1. Complete part one and part two of Deep Blue Sea, and work on part three.  No – but I did make some progress
2. Put 10 hours of stitching into Floral Bellpull Yes! :) 
3. Put 10 hours of stitching into Why I Love New England  No.  Didn’t even touch it.
4. Catch up on TAST stitching.  No (and have likely given up on it due to falling so far behind).
5. Finish my Mirabilia RR  No – but did get some hours in on it.
6. Stitch on one other piece (for commutes)  Yes!  And got a finish!

Deep Blue Sea (Chatelaine) – I want to get this as close to up to date as possible. I’m just about done with part one. I also want to get through parts two (and at least part of three). More than that and actually be caught up? Gravy.

Didn’t do this. I did get a good amount of work done on it, but then had a bit of a catastrophe that put it on hold for the rest of the month (more on that in my WIPocalypse recap). I’m still on part one.

Floral Bellpull (Wentzler) – As my primary TW project for the year, I just want to push this forward so I can have a finish by the end of the year. Goals for this month would just involve getting as many stitches as I can into block 5.

I did get some work done on it. Will be continuing in May.

Why I Love New England (Sampler Needlework) – No real goals here. I’d just like to put some stitches in it.

Nope.  As mentioned above,  I didn’t even touch it.  :(

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I’ve been doing some thinking about my stitching for April.  I didn’t set myself any goals for March, and I think that kept me a bit unfocused.  Theme-a-licious completely bombed for me – and WIPocalypse wasn’t too far behind.   I’m hoping with a (reasonable) plan, I feel better about my progress this month and maybe get a couple of finishes.

The Theme-a-licious theme for April is “Amazon April” – a month to push forward on your largest WIPs.  Me?  Large projects?  Hmm… in theory, I could just merge March and April together as one theme, considering what I have going in my stash!  But I need to keep this sane, so I’m instead going to pick three big projects for work this month:

• Deep Blue Sea (Chatelaine) – I want to get this as close to up to date as possible.  I’m just about done with part one.  I also want to get through parts two (and at least part of three). More than that and actually be caught up?  Gravy.
• Floral Bellpull (Wentzler) – As my primary TW project for the year, I just want to push this forward so I can have a finish by the end of the year.  Goals for this month would just involve getting as many stitches as I can into block 5.
• Why I Love New England (Sampler Needlework) – No real goals here.  I’d just like to put some stitches in it.

My general goals for the month will be:

1. Complete part one and part two of Deep Blue Sea, and work on part three.
2. Put 10 hours of stitching into Floral Bellpull.
3. Put 10 hours of stitching into Why I Love New England
4. Catch up on TAST stitching.
5. Finish my Mirabilia RR
6. Stitch on one other piece (for commutes)

I’m hoping for a good month.  I don’t think these are unreasonable goals.  If I make them all, I’m definitely going to be feeling good and on top of things.

I’m off to get my weekend cleaning finished up and the corned beef in the pot.  Hopefully I can settle down with some stitching for most of the day!

Happy weekend, everyone!

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Since today’s the last day of January, it’s time to recap my progress for Theme-a-licious’s January “Jardin January” theme.  I didn’t get anything done beyond what I did last week for IHSW, but still… I made good progress on Floral Bellpull.  I’m happy, although the backstitching is still looming at me.  But hey, it’s a Wentzler piece.  There will ALWAYS be backstitching to do!

I loosely could include my start of Fox Run Mill and Why I Love New England as Jardin January starts too, I suppose, as I was working on borders that incorporated flowers/acorns/etc.  But WILNE isn’t at a floral point… yet.

But still – a good month, particularly since I didn’t set any concrete goals beyond stitching!

So of course, with January coming to a close, it’s time for me to plan the next month.

On Saturday, I mentally went through the events on my calendar for the next four weeks and realizing it may be one of the wackiest, busiest set schedules I’ve had in quite some time where there isn’t a wedding of some sort involved.  I spent part of the weekend organizing my Google calendar, and I think I have everything in order.  Thank goodness for Google calendar, BTW – sharing calendars between Erich and myself is a godsend, even if he probably doesn’t want to see every farking stitching event I have going.  :)

Anyway, part of that organization is figuring out what I’ll be stitching this month.  I have a long weekend with Presidents’ Day, two days (minimum) of jury duty, a stitch-in at my LNS, a Superbowl involving the home team, the Beanpot hockey tournament with my collegiate alma mater, a dungeons & dragons game, and oh – another stitchy retreat at the end of it to celebrate the first weekend in March.

