Half the year gone! How did that happen?

I can't believe we're halfway through the WIPocalypse already! I have too many WIPs and not enough time. I feel so alone -- NOT! LOL I wanted to share a finish and some progress on a prestitch for a class.

This is the little ort box topper from Handblessings. The stitching is done, and the box is painted. Now I just have to put it together! Doesn't it look so patriotic in the picture?

I wanted to have the box the same color (navy sparkly) as the center. It took some trial and error. FYI, when the bottle says glitter paint, check it out first. The high-end brand I originally purchased was just an emulsion with navy glitter in it. It dried clear with the background (papier mache box) showing through the navy sparkles. Yuck! So I found a wonderful indigo color that matched the center, then finished with a topcoat of the glitter paint. I'm pleased with the result. The finished project will be in my next post.

The prestitch is coming along. The chart was a little hard to decipher two symbols, and I originally started the outlining in the wrong color. A friend also taking the class e-mailed me that there wasn't enough of the 310 to do the outlining and that she was going to alert the designer. That's when she found out 310 was the wrong color! Needless to say, I ripped out the beginning I had made and completed it with the correct color.

My thanks to Sandy W. (who ended up finishing her outlining in the 310) and to Bobbi F. for her willingness to photograph my work.

See you next moon!

Stitch on, sisters!

Techincal Difficulties

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it! Seriously, though, the difficulty was getting my stitching together with a camera. I was stitching all the way through the last post, so I hope I'm not disqualified from the WIPocalypse list! It's not that I don't take posting seriously; it's just that I tend to let other things rule my life: my job, my pets, etc. LOL

I have been working on several pieces at once. I'm striving to do two strands a day on each. And I actually have a finish in the group!

The project on the left is a Bent Creek Zipper from a few years ago. It's perfect for a patriotic challenge that's coming up. I want to finish it at a GIGANTIC pincushion with red.white, and blue cording. The project on the right is a Handblessings Ort Box Top (for the same challenge). It's working up very quickly. All I have to do is paint the box (I've chosen a Martha Stewart Navy Blue Glitter Paint) and glue (ugh!) the finished piece on top.

Here are a few more things I'm working on: clockwise from upper left, Blackbird Designs' Christmas Garden (I'm leading our Guild in this as a SAL), February Cottage by Country Cottage Needleworks (I'm in Vonna's Cottage SAL, and doing quite badly, I must say -- LOL!), and prestitch work for an upcoming Getaway Weekend. The piece is a needlebook designed by Jodi Ferrini. Below is a closeup of the Christmas Garden. I'm just amazed at the range of colors I'm getting out of only FOUR skeins!

One of the newer projects I'm working on is a new teaching design by Ellen Chester/With My Needle. It's called A Lady's Worke Box, and it is stunning! I hope to post my progress on that very soon.

I have to take a moment to thank Bobbi for being my photographer, and to Rose for hostessing a marvelous stitch-in weekend. It is so good to get together with a group of people with the same goal. And the creative stimulation is outstanding. I usually get overwhelmed/fatigued from all the ideas. I have got to find a way to keep those juices flowing -- without falling asleep! LOL

'Til our stitches meet again!

In Under the Wire!

I know... I almost missed this month's post! I was overwhelmed at work and just kept putting it off. I've been working as much as I can on Blackbird Designs' Christmas Garden (I'm leading our Guild's Stitch-A-Long!) What you see here is actually what I had done when I should have posted earlier in the month. The next post will have a more up-to-date picture.

Keep on stitching, sisters!

Third Full Moon and Treading Water

OK, only time for a quick post! I'm close to finishing my prestitching for class this weekend, and I'm still plugging away at the Cottages (just don't have pictures). The bad thing? I keep buying new projects! Guess I'm gonna be taking them with me. Is there an after-WIPocalypse life?

Keep on stitching, sisters!

At Least It's Forward Movement!

For my second WIPocalypse posting, I can actually show a finish! A group of us are going to attempt The Twisted Stitcher's Embroidery Hoop Stitcher's Box and Scissors Keeper in a few weeks. We needed a finished 6-inch stitched piece for the top of the box. I happened to find a kit in my stash that would fit the bill beautifully. It was a Stitchworks heart tin with the completer kit. It only took 2-1/2 days.

I've started my Cottage SAL (also instigated by The Twisted Stitcher!) with the February cottage.

I'm doing it on a smaller count than was called for and only using one strand instead of two.

The other piece in the top picture is the start of prestitching for a class the second weekend of March. Got a way to go on that, but hopefully, I will be posting both of these pieces completed on the next full moon.

Stitch on, sisters!


WyseWoman

WIPocalypse Post 1

Typical! My post is later than it should be. I'm really going to have to kick my procrastinating self to the curb this year! And both my home computer and I have been under the weather lately.

I have sooooo many WIPs, I didn't know where to start (and I know that I'm not alone). I picked three that I could lay my hands on, but as I finish one, I will replace it with another.

To begin, from the top, this is a collection of acorns from several designers. It began as a stitching weekend and has turned into a slight obsession. Some of the items are finished, but my goal is to finish all 12 of the acorns in the tin and line the tin with the gorgeous plaid silk.

Next is the Chocolat etui by Jackie du Plessis of It's Fine-ally Finished. I'm showing the outside of the box (90% stitched) and the kiss pin cushion. The grouping also includes a chocolate rabbit tape measure, a needles book and a scissors fob.

And because I'm a glutton for punishment, I've joined a stitch-along of the Cottage of the Month by Country Cottage Needleworks!

OK, let's get stitching!

Toni