My cross stitching plans for 2013

Cross stitching plans are more fun to make than New Year's Resolutions (which I never do)!  Tomorrow is a new start for a new year of stitching!  How exciting! Which stitching challenges and SALs have you signed up for in 2013?  Here is my list:

The photos in my side bar are linked to the sign-up pages.

2013 Ornament SAL:  Stitch an ornament each month for any holiday.  Post a picture on your blog on the last Wednesday of the month.  Leave a link to your blog post on the Stitching Lotus blog.

Turtle Trot SAL:  Choose 13 UFOs/WIPs and post progress photos on your blog by the 13th of each month.  Leave a link to your blog post on the BAP-Attack blog.

WIPocalypse 2013:  Make a list of all your WIPs to finish before the apocalypse in 2012 (this didn't happen so the end of the world has been extended indefinitely).  Post progress photos on your blog on the Full Moon of each month.  Leave a link to your blog post on Measi's Musings blog.

TUSAL:  For this Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long, save all your ORTs (old ratty threads) in a jar and post a picture on your blog on the New Moon of each month.  Leave a link to your blog post on Daffycat's blog.

Ultimate Crazy January Challenge:  Start a new project each day for the first 15 days in January or 31 days (for the Ultimate version) and try to complete them during the year.  Sign up on the Crazy January Challenge Yahoo Group or the CrosstitchCrazy2013 Facebook Group.

Halloween House SAL:  Ten of us started stitching Halloween House by Ursula Michael in January 2012 and the plan is to stitch on it every Friday.  Only one person has finished it so far.  I have missed the last 8 Fridays (oops!) but I haven't given up on it yet!

Prairie Schooler SAL:  This is a SAL with Linda and Rosemary of the Spring & Fall and Summer & Winter charts.  There are 12 monthly designs and the plan is to stitch on them every Saturday.  I finished 4 of the 12 months and missed stitching the last 10 Saturdays (oops!) but haven't given up yet!

Santa's 12 Days of Christmas SAL:  This is a SAL with Linda and Kaye of the Prairie Schooler designs for Santa's 12 Days of Christmas.  There are 3 booklets for Days 1-4, Days 5-8, and Days 9-12.  The plan is to stitch on them every Sunday.  I finished 3 of the 12 days and missed stitching the last 10 Sundays (oops!) but haven't given up yet!

Boo! Club SAL:  Linda and I have joined a SAL with Lesleyanne and Angela of the Lizzie Kate Boo! Club series.  Angela is stitching Halloween Rules.  The goal is to finish one design per month and there are 12 designs.

So now I'm off to Joann's to get some floss.  It's on sale for 4 for $1 and I also have a 10% off total purchase coupon (yesterday it was 15% off but I got there too late).

Happy Stitchy New Year, everyone!

WIPocalypse finale for 2012 and 2 little finishes!

Hurray! The apocalypse didn't happen after all, so I still have time to finish all my WIPs, eventually.  I started 2012 with 6 WIPs/UFOs from 2011 or earlier (way back to 1980).  Then I had a new start each day in January (31) and February (29).  During the year, I had 15 more starts, for a total of 75 new starts in 2012!  I had 34 cross stitch finishes and made one pine needle basket. Out of my 35 finishes in 2012, 17 were gifts, 4 were made for quilts for World of Charity Stitching, and 14 were for me.  Now I'm starting off 2013 with 49 WIPs (see them all on my WIPocalypse page).

My last two finishes are ornaments for my brother and nephew.  This is Tow Mater and Lightning McQueen from the Cars movie.

Tow Mater & Lightning McQueen

"Tow Mater"
Disney kit by Janlynn
Started 12/26/2012, Finished 12/28/2012

"Lightning McQueen"
Disney kit by Janlynn
Started 12/29/2012, Finished 12/30/2012

Be sure to add a link to your final WIPocalypse 2012 blog post to Measi's blog, too!

Stitchy Christmas goodies!

I received a wonderful surprise from Linda, who sent me all these great stitchy surprise gifts!  There are three mini kits with wooden frames and magnets, two charts, a Cross Stitch magazine, and three great pieces of fabric, including Hallows Eve by Sassy's Fabbys.  I'll use that for a Halloween design next year for sure!  Thank you so much, Linda!

My son and daughter gave me some stitchy goodies, too!  My son ordered the Wizard of Oz puzzle from Herrschner's that I asked for, but then he called me and told me to pick out more items so he could spend enough to get free shipping, so I chose this Christmas cross stitch book and some 28 ct hand-dyed Jobelan fabric to also use for a Halloween design next year.  My daughter surprised me with an OttLite Task Lamp!  She bought me the OttLite Craft Caddy Lamp two years ago, which I use everyday.  Now I have a portable light to take with me to stitching GTGs (get-togethers).

