Dec 16th Monday Update

Hello another Monday. Just one more Monday till Christmas!!! Wow! So much to do. First let's see what stitching I got done last week.

Monday was Day 4 on Creepy Christmas Village Spooky Christmas Tree. I added 125 and then 8 more Tuesday morning haha...

I needed to hit a challenge goal. Then I sit it down. Tuesday was Noel Gnomes Day 4. Wednesday was Day 5. I added 325 Tue and 75 Wed...

After hitting my goal it was time for a new start. A friend told me about this fun Advent Mystery SAL on FB and Instagram. The designer was releasing one part a day with about 70 stitches. She was stitching it with a pretty thread on black and I thought that would be fun. When I was at the LNS in Northern Indiana I grabbed a pretty Caron Waterlilies called Holiday. Here is the info on the SAL...

Here is my Day 3 progress now...

I just love the way it's turning out. Day 1 Wednesday I added 600 trying to catch up. Thursday I caught up with 236 more added. 

After catching up I pulled out Hedgehogs in the Snow Stoney Creek...

Here is where I was with it. I started this one in Dec 2022. Worked on it 3 days in 2022, 6 days in 2023, and only 1 day in Feb this year.

Thursday I added 264. Friday I added 411. Sunday after adding 406 more. It was done!

Love the way it turned out. My 33rd finish for this year! I had a quick glance. That's the most finished since 2019. 2019 I finished 45 though a lot was small that year. 19 - 2020, 11 - 2021, 14 - 2022, 24 - 2023. So I'm happy happy with my progress this year. Wonder what next year will bring?

Saturday we went to Kokomo for more Christmas shopping. We had a lot of fun but we made a ton of stops and I was exhausted by the time we got home. But I can't wait for Christmas. Jeremiah is being spoiled rotten as always haha. I did find one thing he doesn't know about which made me really excited. He's old enough that he helps find his video games so I love finding something secret for him.

We have so much to do between now and Christmas but I am planning on taking my time and enjoying life as well. I will get it done.....somehow haha. I do hope you are finding everything you need and figuring out what to do when to get ready.

Dec 9th Monday Update

 Another Monday so time for another Monday update. Let's see what I worked on last week.

Monday Twas the Night Before Christmas prompt I did was Something Hanging. I used Luck of the Irish because the IRISH part could be made into a wall hanging like banner. Plus the piece was on my acrostic list...

Needed 200 for my goals and added 351. 

Tuesday the prompt was several things I didn't have on the piece YELLING for attention so I needed 300 for a penalty pick as long as Christmas themed...

So I finally got to start this one...

My first Lola Crow design and definitely not my last. Jeremiah picked the Creepy Christmas Tree for the first one to do. So I got started. Added 501 so that worked for needing 300 for the penalty. Stay tuned for pic.

Wednesday the prompt had an option for any type of head covering. So out came Noel Gnomes by Jardin Prive...

There are a lot of little gnome hats in this one.

Thursday a prompt was Outdoors and another piece on my acrostic goals for the month is a perfect fit. Grow Together HAED...

I added 250 so goals met for both things.

Friday we loaded up early morning and went away on our mini vacation to start Christmas shopping. We started this several years ago and we love continuing the tradition. Fred took Friday off and we go up to Michigan City, Indiana area. This year we decided to try a new to us hotel we had heard a lot of good things about. It was lovely and dog friendly which is a must. My bestie Daryl met us at a huge discount place we love stopping at on the way. We got a good start on shopping and had a great time. We went to a 2nd discount type of place and found a few things. Then decided it was time to head to our hotel. Right by our hotel was a nice brewery that served food according to my phone so Daryl followed us and we had a lovely meal and enjoyed our time catching up with him. Our hotel was right across the road so we got our room and settled in. I was really tired so I laid down to see how comfortable Jeremiah's bed was and fell asleep for a bit haha. I'm so old haha.

 Spike helping me watch the water since we were lake front.

