Hi everyone!

The season is definitely heading toward winter, and I am so ready for cozy nights under my electric blanket on the couch with either stitching or a good book in my hand! I’ve been doing some initial stitching plans for 2025, trying to resist ALL OF THE SALS (omg, so many!), and prepare for the chaos of the holiday season. 🙂

I confess that I haven’t quite finished the About page for WIPocalypse 2025 yet – between a retreat last weekend and some work weirdness, I just haven’t been able to focus on it. But I plan on doing so this Wednesday evening once work is ended for the long holiday weekend. In the meantime, here are the check-in dates for 2025, for those like me who are starting to get info into new year calendars and planners:

• January 5th (Kickoff)
• January 26th
• February 23rd
• March 30th
• April 27th
• May 25th
• Jun 29th
• July 27th
• August 31st
• September 28th
• October 26th
• November 30th
• December 28th

Further details to follow. I will revise this announcement post with an edit in the SAL announcements below once I’ve finished the 2025 page and swap out that 2024 link. 2025 Link has been updated below!

Since I may not see you until late December – may you have joyous celebrations over the next several weeks among all of the beautiful spiritual and secular celebrations that cluster in November and December. Happy stitching, and I’ll see you to close out 2024!

Best,
Melissa

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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: December 29th

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 2025!

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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.

Hi everyone!

Peak color has flashed over here in my area of Rhode Island – we’re now entering the cold evenings that seem to force the trees to drop leaves in earnest. I think two of my trees completely emptied themselves onto the lawn overnight. With the colder weather, my desire to get cozy on the couch with some stitching always returns. I’m looking forward to dark evenings with a quilt on my lap, illuminated by my lamp as I stitch evenings away.

It’s hard to believe there are only a couple months left in the year – the craziness of the holidays are fast approaching, and then 2025 will commence. Madness! 😀

So, since it’s that time of year…

1. Yes, WIPocalypse will continue for another year in 2025
2. I’ll post questions and dates next month for those who are starting to get their plans together for next year. If you’re getting an early start on your planning, assume that the posts will be on the final Sunday of the month as we’ve done the past several years, unless there’s a major holiday on said Sunday (and then I’ll push it to a date that makes sense for my own scheduling mid-week).
3. If you have questions you’d like included in the Questions of the Month, suggestions are always happily welcomed!
4. If you have any stitching challenges or activities that you’d like added to the yearly plan, those suggestions are also very welcomed!

Have a lovely November, and I’ll see you just before Thanksgiving weekend!

Happy Stitching,
Mel.

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Important SAL Announcements…

Question of the Month:  How do you organize your WIPs and stash?

Next posting date: November 24, 2024

Topic(s) for next time: How do you begin planning for the next year with your stitching? Tell us your process.

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.

Hi everyone!

Happy Autumn (or Spring, if you’re on the opposite side of the world)! I hope that the change of seasons is bringing you inspiration of new possibilities, both for stitching and life in general.

It’s been a busy month of change in my household since the last check-in. My son started middle school and is in the final weeks of work before his black belt exam in his martial arts school. We’re all adjusting to the new school schedule, new wake-up times, and new routines. And of course, with autumn coming in, the world is changing again slowly to the beautiful colors that New England is well-known for.

I’m looking forward to my season of cross stitch retreats. Stitch New England is less than a month away, and my trip up to the Farm in New Hampshire follows a month after that. I’m definitely ready for curling up with some stitching to enjoy myself for a little bit and get away from it all!

October One Month Challenge

The final one month challenge for 2024 will be held in October – grab one WIP, and commit to putting in at least one stitch per day on it. It’s simple, takes only a few minutes, and will make some progress on that project you keep avoiding or just need a little extra focus to move it forward. Just like potato chips – generally you can’t just do one stitch! 🙂

I am planning to work on Jade Band Sampler this month for the focus, since I have I Love New England ready for a finish at the Stitch New England retreat. 🙂

Until next time, best wishes with your stitching!

Take care,
Mel.

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Important SAL Announcements…

Question of the Month:  How did you learn to stitch?

