January 2013 Wipocalypse Check In

Well here we are. The beginning of another Wipocalypse challenge! Unlike last year, I don't have a list of things I plan to work on... I pretty much plan to stitch whatever strikes my fancy as the year goes. 

So far I have started Anthony Minieri's "Stars For A New Millennium". This is my first foray into canvas work. As you can see below, I haven't gotten too far... Those argyle triangles will be the death of me unless I suddenly grow two more arms. The fiber I am using for the long stitches (trebizond) is so slick that I have to hold it taught with one hand whilst tacking it down with the couching stitches. Needless to say I have gotten distracted by other things in complete avoidance of those triangles. Maybe this is why Stasha told me she hated trebizond? Hmmm...

I've also started work on MLI's Firefly Fairies, which has been calling to me for a while now. I am working it on Picture This Plus' 32 Count Belfast Crystal Carnival. The picture makes it seem so much more peach then it is. It's actually more yellowish and green. 

Other than that I hope to do TW's 12 Days, each as a separate piece, and also TW's Paisley Corner (x4) to make either a pillow or decorative chair seat.

That is all. 

December Wipocalypse Update, and a look back.

Well, it is finally here! I actually completed a full year of the wipocalypse. I can't believe that a full year has passed... I still can remember starting this a year ago. And! I got quite a bit accomplished when you look back. First, you can see below my latest progress on Noah's Ark (Teresa Wentzler).

 

As for my year of Wipocalypse, here are the goals that I set out for myself in January, and  their progress:

~Finish Stargazer (just have to finish the beading) I finished this here

~Continue on Plight of Fancy (Long Dog Samplers) My latest progress on this is here. It's pretty bulky, but I just unwrapped a FANTASTIC Lowery Stand from my parents this morning, so in the New Year I plan to throw this onto some stretchers and finish it that way. Should be way less cumbersome and far more enjoyable!!

~Continue work on Angel of the Morning, and if possible finish it (MLI) I did finish this here. It's gorgeous, and everything I hoped it would be.

~Continue work Fairy Moon (Mirabilia). Nope. I think I did put in a few stitches on this, but promptly lost my taste for it again. 

~Continue work on How Does Your Garden Grow (Papillon Creations) This was the first piece I finished in 2012, and you can see it here.

 

~Continue work on Castles in the Sky (Papillon Creations) I picked this up again, and realized I had grossly miscounted a large section of the piece. I am not sure where the error is, but I may scrap it and start over. I don't mind restarting it, as I wasn't keen on the colors I picked.

~Start Time Well Spent (Sampler Cove) My current progress on this can be recapped here. I haven't worked on it since July, and my interests are elsewhere at the moment. I may work on it more in 2013.

~Start Celtic Banner (MLI) Yup. I've made pretty good progress on it - I'm about 1/2 way through it. Current progress can be seen here.

 

~Start (and finish) Far Away (Shepherd's Bush). Done. It will be given as a Christmas present. This was one of my earlier finishes this year.

 

~Start (and finish) the daughter sampler that I can't think of the name of right now. Started, but not finished. I think I miscounted the fabric, and may be short on the bottom. Oopsies. I will likely need to restart this this year. At some point. I won't show current progress, all things considered, but if you want to dig back on Wipocalypse updates, it is in there.

 

~Start (and finish) some of the millenium SB ornament series for gifts from the JCS Ornie issues (my goal is to stitch the whole series over time for Christmas gifts). Nope. I am rethinking my goal on this. I don't think I will do this as gifts - I think I just want to do this for myself, so I am not sure when I will work it.

~Start the three other Miniature Season Samplers (all TW. Well, I started and completed one more, so there are only two left. Winter was my last finish for the year, and you can see it here. 

Now, time to think about the new starts and progressions for 2013!!

November Wipocalypse Update

Well, I didn't completely keep my promises from last month. I did complete the two most recent sections of the Papillon Mystery Sampler. Below is the most recent installment.





This is the mystery sampler to date:

Also, I made substantial progress on TW's Miniature Winter Sampler (below). As you can see, I have only a little left to do on this before it is finished!! That tableau with the skaters? That is all 1 over 1.

The pictures are a little washed out, so you can't see how fabulous this is with all the beading and metallics. Hopefully I will have a better picture next month, but it was rather gusty and cold outside so I couldn't take my pictures out there to get that great daylight.

October Wipocalypse Update

So I started a new piece! It's one I've been meaning to start for a while: TW's "Miniature Winter Sampler". I stitched the Miniature Autumn Sampler which you can see here. I'm still waiting on my LNS to get in Kreinik, and I still have to add most of the beads. This has been really enjoyable to work though. I plan on completing all four samplers, and they work up pretty fast.