I didn't finish my dad's gift in time, but his birthday is in 12 days, so I'll give it to him then.  I finished the wire wheel thing on the top right.  Lots of backstitching!

So Many Tools update #14

I was spending lots of time decorating the tree, wrapping presents, baking cookies, and making fudge!

I also joined the Turtle Trot SAL hosted by BAP Attack.  We pick 13 WIPs/UFOs and stitch a little on each and post progress pics by the 13th of each month.  I listed my choices on my Turtle Trot 2013 page.

I had success with my eBay auctions of cross stitch and crewel kits.  Almost all of them sold.  The high seller was the Elegant Peacock crewel kit, which sold for $81!  Yippee!

Only one more tool!

Only one more tool stitched, that is!  There are still seven more to go!  Yikes!

So Many Tools update #13

I finished the red-handled tool on the right side.  I think it's a drill or nail gun.

Well, it looks like December 21st wasn't the end after all!  We still have time to stitch!

Happy Stitching and Merry Christmas, everyone!

WIPocalypse coming!

Too funny... just had to share!  I still have so many projects to finish before Friday!  Keep your needles busy, ladies!  We don't have much time left.

So Many Tools update!

Where has the time gone?  I didn't touch this for a week.  Last night I stitched the words on top and one unidentified tool with a green top.  Could it be some kind of brush?  I have no idea.

So Many Tools update #12

Will I finish it in time?  I still have 8 more tools to stitch and the words at the bottom, but only a week until Christmas!  I still want to stitch a few more ornaments, bake cookies, make fudge, decorate the tree, and wrap presents! Oh well, I always do better under pressure at the last minute.  Merry Christmas!

TUSAL #12 and cross stitch kits for sale!

My ORT jar is just about full from all of my stitching this year!  What will you do with your ORTs?  I bought these clear plastic ornaments to fill.  But I will also put the ORTs out for the birds in the spring so they can have colorful nests!

TUSAL #12

Remember to check in on Daffycat's blog with a link to your TUSAL update, too!

I finished this Kitty Wreath ornament just in time!  It is a birthday gift for my friend.  Now she'll have time to display it on her Christmas tree!

Kitty Wreath - FINISHED!

"Kitty Wreath"
Holiday Time
Started 2/16/2012, Finished 12/13/2012

After going through all my cross stitch stash to choose my new starts for January, I have decided to sell these kits on eBay.  (My eBay auctions)   I had so much fun picking the backgrounds to match the items I'm selling, so please take a look at them all!

Kits:
Eva Rosenstand/Clara Waever - Mini Bell Pull "Two Wreaths"
Maria van Scharrenburg - Element "Earth" (baby), Night (fairy)
Dimensions Gold Collection - Snowflake Elegance Ornaments, All is Calm, Teddy Bear Birth Record
Dimensions - Santa & Friends Ornaments, Teddy Treasures Ornaments
Janlynn - Daisy Girl, Teddy Bear & Apples, Dolly Mamas "Wild Oats"
Bucilla - Friendly Enemies
Needle Treasures - Hummel "Ring Around the Rosie"
Cross My Heart - Victorian Elegance "Rose Bouquet"
Sugarplum Express - Renoir Rabbit

Charts:
Imaginating - Wedding Ride
Mirage Studios - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (3 different charts)

Magazines:
Just Cross Stitch - 1994-1999 (6 issues) including Teresa Wentzler's Noah's Ark and Welcome

Crewel kits:
Creative Circle - Wooden Decoy (duck)
Dimensions - Patchwork and Rocker, Blue and Rust Bouquet, Elegant Peacock
Paragon - Springtime Bouquet

Does anyone stitch crewel designs anymore?  I thought these looked so pretty when I bought them, but they are huge and look very difficult with all the different types of stitching.  I think I'll just stick with X's for now!  Hopefully these crewel kits will find a new home next week!

Ultimate Crazy January Challenge 2013

I made a new a new page on my blog for January 2013.  The Crazy January Challenge is when you start a new project each day for the first 15 days of January, then try to finish them during the year.  Linda and I are in the Ultimate Crazy January Challenge, since we are going to start a new project every day in January!  You can join the Crazy January Challenge Yahoo Group and/or the CrosstitchCrazy2013 Facebook Group.

I'm also in the Turtle Trot SAL hosted by BAP-Attack.  We pick 13 WIPs and post progress pics by the 13th of each month in 2013.  I will choose some of the projects I already started and pick a few from my new starts in January.  I currently have 50 WIPs that you can see on my WIPocalypse page.  Oh, stitching is so much fun, isn't it? 

