January WIPocalypse Intro

Introduce yourself, your projects, and any goals you have for the year!

Hi, I'm Suz, I'm a lab animal science professional (that's right - my circus, my monkeys - all of it/them, though I prefer rats) located on the Mid-Atlantic Seaboard, but I'm originally from CA or TX (depending on how you look at it).  I've been stitching for more than 25 years, and took a multi year break when I moved here.  Now I just never have any time to do all the things I'd like to do.

Right now I'm mostly stitching/quilting, but I also have a house I work on quite a bit, a dog I adore, a pretty awesome partner, and a lot of political activism stuff going on.   My other big hobby (non-crafting) is board gaming, so you'll see a few board gaming review posts after I go to big conventions (Jan/Sept).  I haven't been gaming as much as I used to, because I moved to a new area with a lot less gamers (boohoo).  I also read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy.   I'm a pretty rounded geek ;)   I'm on Facebook rarely now, but I like to Instagram a fair amount (@suzemo)

My WIPocalypse line up and posts only take actual current (as of Jan 1) WIPs into consideration.  Nothing started during 2018 will count.   I'm going to mix things up this year by adding in some non-stitching works, and adding in some projects that involve already-completed works that I'd like to finish all together.

I'm actually proud that I didn't end 2017 with any new WIPs, though I did add some to the list that are projects/sewing.

As always, progress can generally be seen on the WIPs/UFOs tab.

Here they are, cross stitch listed from oldest to youngest with a bit of info about relevant (ie: I hope/want/plan to stitch on them) pieces with bold = high priority, italics = extremely low priority:

1. Fantasy Sampler - this is my oldest WIP, and I'd like to finish this off, actually.  I made a fair amount of progress in 2016, but when I got to the bottom I realize I hadn't finished off the border, so I switched to something more fun.  It should be fairly easy to finish off (as far as TW can be considered "easy").   I wanted to work on it in 2017, but Freshwater Pearls started screaming - and I do use the screaming rotation.
2. Enchanter - I have no plans to work on this one, honestly.  It's pretty much last on my "TW WIP" list.
3. Freshwater Pearls - this puppy got a whole lotta love in 2017, and I don't see why 2018 can't see her off.
4. Celestial Dragon - I've been feeling the itch to get back to this one, we'll see how it goes.  I doubt it will go at all, though.
5. Fortunate Traveler - again, not high on the list; but higher than poor Enchanter.
6. Chinese Dragon - we'll see how I feel about this one, it's on aida (eek)
7. BoInk - I'd really like to make progress on this, but again, we'll see.   I've not made a whole lot of progress in a while, and honestly, these blocks seem really slow for  me.
8. Deco Spirits - ? maybe?  I love this piece, and working on it is easy, but I have "slots" for my WIPs and as soon as I finish this one, a new Mira will take its spot.  Since I'm more (currently) driven to reduce WIPS, that kind of takes the allure away.
9. Epic RR - I think I've finally figured out what I would like to do for my band, I could conceivably knock this one out in a couple of weeks.
   This RR went completely sideways for me, and I had to change plans, which slowed me down so this is high on the list.
10. Desert Sunsets - this will be finished in January, come hell or high water;  I'll be seeing a friend I want to give the patterns to, and I'm seeing her in Mid-Jan.
    
11. Hearts Across America - this is an addition I made even though there's nothing truly WIP-py about it.   I have three hearts finished (California, Arizona, Texas) for three of the four states I've lived in.  I need to do North Carolina, and then I plan on finishing them into mini-wall hangings that hang off of each other.  If I move again, I can always add on another heart - I have all of the patterns to make them.  Anyway, I'd like to get this out of the mental "to do" list at the very minimum.
12. Blooming 9patch Quilt - this is a higher priority than Allietare; I want my Miller bag back.
13. Allietere Mystery Quilt (Bonnie Hunter from 2015) - only a priority in that I'd like to try another Quilt mystery and I'm not allowing myself to do that until this is done, BUT I did pick up a couple of quilt kits and I'd like to move them out of the way, too.

As always, the goal is to get down to less than 6 WIPs (cross stitching). I don't do as much sewing, so I'd like to keep it to one sewing project at a time, but we'll see how that works out (all contingent on me finishing up the active quilt-WIPs I've got)

I have a few non-WIPocalypse things planned for this year, but not many.  I still need to make a 2016 biscornu (have pattern!) for my 2016 orts, and of course now I need a 2017 one as well.   I should just get these knocked out and out of my way.

