WIPocalypse Check-in

It's the last Sunday of the month. That means it's WIPocalypse check in time. This months question is:   What do you listen to while stitching?  

My first option is to go to my LNS the 2nd & 4th Friday of each month and listen to my friends while we enjoy stitch night. While technically this photo is of my birthday "party" last year, these are some of the folks I get to visit with on a regular basis.  

Most evenings though, it depends on my mood. Most nights, I will listen to FlossTube. Some of you may be asking what is  FlossTube?  There are many many many stitchers  who make videos about what they are stitching, what they've purchase/acquired & how they have finished their stitching, & upload them to YouTube.  I have too many favorites to list here and would not want to hurt someones feelings by omitting them in my list.  My best advise if you have not watched is to search FlossTube on YouTube  and pick a few to watch.  If you don't like one, you may find another that is like minded to you that you'll enjoy.  I have learned so much over the years from FlossTubers, so give it a try!

There are other times, where I enjoy stitching while listening to classical music to help me unwind after a particularly long day or relax during a difficult stitch.  

Still other days, I "watch"/listen to movies on the Hallmark channel or Netflix.  These days, I have to be working on a simple stitch like filling in a dress, house etc.  Otherwise the frog will have to come out later.  

I hope that you all have a Happy Sunday & get lots of stitching done.  I will leave you with a couple of updated photos of Oliver.  He has grown quite a bit since December.  He loves to look over my shoulder, nip at my clothes during play time & of course treats!    

Until next time, Stitch on! = )Pam

Getting a chip 

Looking over my shoulder

Lets Catch Up

 Goodness I can hardly believe that 2 weeks have gone by already.  I've been quite busy stitching and have lots to show you. I've had a bit of "startitus" as well.   I started and finished HUG stitched for a friend on Jan 11.  I've waited to show this on purpose. (Letters found in freebie online)  I know what you're thinking....Pam this is not finished.  You would be correct.  This is actually a joint effort that is being completed by some other stitchers.  If  & when I have access to the completed project I will share it with you.  

 Two other finishes that I completed on 1/16/19 were the arrows & the red heart that you saw in my Jan 15th post. I had every intention of finishing them into pin pillows, but they are still languishing unfinished on my table at the moment. 

 I managed to finish up the "June" Band of   Linen & Thread 2017 Mystery SAL on 1/31/2019.  As stated earlier I'd love to complete this design by August. Unfortunately I have not touched this for February yet. Perhaps soon!  

My next finish I'm quite proud of.  I started Green Damsel by Ink Circles on  2/25/18. I did manage to exceed my goal and finished on  2/4/19.  Go me : )   I probably will not frame it until 2020 as I'd like to hang it with my 2 band samplers & want the frames to compliment each other.  

Here it is with the original colors side by side one last time:

Lastly here are my color conversions just in case you were wondering:

As you can see there are 2 blues.  I was 50 stitches from completing the piece when I ran out of Peacock. I seriously thought 2 skeins would have been enough.  I may have used some on another project?  As my luck would have it,  when I arrived @ my LNS, the dye lot had changed.  It was much lighter than before.  I was able to tweed the Deep Sea & the Peacock together to achieve the desired color and the overall piece looks perfect 😊



On  2/1/2019 I started  Hands on Design Year of Celebrations, March. Stitched this during my lunch & finished on  2/7 /19.  I changed up Most of the colors to match my stash & of course added in my favorite color as well.  Who knows I might actually finish this up into a pillow by the end of February?  **Nobody hold your breath

Since I completed one thing for my March dough bowl, I decided to start something that I'd just purchased on the 2nd....Shamrock Row by Bent Creek.  I changed all the colors, and its almost done.  Just need to stitch 2 leprechauns.  

 I would have finished this already; however I signed up for a finishing class for Feb 23.  Though having the stitched piece is not required, I wanted it done.  Well of course time crept up on me--imagine that.  I had to stop working on the Shamrock row to start my next stitch....
Infant Oaks by Cricket Collection designed by Vicki Hastings.  This is another chart that I've just recently acquired and it worked perfectly for my upcoming class.  I started this on Feb 12 with just a few stitches and then picked it back up on Feb 15 and stitched like it was my job all weekend!  As of  2/19/19 I have a finish!!!  **I did modify the center as the original design suggest a monogram.  A  facebook group friend suggested a squirrel & the rest is history!