And it’s a short month.  o.O

The theme for Theme-a-Licious is “Fangirl February,” where you stitch on at least one piece by your favorite designer (if you can’t send a Valentine).  That will be influencing my rotation and goals for the month.  Once again, Floral Bellpull will make an appearance since it’s the one TW I really, REALLY want to get done this year. I’m also going to pull out Legends of the Dragons for a little while.

Here are my goals for February:

1. Finish part one of Deep Blue Sea (exception: any missing colors still on backorder)
2. Finish border for next square of Floral Bellpull
3. Scissor fob for Stitchers Hideaway exchange
4. Work on BoInk
5. Work on Legends of the Dragons
6. Put stitches in on one other WIP (any piece)

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For November, I wanted to…

• Complete Rachel’s Mira RR and mail by the end of the month (woo hoo!)  Nope – it’s underway, however, and about 50% done.
• Complete and mail personal exchange ornaments   One done and mailed.  Never even started the others I had planned.
• Stitch three family ornaments (not necessarily finish them, though)  Nope – not even started.
• Check through WIPocalypse pieces to make sure they still remain kitted correctly Nope.  At this point, I expect to be doing this on New Year’s Eve!
• Get the check-in spreadsheet together for the WIPocalypse  Nope.

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Anyway – a few days of stitching on Witches Wheel did me good, and I’m back in the zone on my Mirabilia RR stitching.  Not done yet, but I should be by the end of the weekend, and then I’ll update with a photo.

Since it’s a new month, it’s time for me to revisit my goals for last month & post my new ones.  I’m very happy with what I did in September:

• Finish my part of Sophia’s piece for the Mira RR & mail on time  - Done – but was mailed a week late.
• Complete 2 motifs on the surprise piece I’m stitching with Lisa - No. Did work on it, but not finished yet.
• Finalize personal rotation - Done for now (this always changes anyway)
• Get a spreadsheet together for the WIPocalypse participants to track responses. - No. Excel and I will become close this weekend.
• Work 10 hours on Floral Bellpull - Done!
• Work 10 hours on Witches Wheel - Done!
• Buy the JCS Halloween book - Done!
• Have my square (star?) partially done for Melanie’s Mira RR piece by end of month. - Yes.  It’s underway.

The signup has been tremendous so far.  I’m a few days behind adding people to the list.  If you don’t see your name there, don’t worry – I’ll get it up within the next couple of days.  The list is now long enough that I’m going to transfer most of the information to its own labeled page tabbed on the top of my blog, along with FAQ information and whatnot.  The signup page will remain the same – no link changes, etc., but I’m just going to clean it up a little bit.

A few people have been having trouble with my comments section, and they’ve dropped me an email to sign up.  Please do so if you’re having trouble.  Everything is checking out as working with my comments – BUT… it’s the internet and computers.  Glitches happen.  Software disagreements happen.  Toss me an email at measiwitch(at)gmail.com, and I’ll be happy to get you added.  :)  And please, don’t be intimidated if you’re a newer stitcher, or if you’re worried about how your work matches up to others.  Seriously – does. not. apply. here.  Share, enjoy, and learn from others.

A couple stitchers have asked me if there’s any plans for other communication with the SAL members during the year.  I hadn’t honestly made any but I’m open to suggestions if there’s enough interest. A couple thoughts off the top of my head…

• Mailing list via yahoogroups
• Facebook group
• Message board (I can host one here, or I could go through Yuku).

Let me know if it’s something that interests you, and if it does – which method you prefer (or if you have another suggestion).

Off to work with me!  Have a good day everyone!

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I have a ton of blogs to pop by and read, between the SAL signups and responses from my T13 yesterday.  I expect tomorrow morning’s coffee time will be a nice, relaxing roam around the internet.  A good way to start the long weekend, I think!

So with September here, it’s time for me to revisit my monthly stitching goals, and make new ones for the upcoming month.  I think I did quite well in August, actually…

For August, I wanted to…

• Finish my Mira RR square for Andie and mail off on time. – Done!
• Finish Arthenice’s piece for the 2010 RR and mail home - - Done!
• Finish my hours on Rachel’s piece for the 2011 RR and mail to Blu. – Hours are done – mailing today.  :)
• Have my Mira RR square for Sophia’s piece at least partially done by the beginning of Sept. – Done!
• Get a few hours in on the surprise piece I’m stitching with Lisa – Did not do, sadly.
• Update the Rhode Island Stitchers blog  - Done!