Saturday we loaded up. First stop my fav stitching store. I must admit I was sad. I didn't find the arm full like I normally do. The owner did say she was behind on getting things ordered. I did get the thread I needed for a piece coming up. Also another thread for a fun SAL I just decided to join. I grabbed two things for Christmas. I really looked hard at the charts and nothing was calling me plus I needed new Qsnap snaps and they didn't have any. So hubby said well I see an order from 123 being placed haha. Which made me feel bad. I love supporting a brick and mortar store when I can. I really hope this isn't a sign of bad things to come for this LNS. Next stop was a used game store for Jeremiah's addiction. I was really worried because you just never know what this type of store will have. Especially when Jeremiah is really spoiled and owns every game that has been released haha. Well luckily I was wrong and Santa found a stack of hypothetical presents. We were able to get Spike's nail trimmed at the pet store. I found a cute present at Five Below. Then we met up with Daryl again at a new to us brewery. It was delicious and we had a great time. Back to the hotel and I did manage to get 150 stitches in...

I worked on Creepy Christmas Village again for Friday's prompt Things that can fly because the piece has crows in it. I finished up the needed 50 to hit 200 when I got home last night. Plus added 67 more for Saturday's prompt which was snow since this one again works for that...

So 768 added so far to the Creepy Christmas Tree. 

So we had a great time away and got a lot of Christmas presents waiting. Oh I did place an order from 123stitch. But Santa will bring that stuff. I never have a problem finding charts to buy on there haha. Problem with there is not buying too much haha. Have a great week. Love yourself. Smile as often as possible.

Dec 2nd Monday Update

 Well Hello December. I knew you were coming but you still surprised me! I guess we just can't figure out how to slow down time and life can we? No matter how hard we all try. Actually I did have a really nice long week which was needed. So let's look back and see what I worked on.

Monday and Tuesday I kept working on The Pirate by Cottage Garden that I worked on Sunday. I added 200 both days so 600 total. I enjoyed making progress on this one...

Just love that 36ct Mirage Edinburgh Linen I'm stitching it on. Really helps the design pop.

Wednesday I pulled out Lady Liberty by Keslyn's which hadn't been out in awhile. Added 400...

Thursday I marked off my last acrostic goal for the month with Enchanted Pumpkin Mill Hill kit...

400 more orange background stitches done. Slowly but surely the background is getting filled in. I will be glad to more to the next symbol haha.

Friday and Saturday I pulled out the Stitchonomy Winter 2024 SAL. Added 800...

Getting closer every stitch. Just one more section that says Fuzzy Sweaters.

Sunday I pulled out Yggdrasil after Jeremiah did a spin of my December acrostic picks. I added 200...

So talking about November. I stitched 14 different projects. 11,055 total stitches. 3 Starts. 4 Finishes. Completed my goals and had a lot of fun. Found more groups and more challenges haha. I'm insane. Now my 2025 plans are flying and I'm joining all the things so I can STITCH all the things. I will go over my planned starts for 2025 sometime soon I promise. December plans. Play all the games haha. Semi Sane is doing one with the Twas the Night Before Christmas poem. We get a prompt each day from the poem so yesterday we could stitch night, a house, or a creature. So Yggdrasil worked for creatures and the house on the design. Today the prompt is stockings/socks, something hanging, or a chimney, and of course Santa Claus. I think I have my pick ready to go. 200 for something with at least 1 item and 300 on something without as a penalty. Fun challenge. I also have two new acrostic lists...

I know I really want to work on Creepy Christmas Village but I might have to wait till after this weekend trip to make sure I have the right amount of fabric for it. Then it will be started. I have my monthly planned start another Erica Michael's...

Liberty Squared is what this one is called. 

Fred's week off went nice. Actually slow and we got everything done we wanted done which is surprising haha. He got his deer on the coldest day of the year of course haha. We have 4 processed in the freezer now. We went to a new to us grocery store. It was nice. Higher price than Walmart but a lot of different variety then Walmart. We got everything done at the laundry that could be washed haha. We even relaxed and watched some shows/movies we were wanting to have time for. Thanksgiving at Grandma's was lovely. It was great to see my cousins and family. Now we are getting excited about Christmas. Have the stuff ready to put out tomorrow. A fun trip planned this weekend with lots of shopping stops we look forward to this time of year. 

Have a great week. Happy December. Love yourself. Find all the reasons to smile. Stitch all the things!

Nov 25th Monday Update

 I know I did my WIPocalypse post yesterday but it's Monday so let's talk a little more details about my week last week.

