~~Travelling Needlepoint~~~~~ No activity ~~~~~~  In the Pipeline ~~~~~ There is a new Peppermint Purple blackwork SAL starting soon and I have signed up.  The kit of fabric, threads and charms has arrived for the Stitchonomy Christmas/Winter SAL and is in my project bag.  There have been a few PDF additions to my file of "I would love too do that" file, if I live to be 100, that is! Otherwise, there is no change in my "pipeline" from last month.

WIPocalypse 2021 Check-In: October 31, 2021

 

The topic for this month's discussion is:  Do you prefer Halloween or Christmas stitching? I don't really have an answer for this question. An honest answer would be I don't tend to do holiday-oriented stitching of ANY kind of late. I USED to stitch a lot for both holidays and have a fairly extensive collection of ornaments for both. But, now, I am stitching more SALs than either ornaments or big projects. If there are holiday themes in the SALs I am registered for, then I stitch them. I you look back at last month's check-in at the projects I have "acquired" for the coming year(s), you can see that most of them include houses or buildings of some sort and none are holiday-oriented.  ~~~~~WIPS~~~~~ I still haven't stitched at all on Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches" ; it's been "dormant" since November, 2020. I made some progress on the Glendon Place sampler "Hope & Strength": The inner border is nw complete as are the stars on the right the ampersand. Next, the lion on the left border matching the one on the left. Then it's only borders, more borders and beading, LOTS of beading! ~~~~~SALs~~~~~ 1. The Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Christmas Quaker, which now has five parts complete (less beads and charms)  and most of part 6: the upper garland, where I fudged around a misplaced ornament since I didn't feel like frogging at this late date, and the alphabet and numbers in the lower border. There are seven small motifs in the lower border and then buttons and charms to add and it will be finished by the next check-in! 2. The Stitchonomy "Halloween 2021" SAL, which started in mid-September, is now complete. Stitched on the supplied oatmeal AIDA (14 ct) and DMC threads: I filled in the spine of the book with Sulky 12 with "Autumn" and the paged with DMC Diamante Gold. I added red seed beads to the eyes of several of the characters and gold beads to the buttons of the headless horseman, lower left. I attached the supplied "blood drop" charm on the Dracula square and padlock-and-key set of charms on the Bluebeard square. I backstitched the flesh tones of faces and any white areas which were blending too  much into the background. All other changes were small edits to clarify the image or mistakes in color that I didn't not wish to frog, being as I was spending a lot of time playing thread-chicken with the supplied floss as it was! ~~~~~Travelling Needlepoint~~~~~ No activity ~~~~~~  In the Pipeline ~~~~~ My stitching mojo remains a little low. No new starts yet planned for November - I hope to clear the decks of "Hope & Strength" and maybe even put a few stitches in Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches". There is a Christmas SAL from Stitchonomy starting in December to look forward to... See you next month!

WIPocalypse September 2021 Check In, a day late - September 27, 2021

 