I have numerous other things already kitted, and I have a number of adopted projects if I manage to actually get down to my personally allotted 6 WIP slot plan.  I can always dream.   I've even updated my rotation plan in the sidebar, so it looks like I'm ready to go!  Of course, I need to reconcile my desire to get something done in a couple of weeks with the Darkening of Tristram event going on this month with Diablo3, my lack of self control can be amazing for that ;)

January WIPocalypse - 2017 version!

Welcome to the first WIPocalypse post of 2017!
WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi, at her blog, and is really quite fun.

The first prompt is, of course:

Introduce yourself, your projects, and any goals you have for the year!
Me?
I'm a 40 year old woman living in North Carolina (for the moment, I've been interviewing all over the country, but: I will not move to the Gulf Coast, to the deeper South, or too far North where it's too cold).  I am a laboratory animal professional and I love what I do.   I currently live with my partner and my poochel in a wonderful community that I am super sad to have to leave (but you know, ambition).   I love stitching, table-top board gaming, video gaming, and other fun little hobbies that get in the way of my cross stitching ;) ).

Here are my current WIPocalypse projects, with their start years:

1. Epic RR - 2014
2. Deco Spirits - 2014
3. Desert Sunsets - 2015 
4. Stained Glass Zelda - 2015
5. BoInk - 2008
6. Fantasy Sampler - 1999 
7. Freshwater Pearls - 2002
8. Fortunate Traveler - 2005
9. Celestial Dragon - 2002
10. Enchanter - 2002
11. Chinese Dragon - 2008

As you can see, some of these projects are getting, what we might call long in the tooth.   Part of that was that I was very active on the TWBB for a while and the TW projects were all ambitiously started at that time, and the rest of it was because I went through a stitching slump from 2008 through 2014 or so.    In theory, my goals are to bring down the average age of my WIPS as much as possible by stitching on the oldest stuff first, but in practice, my WIPocalypse goals are to get as many WIPs done as possible, I'd like to get a rotation down to 6 pieces (I have a spreadsheet that I've assigned future works to their slots, even!).

Pictures of my WIPs are here at my WIP page, I keep it updated (more or less), particularly when doing any SAL posts.   I plan on taking part in other bloggers' SALs as they hold them, and #TWOctober.  Fantasy Sampler has got to be done this year, and hopefully some good progress on Celestial Dragon.

Only WIPS as of January 1, 2017 will count for WIPocalypse, anything else is just extra.  Wonderful, yes, but WIPocalypse, no.  So you won't see any projects listed on those check in posts, though I think I've been pretty good about keeping my blog updated (even if I have a little lapse now and again, life gets busy y'all).

I will have a duplicate post for WIPocalypse that I'll use to keep progress updated.   It gets cross posted to the WIPocalypse tab.

Tapestry update and plans, so many plans...

First off - here's where I stand with Tapestry!  I think I'm about 70% done.

July 28, 2016

Next?  Well, we're half way through the year, and I realized I've done a lot.  But I want to do MOAR!!! I don't know if it's really all that possible, but I'm gonna try.  And dream big, right?

So here's what I'd like to accomplish for the rest of the year, or is basically my rotation:

• Egyptian Sampler - Finish it!
• Fantasy Sampler - Finish it!
• Freshwater Pearls - PROGRESS!
• Deco Spirits - PROGRESS!  At least one more panel.

My work rotation (because I'm just going to stitch in my free time at work, when I can, assuming I don't get a new job, which I'm hoping for):

• Triforce of BadAssery - Finish it!  (this is something I'm stitching for a friend and his birthday isn't so far off)
• Desert Sunsets - Finish them!
• Biltmore - Start *and* Finish it!  (I need to find fabric for it, I'm not using the aida from the kit)

I am giving myself full permission to DROP ALL THAT SHIT in December (or maybe over the Turkey Day holidays).
Why you say?  Because for the holidays I wanna have fun, which means:

• Stitching ALL of the Just Nan mice that I have not done.
• Stitch the new Game of Thrones pattern I just bought (it's cute, and very simple). 

I can always go back to whatever I have on hand, or just play in my stash should I manage to finish those early.  

I get two days off for Christmas, so I should get a bunch done unless I'm engaging in obligations with the SO's family.
I don't waste vacation time over Christmas because I'm "essential" and my family is too far away to make a short trip worthwhile, and while I'm at it,  let me get a little rant out:
I'm a little cranky that the University is engaging in what I consider shenanigans.  We have four of five days (between Christmas and NY) as paid holidays, but due to the nature of our work, we will be working two of those (I don't mind, I get what's called "Equal Time Off" and I'd rather use that for vacation I choose).   The fifth day, the university is "closed" and *all* non-essential university employees aren't allowed to be here, but people must use their own vacation, which I think is unfair.   "Hey, you're not allowed to be here, but you have to use your own vacay not to be" is uncool.   Me?  I have to be here.  Doing very little, but hey, a warm body must be here in case of emergencies (which have happened) and my coworker will be out - she does a charity thing, and I honestly don't mind, so it's a perfect pairing.  So there's my little rant:  I'm sorry non essentials, that you get dicked over, and only by the grace of a boxed checked somewhere on my employment form do I get to be here and get paid without wasting leave, *and* get to hang out during a couple of holiday days for some free vacation time.  Yay.