Stay tuned as I will  likely do another post next week after my class this coming weekend to show this Fully finished.  


Next up for your viewing pleasure is a start that I finished the same day--Whaat?  Yep you read that right!   I won this chart  a few years back and finally stitched it up on Feb 12.  Its called ...Sunflower Sampler. I plan to display this in my dough bowl later in the year.  

Again in my mind I had plenty of time to stitch my class piece so I also started the Hands on Design January block on Feb 13th in attempt to "catch up" on this SAL.   I've been stitching on this during my lunches.  I obviously can't read a chart and stitched the letters in the wrong color--Oh well. Mine will be unique : ) .  I also changed the other colors to my liking.  

I have signed up to do another biscornu swap which is due to be mailed March 17.  The theme is home.  I also started this on Jan 13th.  Now I need to focus on completing it in time to mail to Canada. This piece as well as my Shamrock Row will now be my focus pieces until they are completed.  

If you've made it to the end--Hooray!  Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope all your "x's" are straight and you love every stitch.  Until next time, Stitch on!  = ) Pam

SAL's I'm Participating in...(so far)

Wow how did it get to be February?  Its now past time for my WIPocalypse check in.  As promised last month, I'm going to talk about some SAL's I'm participating in for 2019.  

My last post was about the #stitch9challenge on Instagram & Facebook.  I won't rehash all those details here.  

I've also  joined the Facebook group HOD a Year of Celebrations SAL.   We are stitching Year of Celebrations by Hands on Design.  For me this will be a year long SAL. Others in the group have already completed all the charts!    I will be making these into pin keeps for my dough bowl. 

I've started & completed stitching February:

I've also started March, made several mistakes, changed out the DMC colors to what I had in my stash & frogged a portion.   

   

Linen & Threads announced their new Free Mystery SAL at the beginning of January--Peacocks Garden.  Are you Kidding me?!!!!  I LOVE PEACOCKS. Obviously its a Mystery so I cant show you a photo of the design, but here is my progress:

 Definitely not something that will fit in my bowl.  Unfortunately, I'm off somewhere & I'll need to frog, before i can continue.  Therefore, he's in timeout. 😭

Emily C @ eclecticpossessions on Floss Tube & Instagram is hosing a SAL in honor of her birthday in March .  We will be stitching Goat Load by Plum Street Samplers. #goatloadbdaysal

Is that not the cutest?  This too will be displayed in my dough bowl.  

I had planned to start Starry Night Sampler as a  2018 SAL. All I need to do is pull threads.    Lucky for me there are a few folks planning to start it this June and I am going to join them. As I often do, I plan change up some of the colors! Unfortunately, this will also be too large for my dough bowl 😀.  

I have not completely made up my mind as to how I will address Maynia this year.  I'm leaning toward the modified version that I followed last year.  If I have an incomplete former Maynia start, I will work on it for that day. If I have a free day, I may start a new SMALL project, which will either be for my dough bowl or a Christmas Ornament. I may also start my unicorn chart which I recently acquired.  We will just have to wait & see what I can accomplish between now & May.    

There may be other SAL's that will be announced during the year, but for now this is my list.  


 Until next time, Stitch on!  = ) Pam

Stitch 9 Plans

I already intended to focus on several projects in 2019, but I'm now modifying that slightly in order to participate in the #stitch9challenge issued by @farmgirlstitcher on Instagram.  The basic idea is to choose 9 projects that you intend to complete in 2019.  There are very few rules:  you create an album, stitch and show updates.  Easy enough.  Were half way thru January and I have all year to meet the challenge.  At last count there were over 300 stitchers who've accepted the challenge.

Y'all, I am a little mad with myself!  I have to create a caveat to my 9.  I've owned Gingerbread Village (Train) from Country Cottage Needleworks since they were brand new.  Would have sworn there were 8 total--all this time.  NOPE!! There are 11 charts to this series & yes I own them all!  I've completed 2, so that leaves 9.  Being that I'd already picked 3 largish WIPs for this challenge  + the ornaments,  I didn't want to drop them. SOOO...I have 12 in my stitch 9.  Four of which I haven't even started!  #morethan9 #sosueme


 Let the games begin!  