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My TUSAL jar continues to fill nicely.  It’s very lofty in there, but the threads are now touching the bottom of the neck of the jar now.  It’s a mix of different colors from the recent robins, as has been the case so far this year.  The robins start wrapping up for me this month, though, so my own projects will start peeking through starting in September.  :)  You may notice a huge hunk of green in the TUSAL jar.  That would be due to Noby, the Bobbin Stalker.  Noby looooves bobbins and shreds them.  This green skein never stood a chance – he managed to swipe it when it was still in its DMC wrapper right out of the shopping bag when I took a break from winding to grab a pop from the fridge.  *sigh*

I’ve spent the past week insane from some work unexpected (things are fine, just busy) and the Mira RR, which I’m due to send out tomorrow.  I’ll be fine to get it out on time, although I’m a bit frustrated this round.  The squares for Andie’s piece are 50×50.  I apparently failed at math when I sketched my borders to pull my excerpt out of Circle of Friends, and counted it at 50 w by only 40 h.  So she looks a whole lot more centered on my drawn square than she does in the stitched one.  I was really, really pissed off about it yesterday when I discovered it – I was almost done with my crosses, and only noticed once I was putting the falling rose on near her head because it was blatantly NOT near the top corner as my sketched borders indicated.  But with only essentially five to seven hours of stitching time until I had to mail, there just is no way to frog out ALL of my stitches and redo.  I made a little adjustment with the rose that’s falling near her head and moved it up a few squares to balance the empty space, and I’m adding the beads back in that were cut off above her head by my borders, and I think she’ll be okay.  If Andie’s not happy, though, I’ll be happy to frog and redo the square once everyone else has a crack at theirs.  I tried emailing her yesterday about it, but the email bounced.  I’ll try a Yuku PM later today.

Still, it was so deflating yesterday.  She looks very pretty, but I’m just annoyed, thanks to the screaming inner perfectionist.  I can’t believe I fail at math.  And the kicker – I counted this thing three times!  I have the erasing marks to prove it on my chart!

Ugh.

Anyway…

I didn’t make any goals for July, since I knew I was utterly, utterly screwed for time in stitching.  The robins had backed up due to illness and insanity, and I had no idea how they were going to go.  August, though, is looking much better.

For August, I want to…

1. Finish my Mira RR square for Andie and mail off on time.
2. Finish Arthenice’s piece for the 2010 RR and mail home
3. Finish my hours on Rachel’s piece for the 2011 RR and mail to Blu.
4. Have my Mira RR square for Sophia’s piece at least partially done by the beginning of Sept.
5. Get a few hours in on the surprise piece I’m stitching with Lisa
6. Update the Rhode Island Stitchers blog

I’m looking forward to the start of stitching my own pieces next month.  I really am.  And next month I’m going to get the page together for the 2012 WIPocalypse, I think – so the word can start spreading far and wide as early as possible.  :)  I’m thinking there is some giveaway potential with it (much as Daffycat’s doing with the TUSAL this year), and I’ve been chatting with some fellow stitchers on Google + about it, and I think I have an actual plan.

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For May, I wanted to:

1. Finish Kathy’s Mirabilia square - Done!
2. Stitch five hours on Floral Bellpull -  Didn’t even touch it.
3. Stitch five hours on BoInk - Done!
4. Finish and mail the Folk Egg and gifties to Line - Done!
5. Put at least 10 hours into each UFO RR - Done!
6. Put five hours into the “Super Sekrit Stitch” project. -  Didn’t even touch it.

For June, I’d like to…

1. Finish my hours on Linda’s RR piece
2. Finish Susan’s Mira RR square
3. Stitch five hours on Floral Bellpull
4. Stitch five hours on BoInk
5. Finish one of the little squares on the “Super Sekrit Stitch” project

As always, I set my goals probably a bit higher than I should.  But I think that just keeps me motivated, even if I do a little bitching along the way.

There’s another RR I’ll receive in June (Linda’s piece for the other RR), but it’s not due to get mailed until after the 4th of July weekend.  I imagine I may be holding it until then to stitch at this point.

Tomorrow is looking like a fun-filled day.  I’m heading up to Bush Mountain Stitchery with Hera after we get our nails done.  I need to get supplies for my Mira RR square.  She needs some fabric for a new project (which Bush Mountain has a ton of to choose from).  I’ll be attempting to not spend too much money on other things while I’m there – it’s a huge challenge!  Erich may or may not join us.  I’m hoping he does – partially to keep me out of trouble, but partially because I think he’ll enjoy the back road drive through Massachusetts.  It’s a decently long trip for us – about two hours each way.

And then tomorrow night – hockey!  Hopefully the Bruins will tie the series up.  I’ll be working on BoInk during the game, since it doesn’t require color changes.  :)

Happy Friday, all!

