December WIPocalypse

Here we are for the last WIPocalypse of the year. The idea of this fun blog SAL is to finish all our WIPs before the end of the world. I think the more WIPs we all have the longer we hold off the end of time. How could it end when we have so many beautiful things to create? I personally like to use this SAL as an excuse to keep track of what I've worked on each day. So then I can look back and see how long I've worked on each project. Helps me be able to answer the question better How long did that take? Also with the #24HOCS challenges now I keep track of time spent as well. It's been fun to see how long each piece takes to stitch up.

So my last post was November 25th. Let's see what I've been up to since then...

Snowflake SAL -- 22 Days. Got this one all stitched and finished up...

Christmas Jars -- 5 Days. Finished up the 3rd jar in the set of 4...

Nautical Year -- 4 Days. Started and finished the last Nautical year piece for the year...

Lizzie Kate Flip It Stamp -- 5 Days. Started and finished the last Flip It for the year as well...

Boba Fett -- 1 Day. Started this new piece for Jeremiah...
Here is what it will look like...

Here it is now after the 1 day...

It goes really quickly so far. The background is all half stitch.

Winter Time -- 2 Days. Another new start from New York Dreamer. Here is what it will look like...

Here it is now...

Non stitching days were only 10. The snowflake SAL helped me at least get a little time in each day which was a great help. But with Christmas and getting everything ready it stole a few days from me.

It's been a great year indeed. Check out my 2019 tab at the top for all my finishes. 45 in total and 37 are even FFO. Wohoo!!!

I just seen on the check in post here that next year is a go too so make sure to join in the fun. I'll stick with my finish as many as I can motto. Especially the 24 on my A-Z challenge list on the right side. Here's hoping. See ya in January with the next check in post.

2 Finishes to End the Year

Guess what I have 2 new finishes to show you. My last two finishes of the year and two finished finishes at that. Wohoo!

First is the Snowflake SAL from Stitchonomy...

The last day she gave us an optional part to add the white thread throughout the design. The idea was to make little sparkles throughout the piece. She said you could use metallics or beads instead of course. I decided on beads and just LOVE how it added a little sparkle all over between the snowflakes. To finish it off I did my first hoop finish. I used a 6 inch wooden hoop. Then I wrapped a ribbon around the edge to give it a special touch...

On the back I cut out some white felt and glued it down. This way it would hide the extra fabric and the backside of the threads...

We had this little metal easel and I really LOVE the way it looks on display.

Then I finally put my finishing touches on my last Lizzie Kate Flip It Stamp...

I think since I really wanted it finished it took forever or at least felt like it. I also was squeezing in time here and there since we were in the Christmas rush full force. I'm so happy I stuck with these and finished them each month. I really enjoyed doing them. I just LOVED the touch of the little buttons on each month.

The presents are bought and wrapped. The menu is planned. We have to stop Monday and pick up some things that the deadline would be too quick if we got it today. The excitement has hit us all full force. We are ready to unwrap our goodies!! I can't wait. I love Christmas. I can't wait for everyone to unwrap the stuff I just finished wrapping. I love the look on their eyes when they try to figure out what's inside.

I doubt I will have time Monday for an update. So I will take a moment now and say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays to anyone reading this. Thank you so very much for all the comments. I love my blog friends. I don't care what people say blogging is still my favorite. I love the community and the friends I've made because of my blog. Instagram is great for a quick photo. Flosstube just gets boring to me. I don't know why. I think because it feels one sided. I know this blogging is too but I look at like a letter to a stitching friend. Facebook is great for keeping in touch with all my friends I don't get to see every day. This blog is the journal I've always wanted to keep. I can't wait to see what 2020 brings us all. Wonder what projects will find their way into our hands?

I'll be back after all the Christmas fun. Have a fantastic time however you celebrate. 

Monday Update

I just finally finished my stash sorting/organizing. What a pain but boy I'm glad I did it. I will be updating my Goals and SALs tab at the top. I started 2019 with 71 WIPs in my two totes. Right now I have 63. That's including several new starts that I'm planning in the new year. I will wait and make the official count until after Santa visits though.