Next posting date: October 27, 2024

Topic(s) for next time: How do you organize your WIPs and stash?

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.

Hi everyone!

We’re exactly halfway through the year. Crazy, isn’t it? 2024 has been a good year for me so far, albeit not all that great stitching-wise. It’s one of those years where there’s just a lot of transition going on in my life, so I think my attention is just elsewhere, and that’s fine. I know stitching will return in time.

Max’ finished school this past week’s school year officially ended this past Monday (yes… we go LATE into June here), and it was his final year in elementary school. He’s off to Middle School in September and an exciting, broader world. (The little boy you see at the top of my blog definitely needs an update photo! 🙂 I think he was 4… he’s now 11.)

One big stitching accomplishment for me – I completed logging all of the charts I have in my stash, and did a first round of peeling off charts that I know I will never, ever stitch or duplicates that I had required, likely by rounds at freebie stash tables at retreats. I definitely have more than I could ever stitch in my lifetime – but some of the charts I’m just not ready to give up yet. I have a box of charts I’ll be bringing to Stitch New England to contribute to the table of freebie treasure hunting. I also have a list of stuff I want to start sooner than later – so it’s a win-win all around. 🙂

Olympics Stitching

It’s that time again!! The Summer Olympic Games will be held in Paris starting July 26th and ending August 11th. We have three events you can participate in during the Olympics:

1. Rotation Relay – rotate through as many projects as you can during the Olympics (for those who like to work on a bunch of different pieces)
2. Endurance Race –  stick to ONE piece for the Olympics, and see how far you can push that one piece toward finishing (for those one at a time stitchers, or anyone else who wants to do some serious focusing on a particular piece)
3. Celebrate the Nations –  stitch only in the colors of the Olympic rings on your WIP pieces, OR… your nation’s flag, OR… on some sort of piece that is reflective of where you live, eg. Americana pieces for US residents.

Although I always love doing Rotation Relays for the Olympics, I’m likely doing an Endurance Race this year. I wasn’t able to get the stitching done on I Love New England that I’d hoped in June due to some counting errors that required a bunch of frogging. The ripping is done – so now it’s time to move forward again. What do you think you’ll work on?

Have a lovely July everyone!

Happy Stitching,
Mel.

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Important SAL Announcements…

Question of the Month:  Half-year recap:  How are you doing with your goals so far this year?

Next posting date: July 28, 2024

Topic(s) for next time: Which of your current WIPs do you consider your most difficult piece to stitch?

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.

Hi everyone!

It’s a beautiful long weekend here in Rhode Island. I have kids laughing and running around the backyard, the birds are chirping, my cats are being lazy in their naps, and I’m having a slow-roll day after busy times yesterday at the RI Veterans Cemetery and Plant a Letterbox Day. Things are a bit late today simply because I’m moving slower than normal.

Did you participate in Stitch Maynia? I started out great, and then Mother’s Day weekend, I sprained my right shoulder and really couldn’t find a way to sit comfortably, let alone stitch. So that ended my month. The shoulder is on the mend – still achy but I’ve at least regained my freedom of movement. I’m back to stitching and hope to get into a daily practice this week again.

June is our next One-Month Challenge

 Take one of your WIPs, and do a minimum of one stitch per day, every day for that month.  This challenge is inspired by a 100 Day HAED Challenge via Facebook that I did in 2018.  It worked amazingly well to make great progress.  It’s simple, takes only a few minutes, and will help push along that project you keep avoiding or just need a little extra focus to move forward. No stress, no pressure… just a little each day.

For those of you marking Memorial Day, may your thoughts of loved ones be comforting and happy ones. For everyone else – have a lovely rest of your weekend and a great June of stitching!

Happy Stitching,
Mel.

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Important SAL Announcements…

Question of the Month:  How do you personally distinguish between a Work in Progress (WIP) and an Unfinished Object (UFO)?

Next posting date: June 30, 2024

Topic(s) for next time: Half-year recap:  How are you doing with your goals so far this 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.