The topic for this month's discussion is: "List five projects you have unstarted in your stash that you’d like to start something in the (relatively) near future."  I have to confess that, in the past year or two, during various Covid lockdowns and restrictions, I have watched a lot of live-streams and floss-tubes and the like and ordered WAY too many charts and kits from International sources (mainly English/UK but also from Germany). I have actually refereneced a few of them in past check-ins but here, I want to show photos of the kits that I really want to start work on. They are a varied lot and, sadly, all potentiial BAPs for various reasons (complexity, size, etc), so that means that I have decided that I will not be able to start on them until I finish the Elizabeth Almond "Save the Stitches" sampler and the two SALs I am currently enrolled in. Still, I will list many them below (with photos), in groups that were ordered together, from which I would select my next five starts.  1. Three needlepoint kits by Needle Delights Original, designed by Kathy Rees: "Tahiti", "Bora Bora" and "Tropical Seas". I fell in love with them after our cruise to French Polynesia, back in the 20teens: These are speciality needlepoint stitched and require that the grid be marked out on the canvas before stitching - something I have been avoiding. ​2. Two Bothy Threads kits, based on art by Jessica Hogarth: "Love Paris" and "Love London" -  based on an ongoing love affair with London where we lived for 5+ years in the early 1990s: And if I ordered London, how could I resist Paris? 3. Two Artecy kits, designs by Tereena Clarke: "London Abstract" and "London Bus" - see above about my love affair with London! I really couldn't resist that pop of red against the black background stitching! 4.  Four Bothy Threads kits from the art of Sally Swannell: The New England Homes series: "Spring", "Winter", "Fall", and "Summer". What can I say? I have a thing for houses: Finally, 5. One kit from Charting Creations,  art of Robert Finale: "Palace". We are back in London! This is the biggest BAP of the list and probably the most difficult, given all the HAED-like confetti stitches... This isn't all the candidates by a long shot though... Also in my to-do file are three pieces that started as SALs: Lakeside Needlecraft/Durene Jones “Specialty Stitches Butterfly Design” (as the name implies, this isn't a true cross-stitch but a variant using speciality stitches), Werkstatt fur Historische Stickmuster “American Homes” (more houses and a need to translate from German), and Lakeside Needlecraft/Shannon Christine Designs “Seasonal Streets” (still more houses, this one more in the line of the Bothy Threads kits listed above.). So there you have it! A classic example of biting off more than I can chew/Stitch! And the choice(s) will not be easy! ​~~~~~WIPS~~~~~ I still haven't stitched at all on Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches" ; it's been "dormant" since November, 2020. I made no progress on the Glendon Place sampler "Hope & Strength". I had been fitting this into the down times of the SALs I have committed to and so I usually only got in about three days in the month for this piece, but the current SAL is on a daily installment schedule and I simply haven't felt like taking this out after completing the day's installment on the SAL. ~~~~~SALs~~~~~ The Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Christmas Quaker, which now has five parts complete (less beads and charms) since the last WIPocalypse check-in. The next installment is due out in the digital December 2021 issue of Just Cross Stitch, sometime around October 5, 2021 Besides this WIPocalypse, I worked on one (mystery) SAL this month: The Stitchonomy "Halloween 2021" SAL, which started in mid-September.  The frame was issued to Pattern Club members (I am one), and the inserts in the frame were issued on daily.  We don't share until the piece is available to all participating in the SAL, so I will show only the SAL as it has been issued to the general public on September 26, 2021: Stitched on the supplied oatmeal AIDA (14 ct) and DMC threads... There are charms to be added, I plan on adding red seed beads to the eyes of the cats and the raven, and backstitching will be necessary as the lighter colors are not showing up well against oatmeal background. No other changes to the issued patterns yet however.  ~~~~~Travelling Needlepoint~~~~~ No activity ~~~~~~  In the Pipeline ~~~~~ My stitching mojo remains a little low A recent purchase is the "Sternstunden" SAL from Frau Rosa. Again, I will have to get out my German dictionary as my college German is not up to translating instructions in German. Still I like her charts a lot and hope to put in significant time on what looks to be another BAP! I am also now enrolled in Lakeside Needlecrafts' Classic Colorworks Thread Club and Weeks Dye Works Thread Club. Thesecond month installment has arrived ... ~~~~~ I received my Pfizer booster vaccination yesterday, along with the senior double-strength influenza vaccine in the other arm (turns out our CDC has indicated that there are no interactive effects from getting both at the same time so the two week delay between the two jabs is no longer observed.). No significant side effects from either; just sore shoulders (jabs were in the deltoid muscles)  and stifling headache (which could also be a sinus headache caused by the aftermath of massive storms and front from the last hurricane in the southern states), both of which were eased by a single extra-strength ibuprofen. If you are vaccinated, congratulations, enjoy the "new normal", and avoid that nasty Delta variant. If not vaccinated, follow the guidelines set out by public health and stay safe and healthy out there...

WIPocalypse 2021 Check-In - August 29, 2021

 