Also, I'm continuing my work on Papillon Creations' 24-part Mystery Sampler "Around the World in 80 Stitches", which most recent installment I just started this weekend.

Also, my husband had some surgery during the last month, so I picked up TW's Noah's Ark Sampler for the first time in... well... about 8 years I guess. A few months ago I frogged out a major section, and have made some steady progress since, as that was my travelling project for the trips to the ER. He is on the mend though. Yay! I suspect I will have these both finished by the next update.

September Wipocalypse Update

Today we have a few updates! First off, my progress is up to date with the latest segment release of "Around the World in 80 Stitches" by Papillon Creations. I love working this! It goes be so fast, and I am always a little sad when I am done stitching that installment.



This is an up close of the latest section. I am actually doing all of the hardanger/cutwork as I go along. It's so much fun!

Also, I am still making steady progress on my Celtic Banner by MLI/Butternut Road. I thought it would take a lot longer to work than it actually is taking me, but I find myself tiring of it quickly these days (mostly when I get to the border).

I hope to have some new starts soon. I have the pattern printed out for TW's Miniature Winter Sampler, as well as the Tracery Ornaments, so we will see!

August Wipocalypse Update #2, and some baking

This has been a busy few weeks for me!

First up, I continued my progress on Celtic Banner (MLI/Butternut Road):

 Secondly, I won the Traveling "Tribal Penguin" pattern from Annette's Acre! I started and finished this in just a few days, and stitched it on PTP's "Meditation". If you want to be the next home for the traveling pattern, post in the comments below...

And lastly, I FINALLY started Around the World in 80 Stitches, the new SAL by Papillon Creations:

I also got Jacques Pepin's new Cookbook "Essential Pepin" and made the Chocolate Paris-Brest cake from it. It is a delicious Pate-a-Choux dough, stuffed with Chocolate Pastry Cream, and topped with Whipped Cream. It is shaped as a bicycle wheel, to commemorate the annual Tour de France from Paris to Brest. It may look complicated but it definitely is not! Here is a picture:

Lastly, here is a picture of me and one of my little dogs. It's a terrible picture of my in my pajamas, but isn't he just adorable? We love to cuddle. :-D

AGAIN - if you want to win the traveling tribal penguin pattern, post to the comments of this blog by Midnight on Monday (Labor Day).

August Wipocalypse Update

Since our last update, I've had another big WIP finish, which you can see here. Now I am back to working on Celtic Banner, which I am really enjoying working on. I've also dragged out my TW Noah's Ark (after much frogging) (in this post), and am determined to work on it this month, but I'm too happy with where I am at the moment. That may change once I have to get back to the borders on CB. LOL...



 

July Wipocalypse Update

First off, I had a big WIP finish a few weeks ago, which I have posted here (Mirabilia's Stargazer). I was so pleased to be done with it, and there was so little to do that it is a wonder that I did not just finish it when I had the chance.
Next up is my progress on "Time Well Spent" by Sampler Cove. At this time I have put this project down, as I need a change of pace. I'm starting to feel the burn out on this one, so best to just come back to it. I have worked on this piece without interruptions since February.



Lastly, this is my focus piece for now: MLI's Angel of the Morning. I hope to work on this through to its completion. I think that most of it is done at this point. I have to finish up the right purple side (which is where I am right now), and then the 1x1 head, the 2x2 halo, and then the embellishments and BS-ing. I am stitching this on 32 count "Galaxy" by Crossed Wing Collections.

 

June Wipocalypse

 

So, just another month of "Time Well Spent" by Sampler Cove, which I've been enjoying so much that I don't want to put it down. Also, I subbed out the half of the grapes that were supposed to be stitched in detached buttonhole, but as I have decided I detest the stitch, I continued on with the Rhodes Stitch instead. It makes it look more like grapes anyway. :-)

I've also been meaning to start Papillon Creations' "Around the World" so maybe you will see a start for that this month.

May Wipocalypse

This month I only focused on one piece -- Sampler Cove's "Time Well Spent" I really have been enjoying this one. The big floral band was very time consuming, as you might expect, butit was worth it. I wound up picking up a copy of Darleen O'Steen's "The Proper Stitch" which has been handy if I get caught up in one of the specialty stitches. I will probably continue to focus on this piece through the end of the month again, so who knows where it will be by then!
 

April Wipocalypse Update

My goals as stated in the March Wipocalypse Update were to start two pieces in particular. Here are my updates on those:

First, my work on Sampler Cove's Time Well Spent:

 

Next, I also began Butternut Road's/MLI's Celtic Banner:

And then I returned to work on Papillon Creation's 24 part mystery sampler "Castles in the Sky", where I am currently working on the floral and blackwork gate at the bottom:

In April, Papillon Creations is releasing another new 24-part mystery sampler, so I will definitely be signing up for it again. I have so enjoyed her pieces, and can't wait for this one to start!