That digression aside:

January 1, I'm going to start Namaste, and I'll try to stitch straight through that (I might consider alternating motifs and Deco Spirits panels).  And then I'll revisit goals and rotations.  Hopefully I will have made progress on the above.

I have plans for the new year, but I want to clean out more WIPS.  And I purchased a bit from the PTP sale, luckily those fabrics are for bucket list/future things like Amphitrite by Mirabilia (well, they call her Aphrodite, but they're wrong).

New Year, New Post!

I'm just the worst at keeping up on things lately.  But I have promised myself that I've had my unorganized self pity time, and it would a wonderful Idea if I started to get my proverbial shit together and act like an actual adult.

I started stitching with a bang and then things fell apart in March when I went through HR shenanigans with my job.   Ironically?  Coincidentally?  Schadenfreudally? The higher up who put me through hell has been AWOL.   Not that there's any official word, but I can say (for certain) that this person's mugshot is out on ye olde interwebz, so that guy hasn't been around.  But that's all I'll say about that (or it will turn into a 5 page missive).  But in any event, I never really hit my stride again after letting myself get totally derailed (I should have been able to "right" myself in July, but never bothered - oops!).

On the upside, we (I'd say royal we, but it did involve the help of a lot of friends) did put in new flooring throughout the first floor, enlarge the coat closet from 31" wide to 6" wide, painted the hallways, painted/re-floored/re-did the guest bedroom ("LadyCave"), and built a queen sized Murphy bed, so I didn't exactly do nothing this past year ;)

But here are my Resolutions for this year (we'll see how well that works)

• Finish my certification (January).
  It's one exam, I should have had it done months ago ;)
• Enroll in an emergency management certification class/program
  I've been talking about it for far too long
• Read at least one book from my dead tree shelf/month.
  I want to go all mostly (I've saved my favorites) digital and put a dent in my physical Mt. TBR
• Declutter - I have a timeline/list.
  It should honestly not take that long and is more of a spring/winter cleaning thing.   This has been spurred by me having entirely too many kitchen gadgets/equipment (I got an Instant pot!  I can get rid of so much now!)
  I honestly did start decluttering some stuff (like in the garage, bedrooms, etc), but I stalled out on my piles of things to be donated/trashed/shipped.  I just need to finish up and part of my monthly/biweekly timeline is actually getting the crap out of the house that I finished with.
• Stitching - I want to get back to something regular.
  I have a planner now so I can actually get reminders to do things like check into WIPocalypse and/or any other bloggity good things.  I've even put little stickers on all of the dates I know I should blog!
  I even updated my WIPocalypse/goals for 2016!
• Quilting -
  I am working my way through the Allietare mystery at Quiltville.
  I'd like to finish that quilt and my bloomin' 9patch from the quilt class I was taking in March.
  I want to take a free-motion quilting class, although these two quilts will probably be straight quilted at home.
• Genealogy Do Over.
  Thomas MacEntee's Do-Over is really cool, and it changed how I'm doing things now that I'm starting over with my genealogy, but the 16 week program is just too fast.  For 2016 he is doing each topic Monthly instead of Weekly, which is just awesome, I think, and I have the work book as well.   My goal is to join the DAR this year, so I'm concentrating on my paternal grandfather's lines.   After I finish with what I know/have on hand, I will work on further verification and then my mother's lines, which came from Poland around the turn of the century.

I don't think these goals are crazy, I feel like they're totally do-able and leaving plenty of space for live and non-stressing (most of them could probably be knocked out in a couple of months if I rushed it).  I'm super excited about my new planner, because I think that having something with me to remind me what I'm up to is going to be key to success.  I find myself too easily distracted, and I know that once I start something I generally stick to it.   It's just a matter of reminding myself that tonight is the night I quilt or stitch or genealogy or something and I shouldn't pick up a videogame to get myself lost it (no worries, I'm leaving plenty of time for gaming!  I got a PS4 for Christmas (username Suzemo if anyone wants a friend - I don't know anyone on the Playstation Network) and I've been playing the heck out of Diablo III, but I also got some PS3 games for Xmas to play as well ;)

I have two positions with my professional organizations that I will endeavor to be good at.  One of them should be a cake walk, the other should be a bigger deal (one is a three year and the other is a two year appt).  So hopefully I'll grow professionally as well as personally.  At least that's the plan.

