December WIPocalypse

It's time for the end of year WIPocalypse check-in.  I did not do a very good job of keeping up with any of my SALs this year.  I think I made the January introduction for WIPocalypse and that was about it.  It wasn't as though I didn't have the time, I started working from home full-time on March 17th.  I certainly stitched, so had plenty to talk about.  I even dusted off some old knowledge and started knitting again.  I think my lack of blogging and most things non-work computer related comes down to - I have no space difference between work and home.  My work area is my stitching/making area.  The only difference is which computer is out.  If working from home becomes a real, full-time thing, I will have to work out a different space arrangement.

And none of that has anything to do with stitching or WIPocalypse.  WIPocalypse is hosted by Melissa at Measi's Musings (she's also on YouTube as Geekywitch) and reminds us to ignore (as best we can) the siren song of new starts and love the ones we're with.

I remember saying that 2020 was going to be all-baby-all-the-time for stitching and that if I had time after finishing a birth announcement and stocking for the soon to arrive Baby W (Grady was born the beginning of February), I would start and hopefully finish a birth announcement for Baby L (Cassie was born the end of June) and if there was any time left in the year, I'd start her stocking so she could have it for Christmas 2021.  Things were going along just like planned until March and office closures and stay-at-home is best and the world changed.  For me, that change meant that I lost a crazy long commute and gained about five hours of stitching time in the evening (the 2-1/2 hours of commute time plus 2 to 3 hours because I could stay up past 8:30) which meant I not only finished ALL the baby stitching but I managed to have 10 finishes this year (only 5 of them were on my official WIPocalypse list).  I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but in 2019, I finished 4 pieces..  

Because I didn't think I'd be doing anything other than the stockings and announcements, my brain couldn't settle into a routine once I finished them - despite having a very detailed stitching plan.  I started things (because I needed more for my WIPocalpyse in 2021 :-)), flitted from piece to piece and went crazy with the knitting and crochet.  You can see all my stitching finishes in the "Finishes" tab up top there.  Most of them you've seen but these two:

are new.  The top is Let It Snow by Tiny Modernist.  It is done on 14-count black Aida with the called for DMC plus white etoille (which doesn't show up at all in the picture).  The bottom is "A Christmas Carol" by Sapphire Mountain Handworks as part of her book club SAL.  It's done on a piece of mystery 32-count linen (it might be Stone Grey) with DMC and some red mystery beads.  I did change up some of the color locations as they didn't play well with my fabric, but overall I like how it turned out.

2021 will be the 10th iteration of WIPocalypse.  Click on the button on the left there and it should take you to the 2021 information page if you'd like to participate.  I'll be there.  Not only did I go through a starting frenzy earlier in the year, I have started (or will start) a project a day since Christmas so plenty of new WIPs to work on.

The ones I've started so far are:

Early Christmas Morning from Blackbird Designs:

This is stitched on 36-count Patriot's Brew from R&R Reproductions with the called for threads - one over two.  I saw this last year on someone's YouTube and loved it.  As with many Blackbird Designs, it was out of print (it was a club piece in 2018 at Dyeing to Stitch) but the rumor was that it was going to be released the end of this year.  I found a picture of the kit and got the fabric and thread names and ordered it back in February thinking there would be a run on the fabric and threads when it published because, you know, buy all the Blackbird's.  I never thought supplies would be unavailable due to a pandemic.

My next start was Christmas in my Heart 1843 by Samplers Not Forgotten

This is stitched on 35-count Cocoa from Week's Dye Works with a color conversion by  Country Sampler in Wisconsin.  They do country/prim color conversions of many charts.  I bought this one fully kitted.  

Next up is an oldie:

The Holly and the Ivy by Teresa Wentzler.  It's stitched on 28-count Platinum Cashel with the called for DMC, Kreinik and beads.  I stitched the top row of the border all the way across and then started this corner.  This is, like most TWs, blended thread heavy.  I think there is only one non-blended color in this corner.  I am making the blends and bobbinating so they're easy to find, but that does take time.  Once I get them set up, stitching should be much faster (says me with every project I stitch).