Here are my 9 (a-hem 12) projects:

1 - 9) CCN Gingerbread Village.  I almost completed the Train in November 2018 but alas I had to move on.  

Started most of them during Maynia 2018

10) Still planning to only work on this in the Winter time & anniversary date in Maynia. Looks just like it did the last time you saw it.  

By Cricket Collection Started Maynia 2016

11) I'd love to have this completed by August, but I'm giving myself all year.  I've almost completed the "June" band.  

Linen & Threads Mystery SAL 2017 

12) My ultimate goal is to complete this before the 1st anniversary of the start date! Looks just slightly different from the last time you saw it.  

Ink Circles Started 2/25/18 My own color conversion

I'm so glad that Michelle didn't have a lot of stitch count, complex rules to deal with since we each stitch at our own pace. These are by far not the only projects I intend to work  on this year. I'm still going to work on smalls for my dough bowl & whittle down my WIP pile,  as well as stitch  items for Love Quilts USA.  

None of us knows what the future holds, but I enjoy planning and seeing what I can accomplish.  I hope you will as well.  Until next time, Stitch on!  = ) Pam  

New Year , New Trend?

Seriously y'all.  Its true, three weeks in a row!  Perhaps its a new trend?    I contemplated keeping you in suspense until the end of the month, but I'm too excited.  I have some finishes--: o!!

As you've read earlier, I was pushing myself to get last years new year new start completed by the end of January. I've met my goal 20 days early. 

 His Name by Joyful Expressions. Stitched on 14ct Aida "Purple Pansies" Hand Dyed by Stephanie. 

To celebrate I started & completed a secret stitch on Friday Jan 11, which I will have to show you once the recipient has received it.  I doubt seriously that they ready my blog, but better to be safe!  

On Saturday the 12th I had another Start & Finish on a small for my dough bowl.  This was a freebie from Story Piece ( Here ) stitched on a scrap of white using Hand Dyed Jodri April Fools ( I omitted the yellow).  

Because I really want to start filling my bowl I could not stop myself. On Sunday Jan 13 I started 2 more freebies. One more from Story Piece and one from The Work Basket (here)

Needs one more arrow @ bottom

Red is really washed out--very pretty in person

I will be starting a new Love Quilt Square this week as well, which is not due until May 1.  Giving myself plenty of time to get it done!  Speaking of Love Quilts (here), they recently sent out a call for additional quilters. I shared this on Facebook and one of my local friends is about to finish her first quilt for them.   If any of you quilt & would more information regarding volunteering to help bring joy to a sick child,  please click the link above to e-mail Jacki to discuss further.  

I hope you all have  a wonderful stitchy day.  Until next time, Stitch on!    = ) Pam

WIPocalypse 2019 Initial Post

As promised on Wednesday, I'm back with my first WIPocalypse 2019 update.    For those of you who are new, Welcome to my blog! If any of you are returning, Thank you!   My name is Pam aka @farmboyslove on instagram.  I learned to stitch when I was still in elementary school b/c my friend was doing it.  Ha!  I stitched off an on for years, but really started focusing on my stitching in 2011 - 2012.  I've met some wonderful stitchers over the years thru groups, blogs, my Local Needlework Shop,  Floss Tube and Instagram. I look forward to getting to know my followers better this year.   

My cousin surprised me last year with a rather large dough bowl for my birthday & Christmas combined.  I'd like to have some new starts/finishes on some smalls throughout the year for it.   I currently have 3 biscornu's from 2018 swaps and 3 small pillows in the bowl.  Eventually I'd like to be able to have enough variety swap them out seasonally. 

I have several WIP's that I'd like to focus on this year.  I will be starting a few things here and there, but for the most part I'd like to get my WIP count down to a more manageable number. Twenty-eight for me, is too many!! For the beginning of the year these are WIP's that I'd like to complete sooner rather than later.  I'm also seriously considering joining @farmgirlstitcher #stitch9challenge (more info on her instagram feed).   I will NOT include His Name on that list, b/c for me that would be cheating : D.  
*i apologize in advance for all the wrinkles you will see in the following photos.  