And just for fun - this is what I bought myself for Christmas (from Pretty Pretty on Etsy)

And this is my Instant Pot's first meal - Beef Ribs, and they were freakin' delicious (I've also cooked a crockpot/slow cooker chicken meal and steamed artichokes, just to play with the other functions)

Turtle Trot - January

It's the 10th!   It's my first Turtle Trot, yay!
I have not have stitched a lick since my last post.  I'm in the middle of working a 10 day stretch and then running out to a mini-vacation, so I've literally had very little free time, and I spent all of last weekend playing a video game instead of stitching (I know, I know!).

I feel guilty for ignoring FS (but only a little).

I tend to be pretty busy - working full time (sometimes with these 10-12 day stretches, and I'm salaried, so I don't even get an extra $ bump for it!), and I have standing plans on Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri evenings that tend to cut into things a bit.  Oh well.

Of course, since I haven't been crafting, I've been thinking of crafting, and with that, have signed up for a quilting class :)

I'm hoping that I might stitch a little tomorrow, though :)  (If I can stay away from the PS3 ;) )

I've created a page just for Turtle Trot (I am a bit obsessed with creating pages right now), and I will hopefully keep that up to date, but I thought I would go ahead and list everything here, with maybe a bit of story for each.   It'll be my first official post, so I thought I'd have fun with it.

I decided to have a mix of UFO/WIPs/New Starts, and the WIPs/UFOs are also part of my WIPocalypse list.

1. Mirabilia Thanksgiving Fairy - New Start
   When the LE Fairies first came out, I bought each and every one.  I did Christmas, Valentines, and the Easter fairy pretty quickly, but then Halloween and New Years languished and I finally finished them last year, leaving this as my last LE fairy.
   When I initially purchased Thanksgiving, I did not like her at all, which is weird (to me), because when I pulled out the kit recently, I couldn't imagine why I didn't like her.   I think my least favorite is Miss Valentines, which I didn't particularly love when I stitched her, either, though I certainly don't dislike her.   I'm weird.    But Thanksgiving is pretty straight forward and I don't anticipate taking too long to stitch her ;)


2. Fantasy Sampler - UFO
   I've talked about this a lot.  It's even in the "race" I meant to start on the 5th.   Since the goal is to finish this piece and not necessarily be first, I figured it was OK to wait.  I will probably work on this on MLK day when I will theoretically be a bum all day (barring a yoga class, if the studio is open, and a scheduled massage, and my ability to stay off of the PS3 ;) )
   I started this piece in my studio apartment in November of 1999.  I would really, really like to finish it before it can legally drive.


3. Deco Spirits - WIP
   Also in WIPocalypse, I am visiting friends next year with an awesome framer, and you bet your buttons I want this one done.
   Hilariously, I bought this pattern around the time it was originally released and years later got rid of it in a great de-stashing event.   I then (well, recently) saw pictures of it (my stitch pr0n) and needed it.   As soon as this piece is finished, I'll put Red Lady Pirate or Red in my Mirabilia rotation slot ;)


4. BoInk - WIP
   Another WIPocalypse.  I actually finished the frame around the time Tracey was releasing the parts, and then stalled.  I think the little blocks will be my palate cleansers between other designs.


5. Egyptian Sampler - UFO
   Yup, the other TW I want to finish this year :)   This piece is further proof that I cannot center on fabric to save my life.  I'm not thrilled with the fabric I chose for this, but it's OK.   I just need to get to it.  I'm not a big Egyptian-things fan, but I do like this design.


6. Steampunk Sea Serpent - New Start
   I saw this SamSarah design on Tracey Horner's (of Ink Circles fame) blog and instantly fell in love.  It came out at St. Charles market (I think?)   And I have the whole design kitted up.  I'm looking forward to it, and it might be one of the designs I take on my mini-vacation this/next week.


7. Desert Sunset & Desert Sunset II (ok, technically 2, but they're small) - New Starts
   I saw these Fireside Originals charts back when I was in college at Austin.   I would take the shuttle to Ginger's and shop there.   I have already stitched Desert Sunrise (on aida) and I will be stitching these guys on linen.   The fabric is a comparable count, to the aida I used for Sunrise, so I they should all be the same size.  I couldn't find a perfect color match for the aida they call for (which is the same aida color of the original).  Normally I'm not such a stickler, but I was trying to keep the continuity with the three pieces.  I'd like to frame and hang them together, as a reminder of when I lived in Tucson (I loved it, and there's a very big part of me that's always wanted to move back to Arizona).   I'm still happy with what I've got.   I might be taking these guys with me on my mini vacay, too (though I should make a working copy of the design, since I'm apparently giving these to a friend :P ).   They each come with some unnamed specialty over-dye (probably dyed for this piece?).  I'm hoping not to use it all up so the recipient can try to match it.


