Keyword: WIPocalypse

This month's WIPocalypse question is: Have you ever adopted a piece from someone else or gave up a piece to someone else? Which piece and why? And the answer is yes, sort of... ​My husband's former secretary handed me a large carrier bag with a printed needlepoint canvas of a cheetah (and DMC needlepoint yarn) which she had started but decided, for one reason or another, that she couldn't/wouldn't finish. She knew that I did needlework and thought I might like it. She said she really didn…

The WIPocalypse question of the month is: "In honor of “Leap Year,” tell the story of a time you had to make some sort of a “leap” in stitching – taking the chance on a new style of stitching, attending a meetup or class, etc." I have taken several "leaps" in my stitching... To begin: A room-mate taught me to knit while I was senior in college (56 years ago! AAACK!!). I evolved into booties and then two disastrous sweaters. Although I loved cables, I learned my lesson from sweaters a…

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 - "Homel…

We are supposed to introduce ourselves and our projects and list any goals for the coming year in this post. To start an introduction. I'm Carol a recovering stitchaholic who has been sidelined for a few years by injuries to my left wrist --- first I broke it and had surgery (and a plate) to fix it about three years ago. I recovered from the break, regained the use of that hand after extensive physical therapy, and finally and recovered my stitching mojo in 2019. So I started to stitch again…

Sorry --- I'm late but I've been late with EVERYTHING this holiday season! This check-in is supposed to be a wrap-up of the year: a recap of our accomplishments for the year! (our finishes, our final before/after photos, etc). Well, given my near complete lack of stitchery for at least 7 months of the year, this will be a short post. In January, I was nearly totally recovered from my broken wrist and getting motivated to start stitching. My WIPs/UFOs were listed as: Elizabeth Almon…

The discussion topic for this month was: "What new stitches or techniques did you learn this year?" I usually learn new stitches when a) doing samplers (basically self-teaching using diagrams and the occasional online video), b) doing enhanced needlepoint. (that's what I call it, not sure it that is a real name for it), or doing free embroidery challenges/classes like TAST (Take a Stitch Tuesday). I did my last TAST sampler back in 2014 and while I often applied some of these free embroi…

This month's topic for discussion is: "Do you prefer to stitch on a rotation or one project at a time?" Well, I have to say that it varies with me. If I am working on a small-to-medium sized piece, I prefer to stick with it until it is finished. However, in the past few years, I have been stitching massive BAPs (the Ink Circles original "Roll Your Own" series and Elizabeth Almond's blackwork sampler the most recent examples) and I find that I preferred rotation with those. Since "Roll…

This month's topic for discussion is: "What finishing style have you never tried but would love to do?" ​I can't say that there are many that I haven't tried. I have done framing, three-dimensional (mainly boxes and ornaments but also pillows and easels/stand-ups), even banners! I can't say I've had rousing success with all of them...I still prefer a professional framer to my own handiwork and getting banners cut right, hemmed and properly lined is a pain I associate with my terrible recor…

This month's question was: "What do you have on your stitching bucket list? (for example, specific projects, designers, fibers, etc)" Well, on August 25 (the day this was supposed to be posted), I had been dealing with a cast and subsequent splint on my left hand resulting from a rupture of the flexor tendon to my left thumb on July 24 and surgery to repair said tendon on July 26. I'm still in therapy (passive exercises only) and see the surgeon on September 9 to see if the splint can be…

The question for the month is: “How do you get yourself out of a stitching drought?” Good question. Since I was in such a drought for nearly two years because fo try aftermath of a broken left wrist, I’m not really a good source for a solution. I managed to “force” myself into a finish back in April and even that didn’t have a permanent effect. I tried to use the second stitch-a-day challenge with new pieces and it seemed to be working until… ~~~~~ July 16 (I missed a day because of…

