WIPocalypse 2018 - May update

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

The object of the WIPocalypse is to stitch on projects that you want to complete before the end of the world, or the end of the year - whichever might come first! WIPocalypse is run by Melissa over at Measi's Musings and is now in it's 7th year.  

For 2018 I am going to try and work on 18 projects (ie 18 in 2018!).  The full list of my projects can be found on my WIPocalypse 2018 page.

May has been and gone... and this update is very late! What's new for me?  I'm always late!

With Stitch Maynia happening throughout May, I didn't get to touch many of my WIPocalypse projects. In fact, the only project that saw some progress was Lizzie Kate's Boo Club.

Boo Club - Lizzie Kate

Started: 1 January 2018

Fabric: 28ct Lugana (studio session -Wicked Garden) Colour Cascade Fabrics

Threads: DMC & Weeks Dye Works

Both the "Spiders" and "Eek" blocks are now finished!  "Spiders" was finished on 31st May and "Eek" was finished 3rd June.  Technically neither should be on the May update...but there wouldn't be an update if I didn't include them!!  I decided to stitch all of the black spiders rather than add buttons for the ones that were supposed to be buttons - I like them much better that way!

Boo Club is pretty much back on track now (except for the border...)

Question of the month: Where do you love to shop for stash?

Good question.... I generally shop online rather than from a store front.  The main reason for that is that I don't have a local LNS close to me.  I do have a Spotlight  (general craft) store about 10 mins away but they don't have a lot of cross stitch supplies so I don't shop there very often.  We do have a great LNS in Perth called "Stitcher's Corner" but I only get to them about 3 times a year - they do mail order though so that's good!

Online stores I buy from are generally fabric dyers (Colour Cascade Fabrics, Jodyri Designs, Under the Sea Fabrics, Hand Dyed by Stephanie) or my absolute favourite 1-2-3 Stitch!  Colour Cascade Fabrics also has an online store for cross stitch supplies so I often buy charts, DMC etc from Tammy as well as fabric.

I recently started buying from Crazy Annie as I joined their PTP fabric of the month club.  And, there is one more online store that I have just found on FB - JK's Cross Stitching Supplies.

Sorry for the very lame update this month... June will be better!! 😁

That's it for this month - til next time, happy stitching

Stitch Maynia 2018 (Starts 1-7)

Image from Princess Sassy Pants website

It has begun!  The craziness that is Stitch Maynia 2018 is up and running! 

If you have been hearing, or seeing, all the recent references to Stitch Maynia around the social media world, but don't actually know what Stitch Maynia is about.... below is my brief description....

Back in 2015 a group of stitchers decided to give themselves a challenge and do 15 starts in 15 days in the month of May.  Now this sounded like a manic type of thing to do hence the challenge was called "Stitch Mania" with Mania being spelt with a "y" to denote the month of May!  A Facebook group was born out of the original challenge and this year the challenge just seems to have completely exploded!  A link to the Stitch Maynia Facebook Group is linked here.  The group has over 10,000 people in it now and it is just the most fun place to go to see beautiful stitching*** 

This year my Stitch Maynia plan is to try and do 18 starts in 18 days for 2018 and then spend the rest of the month of May focusing on one or two WIPs (that part is still to be decided about!)

So hold onto your hats... take a seat, grab a cuppa and enjoy the show!

Start 1/18 - 1st May 2018
Start #29/2018
Awareness Ribbon Sampler
Ink Circles
Fabric: 32ct Belfast - studio sessions piece / Colour Cascade Fabrics
Thread: Jodyri "Perfect Purple" / DMC
Source: Free chart - 2006 Complimentary Chart Book (Free goodies - Ink Circles website)
Notes:  I am stitching this in purples for Fibro Awareness as a SAL with the Fibro Stitchers FB Group

Start 2/18 - 2nd May 2018
Start #30/2018
American Pie
Mill Hill Kit
Fabric: 14ct perforated paper
Thread: DMC kit threads

Start 3/18 - 3rd May 2018
Start #31/2018
Cookie Bear
Gill Cooper
Fabric: 14ct Aida
Thread: DMC kit threads
Source: Free gift - World of Cross Stitching Magazine Issue #265

Start 4/18 - 5th May 2018
Start #32/2018
Boo Club - Eek
Lizzie Kate
Fabric: 28ct Lugana "Wicked Garden" / Colour Cascade Fabrics
Thread: DMC & WDW, Classic Colourworks as charted

(NB: as you can see I still have the "Spider" block and more border to complete from last month before I can say I am up to date on this one!)