8. Just Nan Gingerbread Angel Mouse - New Start
   I have all three Gingerbread mice to stitch, and I'm going to try to get them all done. These are such short little stitches, I can't imagine not being able to pull them all off on a good weekend.  Miss Witchy Mouse is living in my antique cabinet, and she is surely feeling lonely.
   I work with rats and mice for a living, so I'm a sucker for them in any form, actual constructed little stitchy mice are just too cute for me to resist (someday I'll find/purchase the Minerva's Mouse pattern)


9. Freshwater Pearls - UFO
   I have such a love/hate with this piece.
   Once upon a time, DMC offered it for free - you could mail DMC for a copy or actually just pick it up as a free project at Michaels (probably other craft stores, too).  It's really pretty, or at least I really think so.   It is also rather large, and it was designed for either counted cross or canvas.    I started it when I lived in So. Texas and pretty much lived at the beach, so I had a big nautical/beachy themed life.   And so it's not as motivating for me to stitch anymore, as I'm not there any more.
   I do wish I had picked a smaller count fabric, or (and this is probably more true) - stitched it over one.   I think it would be a knockout on a 25ct over one, but I gotten too far into it to want to abandon it, and if I do abandon it, I will not pick it up again.  However, I do like the piece and am determined to finish it.   I look at the picture of the UFO and try to plan my attack on it, so I can get it done.  All whole stitches, no blending, very little confetti, it's just a matter of getting it on the snaps.  I should also add that I'm stitching it on a linen, and I think I would enjoy it more if it were on a thicker evenweave.  The fabric seems to fine for the full stitching, with a fair amount of slippage, so I go a bit slower... eh.  I'll get there.  I do really want to get it done (if I were in a UFORR, this would probably be the piece I shipped out - hah )


10. Ferret Knot - WIP
    We all know and love this one.  I keep intending on putting it down, and I keep picking it back up, because it's fun, cute, and super easy.   I need to pick up a new skein of dark brown (I lost the one I had originally gotten for it), but that shouldn't be a problem.  I'll do that soon, and I still have all of the other skeins I need for the rest of the design.

I guess if I thought about it, the list would be daunting, but I really enjoy overlapping SALs to try to give me more opportunities/motivations to stitch on some pieces that are languishing.

I'm definitely looking forward to finishing this abominable stretch of work so I can get to my small vacation.  I look forward to stitching and hanging out with friends.   I would even be excited about stitching on the plane, but I know for a fact that I'll be 100% unconscious by the time it take takes off.

And just for giggles - because we're talking about Turtle trot, here's story/picture time - Once upon a time I lived in So. Tex and did a lot of conservation volunteerwork.   One of the things I did was go to Rancho Nuevo, which is a beach in Mexico where female Kemps Ridley sea turtles do the vast majority of their nesting.    For a few days (especially during arribadas and the subsequent hatching times for these arribadas), they would need extra volunteers to go and help.  That meant living at a camp (no running water, no electricity, you drove into Mexico for a few hours and then 4x4ed for a few hours) on/near the beach and working really, really hard, routinely more than 24 hours at a stretch as there was so much to do, both in the day and night time.  People monitored the beaches for nesting turtles, we would make sure they were unmolested, then dig up the nest and transplant them, monitor those, help baby sea turtles when they were hatching and help with release (and making little sea turtle nurseries to help those along that prematurely hatched).  You have no idea how bad baby sea turtles and their nests stink.  Neither did I, and I spent a week at a hot beach in July in Mexico with a lot of people and without bathing for days, I knew stink.  So here, enjoy some baby sea turtles, it was one of many fun adventures I've had.   I was told that the final tally for this season (2007) was over 1 million baby sea turtles released (their survival rate in the wild is, sadly, incredibly low, but we did our best)

Singular baby sea turtle	The cuteness of them fighting the waves and tides.	Babies during one of the daytime releases.
Babies hatched a bit prematurely in their nursery bin	Nests we had moved in various states	Sun & wind burnt, sand scrubbed and very smelly, but having fun, even if I had been up for more than 24 hours straight.

 So that is my utterly different turtle story.

I look forward to trotting with others on our stitching ways.

WIPocalypse January: And so it begins.

Topic: Introduce yourself, your projects, and any goals you have for the year!

I'll go ahead and give a full introduction, because maybe I'll have a visitor or two who doesn't know me at all.   I'm Suz, Suzy, Suze, or Suzemo (my usual username).   I've been stitching since 1992, which means more than half of my life.   I like french knots.

