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Thursday, January 16, 2014

January WIPocalypse

WOW!!  My last post struck a chord with a lot of stitchers!!!  I was frustrated when I wrote it and needed to get it off my chest before I did something silly like throw the piece under the next train. I certainly was not expecting the response I got.  Lots of horror stories out there, but I think the winner of the worst is Natasha at A Stitchers Ramblings that has a chart with only three symbols for the entire thing - one square and two different sized circles!   I would probably burn it before I finished the piece.

It's cloudy and I can't see it, but calendar says there is full moon out there today and so it's time for WIPocalypse!!!  WIPocalypse? You ask?  Yep, WIPocalypse, it's hosted by Melissa over at Measi's Musings.  She started the SAL in 2012 as a way to finish all finish some make progress on our WIPs before the world ended in December.  Well the world didn't end at least as far as I can tell, but who knows maybe it did and we're all really living in some alternate reality - that sounds much too much like one of those philosophy questions we used to get in school and my brain is really not up for that discussion right now but a lot of WIPs were actually finished and a fair number had progress made on them.  As it was so successful, she graciously continued hosting last year despite the small issue of becoming Mom to the very cute Max and all the time *that* entails and again this year.  If you're interested in participating, click on the dragon logo and it will take you to the sign-up and basic information page.

http://measi.net/measiblog/wipocalypse_main/2014_wipocalypse-basic-info-sign-up-page/

This year she gave us some general themes for our monthly posts. This month we're introducing ourselves and discussing our plans and goals.

I think most of "me" is in that little blurb up in the right hand bar, but I'll do it again anyway - I'm Susan and I live in northern central Virginia as opposed to southern northern Virginia which starts about 20 miles up the road.  I have lived here for about six years.  I lived in New Hampshire for the twenty-one years before that and all over before that as my father was a career Army officer and my first DH was also career Army.  The family here is made up of The Hubs and three spoiled rotten cats I suspect that spoiled rotten cat is a redundant statement.  DSon still lives in New Hampshire and, no, I don't get to see him as often as I'd like darn jobs!!!  I have been stitching for close to thirty years I blame my addiction on my Mother as she told me all about this neat "new" craft of cross stitch and how she thought I'd enjoy it well, I never do things by half and jumped right in and have not looked back that part I can't blame on anyone but me.  In addition to cross stitching, I enjoy paper, bead and fabric crafts and am teaching myself to knit (again), I also do a lot of reading and am always open to trying new crafts which usually gets me in trouble - see above comment about "halves".

I have five projects on my list this year.  I expect a couple of finishes, but am really only looking for progress on these:
  • Santa's Magic by Mirabilia
  • Enchanted Swans by Just Nan
  • Elegant Doily by Kayann's Kreations
  • Serengeti by Chatelaine
  • Three Tulips by With Thy Needle and Thread
You can see the January 1st photos in the 2014 WIPocalypse and YOTA projects tab up there at the top.  As I finish a project, I will randomly pull a "new" one from the WIP list over there on the right hand side of my blog except for the Just Nan piece, it will be replaced by another Just Nan piece as I am participating in that SAL too.

So far, here is what I have accomplished on the WIPs since the last full moon I have stitched on other pieces, but they aren't on the list and will show up in other SAL posts.

Santa's Magic had a fair bit of work done on it:

Here is the before:


And here he is now:


As did Enchanted Swans:

Before:


And after.  Yes, this is a finish!


Elegant Doily saw a little bit of work.



This is a close up of the section on the right on the before photo
And finally, Serengeti is on the frame right now.



This weekend is the first International Hermit and Stitch (IHSW) weekend.  I have a new small going into the frame tomorrow, Serengeti will be worked on Saturday and Santa's Magic will go back onto the frame on Sunday.  If you are interested in promoting stitching over less interesting things like housework this coming weekend, click on the little hermit crab in the right menu bar and it will take to Random Ramblings and give you all the information you need to participate.

Thank you for sticking around until the end of this rather long post, I promise, they are not all like this!!

12 comments:

Cathy said...

Beautiful projects!

Jan said...

Hi Susan - It's so nice to meet the stitcher behind the blog. You have a very nice list of WIPs to tackle this Wipocalypse year. I envy anyone who can do lovely cutwork like you do. I have a fear of cutting holes in my fabric so I never got up the nerve to try. [LOL] Good luck with your projects!! I'll be looking forward to see your progress over 2014.

Joysze said...

Sue, you crack me up!!!!! Ok, first things first... we can't be living in an alternate reality, cos we're not multi-millionairesses, model-thin AND gorgeous, and being able to eat all the chocolate we want without it going to our butts!!

But that's ok. LOL!!!!

HEY!!! Serengeti for you and me both this year, although, your is looking a whole lot better than my pitiful 20 stitches.

L.O.V.E. Elegant Doily. Can't wait to see more of that.

Annie said...

All your projects are beautiful! I especially love Santa's Magic. After your last update on him I fell in love with it and bought the pattern!

Julie M said...

You are working on some beautiful projects Susan! Love Santa's Magic and have it in my stash somewhere. One of these days I might even get around to stitching it!

Robin in Virginia said...

What wonderful projects you have underway! Congratulations to you on your finish as well!

Have a great weekend!

Robin in Virginia

Rachel said...

That's a great list of projects, and your Hardanger is stunning!

Elizabeth said...

Lovely projects!

Catherine said...

Great projects!! Loved reading more about you as well!

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

I might be living in Joyzse's alternative world except that someone else seems to have the money and all I've got is the chocolate eating ability!

Natasha gets the real sympathy vote, she obviously did something evil before the Apocalypse and is in Pattern Purgatory for it!

Your progress pics are gorgeous, I love the Just Nan finish. I'm on my second small this year but really want to start one of her large projects for the SAL. Winter Typography is top of the list.

Meari said...

Enchanted swans is so beautiful.

Sharon said...

Loving your projects!