March Wipocalypse Update

If you have been following along, I had a Happy Dance for "Far Away" by Shepherd's Bush since the last Wipocalypse Update.

I've also furthered my progress on "My Daughter" by Indigo Rose. Frankly, I am a little bored of this one at the moment, so I will likely set it aside for a while until it strikes my fancy again. I do still have 9 months to finish, right? :-)


I also continued work on one of my long time WIPS, "Plight of Fancy" by Long Dog Samplers. I am in the bottom third of this pattern, and this picture certainly doesn't do justice to its size! Nevertheless, I have really enjoyed working on this along the way. The only thing that has me slowing down on it at present is working on the section with the "boxers" because there are SO many floss changes in that section! I have its sister sampler St. Hipployte, which I think I will start once this one is finished, whenever that is.

In the meanwhile, I plan to start working on MLI/Butternut Road's Celtic Banner, and also Sampler Cove's "Time Well Spent" within the next month. These have both been calling to me. I know that doesn't quite kill off my WIPS, but I am still putting work onto existing pieces. I have had a few finishes, and haven't started anything recently that I didn't immediately finish, so I feel justified. And anyway, the moment I start putting rules on my stitching is the moment I stop. :-)

Wipocalypse - February Update

So, within the last month I finished Papillon Creations' "How Does Your Garden Grow", which you can see here.

I also started "My Daugher" by Indigo Rose:



And I started "Far Away" by Shepherd's Bush:

Hopefully I will have more HDs by next Full Moon!

January Wipocalypse Update

For the first update, I've been steadily working on Papillon Creations' "How Does Your Garden Grow". As you can see I am nearly done with it. I thought I would have a happy dance for this update, but thought it best to invest a little "kitchen clean-up time" before proceeding. Darn kitchen chores.

As you can see, I am just about done with this. I am currently working on section 11 out of 12. I've got my mind set to next things work on... and since I've been so diligent about killing my WIPS lately, I think I will treat myself to a few new starts next weekend. After all, it *is* Guilt Free January!

Speaking of which, please discuss... what are your thoughts on scroll frames for stitching? I normally use Q-Snaps, but I am going to start a big sampler that I think will not be well suited for Q Snaps. For that matter, I've been working those Long Dog Samplers, and I just don't like working on such a big Q Snap held in my hand/propped up so I don't have to hold it. Or is there a lap stand that is compatible with Q Snaps (I seem to recall there was?) I LOVE the tension that Q Snaps offer, so whatever I use has to be comparable to that. I'd love your thoughts on this.

WIPOCALYPSE 2012!

As I said before, last year I lost my stitching mojo for a while. I got pretty burned out and bored on beading the Mira piece I was working on, and for some time thereafter did not pick up a needle. I got it back though, and managed to finish a number of smaller pieces throughout the end of the year (I even had one last 2011 finish yesterday while at work).

Measi has organized a WIPOCALYPSE for 2012 for us stitchers to jointly work on reducing our WIPS (aka Works In Progress) which is something I had already come to the conclusion I was going to do because I have a number of pieces so close to finish (including that Mira piece that caused me to lose my mojo). As I was talking with Stasha on FB yesterday I was like... and I want to START this, and I want to start that... and I want to start this, and... well, you get the idea. I NEED to FINISH SOME STUFF TOO!! LOL... 

So my stitching focus will be on:

~Finish Stargazer (just have to finish the beading)

~Continue on Plight of Fancy (Long Dog Samplers)

~Continue work on Angel of the Morning, and if possible finish it (MLI)

~Continue work Fairy Moon (Mirabilia)

~Continue work on How Does Your Garden Grow (Papillon Creations)

~Continue work on Castles in the Sky (Papillon Creations)

~Start Time Well Spent (Sampler Cove)

~Start Celtic Banner (MLI)

~Start (and finish) Far Away (Shepherd's Bush)

~Start (and finish) the daughter sampler that I can't think of the name of right now

~Start (and finish) some of the millenium SB ornament series for gifts from the JCS Ornie issues (my goal is to stitch the whole series over time for Christmas gifts)
~Start the three other Miniature Season Samplers (all TW)

I may add to this list as time goes on, as far as WIPS (I have a few others but not sure if I want to work on them this year). However, I won't start anything beyond what's on this list. And, per the WIPOCALYPSE I will post here on Full Moons with status updates which are:

January 9
February 7
March 8
April 6
May 5
June 4
July 3
August 1
August 31
September 29
October 29
November 28
December 28

Happy Stitching New Year!