In 2008/9 I moved to North Carolina (I say 2008/2009 because I left TX at the end of 2008, but didn't arrive until Jan 1).  And stopped stitching.    I just picked it back up last year  and now I have a lot of VERY, VERY old WIPs I'd like to finish off.   I did a significant de-stashing when I moved a couple of times, and luckily(?) I feel like I have a stash that is manageable without being overwhelming, but I can't let go of old UFOs.  Yes, my pretties, you will all be done someday.

I work full time, I have other time-consuming hobbies (mostly yoga and board-gaming, though I go on video game spurts as well), so I'm limited in my stitching time, though I try to do as much as I can.

I am using WIPocalypse to whittle down my WIPs that existed before I joined for the first time in 2014, so they're the only ones that "qualify" in my mind, most of them are more than 10 years old :)

Here's the list of what I have, and my goals towards them:

1. Egyptian Sampler (TW) - Done
2. Fantasy Sampler (TW) - Done (subject of a January-spring SAL "race")
3. Fortunate Traveller (TW) - nope
4. Enchanter (TW) - Progress? (I keep looking at this one, it whispers to me in the night ;) )
5. Celestial Dragon (TW) - nope
6. Ferret Knot (White Willow) - Progress or Done
7. Phoenix (Dracolair)
8. Freshwater Pearls (DMC) - Added to the Turtle Trot, even if it's just one length of thread.
9. Chinese Dragon (Pinn) - haha, nope.
10. Book of Ink Circles (IC) - Progress or Done
11. DecoSpirits - Done

I want to get down to a 6 WIPs, each in a themed slot, 5 of those slots are represented here.  It's not happening this year, not with that many TWs (or my raging case of start-itis), but I'd like to at least get it down a bit!

Coincidentally, the January 5 full moon date is also the start of my "Race to Spring" SAL.

Here are the rules:

 January 5 - 2015 you have to pick up a UFO (unfinished object/wip) that you have not worked on in at least 6 months. You have to finish it by March 20 2015 (the first day of spring). So make sure that the piece you pick is not so large that you could not finish, and not so small that it would be unfair towards the other participants. As usual there will be a winner who I will choose using the random number generator. The winner will get a goody bag filled with stitchy stuff. You HAVE TO finish your chosen piece in order to be entered in the give away. I hope this will be an incentive to some of you who have been struggling with finishing a piece. Once we start, please post progress photos on this event page for all of us to admire.  Hope you love this challenge. Good Luck and Happy Stitching!!

So why am I talking about this SAL/Race, you ask? Well, it does dovetail nicely with WIPocalypse, so I am choosing Fantasy Sampler to "enter" into the race.  I  thought about Egyptian Sampler, but FS is calling to me more right now.   I can't wait to see how far I can get on it.  I'll start at the top right corner, the lion motif, and work my way down, doing the vine, then finishing the vine and border at the bottom, doing the two motifs next, and then finishing the central box.   There's a lot to do, but I'm hoping that this spurs me into finishing.    I don't care about the stitchy stuff prize as much as I do the finish.

This puppy is 15!  I'd like to finish it before it's old enough to drive.

The only other large TW I've finished was thanks to a race I was participating in.  

Coincidence?  

I think not.

And here we go....

Next year's goals?

Inspired by Measi's post, I was thinking of all of the pieces I'd like to work on in the coming year.   And, of course, I have utterly unrealistic wish-goals.  But let's just roll with it, shall we?

I want to whittle down my WIP list.  I'd like to (theoretically) get down to about 6 WIP slots (or so, some day), and I have the "slots" themed - like TW/Mirabilia/Misc large/etc...   I don't expect to get to 6 WIPs super quickly, so it's not a stressor or anything, but I would like to make some progress towards that goal.

Progress on a non-TW would be nice, I've been thinking Phoenix or Freshwater Pearls

And here are a few other future projects that I'm keeping in mind (but I think I'm going  to try to go with a "2 WIPs Must be completed before adding a new WIP rule).

Except of course, there's the CloudsFactory mystery and my RR I'm involved with.

I really, really really really, want to try surface embroidery.   I can stitch, I can canvas work, I probably would take to it relatively quickly, and I am utterly entranced with the Secret Garden Hummingbird project.  And I'm afraid I'm a weak, weak woman and I will succumb to the siren hummingbird song.

Which will probably snowball into a record fit of start-itis, because the book that the project comes from has so many beautiful patterns/drawings.

I have my Mirabilias lined up in order as soon as I finish Deco (I don't count the Fairies against my Mira-slottish-ness because they're so fast)

I have kitted up Chatelaine's Old World Vineyard, which I purchased as part of her piggybank sale (and kitted using EuropeanCrossStitch's 10% off sales for the beads and ABCStitches 20% off BlackFriday sale for threads).  I just need fabric for that and it's good to go.

