Carol Harper's most read articles

After making my WIPocalypse report for June, 2016, I decided to “force” myself to put in at least two hours every night until this report was due. And I was successful, completing color #5 (of 12) and a little more than 50% of color #6 by last night: If I could keep up this pace, and it we weren’t traveling for the last weekend of June, I possibly could get “Roll Your Own” ready for framing and entry in the 2016 county fair. But I doubt my resolve, I really don’t want to make any mistakes…

The topic for this month's discussion is: "Retreats and seminars – have you ever been to any stitching events? If so, tell us about them!" I have attended one scrapbooking crop (I do not scrapbook) and three quilting retreats (where I “worked” on piecing together in-progress crazy quilts - three quits the are STILL unfinished!). I have attended three in-person paper crafting events where I did learn a lot of technique, acquired a lot of swag (shopping at paper crafting events is de rigu…

The topic for this month's discussion is: "How are you doing with your goals so far this year?" There were some finishes: • Stitchonomy "Christmas SAL 2021", started December 2021, finished January 2022 • Lakeside Needlecraft free "Christmas SAL", started in December 2021, finished January 2022 • Stitchonomy SAL, "Spring 2022", started April 22, finished May 2022 There were two long-term WIPs held over from years previous: • "Hope & Strength" by Glenwo…

I finished a little 2x2 square designed by Michael Powell. It's meant to be one side of a scissor keep but I think I'll make it into an ornament instead and stitch the other side as another ornament. OK, I shouldn't brag but it's been so LONG! Two strands of Anchor floss over one --- in an 18 ct (I think) canvas. A bear to frog so there is one mistake I simply fudged around. Luckily, Powell designs are wonky enough to make fudging invisible! ​On to the other side --- this is where it…

I'm B-a-a-a-ck! Well, *I* am back... not sure about the stitching mojo. The cold finally seems to have depearted. Maybe 90° weather in Atlanta baked it out of me. I will see. Atlanta. you say? We've been on a three week road trip (June 1 - 19), or as my husband called it, when the car's starter died in West Virginia, "Charlie's Exciting Adventure". We had two days drive form Ohio to Florida, seven days with a freind, one day's drive back north to Atlanta, four nights in a hotel/conferen…

This month's discussion topic is: "If you have been to retreats, what are your must-bring items and supplies?" I have attended three two-day paper crafting "retreats" (Simon Says Create in Columbus Ohio), one two-day scrapbooking crop (with a local crafting friends, even though I don't scrapbook!), and three two-day quilt retreats (put on by the guild of which I am webmaster, even though I truly do not quilt) in the past two decades. All within a two hour driving distance of my home. S…

The topic for this month's discussion is: "What is your favorite store (either online or brick and mortar) to purchase your supplies?" This is a hard one because I don't use just one store. And the ones I do use are all online (we don't have any local needlework shops anywhere near around where I live). I like to buy floss from Stoney Creek. I tend to buy fabric from 1-2-3 Stitch and from ABC Stitch Therapy. Recently, I am in two monthly thread clubs and a monthly fabric club at Lakeside…

The topic for this month's discussion is: "Have you been participating in gatherings via online chats (Zoom, Google Meet, etc) during the COVID pandemic? If so, what have been the best formats in your opinion?" The answer to this is short, and not-so-sweet! No! I have not participated in any online gatherings at any time, before or during the Covid pandemic, and I don't anticipate doing so after (if there is an after). I don't perform well, stitching (or crafting) in groups. I hav…

A new year, and time to: "Introduce yourself, your projects, and any goals you have for the year!" Who am I? My name is Carol Harper, although I have used the handle "that yank" more often the past. I am a "Jill" of all crafts and master of none: I paper craft (my papercrafting blog is currently neglected) and embroider (ranging from needlepoint and crewel in the distant past to cross-stitch and blackwork currently) and sometimes quilt (crazy quilting), knit and even bead a little, all of…

The topic for this month's discussion is: "What five patterns do you really want to purchase (or start) right now?" "I don't really need to purchase any more projects... I have enough to outlive me by decades! But there are a few in my stash that I would like to start. The following three are patterns soon-to-be released or already in hand that I intend to begin shortly: • The soon-to-be issued "Autumn Sampler" from Stitchonomy, a companion to the already finished "Wniter Sampler" and…

