WIPocalypse Check In - January 2017

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

WIPocalypse is run by Melissa over at Measi's Musings and is now in it's 6th year (amazing!).  The object of the WIPocalypse is to stitch on projects that you want to complete before the end of the world! 

At the beginning of January I picked out 17 WIPocalypse projects to work on in 2017 but I am going to make a slight change to my list.... (hope that is in the rules!)

1.   Prancer (Nora Corbett) - started 3 Jan 2015
2.   Comet (Nora Corbett) - started 5 Jan 2015
3.   Queen Anne's Lace (Nora Corbett) - started 3 April 2016
4.   Queen of Peace (Nora Corbett) - started 8 May 2016
5.   Zenia (Nora Corbett) - started 22 Oct 2016
6.   Deer and Grapes Mystery SAL (Jean Farish) - started February 2015
7.   Jingles Flip-It Series (Lizzie Kate) - started 12 April 2014
8.   Moutons de Saisons - été (Collection Tra La La) - started 9 Jan 2015
9.   Faces of Joan Elliott SAL (Joan Elliott) - started Sept 2014
10. Snow Story (Lizzie Kate) - started 14 May 2016
11. Dog House Sampler (Little House Needleworks) - started 26 Sept 2016
12. 12 Days of Christmas (Plum Street Samplers) - started 25 Dec 2016
13. Halloween Happiness (Sandra Cozzolino) - started 1 Jan 2017
14. Mini Mandala II - C (Chatelaine) - started 1 Feb 2014
15. Fashionista Cat (Design Works Kit) - started 1 Jun 2015
16. Birdcage (Design Works Kit) - started 1 Feb 2015
17. Halloween Sneak Peek (The Trilogy) - started 7 Jan 2015

I have swapped "Dressmaker's Daughter" for an old mystery SAL project that I started back in February 2015.

So what did I manage to work on during January?

Faces of Joan Elliott SAL (Joan Elliott)

Bit more hair has appeared along with some colour on her dress and the white trim and some of the flowers in the corner.

Deer and Grapes Mystery SAL (Jean Farish)

This is where this project was when I last stitched on it in February 2015!  I have now pulled this out for a 17 A Day challenge on one of the FB groups that I am in (this is a different challenge to my 10 A Day!)

So after the weekend of doing 17 stitches each day this is where it is up to now:

17 stitches are day are going to add up really quickly!

I have also had 2 mini finishes for the month....

12 Days of Christmas (Plum Street Samplers)
First Day of Christmas is now complete!

Halloween Happiness (Sandra Cozzolino)
Mini finish - the moon is done and the witch has been started!

So that's the update bit out of the way.... now onto the question of the month:

What Stitch-a-Longs (SALs) are you participating in this year?
Maybe the better question for me is what SAL aren't I doing?? :o)

So besides the monthly Christmas Ornie and Halloween Ornie blogs, Smalls SAL, WIPocalypse, and Gifted Gorgeousness SAL's I am also doing:

Lakeside Needlecraft / Durene Jones - Fantasy SAL
Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery - Happily Ever After SAL
Ingleside Imaginarium - Birthstone Dragons SAL

The Linen and Threads SAL is on my list to think about... it is a huge design.... maybe too big for me to tackle this year!

Stitch Maynia SALs (check out the FB group for the list.... there are few of them!)
Cross Stitch It's Fun (Froggin House / Stitchwats SALs / Weekly & Monthly Challenges)
10 A Day FB Group  / 17 A Day Stitchin' Station FB Group....

...and the odd FB SAL that pops up in some of the other groups that I am in....

Most of the FB group SAL's are based around themes for the challenges so I am able to generally use existing stitching projects to fit into/shoe horn into these SAL's.

So that's it for January's WIPocalypse update!  Next month's check in is on 26th February 2017.

Til then, happy stitching and good luck with your WIPocalypse projects!
Hugs xx

Smalls Check In January 2017

Well... That's a great way to start off the year... Late with my first check in!

While I achieved quite a bit of stitching in January, I did only manage to finish one small for the month.

Scottie Dog (Mill Hill Kit)
Started: 15 Aug 2016
Finished: 26 Jan 2017

To see everyone's Smalls post for January, pop over to Heather's blog and check out the link up post.

Next Month – The next Smalls SAL check-in will take place on Friday, 24th February.  

See you next month! Happy Smalls stitching

Hugs xx

January New Starts... so far...

I thought I would give you a bit of an update on on my 2017 new starts so far... yes, there are one or two of them already!!

Halloween Happiness - Sandra Cozzolino/Imaginating
This is my year long Halloween Ornie Blog piece.  The plan is to stitch a part of the design each month to tie in with the monthly theme on the blog.

Started: 1 January 2017
Also stitched a bit more on 13 January as it was Friday 13th!