This month's topic for discussion is: "Half-year recap: How are you doing with your goals so far this year?" Well, I'm stitching and that is definitely an improvement after two years hiatus! I finished one WIP ("Palm Tree Elegance") in April and dithered about for a month Finally, I decided to get my hand in practice for smaller stitches than called for on that needlepoint canvas so I took out a Michael Powell kit of key fobs and scissor keeps (Beach Huts Scissor Keep X131). It is four pa…

This moth's topic for discussion is: "Where do you love to shop for stash?" Well, given my lack of stitching in the past two years, adding to stash seemed somewhat uncalled for. However, I did buy a few pieces that stuck my fancy - all from Michael Powell Art in the UK. I really love his pieces and have tried to collect all of them, especially when they come out in chart packs instead of kits (cheaper postage, for one thing). I have only stitched two my "collection" though: one ("Greek Win…

This month's topic for discussion is: "Talk to us about your longest-running WIP or UFO." I had to go back into my files to find the longest running WIP... it is a round robin I participate in on Cross Stitch Crazy, a long gone forum on the now defunct iVillage. I started in January 2007. I stitched it on full yard of Silkweaver's 28-ct Jobelin, in the "Carol's Meadow" color. It is a 12" x 12" square stitched with a knot garden in "blackwork" from Stitchin'spirations ("Brandon", designer Sall…

This month's question for discussion is: "What newer designers and product creators (fabric or floss dyeing, etc) out there have you discovered and recommend?" Well, given I have taken over two years "off" from stitching, I have to say I am not really following designers/stitching products these days so I haven't discovered anyone/anything new, nor would I dare to recommend any. ~~~~~ In March, we were challenged to do one stitch a day minimum, every day and I decided it would be one…

This month's discussion topic is: "What do you listen to while stitching? Well, I may be strange, but I usually have the television on as more-or-less background noise. I stitch in my bedroom where I have a television/DVR set-up and I have found I simply cannot focus on stitchery if there is no background noise. I only pause in my stitching when something catches my attention on the program (kind of defeats the purpose of DVRing a program but...) ~~~~~ Again, no stitching this month.…

A day late and a dollar short, as usual. I should have posted this yesterday. Anyway, this month's question is: "What SAL’s are you participating in this year?". ​Well, not exactly participating but, like in the past two years (2017 and 2018), I am collecting the monthly patterns for the sampler SALs at Linen & Threads. And of course, once I get my motivation going and confidence revved up, this WIPocalypse. But, sadly, the motion vacation/confidence part isn't going yet so I didn'…

In the event that you are not familiar with WIPocalypse, it is a yearly challenge by Measi's Musings where Melissa, the blog owner states: "The WIPocalypse was a stitch-a-long playing up on the joke that the world will end in 2012. It’s short for Works In Progress Apocalypse."The goal of the WIPocalypse is to make progress on your projects. How you go about this is your choice." Since then, there have been WIPocalypse SALs each year and this year is the start of WIPocalypse 2019. Each…

Oops! I almost forgot! Question of the Month: What new stitches or techniques did you learn this year? Sadly, none. Can't learn much new stitchery when one isn't stitching! Maybe next year.

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 discussion this month is: "How do you keep your stitching stash organized?" ​Well, I'm not sure it IS organized, at least not completely I posted several times this year about my organizational attempts, starting in January and fizzling out in May. I have gotten quite a bit put away where it belongs but there is probably just as much that needs doing. Especially floss --- my DMC is untouched and needs a massive amount of time to put right and teh contents of my two embroid…

This month's topic for discussion is: "Which is more satisfying to you and why – the process of stitching a piece, or the finish?" ​That's a tough question for me to answer... it's almost like those polls which don't give an answer that is right for you! For me, the satisfying part is the beginning: the picking of the chart, the floss, the fabric and embellishments (if any) and setting up for stitching. (can you tell I'm a stash builder? I love browsing the designer sites and the need…