Monday was a no stitching day. Computer work and groceries stole the day.

Tuesday I started my monthly picked new start. Love USA from Hinzeit. Wednesday it was finished. Took 1,073 stitches and just two days to do up.

Thursday I pulled out another new start but it was supposed to be started in October. Another Erica Michael's adorable silk gauze piece called Heart & Compass. I worked on it Thursday and Friday. Added 644 total game stitches. 1,288 little / stitches...

Reminder of what it will look like...

Saturday I got the ick that is going around. Coughs from my toes and slept pretty much all day. Sunday I was still pretty icky but at least got a little bit of stitching added to The Pirate by Cottage Garden...

Just 200 added but better than nothing. Fred has this week off to deer hunt. We have two in the freezer now. My dad and Uncle have got one each. Hopefully Fred can get one this week. Helps 3 families to have delicious meat in the freezer. So kind of a short update for today. 

Happy Turkey Day week for all those who celebrate. We are going over to my Grandma's Friday afternoon. Hopefully we are all healthy by then. Have a great week. Love yourself. Smile as much as possible.

November WIPocalypse

Last Sunday of the month which means it's time for a WIPocalypse update. What is WIPocalypse? An excuse to finish all our WIPs before the end of the year. I'm finishing a lot but oh I'm starting a lot so no worries I'll hold off the end of the world till I can finish all the things. I use this as an excuse to look back and see what I've worked on since the last check in and how much progress I've made. So let's see what I've been working on.

The first was on a Friday so we have a few days of October included here for this update. 

Halloween Sampler by Les Petites Croix De Lucie -- 3 Days to finish this fun piece up...

Halloween Quaker by Primrose Cottage -- 5 Days to finish this one...

Autumn Line Up by The Trilogy -- 4 Days and finished the last one of the seasonal set...

Noel Gnomes by Jardin Prive -- 2 Days Started this adorable piece. My first Jardin Prive...

Christmas Celebration by Frosted Pumpkin -- 2 Days. Finished this one up too...

Beer Dragon by Paine Free Crafts -- 2 Days of progress on him this month...

Yggdrasil by Paine Free Crafts -- 2 Days on this one as well...

Christmas Truck a Vervaco kit -- 1 Day...

I just wanted to see the progress on this one. It goes so slow because a lot of color changes but I really enjoy the pattern overall.

Mason Jar Lineup a Dimensions Kit -- 2 Days. More progress on the beautiful fabric and pattern...

Love USA by Hinzeit -- 2 Days to Start and Finish this fun patriotic design...

Heart & Compass by Erica Michaels -- 2 Days. Another start to celebrate my finishes lately...

Love those tiny silk gauze pieces!!

Measi also gives us a fun question to answer with each check in...November 24 – How do you begin planning for the next year with your stitching? Tell us your process. I'm in a bunch of online challenge groups. I had some ideas of patterns I knew I wanted to start in 2025. So I pay attention to the new challenges and fill in my thoughts to match what's needed. Love the motivation!!! I know I have a lot of new starts planned which will surprise no one haha.

Nov 18th Monday Update

 Hello all. Time for a Monday check in. Let's see what I've been stitching this last week.

Monday and Tuesday was time for the monthly 500 on Beer Dragon. I actually ended up with 800 added over the two days...

The yellow part of his wing has a lot of confetti but boy it's pretty coming together. This is the last page in the top row of the chart.

Wednesday I spun Christmas Truck a Vervaco kit. I wanted to add 200 for the prompt Through the Neighborhood in Monthly Magazine Acrostic challenge. Since a truck can drive through a neighborhood. I added 432 instead...

Yggdrasil was next Thursday and Friday. I ended up adding 730 to it...

I finished page 1. Which took 17 days and 3,443 total stitches. Jeremiah picked for me to go across the top like normal instead of down the pattern. So to page 2 I went.

Saturday and Sunday I worked on Mason Jar Lineup a Dimensions kit. Added 706 total. The daisies are outlined. It shows up better in person but you can tell with the before photo when you compare them...

Like I say every time....I just love that fabric!!!

I'm working on December plans and 2025 plans. Love this time of year! So many fun plans and challenges coming ahead. Now to stitch all the things!!!

Love yourself. Smile as often as possible. See ya next Monday.