The last one will be (I'm starting as soon as I finish here) Heirloom Christmas Sampler by The Victoria Sampler.  I'll be stitching it on 28-count Platinum Cashel in the rose/teal colorway.  

The Holly and the Ivy and Heirloom Christmas Sampler have been in my stash for ages (I think I bought them both right after they published) and I kept thinking, "I should start those when I finish some of these others".  This year pushed me to, "Just start them already, they're not doing anyone any good just sitting in your stash." 

 I have two more BAP starts planned for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day - the Virginia sampler from The Heart's Ease and Amy Cann 1831 from Hands Across the Sea Samplers.  I know I'll start stressing out about the number of WIPs I have, and especially the BAP WIPs, but right now I'm okay with it.  Besides helping me handle all my WIPs is what WIPocalypse is all about right? :-)

Day 16 of the Advent Calendar Blog Hop

Welcome to day 16 of the Advent Calendar Blog Hop hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.  This is my third year participating and I thoroughly enjoy visiting everyone's blogs and seeing all the beautiful Christmas/holiday/winter stitching.  

My stitched piece this year is one I stitched and FFOd this year, which is as close to a Christmas miracle as I'm likely to get.  This is Needle Nick from Lizzie*Kate:

He's stitched on 28-count Lambswool Jobelan with the DMC conversion.  I used DMC Blanc in his beard rather than the called for Wisper as I detest stitching with Wisper.  He is designed to be a stand-up, but I thought this frame fit him perfectly.  The frame originally had a clipboard clip and bow to hold a 4"x6" photo.  After I mounted Nick on some chipboard, I removed the clip, glued Nick down and reused the bow.  Not as fancy or embellished as a lot of things I've seen recently but I figured there were enough embellishments on the piece.

This year's question is:  What is your favorite Christmas book?  I am particularly fond of How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suess and the other four  of Dickens' Christmas stories, but my absolute favorite is A Christmas Carol in Prose, being a Ghost Story of Christmas.  I start the book on December 1st every year.  Once I finish the print version, I turn to the audiobook versions.  I'm not sure how many different versions I have but, as I think I've mentioned before, the Tim Curry version is my favorite.  When I'm not reading, or listening, I'm watching.  I have four versions that I cycle through.  The Patrick Stewart version is my favorite followed closely by the George C. Scott and Muppet versions, my fourth is the Alastair Sim version.  What's that?  No, I don't get tired of it and I find myself pulling it up in my Audible feed throughout the year.  Why?  I don't know - redemption? hope? love?  The story has them all.  

Did you miss some of the earlier posts?  Click on that link to Jo's blog up top there to find the links to previous posts and the doors for future ones.  Thanks for stopping by and Happy Christmas or winter observance of your choosing.

It's November

 Can you believe it's November already?  What? ....Thanksgiving is the day after tomorrow?  Well, that means it's the end of November and December starts next week!  I suppose I should have known given all the Black Friday ads I've been seeing lately, but it feels like they've been running since last Black Friday.

So what have I been up to since my last post?  During the one tiny window in COVIDness between bad and horrible, I went to Michigan for Cassie's baptism.  As I was going into someone else's bubble, I did my 14 day isolation before I left, only stopped once during my drive over (and back), distancing, masks, and all recommended safety measures were taken and 14 days isolation when I got home.  Honestly? It was a bit nerve wrecking but I'm glad I was able to do it as I won't be traveling for a while.

After my frenzied finishing weekend, my stitching has shifted into "slow".  I have been knitting and crocheting though.  I've finished and started a hat and made really good progress on a throw (I'll show pictures later - I don't know if the recipients read this blog).  

I started my annual craftcation last week - I usually take two weeks off around Thanksgiving (American) to finish off gifts, make cards, bake, and just generally get things ready to send off.  This year it worked out that I could take off from Veteran's Day until the Friday after Thanksgiving so a nice long stretch of time off.  This is what my dining room table looked like on my first day off with all my supplies pulled out for card making:

Here is one of the cards I finished the first day:

I then started in on the Christmas cards:

I'll show the finished ones once they've been delivered

I finished this year's cards and made good progress on next year's (of course I did the same thing last year and then sat back and let I-have-plenty-of-time take over).

