December 2023 WIPocalypse Check-In

Hi everyone!

And here we are… December 31st. Crazy how fast years fly – I swear each one goes faster than the last! I’m not sure whether that’s a good or a bad thing sometimes. I have one last project I want to try to fully finish today before the clock strikes midnight and the Times Square Ball drops. Really, really hoping I can get that one done.

How was your 2023 year, both stitching-wise and everyday life-wise? Did you make good progress on your pieces, or was it just a “meh” year? Either way, celebrate what you did and remember – EVERY. STITCH. COUNTS. Progress is progress, even if it doesn’t look like you’re getting anywhere. Been there, done that. I’ve resorted to photos sometimes to convince myself that I am moving projects along – both in stitching and in my life. Please share your progress so we can all celebrate it!

I know a lot of people have been struggling, and I hope that stitching gave you the escape you needed to slow down and just breathe for a little bit. Here’s hoping that 2024 will be a better year. If you need a cheerleader or a pick-me-up, come sit on the bench by me. 🙂

Next Year Plans (Repeated from Last Month)

WIPocalypse will definitely continue next year with the last Sunday of the month check-in dates. Details for 2024 can be found HERE. The details are also located on the top menu bar of my blog and the announcements below at all times. The highlights for next year include:

  • Questions of the Month will return with different questions for most months.
  • There will be three focus months next year – March, June, and October.
  • Olympics Stitching returns in late July

Happy 2024 to everyone – and may the new year bring you and your loved ones good health and happiness.

Best,
Mel.

*~~*~~*~~*~~

Important SAL Announcements…

Question of the Month: Recap your accomplishments for the year! (Your finishes, your final before/after photos, etc).

Next posting date: January 7, 2024

Topic(s) for next time: Introduce yourself, your projects, and any goals you have for the year!

Need all the basic info about the SAL? GO HERE for all details for 2024!

*~~*~~*~~*~~

Please remember that this stitch-a-long is intended to be fun – so if you’re too busy to post, too busy/ill/etc. to stitch – no worries! Post when you can and share what you have going, even if you’ve only been able to toss a single stitch into it. If you miss a few months, not a problem – just jump back in when you’re back with us! It’s not a race or a competition – we’re all just here to cheer each other on with our progress.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


November 2023 WIPocalypse Check-In

Hi everyone!

As I set this check-in post up, it’s the day after Thanksgiving. After cooking for a good portion of yesterday (it all turned out fantastic!), today is a personal puttering day. I’m catching up on some various blog stuff before I settle down with some absent-minded trash TV and stitch the evening away.

I’m one of those stubborn “the holiday season doesn’t start until Thanksgiving is over” people. Today I’m slowly getting myself into the mood. At some point this weekend lights will go on the bushes outside the house, and the tree will possibly go up if we get some organization done in our living room. My husband would start playing holiday music after Halloween, but I need a clear division between holidays. It does seem like this year just flew by though!

Next Year Plans

WIPocalypse will definitely continue next year with the last Sunday of the month check-in dates. Details for 2024 can be found HERE. The details are also located on the top menu bar of my blog and the announcements below at all times. The highlights for next year include:

  • Questions of the Month will return with different questions for most months.
  • There will be three focus months next year – March, June, and October.
  • Olympics Stitching returns in late July

I hope to see you join in with us next year, whether via your block or via the Facebook group. Please remember that this SAL can be combined with anything you’re doing on other groups. We fully support cross-pollination event participation! 🙂

Time to get a bit more work done… have a lovely holiday season celebrating the festivities that you personally hold most dear!

Best,
Mel.

*~~*~~*~~*~~

Important SAL Announcements…

Question of the Month: What is your favorite way to finish ornaments and/or smalls?

Next posting date: December 31, 2023

Topic(s) for next time: Recap your accomplishments for the year! (Your finishes, your final before/after photos, etc).

Need all the basic info about the SAL? GO HERE for all details for 2024!

*~~*~~*~~*~~

Please remember that this stitch-a-long is intended to be fun – so if you’re too busy to post, too busy/ill/etc. to stitch – no worries! Post when you can and share what you have going, even if you’ve only been able to toss a single stitch into it. If you miss a few months, not a problem – just jump back in when you’re back with us! It’s not a race or a competition – we’re all just here to cheer each other on with our progress.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


October 2023 WIPocalypse Check-In

Hi everyone!

After an absolutely beautiful summer-like stretch of weather this past week, it’s now decidedly autumn with a light rain. The leaves started falling in large amounts the past couple days, even though half of the trees are still quite green. It’s an odd autumn here – although the color has been quite pretty.

Today is definitely one of those Sundays where I’m just puttering in my office, prepping my life and stitch planners for November before I settle down for some stitching this evening. It’s been a bit crazy lately, and I’m looking forward to some time to relax and just let my brain dump out a little to give breathing room next week at the East Hill Farm retreat in New Hampshire.

Quite by accident, autumn is now retreat season for me – mid-October was the inaugural Stitch New England retreat, which was a ton of fun. I’ve never been to Stitch Con or Stitch West, so seeing that many stitchers in one room for the first time was quite the experience! I’m definitely looking forward to the second year next year. 🙂 Stitch-In at the Farm is a veteran retreat for me – this will be my third year. I think it’s become my favorite one just because it is a complete removal from everything – no cell service, no TV, no internet. Just the farm, the mountains, and my stitching among like-minded people. Can’t go wrong! I’m so ready to go!