The question for the month for WIPocalypse is: " Do you prefer to stitch on a rotation or one project at a time?" I really don't have a preference. I have done both and both have their advantages. Rotation removes some of the boredom that can arise when stitching on a single LARGE project. It is particularly helpful to intersperse stitching on a large BAP with smaller pieces (which might give on the felling of accomplishment when the small piece is finished), a piece with different…

The topic for this month's discussion is: "Do you prefer Halloween or Christmas stitching?" I think I don't have a preference for either; historically I have leaned toward more holiday-neutral stitching. My holiday stitching was pretty much confined to 'smalls" like tree ornaments for a number of holidays (mainly Easter, Halloween, and Christmas). Partly, this was because I was into entering the local county fair and one of the needlework entry categories was trios of Christmas ornaments…

The topic for this month's discussion is: "Are you a seasonal stitcher? If so, which seasons do you find yourself more productive or less productive?" Not exactly sure what a seasonal stitcher is. I stitch year-round and my productivity is based more on what other aspects of my creative and every-day life are thrown at me... For example, while I TRY to stitch at least 1.5 hours every night, paper crafting classes/events I have signed up for, illnesses (like a "mild" bout of Covid at t…

The topic for this month's discussion is: "Recap your accomplishments for the year! (Your finishes, your final before/after photos, etc)." Here goes, starting with my finishes, in order of "finishing": 1. Lakeside Needlecraft "Christmas" SAL 2021. Stitched on white Aida using recommended threads. Started December 26, 2021; finished January 6, 2022:  2. Stitchonomy Christmas 2021 SAL. stitched on ice blue AIDA (not obvious in this photo) in the colors specified (exceptI s…

The topic for this month's discussion is: "When do you begin planning your stitching goals for the next year?" Interesting question that I don't have an answer for. I don't plan ahead beyond working on (and hopefully competing) the projects in progress. ~~~~~Long-term WIPS~~~~~ When I checked in last month, I had only one long-term WIP in my project bag: The Elizabeth Almond "Save the Stitches" blackwork sampler, which is roughly 60% complete . No progress this month... ~~~~~Travell…

This month's discussion topic is: "Tell us about your favorite places to buy stitching supplies." Sadly, there are no LNS stores within driving distance of where I live. The closest town (Toledo) has a Hobby Lobby, a Michaels and a Joanne's but I have never found them to be well stocked with stitching supplies (except may a healthy selection of DMC threads) - not worth the 40+ minute drive IMO. SO... I shop online! It has two major drawbacks: you can never be sure of the color of fabri…

This month's discussion topic is: "What project brings you the most joy and why?" Not really sure what this means. What brings me joy in stitchery is the process of working a pattern and seeing is come to fruition. There is satisfaction in completion. And happiness if the piece is to be a gift to a close and valued friend. But I can't single out any specific project... ~~~~~WIPs~~~~~ 1. Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches" sampler. Started back in February of 2014! No progress s…

The topic for December is to " "Recap your accomplishments for the year!" ​Well, if you have followed me at all this year, you will know that my only accomplishments for the year were a few months of organization, which fizzled out when it came time to sort floss...The progress reports are in the following posts: January: The before pictures and starting to clear cutting table surface and floor space. This was my most productive month when it came to organizing. Beads, yarns, tools, fabr…

This month's discussion topic is: "What stitch-a-longs (SALs) are you participating in this year?" Easy question! The tricky part is how one defies "participation"! Here's a list, starting with long-term WIPs (bordering on UFOs). followed by current SALs, and ending with SALs where I have collected the charts with every intention of starting (but haven't yet)!! 1.There are two long-term SAL/WIPs which have stalled out for one reason or another. I hope (against hope) to get back to them…

This month's discussion topic is: "Which are your favorite and least favorite fabrics to stitch on?" Favorite is easy - Lugana or Jobelin in either 28 or 32 counts. I tend toward neutrals and white but if a color works with a pattern, I will go with it. Least favorite - AIDA when it's got slippery polyester threads woven in and loosely woven, slub-filled linens. Least favorite color, regardless pf fabric is black... ~~~~~WIPs~~~~~ What I stitched on in July: 1. Fox & Rabbit's…