What do you think of my choices for next year?  Now I need to get the fabric and floss ready for my new starts.  Thank goodness some of them are kits with everything included.

I also finally went through all my stash and picked out lots of kits to sell on eBay.  I'll post again in a few days when I have them all ready.

Happy Stitching, everyone!

A little finish and So Many Tools update!

I finished this little ornament of Ariel, the Little Mermaid, for my niece.  My goal is to make a little Disney ornament for everyone in the family.  Not much time left!

Ariel - FINISHED!

"Ariel"

Disney kit by Janlynn

Started 2/22/2012, Finished 12/7/2012

So Many Tools update #11

This week I finished the wind-up tape measure in the top left corner and the set of wrenches on the bottom.  I also stitched one word.  It will say "So Many Tools" at the top and "So Little Time" at the bottom.

Back to stitching!

November 28-30, per Random Number Generator!

Well, I met my goal of stitching something different everyday in November using the Random Number Generator, but now I'm going to stop and concentrate on my SALs and Christmas gifts.  We only have three weeks to go!

November 28 - #13 First Love Wedding Record.  This was my Day #7 start in the Ultimate Crazy January Challenge.  I want to make this for my brother and his girlfriend, even though they haven't set a date yet!  Today I stitched the boy's chin and part of his face.  It's on 18 ct Ivory Aida.

First Love Wedding Record update #1

November 29 - #15 Star Wars.  This was my Day #9 start back in January. Today I finished Luke Skywalker.  He will be joined by Chewbacca, Han Solo, Princess Leia, C3P0, and R2D2. I bought this chart from Wee Little Stitches.  I'm stitching it on 14 ct blue Aida.

Star Wars update #1

November 30 - #44 C'est Noel.  This is a free chart from The Sampler Girl.  I'm using DMC Light Effects metallic floss in gold and other colors.  It's a real challenge to stitch with!  The fabric is hand-dyed dark green 14 ct Aida with sparkles.  I finished the words today.  There will be holly berries and leaves on both sides.

C'est Noel update #1

There are still lots of WIPs on my WIPocalypse page that didn't come up with the Random Number Generator.  I'll try to get back to those too, so they don't turn into UFOs!  Happy Holiday Stitching, everyone!

WIPocalypse update #12

I've had two more finishes since the last WIPocalypse update.  Check in on Measi's blog with a link to your update, too.  Thank goodness she's extending the WIPocalypse SAL into 2013, since I obviously didn't finish all my WIPs before the end of the world! LOL

BBQ Queen is finally finished!  It seems like I've been backstitching on her for days!  This was a SAL with Linda of Diane Arthurs designs.  She just finished Lady Liberty, too!

BBQ Queen - FINISHED!

"BBQ Queen"
Designed by Diane Arthurs
Imaginating
Started 1/4/2012, Finished 11/29/2012

I also finished Cherry for World of Charity Stitching.  This will go on a Fruits & Berries quilt.

Cherry - FINISHED!

This was So Many Tools at the last WIPocalypse update:

So Many Tools update #6

And here is So Many Tools now:

So Many Tools update #10

I also stitched on a different WIP every day in November by using the Random Number Generator to pick a number each day from my WIPocalypse page.  So please look there for current photos of all of my other WIPs besides the ones in this blog post!

November 25-27, per Random Number Generator!

I'm still looking forward to stitching something different everyday and letting the Random Number Generator make the choices!

November 25 - #38 Merry Christmas.  This is a chart that I won from Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe!  She is always having great giveaways and will be announcing a winner each day for the first 25 days in December!  I am using variegated garnet, DMC 115.  This will be pretty big when finished, 7.5" high and 19.5" long on 14 ct Ivory Aida.  I finished the letter C today.

Merry Christmas update #1

Merry Christmas update #1

November 26 - #35 Kitty Wreath.  I'm making this ornament for my friend.  She has a cat named Lucy who looks just like this one.

Kitty Wreath update #1

November 27 - #19 Gatitos (Spanish for Kittens).  I found this free chart on a Spanish website, nacaranta.com.  This will measure 4" x 12" on 16 ct Aida.  I think they're such cute kittens!  Today I stitched part of the pink bow.

Gatitos update #1

November 22-24, per Random Number Generator!

The Random Number Generator is choosing these numbers from my WIPocalypse page, which has the current photos of all of my WIPs.