Start 5/18 - 5th May 2018
Start #33/2018
Lesson #1 Summer Schoolhouse Series
With Thy Needle & Thread
Fabric: 28ct Lugana "Mushroom"
Thread: Classic Colourworks/Weeks Dye Works as charted
Notes: stitched 1 over 1 on 28ct

Starts 4 & 5 were both started on Saturday 5th May as we were out on Friday 4th and I didn't end up getting any stitching time in other than 15 mins to stitch a tiny bit more of the spider web on Boo Club so that I could start "Eek".  I then spent way too much time on "Eek" o Saturday afternoon which meant that "Lesson 1" only got a light touch when we got back from dinner on Saturday night.... busy social weekend in our house - for a change!

Start 6/18 - 6th May 2018
Start #34/2018
Forest Snowfall
Country Cottage Needleworks
Fabric: 28ct Opal Brittney "November Rain" 2017 Limited Edition / Jodyri Designs
Thread:  DMC & Classic Colourworks as charted
Other SALs: #pcforestsnowfallsal with Chelsea & Priscilla

Start 7/18 - 7th May 2018
Start #35/2018
Temple View
Maia Kit
Fabric: 18ct Aida (kit fabric)
Thread:  Anchor (kit thread)

I have had this kit (and it's sister kit "Pagoda View") in my stash for quite some time... I even did a post about it when I received it from the UK in 2010!

So that's Week 1 of "Stitch Maynia"  done and dusted.... 11 more starts to come to achieve 100% for this challenge - I am pretty sure that I can manage that 😉  The next phase of the challenge I am combining with another Stitch Maynia group SAL celebrating Katy "The Stash Queen's" birthday, which means I there should, hopefully, be some method to my madness! Or not!! 😁

Til next time, happy Stitch Maynia and happy stitching
Hugs xx



*** Stitch Maynia FB Group Disclaimer... they do allow adult stitching type content so be aware that there is the occasional subversive post in the group! Most of us just scroll on by, or block the poster, if we don't wish to see that sort of stitching.

April 2018 Stitching Update

Image from Princess Sassy Pants website

Look!  I'm on time this month!!  So besides the projects that you have already seen over the last few days, what else did I have in my stitching basket for April? Not much actually... 😉

April Starts: 2 (Holly-Word Art & Aladdin block)

April Finishes: 2 (Ete & Dream Big - as previously shown in my GG post - link is here)

WIP Updates

Reindog - Mill Hill Kit
Started: 12th February 2018

Tulip Time - Just Nan
Started: 4th August 2017
Fabric: 28ct Lugana "Malva" Chromatic Alchemy (gift from Tiff)
Threads: DMC as charted

(I meant to include this one in my GG post for April as the fabric was a gift from Tiff)

"The Bookshelf" - Little House Needleworks
Started: 8th January 2018
Fabric: 28ct Opal Lugana "Gaia" - Under The Sea Fabrics
Threads: DMC as charted

Holly-Word Art - Ursula Michael
Source: World of Cross Stitching (issue 223)
Fabric: 28ct Opal Brittney "Woollen Mittens" Jodyri Designs (Nov 2016 Ltd Edition)
Threads: DMC

Boo Club - Lizzie Kate
Started: 1 January 2018
Fabric: 28ct Lugana (studio session -Wicked Garden) Colour Cascade Fabrics
Threads: DMC & Weeks Dye Works, GAST

Sad face... I didn't quite manage to get the "Spider" block finished last night on Boo Club so I will need to give that some more love on Friday.

The WIPs above have all received some more attention since their previous updates this month so I thought I would show them today... after all we need to have pretties in an update post!! 😃

And last but not least, here's my little bar graph for April....

So that's April done and dusted.... it was a good month for my WIPocalypse projects!

Til next time... happy stitching!

Gifted Gorgeousness April 2018

GG SAL hosted by Jo (Serendipitous Stitching)

Guess what!  I have 2 GG finishes to show you this month! What a surprise......