I also wanted to update anyone who seen in my last Monday update about my dad's surgery this past Friday. He's doing fantastic. The surgery went quickly. We were able to be at the hospital for it. Jeremiah said it was only fair since my dad has been at all Jeremiah's surgeries. I do have to admit though it was hard to see him like that. My dad is supposed to be tough. This past few years he went from no surgeries to both shoulders worked on and now his back. This time he had a bone spur that would push on a nerve in his side and down his leg. So it would really cause a lot of pain. The doc said he was able to shave it and get it off the nerve. It will take a bit for the nerve to repair itself but he should have a very successful recovery. He is retiring from his factory work in February after 41 years and really can't wait to be out of there. It's hard work and his body just can't do it any more.

Saturday and Sunday was spent doing the rest of our Christmas shopping and BOY I'm tired. The Christmas rush has sure stolen my stitching time but it will be so worth it come Christmas morning.

I got a tiny bit of time on my December Lizzie Kate Stamp...

At this point I will just be happy if I finish it before the month ends. My poor acrostic will definitely not be completed this month. Oh well it's a stress free SAL so that's A-OK.

I have been trying to keep up with the Snowflake SAL each day...

There are only 4 days left of this SAL now. Wow! Stitchonomy has released the info on the next SAL she is hosting too. It's going to be Houseplant SAL. Finally a house plant I don't have to worry about watering or killing haha. I'm all signed up. It doesn't start till February which is okay. I have more than enough to work on till then haha.

This week I will be busy wrapping everything. It's the only time a year it's bad to be spoiled haha. But I love the unwrapping and the excitement involved so it's totally worth it. At least I hope I keep feeling that way haha. Remind my back that so it stops hurting too haha.

We are changing our Christmas tradition this year. Mom is going to join us for our Christmas with my Dad. Let me explain. My parents got a very amicable divorce when I was 10. They knew fighting would only hurt me. So they were amazing instead. So I'm extremely thankful for that. So after talking about it they didn't want her at home alone this year. She is more than welcome to join our traditions and boy do I appreciate that. We are going to stay at our cabin over night on the 23rd and my Dad and Step Mom will come over Tuesday morning to do our presents together on the 24th. Just perfect!

So busy busy getting everything wrapped in time. I really hope to squeeze in some time on my Lizzie Kate to finish that up. Plus I will be finishing up the Snowflake SAL. I will really miss that fun little email every day. I really look forward to them.

Have a great week and Good luck getting everything done. Wish me luck too. We can do this! Just need a little Christmas magic.

Monday Update

Last week I worked on the Snowflake SAL from Stitchonomy and Mom's Nautical December piece. Friday I put the finishing touches on mom's December piece...

Here is the whole set now...

It's perfect how 11 fit in the basket that my Grandmother made. They can sit there and wait until their month to shine each year.

Saturday we had plans with friends. Remember last January I lost a best friend. My god son's mom Bernice. Saturday would have been her 54 birthday. So we had a party in her honor. The couple who went to Vegas with us Tim and Sam also Bernice's sweet husband Daryl. These 3 are my closest friends by far. Really they have become family. So we headed into Michigan and spent the day together. We ate lunch at an awesome little brewery. Here is a photo of us all there...

We checked out a new to me casino called Firekeepers. It's huge. I love casino's now haha. I only lost $20 after losing and winning on several different machines. Hubby came out a few dollars ahead. We ate their delicious buffet and two other friends were able to come to eat with us. After that we went back to Tim and Sam's house for the night. We played Cards against Humanity and laughed so hard our sides hurt in the morning. It was a wonderful night. Time spent with friends is always fantastic isn't it? Definitely stress relief and now we are ready for the rest of the Christmas rush.

We got home Sunday. I got the Day 15 and 16 snowflakes in. Here is the updated Snowflake SAL as of yesterday...

Today is Day 17. So 10 left now after I get that one in. I really love how fast these stitch up. The lady who organized this said she's excited to release a new 2020 SAL in the coming weeks. I'm looking forward to seeing what it is.

Last week was busy busy. I got a big area cleaned up in a hidden part of our living room by my computer area. It still had a mess of Jeremiah's old toys. Then I had my sewing stuff and other things all stacked around it. So it took up an area 3 times bigger than it should. So I sorted and boxed things up. Moved stuff to an area to sell later. Sorted and fixed my supplies into better organized tubs. It looks fantastic but wow it about killed me. My poor back was really really mad at me.

