April WIPocalypse and an almost finish

I hope every one is still healthy.  Everyone in my family is still doing well and I'll keep knocking wood for the foreseeable future.  Not sure how we got to the end of April already, but I have literally lost days so I'm not surprised that it's April 30th already.

I haven't been very good about SAL check-ins, but I am in time for .  WIPocalypse is hosted by Melissa at Measi's Musings.  No special patterns, fabric or floss is required just stitch on what you've already started and post about it once a month.  The posting part is the hardest thing for me.  Melissa also gives us questions so we can all get to know each other and maybe find a chart we didn't know we needed.  

April's question is really a prompt:  Talk to us about your longest running WIP or UFO.  I honestly don't know. A large percentage of my WIPs - I consider everything a WIP as I AM going to finish them - were started in the 1997 to 2000 range.  My first husband passed away in 1997 and I did a lot of comfort shopping and starting.  The only one I have the starting year for is Linda Driskell's Sampler in a Year 1999.  

 

I first saw this series of samplers at Celebration of Needlework - way back when it was a new thing.  An EGA friend and I picked out the newest one and started it together.  I don't think either of us got much further than here.  I've lost touch with her since my move so don't know if she ever pulled it out and finished it.  It is done all in white and mostly perle cottons.  I don't even remember what the finished project looks like, but it's started so it's going to get finished. :-)

Speaking of finishes...  I've finished crossing all the Xs in Grady's stocking.  In April, it went from here:

to here:

I've started the backstitching at the bottom and am working my way up.  I wasn't going to do the outlining backstitching as it's all done on black and really doesn't show up, but it does seem to make a difference so outlining I'm doing. I was hoping to finish this in April, but that isn't going to happen.  It will definitely be finished in early May.  FFOing will have to wait until I can get to the store.  I was thinking of ordering fabric but most places have a minimum order and it is way more than I need.  If anyone is interested in statistics I stitched for 99 hours in April (so far - I do plan to stitch a bit tonight) all of them on the stocking.  So far, I've stitched 164.25 hours on it.  In April I stitched 26 days so I'm averaging just slightly more than 3.75 hours a day.  

Once I'm done with the stocking, I'll be starting Sweet Pea from Nora Corbett.  I'm doing it as the birth announcement for Baby Girl due the end of June.  I think it will be done fairly quickly.  Her brother's announcement was finished as a pillow, but I'm not sure how Mom will want this one finished.  Once that's done, I'll be starting her Christmas stocking - Vintage Baubles by Shannon Christine Designs.  

I am not sure how I'm going to put her name on it - I'm thinking of a fruffy tag, but may try to work up a band for her name.  I think a space above those half motifs at the top for her name and another band of half motifs or maybe just the tops above the name.  I got the notice today that my order has shipped so I should have the pattern, floss and fabric in another week or so.

   

Hopefully I can get myself around to posting more often.  Maybe once the stocking is finished - right now it's just black outlining on black fabric so not a lot to see.

I hope you all stay safe and healthy. 

Here we are again

Hope this finds everyone well.  I think it's been a week since my last post.  I have to be honest, time is running together.  I was thinking the other day about how it had been such a long time since I started working from home.   Then I looked at a calendar and it's only been a bit over two weeks.  Virginia announced a stay-at-home order (guess folks weren't paying attention to the "please don't go out" request) until June 10th in conjunction with Maryland and Washington DC.  Maryland's order is indefinite and DC didn't set a date.  Given that it seems like forever since March 17th, June is almost incomprehensible.  I've been catching up on a lot of shows and plan to take advantage of several channel offers - The Great Courses* has extended their free trial to a month from its normal 7 days and I'm sure there are many more companies doing the same - and oh my the FlossTube that's been going on (I get just about caught up and another flurry of videos are added).  If you've got little ones Audible* is offering free streaming at stories.audible.com of books for kids up to 18 (no membership required).  There are several classics too, so even if you're not a kid you might find something of interest.

So a bit of good news since my last post.  My son's employer has begun providing protective equipment (oh and I was reminded that he wears a baseball cap and not a hairnet).  Even if it is providing me a false sense of security, I'm relieved.  And

A long story on exposures and times and doctors, but the result is that Jack and mom are home again.

I haven't posted that many Grady pictures and everyone needs cute baby pictures right now so:

He turned 2 months yesterday.   Those eyes get me every time.  That nose in the upper right is his dog Winston.

Stitching?  Oh yes, stitching has been happening. In March I logged 82 hours.  I haven't done any averaging but I know I'm doing between 3 and 4 hours each week night.  I have decided to put my rotation on hold and focus solely on Grady's stocking.  Unless I run out a color (which is a real possibility), I think I could finish the stitching this month.  I'm not sure about getting all the backstitching done, but the crosses are a definite possibility.

Last week, it was here:

and when I finished up last night it was here:

I've had to roll it up the scroll rods, so imagine a green and white stripe along the top.

My goal for today is to finish the three candies in this section and then move down to the ribbon candy that is right below it.  After that it's finishing up the arms/hands and then to the legs and all the filler in the toe area (I've got a plan mapped out based on how much white is in a section.  Grady's name is charted and I was planning on putting that in early, but when I started it, the centering was off and I really didn't feel like figuring out why, so the math will wait until the stitching is done.

If you're able to, place an order with your LNS - it doesn't have to be a huge order, a pattern, a gift card or a few skeins of floss.  I've made a list of charts that I'm interested in (FlossTube and Instagram are full of ideas if you need them) and will be placing orders with Deb at Stitches 'n Things* in Fenton, Michigan over the next few months.

Stay well, stay safe and keep stitching.

*I am not affiliated in any way with any of the companies mentioned, I just like the service or products mentioned.