The topic for this month's discussion is: "Which of your project finishes made you the most proud? The most relieved?" To be honest, I have no idea what the answer would be to either of these questions. I'm guessing it would have been one of the many BAPs through the years Two that come to mind are the "Roll Your Own Mandala" series that I stitched on one BAPiece of fabric as a single project: This was begun in February, 2014 and completed August, 2016. Since this took two years, it surely was a relief, but I was also quite proud of how my arrangement of the nine individual patterns worked out. I did get it framed but 2017, the year it would have been eligible for entry in the fair, is the year I decided "no more competition!"!!! Much too stressful... Another was "Kimono - Revisited" which won first place at the 2013 county fair in the "Needlepoint framed sampler" category, although I'm not sure it counts as a sampler, per se.  It was a relief because of all the speciality threads - metallic, rayons, and the like - that were heck to work with on the 16ct congress cloth background.  To say nothing of all the different patterns... and the mistake I discovered midway through the piece and never found! This was also a large piece, with the fabric tacked on a large wooden frame which I hand-held! I started it in December 2011 and finished in November 2012. I didn't have a stand for these pieces (and still don't, because I never could get used to having to turn the frame over to end threads while the frame/hoop was screwed tight on a stand!)! Maybe that's why BAPs are always a relief for me! ​My Elizabeth Almond blackwork sampler "Save the Stitches" (a long-term WIP/UFO - see below) will definitely be a relief, once done (if ever), and one I certainly will be found of.  ~~~~~WIPS~~~~~ I still haven't stitched at all on Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches" ; it's been "dormant" since November, 2020. I have made progress on the Glendon Place sampler "Hope & Strength". I have been fitting this into the down times of the SALs I have committed to and so I usually only get in about three days in the month for this piece. It isn't really my usual style or color scheme but I really am enjoying stitching with the silks. The border is working out just great. Whew - that means no more counting! Wahoo! Just a little stretch of the inner border, five more of the "pink" stars and a green lion to go, and then it's all border before I have to start beading!  ~~~~~SALs~~~~~ Besides this WIPocalypse, I worked on three (mystery) SALs this month: 1. The Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Christmas Quaker, which now has five parts complete (less beads and charms) since the last WIPocalypse check-in. The next installment is due out in the December 2021 issue of Just Cross Stitch, just over a month from now The octagon on the left is for the stitcher's initials a chart for which is in th 6th part. 2. A paid Stitchonomy SAL, "Colorworks", which started this month. It is a seven-part blackwork SAL, with a new part issued every week. I stitched it on 14ct antique white Aida using DMC variegated threads. This is now completed: 3. The Stitchonomy "Halloween 2021" SAL, which starts in mid-September.  The frame has been issued to Pattern Club members (I am one), but we don't share until the piece is available to all participating in the SAL, so I will have nothing to show for this SAL until the next check-in. ~~~~~Travelling Needlepoint~~~~~ No activity ~~~~~~  In the Pipeline ~~~~~ While my stitching mojo remains a little low, my interest in new charts is not. Two Elizabeth Almond blackwork pieces in the February ("Frosted Windows") and April ("Spring Celebration") issues of Just Cross Stitch, the latest Linen and Things  and Peppermint Purple annual SALs, the LongDog monster "Pandemic" , kits for two Lakeside Needlecraft SALs ("Time to Stitch", of which all 12 installments are released, and "Steampunk Musical Instruments, four installments so far), a kit for a sampler called "American Houses" from the German company Werkstatt für Historische Stickmuster (I just need to translate all the instructions!), two London Abstracts charts by Artecy from Lakeside Needlecraft in England and two Bothy Threads kits (Love Paris and Love London) from Stoney Creek.com are in hand, as is Durene Jones' "Speciality Stitches Butterfly Design" designed for Lakeside Needlecraft.  A recent purchase from Lakeside Needlecraft this  month: the Charting Creations' "Palace (at Westminster)" printed cross stitch chart. I guess, based on all my "English" purchases of late, I am a bit homesick for our five years living in London! Another recent purchase is the "Sternstunden" Sal from Frau Rosa. Again, I will have to get out my German dictionary as my college German is not up to translating instructions in German. Still I like her charts a lot and hope to put in significant time on what looks to be another BAP! I am also now enrolled in Lakeside Needlecrafts' Classic Colorworks Thread Club and Weeks Dye Works Thread Club. The first month installment has arrived and the second is paid for... ~~~~~ If you are vaccinated, congratulations, enjoy the "new normal", and avoid that nasty Delta variant. If not vaccinated, follow the guidelines set out by public health and stay safe and healthy out there... ​Oh, and get that flu vaccination in the next two months and make sure there is enough time between that and your booster shot for Covid - I believe we were told to leave six weeks between the flu shot and the first Covid shot for maximum effectiveness. (you will get the booster, right?).