We also got our Fall/Christmas stuff all put away until next year. Got started on the Christmas beauties. We have a bit more to do but it will be done this week or else haha. Of course laundry, hair cuts, grocery shopping, and those other pesky house chores had to be done too. So it seemed busy busy all week. I'm hoping to get my Lizzie Kate December piece knocked out but I'm looking at my December goals and feeling like some of them more than likely just won't be completed. But that's okay. I'm enjoy my life and that's what is really important right? By the way Jen the lady who organized the #24HOCS acrostics and released an awesome 2020 planner. It's going to be very useful for planning next year's fun. Plus it was only $12! It's available on Etsy. Just go here to get your copy too.

Well I hope everyone reading this has a great week. Friday my dad is getting a surgery to help with a bone in his back that is pushing on a nerve in his leg. Please send him thoughts/prayers that it is a quick healing process and he is back to his ornery self quickly. Saturday and Sunday we are hoping to finish up our Christmas shopping. So busy busy. Hopefully I can squeeze in a lot of progress on my Lizzie Kate in there too. We'll see.

Monday Update

I scheduled the Blog Hop post to post way way early this morning. Now we can do the official Monday update. Since I just did the #24HOCS updates you really seen what I worked on last week already I guess. I focused on finishing up the red Christmas Jar. I'm so happy to have it completed. Also every day last week I worked on the Snowflake SAL from Stitchonomy...

Reminder this is a SAL from the Stitchonomy Facebook group. It's the Winter SAL for 2019. There was a time limit to sign up by for free. Now you can purchase it from her store. It's a collection of 27 little snowflakes. I'm stitching mine on 36ct Solo Molino from Silkweavers. The required DMC is 6 different blue threads and white. This is after Day 9. So 18 left now. They are released each day around noon and take just a few minutes to stitch up. I love how cute it's looking already.

After finishing up the Christmas Jar Saturday I got started on Mom's December Nautical piece. Perfect timing since Sunday was the first of the month. Here I got after the first day of working on it...

Reminder for anyone who doesn't know already. These are from Sand, Sea & Cross Stitch book. I seen them on Instagram and just knew mom needed them for her side of the house. They don't really have a name but I've called them Nautical Year. I found out last night I have stitched a few of them on 18ct white aida and several on 14ct aida. But you really can't tell unless you look really really hard.

I was forced to purchase something new today. I seen this one on Durene Jones Facebook page...

I guess it's a SAL from Stitchingly. Go here to find out more. At the end it will have 6 parts to it so there are two parts still to be released. I immediately thought how cute those inside squares would be as individual little pillows. I hurried and bought it in honor of Cyber Monday haha. I don't think I will start them till 2020 but at least I own them now haha.

Speaking of 2020 how fun is it to make plans? My brain is going to explode. Then I remember shoot I better wait and see what Santa brings before I make final plans. Then I guess Jen from the #24HOCS group is making a year long planner. I can't wait to see what that is all about. It will be available as a PDF and we can print it ourselves. Funny thing is I already started a folder for my "homework" so it will work perfect for my official planner too probably.

I hope everyone reading has a great week. We are going to start the Christmas decorating. We have the Christmas tree up and Fall/Halloween decorations on our shelves. How confusing haha. So just have to fix that. We have a fun weekend planned. Going out with friends Saturday and having a sleep over together at their house. We are really looking forward to that. So let's get this week out of the way.

#24HOCS December Challenges

#24HoursofCrossStitch Facebook group has these fun monthly challenges. No stress. Just extra motivation to do something fun and pick projects to fit in a theme for the month. The part I enjoy the most is the monthly acrostics. You pick a project for each letter in a word she picks. The name of the project can start with the letter. The designer can start with the letter. Or you can be creative. I've never heard a no sorry that won't work. The group loves creativity. No prizes other than to feel motivated and boy that's sure working for me.  No prizes needed.

For December we have a new acrostic. This one is 12DAYSOFXS. The 2nd goal is to stitch 24 hours throughout the month. So let's see what my acrostic picks are...

1 -- Beer Dragon from Paine Free Crafts

Connection: Over "1"

Goal: At least 200 more stitches

2 -- 99 Bottle of Beer from Ink Circles

Connection: Add "2" more bottles

D -- Christmas Jars from "D"imensions 

Goal: Maybe Finish the Last Jar

The last one I need to do is the one on the left with the deer.

A -- "A"utumn Blessing from Waxing Moon Designs

Goal: At least 1 more leaf added

Y -- December LK Flip It Stamp

Connection: "Y"ear Long Set

Goal: Finish

S -- "S"nowflake SAL from Stitchonomy

Whole bunch of S's in this one.