The discussion topic for this month is: " Half-year recap: How are you doing with your goals so far this year?" ​I'd laugh if it weren't so sad. No progress. Not a stitch. Even my attempts at organization ave stalled out at the bin of DMC floss that needs putting away. I'm really having difficulty getting motivated. Heck, I have even spent several hours this weekend updating out financial records, which I absolutely HATE to do. And in two days, I have brought six months of arrears in my en…

The question for the month is: "Tell us what you think the ideal stitching retreat would include." ​Well, I have been to a few quilting retreats and paper crafting retreats but never an embroidery retreat so I can't say for sure that I know what such a retreat would require. Like I said, I can't speak from experience other than three quilting retreats, two or three paper-crafting weekends, a card-making cruise (Yes, a cruise, to Alaska!), and a few local guild-sponsored quilt workdays, a…

The WIPocalypse question of the month is: Where do you love to shop for stash?when I can't find what I need in my stash, I shop online for anything needlework-related - we don’t have any needlework shops within driving distance so online is really my only option. I have a few places I do like to shop… tops on my list is Needle in A Haystack in Alameda, CA. I have read that others aren’t happy with the service there but I never have had issues. It’s been a while since I did any shopping for s…

Carol here, fighting a late - and nasty - case of the flu. Not only has it wiped me out physically, resulting in a total halt to my attempts at reorganization, but it has also done me in mentally. I never know, from day to day, if it will be a cough, a headache or (yesterday) serious vertigo that hits... Needless to say, that means I have little to nothing to report on this month. Let's start with the question of the month: "What newer designers and product creators (fabric or floss dyeing, e…

Another month has passed and it's time to report in. We had two questions to answer this month. Questions 1. Gadgets! Show us your favorite stitching gadgets! ​Well, I'm not really sure what constitutes a gadget in stitchery but I have photos of the tools I use . ​To start with, I have a wooden "box" with magnets inside to keep my needles, pins, needle threader and embroidery scissors in. It even catches the occasional (who am I kidding - often) stray beads fo eventual re-packaging…

In this month's report, we are to answer the following questions: "What SAL’s are you participating in this year? and If you are participating in the Olympic Stitching Challenge, what challenge are you accepting? What are your goals?" I partially answered these questions on January 7 in the initial blog of the year but I will restate: The only SAL I have on schedule this year is WIPocalypse. However, I am collecting the bands from the Linen & Threads Mystery sampler and I reserve the rig…

In the event that you are not familiar with WIPocalypse, it is a yearly challenge by Measi's Musings where Melissa, the blog owner states: "The WIPocalypse was a stitch-a-long playing up on the joke that the world will end in 2012. It’s short for Works In Progress Apocalypse."The goal of the WIPocalypse is to make progress on your projects. How you go about this is your choice." Since then, there have been WIPocalypse SALs each year and this year is the start of WIPocalypse 2018. Eac…

We are supposed to "Recap [our] accomplishments for the year! ([our] finishes, [our] final before/after photos, etc.)" What Can I say? ​So let's start with finished: Zero, nada, zilch, none. Since I started the New Year with a non-functioning left hand and only managed to make it back to nearly-full function in February, I only stitched for a small bit when finding that my had strength wasn't sufficient for prolonged stitching (since I hand-hold everything --- frames or no --- and gripping…

It's that time again --- time to check in and confess that it's been ages since I last stitched on anything. I did try on a soon-to-be UFO back in February - all of 50 stitches before my hand, and patience with the backstitched letters, gave out. And all my good intentions have been stymied by lack of motivation. I really don't LIKE that WIP and the other BIG one I have in "progress" is all blackwork which I can't face right now (I KNOW my hand won't stand up to that frame...). I have been conte…

And of course, I'm a day late! Not that I have much to report on... this was another month without stitching, And it didn't help that my Husband had cervial surgery this past week, followed by an ER visit for a serum and subsequent three day hospital stay. He's home now, but my "free time" is pretty much broken up with medication distribution, meal prep, etc. At least he's more or less mobile now, although not for extended periods of time. Question of the Month – How did you begin sti…