WIPocalypse 2021 Check-In - July 25, 2021

 

The topic for this month's discussion is:The topic for this month's discussion is: "Have you ever attended a stitching retreat? If so, tell us about your experiences." My answer is a qualified yes... I have been to 2 quilting retreats with the guild I am webmaster for and have stitched onboard 3 cruise ships with a cruise director who was tasked with teaching non-stitchers. But these weren't exactly stitching retreats in the sense that I think is being referenced. ~~~~~WIPS~~~~~ ​ I haven't stitched at all on Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches" since November, 2020. I have made progress on the Glendon Place sampler "Hope & Strength". I have been fitting this into the down times of the SALs I have committed to and so I usually only get in about three days in the month for this piece. It isn't really my usual style or color scheme but I really am enjoying stitching with the silks. It looks like my border may work out without major fussing for the half-stitch error somewhere in the wording.  ~~~~~SALs~~~~~ ​ Besides this WIPocalypse, I  have two (mystery) SALs in progress: 1. The Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Christmas Quaker, which now  four parts complete (less beads and charms) in the last WIPocalypse check-in. The next installment is due out in the next issue of Just Cross Stitch, just about a month from now. 2. A paid Stitchonomy SAL, "Colorworks", which started this month. It is a seven-part blackwork SAL, with a new part issued every week. I am stitching on 14ct antique white Aida using DMC variegated threads. SO far, six parts are complete: ~~~~~Travelling Needlepoint~~~~~ ​I took my road trip to Illinois in July, and I planned to get in a few stitches in while my husband is doing his daylily "thing"! Sadly, I need even opened the project bag. Simply no stitching mojo; the light in the motel room was less than satisfactory anyway. ~~~~~~  In the Pipeline ~~~~~ While my stitching mojo seems a little low, my interest in new charts is not. Two Elizabeth Almond blackwork pieces in the February ("Frosted Windows") and April ("Spring Celebration") issues of Just Cross Stitch, the latest Linen and Things  and Peppermint Purple annual SALs, the LongDog monster "Pandemic" , kits for two Lakeside Needlecraft SALs ("Time to Stitch", of which all 12 installments are released, and "Steampunk Musical Instruments, four installments so far), a kit for a sampler called "American Houses" from the German company Werkstatt für Historische Stickmuster (I just need to translate all the instructions!), two London Abstracts charts by Artecy from Lakeside Needlecraft in England and two Bothy Threads kits (Love Paris and Love London) from Stoney Creek.com are in hand, as described in the last WIPocalypse check-in. One new kit is Durene Jones' "Speciality Stitches Butterfly Design" designed for Lakeside Needlecraft. I am also now enrolled in Lakeside Needlecrafts' Classic Colorworks Thread Club and Weeks Dye Works Thread Club Meanwhile, if you are vaccinated, congratulations, enjoy the "new normal" and avoid that nasty Delta variant. If not vaccinated, follow the guidelines set out by public health and stay safe and healthy out there...

WIPocalypse 2021 Check-In - June 27, 2021

 