I also bought a kit I found on Ebay, Joan Thomasson's "Happily Ever After"    I've been wanting her "Russian Fairy Tales" something fierce (it was a class kit, I've googled and keep googling, looking for people who are selling their kits - partially finished or not), and I also "need" Magic Nesting Dolls)

I'm itching to start either of those two, but I think the only way I can justify it in my head is to finish two or three WIPS first.

So WIPs that should be finished:

• Fantasy Sampler
• Egyptian Sampler
• BoInk 
• Deco Spirits
• Ferret Knot

WIPS with progress

• Freshwater Pearls
• Phoenix

New starts I'd like to get to:

• Silver Moon Tea
• Red
• Secret Garden
• Old World Vineyard
• Happily Ever After
• Crossed Wing Hummers (have fabric for most, mostly kitted)
• Wee Beasties
• SamSarah's Steampunk Sea Serpent
• Desert Sunset 
• Desert Sunset II
• Biltmore
• Behold the Field in Which I Grow My F-cks
• Just Nan Christmas Mice (3)
• Thanksgiving Fairy
• Lily of the Valley pixie fairy
• Christmas Ornaments (Mirabilia)
• Stained Glass Zelda (sprite stitch)

And just to prove I'm not completely insane -
Things I have no intentions to work on (they can wait til 2015 *or* I might dig them out for YOTA weekends):

• Celestial Dragon
• Chinese Dragon
• Enchanter
• Fortunate Traveler

So clearly, I will work on my 11 or 12 big WIPs *and* do all of the extra things *and* work on my RR, right?  RIGHT?   I don't need sleep either, right?  Or a job?  haha.

State of the WIPs - 2014

I decided to do a "baseline" post about where the WIPs are at, as I'm starting out.

I've got the new Deco Spirits and Halloween Fairy updates already up, but what about everything else that's been languishing?

Well - here's a rundown, some dates are approximate - I had a lot of WIP pics on Webshots, but that photo hosting site got rid of personal accounts a while ago :)

Stitching Goals and Whotnot for 2007

I time-travelled my way back into early 2006 to look at my stitching goals:

Goals for this year:
1. Monthly Minis

Current Rotation: (goals for 2006 finish in green):
1. Celestial Dragon (TW)
2. Water Dragon
3. Emerald Mermaid
4. Phoenix
5. Freshwater Pearls
6. Fortunate Traveller
7. Fantasy Sampler
8. Egyptian Sampler
9. Lily pond Dreams
10. Celestial Dragon (pinn)
11. Enchanter

I need to finish:

A small Chatelaine started at a class in Houston (done before I even posted my goals!)

A canvaswork from Children's Art Project

As a potential "to do" list - it's up in the air, but here are some things yelling at me...

I'd like to clear out a bunch of projects that are hanging out... I have 12 boxes for my rotation, and I'm actually "working" on more than that, and I'd like to get actual (not just "official") WIPS down to 10. Call me wacky.

I'm also hoping to work on a couple of pieces I got as RAKs or gifts. Namely: Poseidon, and Ouroborus.

oh, and add to that list, I want to get some small Terry - Dimples designs done (they never take me long) and *FRAMED* for the dining room. Also, I have everything I need for Shiraz Sampler from Dinky Dyes. I switched the color and bought some gorgeous linen to go with it. I hope that one isn't too bad either.

Oh right... add the Fairy Roses Mirabilia, or whichever one it was that looked butterfly like...

So see? I don't expect much at all. Oh no. Definitely not much *heh* Oh right, I forgot about the TWRR.... yeah, that too (ok that I know I'll stitch - deadlines and obligations and all)

---

So here's what I actually got done:

I am *this* close to finishing the Monthly Minis. They actually got stalled because of a lack of floss in the correct colours. So I have two partial blocks left (Nov and Dec, though I did start both) and then I'm free and clear on that one.

I finished the Shiraz Sampler

I finished my Canvas Bunny

I finished the Wedding Egg from PawPrintings for some friends but haven't sent it to them (because I'm a rotten human being)

I finished "When Life Hands you Lemons" that Margaret gifted me as a housewarming thing.

I finished a round of the TW round robin. I am currently debating what to do next. I think it'll depend on how big my finished piece will be (with a little bit of finishing stitching - if it fits nicely into a pre-made frame, I'll probably just go ahead and do that instead of sending it out for another round - we'll see)

I've entered a UFO-RR with Lily Pond Dreams. It was stalled - there are no two ways about that one, and I had to do something.

And I finished Christmas Fairy Elf by Mirabilia. Started and finished this season, because hey, she was nice and small. The hand-dyes also make it easier. Mmmm, blocks of color.