Next Year Plans

WIPocalypse will definitely continue next year with the last Sunday of the month check-in dates. I’ll be getting all of the details prepared to upload alongside next month’s WIPocalypse check-in. I know several stitchers are already putting their plans together – so for now, mark that final Sunday on your calendars!

I’ll leave off here for this month. I hope you have a lovely November as the holiday season starts to pick up steam.

Happy stitching,
Mel.

*~~*~~*~~*~~

Important SAL Announcements…

Question of the Month: How do you begin planning for the next year with your stitching? Tell us your process.

Next posting date: November 26, 2023

Topic(s) for next time: What is your favorite way to finish ornaments and/or smalls?

Need all the basic info about the SAL?  Go here for all details for 2023!

*~~*~~*~~*~~

Please remember that this stitch-a-long is intended to be fun – so if you’re too busy to post, too busy/ill/etc. to stitch – no worries! Post when you can and share what you have going, even if you’ve only been able to toss a single stitch into it. If you miss a few months, not a problem – just jump back in when you’re back with us! It’s not a race or a competition – we’re all just here to cheer each other on with our progress.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


WIPGO 2023 – Week 38 – Hugs & Kisses

Hugs & Kisses by Blue Ribbon Designs

Hugs & Kisses came into my possession kind of a weird way. It was never mine to finish solo, but it’s going to end up being that way. This one has a little bit of a story…

In 2009-2011, I, along with a few other stitchers, formed a bi-weekly cross stitching gathering at the Warwick Public Library in Warwick, RI. We were a small group, but it was relaxed and friendly… and all seemed good. We went to our first mutual retreat together in 2010 at Stitcher’s Hideaway, went to Celebration of Needlework, and all seemed to be going great.

And then in the autumn of 2011… it fell apart suddenly. I’m still not quite sure what happened, honestly, but it’s many years in the past now. I moved on, had Max, fell into another group of stitchers, and life has moved on.

Before everything fell apart – one of the other stitchers and I had an idea to do a round robin back and forth… just the two of us, and then gift this piece to another stitcher. I provided the fabric – a remainder cut off of my Mirabilia Round Robin from the year before. She provided the floss, converting the called for colors to DMC. She kicked it off, did some of the stitching, and then passed it on to me to work on.

And it’s been with me ever since.

Hugs & Kisses as of September 1, 2023, stitched 2 over 2 on 28 ct unknown Silkweaver cashel linen with DMC recommended substitution.

This is my third Blue Ribbon Designs project, and I have found that I enjoy stitching the frames, then filling them in. My estranged friend did a large amount of the top four squares, and most of the rest has been me. I’m planning on continuing squares from here on, then filling them in once I have all of the frames completed.

I don’t have a specific timeline for this one. Since it will move pretty fast once I get the frames done, maybe I’ll put this on my MAGIC (My Annual Good Intentions Contract) for the Tudor Rose Sampler Guild next year.

Since I’m delayed posting this one, here’s what I accomplished between Go Fish on Semi Sane Stitchers and WIPGO over my retreat weekend at Stitch New England. 🙂

Hugs & Kisses as of October 15, 2023 – stitched 2 over 2 on 28 ct unknown Silkweaver cashel linen with recommended DMC conversion.

WIPGO 2023 – Week 36 – Blessed Be

After I finished Witches Wheel last year, I realized I had no Halloween-themed cross stitch going. How on earth did that happen? It’s my favorite holiday of the year! I quickly resolved that issue by joining the Black Needle Society’s #13StitchesofHalloween stitch-a-long last October, tossing several new Halloween charts into the mix.

Blessed Be by Plum Pudding Needleart

One of the pieces I found that I really loved was this simple little sampler with one of the most common of Pagan phrases, Blessed Be. Cute, autumn-ey, and just easy to stitch. Exactly what I was looking for!

I started it on October 2, 2022. It got a bit of work for the SAL, but then fell into the background as other projects took over my time. It sadly did not get much work on it last year, and it’s been stuck since then. Thankfully WIPGO and the Semi Sane Stitcher game Go Fish should help me get this moving a bit!

Blessed Be as of September 1, 2023 – stitched 1 over 2 on 36 count unknown linen from Fortnight Fabrics with charted threads

I’m using an ornament cut I received in one of my monthly club ships from Fortnight Fabric last year – they sent three cuts perfect for ornaments and super small pieces (9×13 inches… ish) every month. My choice was 36 count linen. It’s a soft neutral with hints of light pumpkin orange in it. Perfect for an autumn piece.

Since I’m doing this post late and backdating it, I’ll show the progress I made thanks to the Semi Sane Stitchers Go Fish game. B was called multiple times. 🙂

Blessed Be as of October 1, 2023 – stitched 1 over 2 on 36 ct linen with charted threads

Much more established now! 🙂 I’d thought to push this one to a finish this year, but I think it will become a goal for 2024. A nice finish to complete before the autumn season!