I've spent a lot of time sewing - I've made five more bags - they're designed for knitting projects but they make great gift "wrapping" and FFOd three pieces, knitting (hats) and crocheting - I've finished and started a shawl. I always feel like I'm just flitting from one thing to another, but I manage to either complete or make good progress while I'm flitting.

I have not forsaken stitching.  I spent some time on Pandemic and got it to here:

This a tiny bit of the upper left corner.  I'm stitching it on 28-count white Monaco using one strand of Sulky 12 weight thread in Sunset over one thread.

Luna was restarted.  This is where it was when I stopped last time:

I decided it needed to be further over the moon, so pulled this out and moved her over and up a bit:

I think I could have gone over a little further, but as the design spreads out at the bottom, I was pushing further into my framing border than I felt comfortable doing - yes I've heard they can do it with 1" of fabric, but I really don't think they should have to if I can help it.

I finished Needle Nick and really like how he turned out.

I have FFOd this one, but forgot to take a picture (maybe showing the finish will push me to write before next year).

And I have a new start

This is Let it Snow from tiny modernist.  I'm stitching it on 14-count black Aida with mostly the called for - I am doing the white with one strand of white DMC and one strand of white etoile.  I tried with all etoile but it had a distinct grey cast to it so went to a blend.

I have also planned and prepped for two new starts

This is the fabric for Heirloom Christmas Sampler from The Victoria Sampler (front) and The Holly and the Ivy by Teresa Wentzler (back).  I don't have specific start dates, they are just on my "want to" start list.  I really do need to sit down and work on a stitching plan for 2021 or at least settle myself down and continue with 2020's because four more BAPs are NOT needed in my WIP pile.

I hope everyone is well and safe.  If you celebrate, have a happy Thanksgiving.

Whoa!

 I knew it had been a while since I posted but I didn't realize I'd completely missed September.  I have great intentions - my inbox has several emails with photos to insert here but I somehow don't find the time to sit down and actually write.  That's not true, I'm making time for lots of other things but not adding to my blog or reading blogs or doing much of anything that requires me to be on the computer.  It's all going back to what I've mentioned before - spending all day on the computer for work leaves me with little desire to spend any fun time on it.  Yes, I did all of my work on my computer when I was in the office, but I had breaks from staring at a screen all day and no I'm not pushing to go back into the office anytime soon.  I have been productive in my non-computer time though.  I should probably warn you, this post is going to be long and very picture heavy:

Before the making update, a youngins update:

Grady is

eight months old today!  He is thhhhiiiissss close to crawling and is sitting up like a champ.  And oh my those eyes...

Cassie just turned three months

and is the perfect little princess.

And Jack, well Jack is looking very grown up 

It's so hard to believe that he's almost two.

So, making - lots of making happened in September...

I did a bag sewing/finishing day and fully finished:

Cassie's birth record pillow.  This picture shows the fairy colors better, but this one:

 

shows the fabric color a little better.  The two hearts have Cassie's name and birthdate on them.  I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.

Once I finished this pillow, I FFOd a piece that I finished years ago YIKES!!! my list says I finished the stitching in 2011!! 

Socks and Underwear by Lizzie*Kate
No information on fabric or fibers but I'm pretty sure it was done in DMC and the beard is Wisper

I'm looking for the bag of snowflakes so I can put another one to balance it out a bit.

When the pillows were finished, I started on the Christmas stockings:

                                            

                                                

I also did up a bunch of gift and knitting bags but forgot to take pictures.  The sewing machine has been put away to rest and recover for a little while.  After I finished the finishing I tried to settle into a cross stitch project, but mostly just flitted hither, tither and yon.  First I pulled out Goldie.  It went from here:

to here:

Goldie - Christmas Stocking charted by Heaven and Earth Designs
Stitched on 28-count Monaco with DMC 1 over 1

It looks like the last time she made an appearance was in July of 2018.  I would really like to get this finished for Christmas 2021 although it would be really nice to finish it for this year.

Next came Poinsettia Fairy.  The artwork is by Rueben McHugh and it's charted by Charting Creations.  I started this in February of this year and got this much done:

I added a bit more:

This one is also done on 28-count white Monaco (I bought a bolt of it several years ago) in DMC 1 over 1.