In other crafty news:
I finished three blankets. One knitted for a baby (still undelivered - the blanket, not the baby), a throw (for Xmess) and another baby blanket that was donated (to the dog. Hush).
I also finished a shawl or two (for Xmess, though not given yet) and a bunch of scarves (orange & white, x2, for me and a friend; a bunch of them for work people).
Let's not forget the FSM hat or FSM Christmas Ornament.
Oh and I did knit out a nice little cap to keep my ears warm, and a scarf in camo (hunting! whee!)

Now, as for the new goals, here are two lists - one is WIPS, and one is Kits (since I don't kit, that means gifts, and I really want to progress there).

WIPS:

1. Celestial Dragon (TW)
2. Water Dragon
3. Emerald Mermaid
4. Phoenix
5. Freshwater Pearls
6. Fortunate Traveller
7. Fantasy Sampler
8. Egyptian Sampler
9. Lily pond Dreams - out in the UFORR
10. Celestial Dragon (pinn)
11. Enchanter
12. Monthly Minis
13. Textile Heritage Fairytale Bookmark
14. Luna Moth
15. Wee Beasties RR (I need to finish my moth and do the border)
16. TWRR (the border and do my band)

Kits I'd like to start:

• Easter Egg Fairy Elf Whatever
• Ouroborus
• Angel of Morning
• Poseidon/Neptune

Goals:

• Finish Monthly Minis
• Finish off the RRs
• Finish Luna Moth
• Finish Bookmark
• Finish at least one UFO (LPD or WD)
• Birth sampler for my cousin's baby (upside: she's already named it, so I could conceivably get everything but the date of birth done on time, of course, that's assuming I finish with the computer design, name, etc. etc., and actually get it stitched)
• Make some sort of dent in at least a couple of the others. I think I'm going to start a rotation for real.

The MAIN goal is: A reduction of number of outstanding WIPS.
Secondary goals:

• Clean the craft room,
• finish entering in patterns into database,
• get rid of excess patterns.

2006 Stitching...

So here was last year's stitching goals...

Goals for this year:

1. Monthly Rotation of JCS Ornie Mags

2. Monthly Minis

Current Rotation: (goals for 2005 finish in red, bonus in blue):

1. Celestial Dragon (TW)

2. Water Dragon

3. Fish Days (x2)

4. Emerald Mermaid

5. Phoenix

6. Freshwater Pearls

7. Fortunate Traveller

8. Fantasy Sampler

9. Egyptian Sampler

10. Lily pond Dreams

11. Celestial Dragon (pinn)

12. Enchanter

Possible Starts (pending Nashville and all the rest of that)?
Shimmering Mermaid
The Minstrel
LTD Garden
Woodland Forest Angel
Stocking for DH's Godson?

That didn't work out so well, eh? The ONLY thing I got done was Fish Days.

I stopped stitching sometime around March, I think. Oops.

So I got nothing done. I did start a few things, I did work on a couple of things Kinda sorta. I did a bit of beading and a bit of knitting, but that's about it (I totally forgot to take pictures of two HD's for Christmas - scarves I worked on).

So let's give ourselves another mind numbingly impossible goal again :) It's fun!!

Goals for this year:
1. Monthly Minis

Current Rotation: (goals for 2006 finish in green):
1. Celestial Dragon (TW)
2. Water Dragon
3. Emerald Mermaid
4. Phoenix
5. Freshwater Pearls
6. Fortunate Traveller
7. Fantasy Sampler
8. Egyptian Sampler
9. Lily pond Dreams
10. Celestial Dragon (pinn)
11. Enchanter

I need to finish:

A small Chatelaine started at a class in Houston (done before I even posted my goals!)

A canvaswork from Children's Art Project

As a potential "to do" list - it's up in the air, but here are some things yelling at me...

I'd like to clear out a bunch of projects that are hanging out... I have 12 boxes for my rotation, and I'm actually "working" on more than that, and I'd like to get actual (not just "official") WIPS down to 10. Call me wacky.

I'm also hoping to work on a couple of pieces I got as RAKs or gifts. Namely: Poseidon, and Ouroborous.

oh, and add to that list, I want to get some small Terry - Dimples designs done (they never take me long) and *FRAMED* for the dining room. Also, I have everything I need for Shiraz Sampler from Dinky Dyes. I switched the color and bought some gorgeous linen to go with it. I hope that one isn't too bad either.

Oh right... add the Fairy Roses Mirabilia, or whichever one it was that looked butterfly like...

So see? I don't expect much at all. Oh no. Definitely not much *heh* Oh right, I forgot about the TWRR.... yeah, that too (ok that I know I'll stitch - deadlines and obligations and all)