1)  His Name by Joyful Expressions
This is the progress I've managed Jan 2 - 7. Just 3 1/2 letters to go + sign & date.  I'm stoked!

2)  Green Damsel by Ink Circles (my color conversion)
Progress as of Oct 15 2018 the last time I worked on it.  

3) Linen & Threads 2017 Band Sampler 
Here is my progress as of Jan 1 2019.  It will likely take me 6 months or more to complete this project, but my goal is to utilize a couple of Monthly Challenges to help push me thru on this one. 

 

4) WINTER by Cricket Collection  
This is where I left off the last time I worked on this piece.  I plan to spend 1 day per week until March 19 which is the official last day of Winter 2019.  Depending on how close I am to a finish I may continue working on it. Otherwise, I will work on it on the Anniversary of its start date in May.  I would then pick it back up in Dec on the first day of Winter.  

5)  Born Free a Kit
I started this piece last Memorial Day with hopes of completing it in 2018.  Ha!  With it being on black & mostly full coverage I did not devote very much time to this piece at all. 

I will be participating in a few SAL's in 2019 but I will save those details for my Jan wrap-up post. Thank you for taking time to read my post today.  Until next time, Stitch on!  

= )Pam

Review & Welcome to 2019

Happy New Year Friends!  As in years past, I'm hitting the reset button on my blog, my stitching & in other areas of my life.  I make no promises of how long I can keep up. The point is to Try & Try I Shall!!!!  

Grab a cup of something,  a snack and settle in for a long post : )

I've looked back over 2018 and all in all I did pretty well with my stitching.  I completed 10 WIP's, I had 6 new starts & finishes for myself, I participated in 4 stitching swaps, stitched 3 squares for Love Quilts USA &  stitched/gifted 5 Christmas Ornaments.  That's a total of 28 finishes with 11 Fully Finished in 2018! 

So as not to bombard you with everything, here are a couple of my swap finishes: 

Jim Shore Mill Hill Snowman 

Biscornu sent to Fla

Here is a SAL that I completed & kept for my dough bowl: 

#comingtotownsal

Final update for 2018:  I'd like to introduce the newest member of our family.  Meet Oliver, who joined us in December.

 This little guy is playful & oh so curious.  Not much stitching going on when he's awake, yet I still manage to get some things done. 



2019
On New Years Day I completed stitching on a biscornu. 

 My goal is to have it Fully Finished and in the mail on the 5th.   

I did not participate in the New Year New Start this year, instead I focused on last years start.     The goal is to finish it no later than January 31 2019.  

I've started 2019 off with 28 WIPS, which is 5 more that I started with last year.  Here is a list of all of my WIPs as of Jan 1 2019:

1) His Name by Joyful Expressions  Started 1/1/18
2) Green Damsel by Ink Circles Started 2/25/18
3) Born Free  a Kit  Started 5/27/18
4) Birds to the Bough by Lindy Stitches Started 7/1/18
5-12) Gingerbread Train Ornaments by Country Cottage Needleworks Started Maynia 2018
13)  Gingerbread Lighthouse by Shannon Christine Designs Started 10/22/17
14) Linen & Thread Band Sampler Started 1/1/17
15)  WINTER by Cricket Collection Started 5/12/16
16) SPRING by Cricket Collection Started 5/5/16
17) SUMMER  by Cricket Collection Started 5/6/16
18) AUTUMN  by Cricket Collection Started 5/15/16
19) Whole Latta Late' Dimensions Kit Started 1/3/16
20) I Stitch old magazine Started 5/9/16
21) Autumn in my Garden by Mirabilla Started 3/1/16
22) Elizabeth by Mirabilla Started 6/2/17
23) Snowman Kiss Dimensions Kit  Started 5/11/16
24) Snowman Table Runner Started 5/14/16
25) Nativity Ornament Started 2015?
26) O Holy Night Dimensions Kit Started 7/30/16
27) Oli Elf Mill Hill Kit 12/10/2018
28) Autumn Prayer --Oldest WIP EVER : (  

I will post again in about a week as I plan to participate in  WIPocalypse again this year.  I will wait & post my goals for 2019 in that installment.  Until then, Stitch on! 

= ) Pam