I then landed on Needle Nick by Lizzie*Kate.  He went from here:

to here:

and then here: 

After I hit that big block of red coat, my stitching mojo wandered off, so I picked up my yarn and hook and needles.

I finished the second sock (but haven't blocked it yet):

and because I enjoyed it so much, I cast on another one:

As I was working on this, I realized that while I thought I had plenty of time, Christmas would be here before I knew it so decided I should get busy on gifts.

This is the Kaleidoscope Shawl - it's a free pattern from Red Heart and uses Red Heart Unforgettable yarn - this is the Mermaid (I think) colorway.  I had to use one of the cat's chairs to get a decent picture so please excuse all the fur (I used the lint roller on it before I put it away).  This one is for my niece.  I also finished one for my mom's birthday (which is Monday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!) but neglected to take a picture of it in my rush to get it in the mail.  It was done in shades of white and grey (the colorway is Pearly) Here's what is left from three skeins of yarn: 

I think this is a prime example of "yarn chicken" and yes, I was sweating this one.

I started and finished a hat for Cassie all the youngins are getting one this Christmas

This is the Sockhead Hat in Splash of Color Yarns' Licorice colorway.  The colors are lighter than they are showing up in this picture.  I cast on one for Jack in Let's Roar from the same dyer (it's Detroit Lions blue and "silver") - Grady will get the same color and I have a turquoise-ish/grey (Smoke on the Water) for Vance and Calder.  Fortunately, once I get past the ribbing, it's just round after round of stockinette so perfect for sitting back and relaxing.

And I finished and cast on another throw, but again, neglected to take a picture.

And then finally:

And yes, Virginia is heading towards some form of winter  being that 2020 has been such a year I'm a little scared to see what winter has in store for us.  We had a front go through a bit back and the temperatures went from the upper-80s/lower-90s to 60s and 70s (that's F not C).  The leaves have started changing and there has been a shift in the birds at the feeders from  Finches (Gold, House and Purple), Sparrows and hummingbirds with a surprise Magnolia Warbler a few weeks ago to Chickadees, Titmice and Blue Jays with a surprise Red-Headed Woodpecker. 

Off to settle into some sort of making for the remainder of the weekend.  I hope you and yours are staying safe and well.

Two finishes, a sort of finish and progress

 I think I could get used to a 4-day workweek.  I have started taking my built up leave and rather than taking big chunks of time I do have some of that planned I decided to take Fridays off.  Between the vacation Fridays and my normal Friday off, I think I'm working a 4-day week for the next month.   I shouldn't get too used to it, but it is nice.

So, what have I been doing since my last post?  Pretty much the same things I've been doing since the middle of March - working, stitching and making.  My biggest project to date was last Friday.  I did some straightening/moving-stuff-around in the basement and set up my cutting table and moved a desk and some shelves and created a crafting area.  I don't know why it took me 13 years to figure out that there was plenty of room in the full-house basement for my craft "room".  The basement isn't climate controlled so I don't feel comfortable storing paper or fabric down there but it is nice to have space to cut things out and craft/make without crawling around on the floor or having cats walking across my working materials.  

After finishing Cassie's stocking, I fed my startitis a bit and started and finished these two smalls:

These are Little Blue Caravan and Little Red Caravan from Over the River from The Cricket Collection.  They are stitched on 28-count Star Sapphire with the called for DMC and Kreinik.  There are two more patterns in the leaflet and as these two turned out so cute, I'm going to do them too.  Not sure what I'll do with them when they're done but they will make a cute addition to the finished box.

The sort of finish (I'm calling it a sort of finish as I didn't do any stitching, just said enough) is this:

This is the Sampler Life SAL.  I started it back in 2015(?) when the SAL started and I kept up with it until that tiger block.  It took me forever to finish it and I lost interest.  I did finish up 4 more blocks and then it came to a screeching halt.  I pulled it out again last night and figured out how I was going to finish it up but once I started stitching I was just not feeling it - at all.  So I cut off the block that was below the tiger and am calling this done.  I can't remember what fabric I used - maybe a Light Examplar from Lakeside Linens.  I used mostly the called for DMCs except for the one that's done in a varigated - can't remember what that one is either.  The first block in the second row was not part of the SAL - it is Debi's Roses from Chatelaine Designs.  It was rather liberating to say "I'm done" and not push myself to finish something I wasn't "feeling" anymore.