This month's question is Which floss (or color of floss) do you absolutely adore and want to stash constantly? I'm not sure how to answer this one as I don't really stash floss for color reasons. I BUY floss for color reasons --- that is, I NEED that color for a project and it isn't in my stash. ​OK, I said I had a stash of floss and that is true but it does come back to my reason for buying. I do have a habit of wanting EVERY color in a floss type (e.g Anchor, Gentle Arts, Dinkie Dyes,…

This month's question is "How do you get yourself out of a stitching drought?" and I really wish I had an answer! ​I have been in a stitching drought since October 2016 --- initially becsaue of a broken wrist (that was roughly 4 months stitchery-free during healing and therapy) and then because my hand wasn't strong enough to hold my Q-snaps for any extended period of time without cramping or shaking. I think I am better now but... getting the motivation to pick up those two WIPS/wannabee UF…

A little late here --- we were working the admissions table at Crosby Festival of the Arts yesterday and were exhausted after our four-hour shift! This month's question is "Show us your stitching space! Where do you sit, and what is going on around you while you stitch (TV, audiobooks, etc)?" ​My stitching space is my bed, I'm embarrassed to admit. I have my basic supplies in two storage cupboards in my crafting area (these photos are four years old and they are a lot more messy now):…

Another WIPocalypse check-in where I can't report a single stitch placed in fabric. This wrist is taking longer to strengthen that i had expected! The question of the month is: "Which designer’s projects do you absolutely love, but are too intimidated to try?" ​Not sure I'd call it intimidated. More like reluctant. I have the complete series of charts for the cats by Kats by Kelly (no longer being produced in cross-stitch; despite the promise for more in 2016 on the website, there weren't…

Another month without stitching. My wrist is getting better but I still have flexibility and strength issues in my left had so holding a frame steady for any length of time is dodgy at best. I live in hope! Meanwhile, the topic for the month is “What projects are in your UFO pile?” Sadly — a lot. Back in 2012, I itemized the UFOs in my cupboard. They were "Angel of Love" - started before we moved to England in 1992! "Celestial Angel" - started before we moved to England in 1992!…

This month's question is: " What stitchy blogs, groups, or flosstubes do you follow and why? " ​OK, The only stitch blogs I really follow (if getting digests each week or month is the same as following) are: ​Pin Tangle - because I used to participate in the TAST challenge (but no longer after creating a pile of shapers nearly six inches thick over 2.5 years) and because I really really like the art blog by Sharon B and the photography blog by her partner Jerry Everard (which lately covere…

The question for this month is: "What is your favorite stitch other than the standard cross stitch?" Well, I'm not sure I have a favorite stitch other than the cross stitch. In fact, I'm not even sure any more that the cross stitch is my "favorite" but... the stitch I use as often as the cross stitch is backstitch, although I'm pretty sure I'm not doing it correctly when I do blackwork. As for how-to, here is the best link I can provide for regular backstitching and here is how to do it (aka the…

First check-in for 2017 and not a very happy one, I fear. I tried to stitch on "Love Is..." an Xs and Os design, in mid-January after being given the "all clear" from my orthodpod and my occupational therapist that I could continue on doing my hand exercises on my own. But I failed miserably in being able to hold my q-snap frame for more than a few minutes at a time. Maybe it didn't help that the word I chose to stitch was chock full of French knots (which I hate, especially on linen) but then..…

Today we are to “ Introduce [ourselves], [our] projects, and any goals [we] have for the year!” OK, well, I’m Carol, a retired environmental scientist and community college instructor, who took up stitching in graduate school (in Florida). I started with crewel, began needlepoint when a friend asked me to complete an eyeglass case she had bought, and moved on to cross-stitch while living and working in San Francisco (needlepoint and crewel were too awkward to work on when traveling and I was…