Wipocalypse Update

Well I'm late for this update!  What is a Wipocalypse you ask?  Head over to Measi's Mustings and find out about it :)  Anyway work has been very busy for me but I have been stitching up a storm!  I've added in some new pieces to my rotation.  We will get right to the update shall we?

I had a start and finish with Brooke's Books Advent Animals Katie Kitty

Ta Dah!

Next up is the Lizzie Kate Mystery Sampler Spooked!  Which was another finish! I didn't want to post photos of it before the Part three had been out for a good while but you can read about this project's ta dah post here

~ Where I left off ~

~ and the finish! ~

Next on the list is The Arab Tent which is by Heaven and Earth Designs and will take me a very long time to finish as it's my BAP.  Here is the last time you saw it ~

and where I got to on it ~

Not the best picture but I'm just about half way through page 1.  

Projects on Next Rotation

First is Stitcher's Studio.  I haven't work on it since last time I had posted on International Hermit and Stitching Weekend but it is back in rotation now.  Since it is IHSW this weekend I'll be working on it.

I have a new project that I will be starting from Clouds Factory!

Harry Potter - Giant Version

I'll be making it for Anna and I can't wait to get started!  I just need to get a few threads for it.

I will also be starting on the 2nd Advent Animal Peter Polar Bear 

these three I'm planning to work on for International Hermit and Stitching Weekend.  I can give you an update then when I post about it next week.

See you then!

~ Barb

Lizzie Kate Mystery Halloween Sampler Ta Dah!

Hi! I thought I would share a fantastic finish!  It's the 2016 Lizzie Kate Mystery Halloween Sampler.  I started it back in June around the end of the month.  It is in three parts and each part was released each month through August.  I finished part one below mid July and started part two ~

Part two was finished a week before part three came out in August.  I just love the little pumpkins and the witch on it!

Part three what a lot of fun putting it all together and revealing the entire piece!

And finally here it is in all it's glory!  My finished Mystery Halloween Sampler Spooked!

Ta Dah!

I had noticed when I took this picture that I had left out a stitch on the blue diamond on the left of the house so I did make that one additional stitch!  Here are some of the closeups of the piece.

This project was a total hoot to make!

~Barb

TUSAL Post and A New Start!

Hi everyone!  I've been working a good bit on Spooked so I can get part 3 finished.  I'm still loving stitching this wonderful chart and it is going to be so cute and I can't wait to show it to you :)

I do have a new start!  It is called The Arab Tent and is my first HAED that I've ever tried.  I am giving parking and griding a good old college try and so far I'm really liking it.  I'm trying to start as many of the threads that show up in each 20 x 20 block and so far it is manageable.  I watched a few youtube videos to get me started but I'm finding it is all about what makes you comfortable. So here is what I've done so far with it.

~ a close up ~

Today I have a picture of my cast offs or ORTS for the TUSAL and am a day late to the party but do have a little bit of threads to show that I've been stitching a good bit.  

I've only been collecting them since the first of August so I don't have a ton of ORTs so I grabbed a mason jar of course and started adding in my ends to the jar.  You can participate in the SAL over at It's Daffycat.  

Well that is all I have to show you today.  I'm going to get snug in my stitching chair since it's a nice rainy day.  Good stitchy weather!

~ Barb

International Hermit and Stitching Weekend

What joy this weekend has been!  Friday started August's IHSW hosted by Random Ramblings and I spent most of the weekend stitching and I visited a LNS in Lexington SC to get my fix and came home with a few goodies! 

I really needed this weekend because it was so relaxing working on a couple of my projects.  Work is crazy these past few weeks so anything relaxing is much needed. 

I worked on Stitcher's Studio and also had a new start Berry Bunny.  I really made some great progress on the stocking and got about half of the rug finished so I'm really happy about that and should be making my August goal for this project to get everything stitched on the rug.

~ here is where I left off with the stocking ~

~ and now ~

It's starting to really take shape now! 

Berry Bunny is a cute hanging piece that I think will look so cute somewhere in my house.  I'm planning to finish it as it is shown in this picture and really will go with my decorating style of primitive country. 

~ and here it is started! ~

I think it is going to be so cute when it is all said and done!

Well that is all I have to share with you today.  I did get part 3 for my Lizzie Kate Spooked mystery sampler and oh my is it ever cute!  I am planning to put down my Stitcher's Studio so I can get Spooked finished and post a tah dah post for it :)  I can't wait to show it to you!