I also put some stitches into Santa and the Mouse.  The last photo that I took had it here:

And now it's here:

That little blob on the left is the mouse.  According to Pattern Keeper I am 24.7% done with this one.  It's stitched on 28-count white Monaco with the called for DMCs one-over-one full crosses.  I didn't do all this in the last three weeks, but I can't find an intermediate picture.

I made the most progress on Temperature Tree from Stitchin Mommy (her Etsy shop is StitchinMommy).  I hadn't picked this up since March when I went OAAT on baby things.  It went from here:

to all caught up I have a few leaves to add but will do them on Sunday

I'm doing this on an 18-count Light Fiddlers or it might be Fiddlers Light with the called for DMCs.  Once the trunk and branches were done, the leaves were a breeze.

I started Lizzie*Kate's Needle Nick

He's done on 28-count Natural Light linen with the DMC conversion.  I am on the fence on using the called for Wisper for his beard and the pompom.  I dislike Wisper on the best of days, but I do like the effect it gives. I have a really cute finishing idea in my head - will see if it translates to real life. :-)

I also: finished up the crocheted balls for Vance and Calder; am about half way done with the foot of my second sock; cut out Christmas stockings, a pillow and LOTS of bags; started a shawl for DNiece; and, plan to start another throw this afternoon.  Before you ask, yes, this was my normal crafting/making output before I moved to Virginia.  Because it's just The Hubs and me, once dinner is done, my work day is done.  I currently have 4 to 6 hours each evening plus weekends for me.  I choose to stitch, craft or make.  Once I'm back in the office, my total weekly crafting time will be about what I have in two evenings now so I am fitting in as much as I can. 

If you or your family were in the path of Laura, or are impacted by the wildfires out west, I hope you are all safe.  Everybody, stay safe and healthy.

 

It's August?

 It happened again - I've lost an entire month.  Poof, just like that, it was here and gone.  Although I have to say that July was not that different from June, so go back and look at one of my posts from June, did I do one?, and you'll have my July and probably August too.  

I'm still working from home and enjoying it.  The extra sleep has done wonders and the time in the evening for crafting has been wonderful.  I did have to go into the office one day to pack things up as  someone decided that the planned mass moves must continue.  Despite the size of my building - it's two city blocks long and one wide - there was a time when it was hard to find office space for new people so they were put as close to their division as possible or they were just left in their old space.  In an effort to get everyone in a division together and reduce our per person square footage so an office that had one person in it might have two or three now - perfect for keeping social distance, we are doing a massive office shuffle hence the packing up of my stuff.  Fortunately, I had done a fairly extensive paper file purge a few months ago so I didn't have a lot to pack so it didn't take too long.  It was strange being in the building though.  While the number of people that actually work in the building has dropped over the years most of our recent hires are remote workers there was always that background hum that any office has.  When I went in there was nothing.  No working sounds, no smells when walking past the cafeteria, no people, nothing.  The only person I saw the entire time I was in the building was the security guard when I badged in and out.  Very spooky.

That trip to DC is the total of my excitement for July.

Oh wait!  I did go to Joann's for fabric for Grady's stocking and Cassie's birth announcement pillow.  I was shocked at how low their stock of fabric was.  I don't know if it is all Joann's or just that one but there were entire racks that were empty can you tell that I don't get out much?  Other than one trip into the grocery store this was the first shopping trip I had made since March.  I did find fabric for both and just need to get myself finishing them.

I also stitched and knit and planned and watched a lot of  television.  I watched every episode of Time Team (I may have missed one or two), through season 6 of Digging for Britain and tons of YouTube.  I have my usual stitching and knitting channels but I am absolutely hooked on Bernadette Banner.  I have absolutely no idea why I find someone making period clothing so fascinating.