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• It’s time for the Totally Useless Stitch-a-Long update.  I had it in my calendar to post yesterday, but between the wild weather we had in New England yesterday (including confirmed tornados in western Massachusetts) and the Stanley Cup game (go Bruins!), I got a bit distracted.
• Erich and I started the updating process for two more rooms in our house over the weekend- our bedroom and the bathroom.  So story time about that adventure (and some helpful tips for others with old houses) will come this weekend
• Updates on the round robin stitching front
• Another Caturday post on Saturday.  :)  Any specific cat requests?
• Some gardening updates
• Warhammer painting updates
• Monthly stitching goals – my updates and my new goals for June
• Wanderlust drive musings.  It’s summer, which means I start wandering back roads in New England.

I finally got the Google Friend Connect working on my blog (hooray!) so all of you Blogger folks who prefer to follow that way (honestly, I do too… Google Reader is glorious) –  I’m up and running.  Let me know if there are any problems.  You should see it on my sidebar just above the Project: Do Me graphic link.

Today’s entry, though, is for the Thursday Thirteen.  A few weeks ago, I made a semi-joking, but semi-serious post about declaring 2012 my WIP apocalypse year.  (for those non-crafters, WIP stands for “Works in Progress”).  I’m a chronic serial starter with my stitching.  I love beginning new projects.  I love the journey of stitching projects.  But I’m not particularly good at finishing projects.  So now I have a glut of them.  I’m starting to get the itch to really get through them, too.  So what started as a joke is now really going to happen.  2012 will be my project clearing year.  :)  Any crafty folks (regardless of what you do) who want to join me and use it as a sort of Stitch-a-Long are most welcome.  I’ll set up a signup/discussion page in October.

For now, my brain is going to the projects I really, really want to finish.  So for this week, here are the Thirteen Projects Riding on the Measi WIP-ocalypse Train.  The links go to the Flickr photo  set I have for the piece.

1.  Apache Wedding Blessing – this is a gift for my friends Ivanna and Joe for their wedding, which um… happened several years ago.  Thankfully Ivanna’s a fellow crafty person and understands how these projects can go into a black hole.  But all the same, it’s annoying me.  Right now I have this out on a round robin to give it some extra oomph, and it does actually look like it’s going to get finished before the end of 2011.

2.  Witchy Washy – It’s so damn cute.   I want this done and framed on the door to my laundry room.

3.  Floral Bellpull – I’ve had this for years, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.  I just need to focus on it.

4.  Legends of the Dragons – I started this as part of a stitch-a-long in the beginning of 2010, and it just started to fall off my radar as I got into robin stitching.  It’s not a particuarly big piece, and definitely doable to finish.  Again – I just need to focus on it.’

5.  Cats on a Staircase – Right now, this is my longest running WIP.  It’s a Christmas stocking.  I think I’ve had it going for ten years now.

6.  Witches Wheel - I adore this piece.  I have a ton of energy to work on this piece.  I simply have too many commitments with the robin to stitch on it right now.

7.  Walk in the Woods – This is the second of the WIPs I inherited from my late mother in law.  The first I finished last year.  This one will get done next year.  It’s not a particularly difficult piece to stitch – but again, it’s just been a time commitment issue.

8.  Astrology Sampler – for YEARS I wanted to start this piece, and when I do – I’ve barely gotten anything done.  It’s not a particularly large piece.  It’s just stitched on black fabric, which makes it a bit more difficult to work on.

9.  Elemental Dragons – Two of the five are done (Fire and Spirit).  I have three more dragons to do (Earth, Water and Air).  I’ll take getting one done next year, but getting all three done so I can frame the project would be wonderful.

10.  Magical Night – I sent this out on a robin in 2010, and the wonderful stitchers who worked on it made tremendous progress.  It’s now about half done.  I don’t expect to finish this in 2012, but I’d like to make a good dent on what’s left.

11.  Egyptian Sampler – I adore this piece and the fabric I chose to stitch it on.  I don’t get why I struggle so badly to stitch on it, because I absolutely love it.  Hopefully in 2012 I can get into a zone and finish a good chunk of it.

12.  Noah’s Ark – this is a piece I adopted from another stitcher.  I haven’t done a particularly large amount of work on it since I got it, but I’d like to get some more of the animals around the border done.  The problem is that they’re done in petit point, so the work is so tiny and intricate that it goes very, very slowly.  My goal for 2012 on this one is to get one of the remaining side borders (left, top, right) done.

13.  Book of Ink Circles – I don’t have a photo of my WIP uploaded yet, as it was a new start in May (one of my other entries for this weekend to do).  It’s my first attempt at recoloring a design from someone else.  It’s a fabulous piece when completed, though.

Thanks for stopping by!  I’ll be catching up on blogs this weekend between my own writing.  :)

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