~Barb

Wipocalypse Update

Well I thought I would get in on the Wipocalypse SAL!  The WIPocalypse is hosted by Messi's Musings and you can read all about it here.  i can't wait to show you what progress I've made on them this past week.  

I was able to finish part two of the Lizzie Kate Spooked Mystery Sampler but I'm not going to post a picture of it quite yet.  Part 3 did just come out but Lizzie is asking us not to post pictures of the finished piece and I'm not sure if she is also referring to part 1 and part 2 also.  So next month I think I will be able to post pictures.  I had posted a progress picture but I will save that for a special reveal of sorts!

Here is my Christmas Stocking - Stitchers Studio

I just shared where I was a few days ago ~

And where I am now ~

This is a great project that I really want to get finished this year.  I'm still enjoying it.  I am trying a little something different with this stocking and try to do all the backstitching as I complete the various areas on the stocking.  I'm hoping it will come together a lot quicker or at least seem that way :)

And last is the Lighthouse Pointe which hasn't changed since my last post since I have been working more on the stocking this week.

These three projects are what I'm going to have as my Wipocalypse rotation for now.  There are two that I really want to get finished before I add anymore to the rotation for this SAL.

Now for the question:

Topic: Have you ever read any fictional books that involve embroidery? If so, give us some recommendations?

I have not read any fictional books that involve embroidery but I'm interested in finding out what others have to say to this topic!

Well that is all I have to share today and I'm sure I will see you around!

~ Barb

My UFO and another WIP

Hi everyone :) 

I'm excited to show you two other projects that are in my current rotation.  When I'm not stitching on the Halloween Mystery Sampler "Spooked" by Lizzie Kate I'm usually working on my stocking.  

The stocking is called Stitcher's Studio out of the Cross Stitch & Country Crafts magazine.  I started it on 5/20/14 and stitch on and off as time allows. I really want to finish it for this Christmas but not sure I will be able to pull it off.  

Here's where I currently am at with it ~

Once I finish the mystery sampler I will be able to devote more time to it.  Maybe if I set goals for myself each month with where I want to be by month end then I will be able to give myself a little push!  So I guess a good goal would be to have everything finished that is at the toe under the floor stand by the end of August.  Let's see how we do with that shall we?

Here's a close up of some of the detail on the stocking ~

This stocking is so much fun to stitch and I've been enjoying working on it.

Next WIP or really my UFO because I don't even remember when I started this one.  It was before I got married over 16 years ago!  I picked it back up when my daughter was born a year later and ran out of thread because back then I was horrible stitcher and would carry threads across sections a lot and it's a Dimension kit called Lighthouse Pointe by Edie Hopkins.

About a year or two ago I found out that I could request replacement threads from Dimension so I did just that because I had the worst time trying to match it to a DMC color.  Which probably wouldn't have even noticed it.  But I did get the replacement threads and am every now and then working on it.  It is so close to being finished.  I am now just trying to back stitch and fill in any missing spots but I just have such a mental block about it and keep finding areas that need to have a stitch placed here or there.

This is where I'm at with it.  It is really a beautiful picture~

It's no secret that I will be very happy to have this one put behind me very soon!  I have so many other WIPs that need my attention plus I really want to start a new one.  I just ordered 4 new patterns from 123 Stitch and will show you those beauties when I get them :)

Well that is all today that I have to show you.  Have a nice evening!  

~ Barb

What to say?  I guess I'll start with my name is Barb and I love to cross stitch, knit and crochet.  I get bitten by each bug ever so often and end up working on one or the other but my first and foremost love is cross stitching.  My aunt got me started when I was probably around 10 with my first project that was an ornament of santa.  I still have that ornament and it goes on my tree every year.  I'll have to share that with you this Christmas when I get out the decorations!

I have a stitching partner named Frannie which is a rescued orange tabby who loves to see what I'm working one.  As well as my daughter Anna who I have tried to get hooked in cross stitching.  She has one project that she has had for a while but hasn't finished.

I look forward to showing you what I am working on each week and hopefully will get some progress on my projects so that I can get them finished.  I have lots of starts because of past challenges that I did and many more that I want to start but also want to get my others finished.  I tend to gravitate to the large ones which take forever for me to do.  I tend to have my favorites that I work on continuously.

Hopefully this blog will help me keep on track with them all!  Until next time keep on stitching!

~Barb