First up is a GG piece that I have been stitching on for a very long time.... my original post about this gift was way back in 2013, however I didn't start stitching on this particular project until January 2015.

Finish #14/2018
Gift from Kaye (Kitten Stitching)
"Moutons de Saisons - Ete" - Collection Tra La La
Started: 9 January 2015
Finished: 2 April 2018
Fabric: 28ct Cashel "Fairy Forest" Stitches & Spice
Threads: DMC as charted

As you can see from the picture above I didn't have a lot to finish the last time I put it down... so over Easter I made a concerted effort to get that border finished!  I still have the Winter and Autumn ones to do so my Moutons de Saisons will re-appear on the GG posting schedule again one day!

The next finish I have to show you is a more recent start...

Finish #13/2018
Gift from Tiff (Tiffstitches A Blog)
"Dream Big" - Country Cottage Needleworks
Started: 1 May 2017
Finished: 1 April 2018
Fabric: 28ct Brittney "Dawn of Spring" Jodyri Designs
Threads: mix of DMC, Weeks Dye Works & Jodyri Designs

This is another one that I focused on over the Easter break and got finished!  I love the carrot... I stitched that in a Jodyri Designs limited edition thread - it is the same thread that I used for the flowers in the border but looks a little bit different in a large block than in the little flowers.

Are you ready for another mid-month update on Boo Club?

Finish #7, 8 and 11/2018
Giveaway prize from Nifty Needle Nannies 2016
"Boo Club" - Lizzie Kate
Started: 1 January 2018
Fabric: 28ct Lugana "Wicked Garden" Colour Cascade Fabrics
Threads: DMC black & white, all other WDW as per chart

I have now started the Spiders block and the border continues to slowly grow!

That's all for this post.... I will be back again one day soon for more stitchy updates!

Til next time, have a great stitchy week... take care and happy stitching xx

Because I love this picture so much I am going to keep it at the bottom of every GG post.... Miss Mouse is the most loving puppy you could ever have... her love is a gift to us so I think it is quite fitting that she is in my 2018 GG posts!

Jo from Serendipitous Stitching hosts the Gifted Gorgeousness SAL.  The GG SAL is about stitching charts/kits or using fabrics & threads that we have received as gifts, won in giveaways or anything that is intended be a gift or giveaway prize... or anything else that you can loosely use the word "gift" for!!  If you wish to sign up for this SAL, click on link here, or the button on my sidebar and you will be re-directed to Jo's blog.

WIPocalypse 2018 - March update

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

The object of the WIPocalypse is to stitch on projects that you want to complete before the end of the world, or the end of the year - whichever might come first! WIPocalypse is run by Melissa over at Measi's Musings and is now in it's 7th year.  

For 2018 I am going to try and work on 18 projects (ie 18 in 2018!).  The full list of my projects can be found on my WIPocalypse 2018 page.

As I mentioned in my extremely late February update.... I am behind in all of my posting so far this year... so you are going to be a bit inundated with updates today!!!

Onto my March WIPocalypse stitching 😁

Quaker Christmas II (Songs of the Season) - ByGone Stitches

Started: 1 January 2018

Fabric: 28ct evenweave "grey"

Threads: DMC 816 & 895

Boo Club - Lizzie Kate

Started: 1 January 2018

Fabric: 28ct Lugana "studio session -Wicked Garden" Colour Cascade Fabrics

Threads: DMC & Weeks Dye Works

Happily Ever After - Frosted Pumpkin

Fabric: 32ct Belfast "Dark Fantasy" Colour Cascade Fabrics

Threads: DMC, Dinky Dyes, Jodyri Designs

Shimmering Mermaid - Mirabilia (Nora Corbett)

Started: 6 October 2017

Fabric: 32ct Opal Belfast "Oceans" Colour Cascade Fabrics

Threads: as per chart - DMC

Little Sheep Virtues - Little House Needleworks

"Love"

Started: 25 February 2018

Fabric: 32ct Belfast "Sept 2017 Mystery" Colour Cascade Fabrics

Threads: DMC

That's March done... I didn't get anything done on my 12 Days of Christmas during March so I will need to focus on that one during April.  Hopefully I will be able to post on time for April!