For stitching I worked on and FINISHED Cassie's stocking.  It went from here:

to here:

This is Vintage Baubles by Shannon Christine Designs.  It's done on a 28-count white Lugana with the called for DMC, Kreinik and beads.  I also used Petite Treasure Braid for some of the backstitching.  The stocking as charted does not have a space for the name so I stitched the bottom of the row of baubles with the name to be level with the tops on the previous row, stitched Cassie's name and wasn't that fun?  I found the 50's style font on Etsy and thought it fit the style of the stocking perfectly. Charted out "Cassimera" and then started counting to center.  In total the name had 117 stitches, well there were only 98 in the stocking - and no I don't know why I didn't think of that while I was charting - so I ended up doing her name over-1 and then did the top third of the baubles.  Doing that added a row or two to the stocking but not enough to impact the overall shape.  The other change I made was the backstitching.  The pattern called for all the ornaments to be backstitched in 3371.  That didn't appeal to me so instead I used the darkest of each color group and PTB for the tops.  Once the stitching was done  I beaded, for almost a week I beaded - sooo many beads.  I just need to find fabric for the backing and cording I'm thinking a pink to continue with the mid-century modern color scheme and settle down to sew.  I have a doctor's appointment on Monday and there's a Joann's around the corner from their office so will stop in on my way home.

With the commitment stitching done, I'm taking a bit of time and just doing what I want as far as crafting for a little while.  I have started a couple of ornaments but forgot to take a picture and The Hubs has my phone right now because it's Pokemon Community Day or something and he can explain a whole lot better than I what he's doing - I just walk around collecting he worries about stardust, etc.  I'm also crocheting a bunch of balls for Calder and Vance for their birthday.  I have one done and another about half done. I'm using Red Heart Super Saver yarn and a small hook so while it makes a very strong ball, it's very tough on my hands so can't do a lot at once.

I've also did some knitting.  I was working on the foot of my first sock when I posted last.  I finished the first one and am now ready to do the heel flap on the second.  

There are some issues of fit with the first sock, but I think some of that may be down to my tension. I was tense while knitting so my gauge is very tight I think I was close to 10.5 stitches on 2.25mm needles.  I was going to make the changes to the second sock but then decided I needed to make them as close to the same as possible as they are a pair.  I also need to practice my toe grafting - my Kitchnering was rubbish.  I understand the hows but my carry through left a lot to be desired.

And that's it for July and part of August.  I plan to get my rotation going again and I really want to start everything a couple of new projects  Hope you are all staying safe and well.

She's here!!

Introducing Miss Cassimera (Cassie) Lue L (she's named after her great-grandmothers).  She was born yesterday around 6:30 in the morning. 

Mom and Cassie are fine and home now.  Here's Jack trying out being a big brother (with some help from Mom):

This picture just warms my heart to no end

I so want to get to Michigan to see her, but as with everything right now, it will have to wait.  Thank goodness for all the social media platforms right now. 

Now I really have to come up with a way to finish up her birth announcement pillow and get it FFOd.

I have been working on her Christmas stocking and added a few baubles:

It was here last week:

And today it's here:

It's starting to look like a stocking

The colors in the before are much closer to true. 

I should continue working on it, but I am going to take tonight off and start Pandemic by Long Dog Samplers.  I didn't pick a terribly exciting color scheme - I'll be doing it on an 18-count Antique White Aida with Sulky 12 weight cotton petite in Sunset.  I don't need another huge project but this one was calling very loudly so I decided to give in.

I also had some progress on my sock:

 I got the gusset all done and have started on the foot.  As with all the other parts, it was easier than I thought it would be.  This has been my Teams project.  As it's just knit, knit, knit, I don't have to pay a lot of attention so it is perfect for those video conferences that are otherwise dirt dry. 

And one last horrible picture before I finish.  My computer faces a window that overlooks the front yard and the bird feeders, I caught a flash of red yesterday and looked up thinking it was a cardinal. It wasn't.

It was a Summer Tanager.  I had to look this one up as I'd never seen one before. The picture was taken through the window and screen so it's hard to see but here's a better picture from the Audubon Society:

   As he's a bug eater, I don't expect I'll see him again as I don't offer bugs in the bird feeders but it was a nice surprise.

I hope everyone is safe and healthy.