Goal: Keep up and Finish this SAL

Here it was after Day 8. 19 Snowflakes Left.

O -- Best Friend Santa Mill Hill Kit

Connection: "O"ld Start

Goal: Maybe Finish?

I started this one in June 2017 for the Longest Day SAL and never got back to it.

F -- Christmas Celebration Sampler from "F"rosted Pumpkin

Goal: Make Progress

Another WIP that I haven't worked on in a long time...

X -- December Nautical Year

Connection: "X"stitch23 on Instagram is the reason I bought this set to do for Mom

Goal: Finish

S -- "S"easide Sampler Mill Hill Kit

Goal: Make Progress

Okay there are my plans for December. We'll see what actually gets accomplished. I will be happy with anything really. December is a month full of Christmas shopping, decorating, wrapping, and fun. We also have 1 fun night planned with great friends. Looking forward to that. Let's just hope it's a great month for myself and all my readers. Thanks for keeping me motivated.

Monday Update (November WIPocalypse)

Yesterday was the last Sunday of the month. Just one month left of 2019. How is that possible?! The new thoughts of the new year are running around in my head. I want to stitch this. Go here. Do this. Finish this. Oh I have to stitch this. Oh yeah this fun thing planned. Oh what about this piece? It needs added to the list. I love this time of year! All the new ideas and push to do better. Anyway it's time for another WIPocalypse post. This SAL is for us to finish our WIPs before the end of the world. Don't worry it will never happen because my WIPs will never be finished. So I'm holding the end at bay. Lots of stitching going on in between Christmas shopping last week. I had 2 finishes!! LOL I'm all over the place with this post. Sorry. You can tell the many many ideas in my head are distracting me haha.

So WIPocalypse. Go here to check in. For this SAL I like to keep track of what I've been working on and how many days. I write in a weekly planner every day what projects I worked on that day. Also because of the #24HOCS challenges I started keeping track of hours I've stitched each day on a stop watch too. Let's look back and see what I've been working on since my last check in...

Halloween Biscornu -- 3 Days. Finished up my biscornu on Halloween day...

Harvest Wagon MH -- 1 Day. Got a little start on this fun Mill Hill kit...

Nautical Year -- 3 Days. Got the November design started and finished up for Mom...

Lizzie Kate Flip It Stamp -- 3 Days. Got the November design started and finished for me...

Autumn Blessing -- 2 Days. Started this new piece...

Christmas Jars -- 1 Day. Pulled out this old WIP. I had finished two of the jars. Got a start on the 3rd jar...

Beer Dragon -- 2 Days. Got 883 stitches added to this one...

99 Bottles -- 1 Day. Added 2 more bottles...

Tree Shopping -- 3 Days. Started and finished this cute Mill Hill kit...

I have this as a magnet right now but I have an idea on how I want to display it. We'll see on the FFG post if it works. Come back the 10th to see.

Cabin Fever MH -- 2 Days. OMG I finished this one!!! Finally!!!

I found this mat board at Dixie Darlin in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I assume they were made for this and the 2nd companion Mill Hill kit called Camping Out. We bought two and I'm so glad we did I just LOVE the way it looks. Now I just need a frame to pop the mat into. So happy to have this one done!!

Snowflake SAL -- 2 Days. I started my first Stitchonomy SAL. It's the Winter SAL 2019 and it's 27 tiny little snowflakes. I have 2 in right now the 3rd was just released...

I'm using a 36ct Silkweavers Solo Molino blueish fabric and the suggested threads. The snowflakes come out at noon each day. It's so much fun to look forward to what it will look like and takes just a few minutes to stitch up. Then the torture to wait till the next day at noon starts.

 7 Days of no stitching which is a lot better than past check ins.

So Tree Shopping and Cabin Fever Mill Hills are my exciting finishes I shared with you. Wohoo! I wanted to finish Cabin Fever so bad this year. Now I can start the 2nd companion one but I think that will wait till after the new year. We've started our Christmas shopping. It's also the busy Thanksgiving week of gathering food and prepping all the yummies for Thursday. It's just our house hold but that won't stop us from eating way too much. Lots of fun stuff coming up. Getting our Christmas tree and decorating. But hopefully some stitching time mixed in. Have a great week. Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate it.