The topic for this month's discussion is:  "How are you doing with your goals so far this year?" I believe I said I was going to "go with the flow", whatever that meant.  I had one major WIP/potential UFO in January - Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches" blackwork sampler. I haven't stitched on it at all this year and it is stalled at block 74... I had two mystery SALs in progress: The Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch "Quaker Christmas Sampler", with new parts issued at roughly two month intervals. I have completed part four (see SALs, below) The 2021 Stitchonomy series of SALs, the first of which was " Winter 2020" which I completed in March. The second was "Homely Houseplants II", which I completed last month. A new SAL was introduced this month and I have completed 2 of seven parts so far (see below). I said that I was considering two additional SALs - one by Peppermint Purple, a blackwork sampler intended as a companion for the one I completed in 2020, and the other a mystery sampler by Linen & Threads. I was also contemplating starting the Long Dog "Pandemic" which was released in 2020. I have done neither. So if that is "going with the flow" I guess I have. I must say, my stitching mojo isn't up to my 2020 standard.  I do find, once I force myself to start, I do "go with the flow". But there can be as many as three days between stitching of late. ~~~~~WIPS~~~~~ As I said above, I haven't stitched at all on Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches" since November, 2020. I have made progress on the Glendon Place sampler "Hope & Strength". I have been fitting this into the down times of the SALs I have committed to and so I usually only get in about three days in the month for this piece. It isn't really my usual style or color scheme but I really am enjoying stitching with the silks. ~~~~~SALs~~~~~ Besides this WIPocalypse, I  have two (mystery) SALs in progress: 1. The Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Christmas Quaker, which now has four parts complet (less beads and charms). The next installment is due out in the next issue of Just Cross Stitch, a little over a month and a half from now. ~~~~~SALs~~~~~ 2. A paid Stitchonomy SAL, "Colorworks", which started this month. It is a seven-part blackworkn SAL, with a new part issued every week. I am stitching on 14ct antique white Aida using DMC variegated threads. SO far, two parts are complete: ~~~~~Travelling Needlepoint~~~~~ Not having travelled since the pandemic, I have not been motivated to stitch on "Butterfly on Scroll" since  February 2020.  No progress to report. However, there will be a road trip to Illinois in July, and I plan to get in a few stitches in while my husband is doing his daily "thing"! ~~~~~~  In the Pipeline ~~~~~ While my stitching mojo seems a little low, my interest in new charts is not. In addition to the two Elizabeth Almond blackwork pieces in the February ("Frosted Windows") and April ("Spring Celebration") issues of Just Cross Stitch, the latest Linen and Things  and Peppermint Purple annual SALs, and the LongDog monster "Pandemic" , all of which I have more-or-less kitted up, I ordered the kits for two Lakeside Needlecraft SALs ("Time to Stitch", of which all 12 installments are released, and "Steampunk Musical Instruments, four installments so far) and a kit for a sampler called "American Houses" from the German company Werkstatt für Historische Stickmuster (I just need to translate all the instructions!), all of which are now in hand. Also in hand are two London Abstracts charts by Artecy from Lakeside Needlecraft in England and two Bothy Threads kits (Love Paris and Love London) from Stoney Creek.com. I just can't stop ordering! AAARGH! Meanwhile, if you are vaccinated, congratulations and enjoy the "new normal". If not, stay safe and healthy out there...

WIPOcalypse 2021 Check-In - May 30, 2021

 

The topic for this month's discussion is: "What was the first project you ever stitched? (whether you finished or not)" My answer depends on what kind of stitching you mean! I was in graduate school at University of Florida and was into crewel embroidery at the time. I don't know how I got started on this and I can't remember my first stitched crewel. Meanwhile, a friend had purchased a kit for an eyeglass case with purple pansies in the design to make as a gift for her mother but decided it was too much for her and could I do it? I taught myself to needlepoint with that kit. No idea whether or not it was ever given to her mother! ​I switched to needlepoint after that and never went back to crewel until we were in San Francisco, nearly a decade later, when I was traveling by air a lot for work and my needlepoint and crewel projects were too fiddly/bulky to do on the plane so I went to the little card shop on the ground floor of our office where they had little "card kit" size cross stitch kits. I purchased one of a cable car and stitch it on the plane to Atlanta. No idea where this one is, but this one converted me from needlepoint to cross stitch. Needless to say, no photos of any of these pieces! ~~~~~WIPS~~~~~ I haven't stitched at all on Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches" since November, 2020. I have made progress on the Glendon Place sampler "Hope & Strength". I have been fitting this into the down times of the SALs I have committed to and so I usually only get in about three days in the month for this piece. I really am enjoying stitching with the silks, however. ~~~~~SALs~~~~~ Besides this WIPocalypse, I  have two (mystery) SALs in progress: 1. The Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Christmas Quaker, which now has three parts complete. Ne fort installment is due out in the next issue of Just Cross Stitch. 2. The Stitchonomy 2021 Sal series, part one of which is "Homely Houseplants II", a partner to the "Homely Houseplants" sampler completed in 2020. First installment was April 16 although I signed up for early access (April 9th). It is now complete: Below is Homely Houseplants V2 next to the Homely Houseplants V1 from last year. I'm thinking that, in order to make the two a true pair (despite the fact that the fabric color isn't the same, is to re-backstitch the yellow pots to match. ~~~~~Travelling Needlepoint~~~~~ Not having travelled since the pandemic, I have not been motivated to stitch on "Butterfly on Scroll" since  February 2020.  No progress to report. However, there will be a road trip to Illinois in July, pandemic willing, and I may get in a few stitches in while my husband is doing his daily "thing"! ~~~~~~  In the Pipeline ~~~~~ While my stitching mojo seems a little low, my interest in new charts is not. In addition to the two Elizabeth Almond blackwork pieces in the February ("Frosted Windows") and April ("Spring Celebration") issues of Just Cross Stitch, the latest Linen and Things annual SAL, and the LongDog monster "Pandemic" which I have more-or-less kitted up, I ordered the kits for two Lakeside Needlecraft SALs ("Time to Stitch", 11 of 12 installments are released, and "Steampunk Musical Instruments (three installments so far) and a kit for a sampler called "American Houses" from the German company Werkstatt für Historische Stickmuster (I just need to translate all he instructions!), all of which are now i hand. Also on order are two London Abstracts charts by Artecy from Lakeside Needlecraft in england and two Bothy Threads kits (Love Paris and Love London) from Stoney Creek.com. I just can't stop ordering! AAARGH! Meanwhile, if you are vaccinated, congratulations and enjoy the "new normal". If not, stay safe and healthy out there...