That's it for this month - til next time, happy stitching

WIPocalypse 2018 - February update (very late....)

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

The object of the WIPocalypse is to stitch on projects that you want to complete before the end of the world, or the end of the year - whichever might come first! WIPocalypse is run by Melissa over at Measi's Musings and is now in it's 7th year.  

For 2018 I am going to try and work on 18 projects (ie 18 in 2018!).  The full list of my projects can be found on my WIPocalypse 2018 page.

Oh my goodness I am so late with this post.... I had ever intention of posting the pics in March (the wording was practically done!) but my brain has really struggled with working lately and the last thing I feel like doing when I get home from work is typing... sorry 😞😢

So here we go... a quick update on everything I stitched in February that related to my listed WIPocalypse projects....

12 Days of Christmas - Little House Needleworks

Started: 25 December 2017

Fabric: 28ct Brittney Opal "Celebrations" Jodyri Designs

Threads: DMC

Boo Club - Lizzie Kate

Started: 1 January 2018

Fabric: 28ct Lugana "studio session -Wicked Garden" Colour Cascade Fabrics

Threads: DMC & Weeks Dye Works as charted

Henry VIII & his Wives - Cloudsfactory

Started: 6 March 2017

Fabric: 32ct Opal Belfast "Lapis" Under the Sea Fabrics

Threads: DMC

Little Sheep Virtues - Little House Needleworks

"Hope"

Started: 1 January 2018

Finished: 25 February 2018

Fabric: 32ct Belfast "Sept 2017 Mystery" Colour Cascade Fabrics

Threads: DMC

Little Sheep Virtues - Little House Needleworks

"Love"

Started: 25 February 2018

Fabric: 32ct Belfast "Sept 2017 Mystery" Colour Cascade Fabrics

Threads: DMC

Eiffel Quaker - Jardin Prive

Started: 2 September 2017

Fabric: 32ct Belfast "Antique Ivory"

Threads: DMC Black & B5200, Weeks Dye Works Sky, Weeks Dye Works Liberty

Dog Park - Satsuma Street

Started: 15 January 2017

Fabric: 28ct Monaco "Carmel Macchiato" Hand Dyed by Stephanie

Threads: DMC as charted

Right so that is February done.... onto the March update post 👀

Til next time, happy stitching

Gifted Gorgeousness February 2018

GG SAL hosted by Jo (Serendipitous Stitching)

Are you ready for another mid-month update on Boo Club?

Giveaway prize from Nifty Needle Nannies 2016
"Boo Club" - Lizzie Kate
Started: 1 January 2018
Fabric: 28ct Lugana "Wicked Garden" Colour Cascade Fabrics
Threads: DMC black & white, all other WDW as per chart

Ok... yes I know my GG post is late... so late that it is almost time for the March update... but never mind... just for the record here it is!  So this is where "Boo Club" was up to as of 15th February 2018.  I have managed to complete more of the border and finished the next block but I will show you that in my February update post shortly.

I also wanted to share with you another piece of stitching that qualifies for a GG post...

Finish #5/2018
"I am Home" - Hands on Design
Started: 10 February 2018
Finished: 11 February 2018
Fabric: 32ct Belfast "Camofudge" Stitches & Spice
Thread: Jodyri Designs "Maypole Ribbons" (May 2016 Ltd Edition) & "Winter Frost" (March 2017 Ltd Edition) 
Source: 2018 Anniversary Freebie from Hands on Designs Blog

This was the stitching that I shared as part of the Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop on 14th February 2018.  The design is the latest freebie from Hands On Design - link to chart is here.

Because I love this picture so much I am going to keep it at the bottom of every GG post.... Miss Mouse is the most loving puppy you could ever have... her love is a gift to us so I think it is quite fitting that she is in my 2018 GG posts! 

Til next time, have a great stitchy week... and happy stitching

Jo from Serendipitous Stitching hosts the Gifted Gorgeousness SAL.  The GG SAL is about stitching charts/kits or using fabrics & threads that we have received as gifts, won in giveaways or anything that is intended be a gift or giveaway prize... or anything else that you can loosely use the word "gift" for!!  If you wish to sign up for this SAL, click on link here, or the button on my sidebar and you will be re-directed to Jo's blog.