Fabric & threads: 28ct fabric from stash and DMC threads

Dressmaker's Daughter - Nora Corbett
Started: 1 January 2017

Fabric: Colour Cascade Fabrics 32ct Belfast "Golden Touch"
Threads: DMC

Flip Flops - Mill Hill Kit
Started: 8 January 2017

Birthstone Dragons SAL January - Ingleside Imaginarium
Started: 14 January 2017

Fabric: Hand Dyed by Stephanie - 28ct Opal Lugana "Frozen Fractals"
Threads: DMC; border in Petite Treasure Braid PB26

Dog Park - Satsuma Street
Started: 15 January 2017

This is going to be my "Ten A Day" piece.  I am in catch up mode at the moment so I did 25 stitches on my first day.

Stitching: 15th Jan 2017

For those of you that might not know, the "Ten A Day" project is a Facebook Group Challenge where you choose a WIP or new start that has approx 3,650 stitches and stitch 10 stitches on it each day with the aim being at the end of the year you will have a finish.  Of course that doesn't mean you can't do a smaller or larger project - 3,650 is a guide only.....

stitching: 16 Jan - 21 Jan 2017

Above is an updated photo of "Dog Park" after Saturday's stitching,  I am planning to post my weekly progress on the FB group every Sunday.  I love stitching on this project and do find it quite hard to put it down after the planned number of stitches each day!  By the end of the month I will be up to date and then will continue with 10 stitches a day going forward.

I do have one more new start but as it is a gift I will keep that secret for a wee bit longer!

That's it for now... lots of stitching ahead on new starts and WIPs!  This week is check in week for the 2017 Smalls SAL so fingers crossed I will have a finish by Friday!

Til next time, happy stitching... and no frogging!
Hugs xx

News Break!

Quick swing by post to let you know about a couple of wonderful things I have seen recently...

First up is a giveaway :o)
Nancy from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is currently having a Valentine's Day Giveaway.  The giveaway is that one lucky winner will win their choice of either the Red & Cream Collection or the Grandmother's Favourite Quilts Collection.

Pic from Nancy's blog

Pic from Nancy's blog

I have no idea which I would choose if I was lucky enough to be chosen as they are both gorgeous.... and if I was lucky enough to win I already have the perfect chart to use them on.... which I will show you in a second!

So hop on over to Nancy's blog and sign up for the giveaway - remember though you must be a follower of Nancy's blog to join in the fun :o)

Next piece of fun news is.... there is a brand New Mega Free SAL to join....  Linen and Threads Mystery Sampler SAL
Karen and Brendon over at Linen and Threads are hosting this amazing new mystery sampler SAL. It is  huge!  The first month is out and is gorgeous.

Pic from Linen and Threads website

Each month, they will release a new piece of the Mystery Sampler as a free downloadable chart. Link to SAL page on their website is here.

The stitch count of the final design will be 205w x 467h.  They have also created a Facebook Group so that everyone can share their progress.
Link to the FB group is : https://www.facebook.com/groups/linenandthreadsSAL/ 

Now I haven't started this yet... the sheer size is scaring me off a bit but every time I see someone's finish I fall in love with it again...  It is on my list of must start in 2017 - I just need to take a big bite of the courage bullet and start it! ;o)

Now back to my comment above.... wouldn't this look amazing in Nancy's giveaway threads?

So that's it for now... I have a post in the making with a WIP update and new start pics if I ever get back to it!!

Til next time, happy stitching and may the only frog you see be the one right here! :o)

Hugs x

GG 2017 - January Update

Happy GG Day!  Who is looking forward to another wonderful year of stitching on gifts (in whatever form they may take!)?

For my first post I don't have any GG stitching to show you... ;o( but I thought I would show you a wonderful giveaway that I won late last year.  It arrived in my mail box last week from the USA and it was a wonderful way to start the year off!  Who doesn't love happy mail?

Giveaway items (plus my order) from Nifty Needle Nannies

Now don't get too excited... this isn't all the giveaway, but most of it is!  The clay needle minders (owl and bear) as well as the Narrator and unicorn/pony needle minders were my order from Julie (Nifty Needle Nannies).  The giveaway prize was - wait for it...

- Project bag that you can just see at the back (everything is lying on it)
- Double needle minder with the witch and mummy ghost sitting in the middle of the pile
...and....
- Lizzie Kate's "Boo Club" Flip Its!!

Isn't that just the most amazing giveaway prize?  This was only one of a number of major giveaway prizes that she had for the end of the year.  I was stoked to win this one... it was the one that I so wanted to win out of all of the prizes (although I wouldn't have said no to any other the others if I had won them!!) But seriously who wouldn't want to win the Lizzie Kate charts?  More wonderful Halloween stitching to come!  I just need to get organised now and get my fabric and threads sorted so I can start the "Boo Club" :o)

Thanks Julie for the lovely giveaway win... happy dance is still continuing :o)

Til next time, happy stitching, happy stashing and may that pesky frog stay far away!
Hugs xx