WIPocalypse April 2021 Check-In - April 25, 2021

The topic for this month's discussion is:

"Have you found yourself to be more or less productive in your stitching during the Covid-19 pandemic?"

Well, to be honest, since I hadn't stitched much at all between 2016 and 2020 (only one traveling needlepoint and one twinchie in 2019), ANYTHING would have been an improvement! I started stitching again in January 2020 and our state went into stay-at-home orders in mid-March of that year. From that time until the end of the year, I completed 10 pieces: seven stitch-alongs and three long-term WIPs. If we are only counting 2020, for March through December, then yes, I was more productive.

In 2021 (we are still under mandatory mask orders and social distancing recommendations so I basically am still acting as if we are under stay-at-home orders), I have slowed down bit, only finishing one stitch-along this year (and this had been started in 2020), working on two new stitch-alongs, and beginning one new. piece. A few stitches have been placed into my last long-term WIP but not enough to trumpet any kind of progress on that front. I am not doing any free-hand embroidery, beading or crazy quilting, all of which which dominated my stitching time between 2011 and 2014, so my total stitching output looks significantly smaller, even though the cross-stitching may actually be similar or more productive.   

Currently, I am finding stitching time limited by other activities (mainly mixed media). I also have motivation issues with the charts and kitted up potential new starts that are in my project bag (I am still drawn to BAPs but really an hesitating on starting even one of my kitted up pieces with that old BAP still outstanding...). So in 2021, I seem to have backslid a little...

Overall, however, I have to say that, measured against my stitching activity pre-Covid (and pre-hand injury), my over-all productivity is probably similar to the pre-pandemic "era".

~~~~~WIPS~~~~~

I haven't stitched at all on Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches" since November, 2020.

I have made limited progress on the Glendon Place sampler "Hope & Strength".  

I have been fitting this into the down times of the SALs I have committed to and so I usually only get in about three days in the month for this piece. I really am enjoying stitching with the silks, however.

~~~~~SALs~~~~~

Besides this WIPocalypse, I  have two (mystery) SALs in progress:

1. The Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Christmas Quaker, which now has three parts complete:

There are charms on parts two and three but I am holding off on these until the entire six parts are stitched. 

Part four is due out in early June in the next issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine.

2. The Stitchonomy 2021 Sal series, part one of which is "Homely Houseplants II" a partner to the "Homely Houseplants" sampler completed in 2020. First installment was April 16 although I signed up for early access (April 9th). So far, the shelving and three plant patterns have been issued to the general public:

New plant patterns are issued every three days, with the next due out on April 25 (today!).

~~~~~Travelling Needlepoint~~~~~

Not having travelled since the pandemic, I have not been motivated to stitch on "Butterfly on Scroll" since  February 2020.  No progress to report. However, there will be a road trip to Illinois in July, pandemic willing, and I may get in a few stitches in while my husband is doing his daily "thing"!

~~~~~~  In the Pipeline ~~~~~

While my stitching mojo seems a little low, my interest in new charts is not. In addition to the two Elizabeth Almond blackwork pieces in the February ("Frosted Windows") and April ("Spring Celebration") issues of Just Cross Stitch, the latest Linen and Things annual SAL, and the LongDog monster "Pandemic" which I have more-or-less kitted up; I ordered the kits for two Lakeside Needlecraft SALs ("Time to Stitch", 10 of 12 installments, and "Steampunk Musical Instruments, one installment so far) which arrived yesterday. Fitting any of these in in the coming months is unlikely but one never knows...

Stay safe and healthy out there...