November 22 - #4 Thai Dancer.  This kit by PINN is so nice!  The edges of the fabric are serged and all the floss is already sorted.  It has a glossy color chart so I have to mark it with a regular pen instead of a highlighter.  I didn't make a working copy.  This is on 14 ct Aspen green Aida.  I am stitching this one for myself because I think she's so cute!  This is a kit I bought many years ago, I think from The Stitchery catalog or Ebay.  I started her on Day #1 of the CJC 2011 and stitched a little bit more on Day #16 of the UCJC 2012.  Today I stitched the edge of her sleeve and part of her left arm.

Thai Dancer update #2

Thai Dancer update #2

November 23 - #31 All's Good in the 'Hood.  I bought this fun chart from Kincavel Krosses.  This will be a gift for my son instead of the typical "Home Sweet Home."  It made me laugh!  I'm using variegated garnet floss, DMC 115, on 14 ct Dirty Aida.  Today I stitched part of the border.

All's Good in the 'Hood update #1

November 24 - #11 Bird Nest (No 2).  This was my Day #5 start of the UCJC 2012.  I haven't touched it since.  This kit is from Yiota's XStitch in the UK.  I love birds and the color pink, so this seemed like the perfect combination!  Today I stitched the pink chest of the bird and part of the eggs or flowers.

Bird Nest (No 2) update #1

Bird Nest (No 2) update #1

November 19-21, per Random Number Generator!

The Random Number Generator has been choosing some small designs lately, but two nice ones to get into the Christmas spirit!

November 19 - #2 Bear Hug.  This is a very old kit from The Creative Circle that I started in 1988.  Did you ever go to one of their needlework home parties?  I went to a few of them and wanted to try all the cross stitch and needlepoint and crewel and candlewicking designs, too!  My friends and I were in our 20s and were always going to or having Tupperware parties, Princess House crystal parties, candle parties, kitchen gadget parties, House of Lloyd home decor and toy parties, and even a negligee and X-rated toy party!

I finished the little bear being hugged by the big bear.

Bear Hug update #1

November 20 - #33 Boule Pastel.  This is another free chart I found on a French blog, Le Blog de Vava. It is stitched on perforated paper.  Instead of pastel colors, I chose sparkly red and a yellow background.  I will add more green and red Christmas colors, too!

Boule Pastel update #1

November 21 - #49 Boules Baroques.  What a coincidence that the Random Number Generator chose another freebie from Le Blog de Vava!  I am stitching these ornaments on perforated paper with a single color of floss.  I finished one ornament using the color mauve.  I will put felt on the back and hang it with a ribbon.

Boules Baroques update #1

November 16-18, per Random Number Generator!

Happy Thanksgiving if you're in the USA!  I'll be cooking and baking and cleaning all night and day!  I won't be out shopping for Black Friday, but I plan to be home stitching and eating leftovers!

November 16 - #7 The Sorcerer.  I started this for the Crazy January Challenge 2011, then stitched a little more for the UCJC 2012.  This will be a gift for my best friend who loves wizards and dragons and castles.  I finished his face and beard today.

The Sorcerer update #1

November 17 - #26 Cut Thru' North Pole House.  I bought this kit from Bothy Threads in the UK, since I couldn't find it in the USA.  I will be happy to display this one for Christmas every year, and my future grandkids can have fun looking at all the little details!  Today I stitched the elf in the center.  This is on 14 ct light blue Aida.

Cut Thru' North Pole House update #1

Cut Thru' North Pole House update #1

 November 18 - #48 Merci.  This is another free chart I found on a French blog HERE.  I will stitch Merci and Thank You and put them back to back and hang from a ribbon.  It is on 14 ct Mint Parfait Aida and stitched with variegated pink floss.  This will be a gift for my daughter.  Today I stitched the left border and finished the flower.

Merci update #1

Merci update #1

 I bought my Q-Snap covers from Christine's Q-Snap Huggies.  She sews them all herself and I love them!

Cherry finish and 3 more tools!

Yippee!  I finished Cherry for the Fruits & Berries quilt for World of Charity Stitching.  It is about 6" square.  This is a free design from Ann Logan in the Czech Republic.  Click HERE and scroll down to Existing Albums for lots of great free charts!

Cherry - FINISHED!

"Cherry"
Designed by Ann Logan
Ann's Cross-Stitch Patterns
Started 10/10/2012, Finished 11/19/2012

This week I stitched a mallet, vice grip pliers, and the little keychain thing (what's it called?).  There are 14 tools left and 5 weeks until Christmas!

So Many Tools update #9

November 13-15, per Random Number Generator!

I'm having so much fun using the Random Number Generator to help me decide what to stitch each day!  I'm glad that so many WIPs are getting more attention now, instead of just sitting in a box and waiting.

November 13 - #9 Hummingbird.  This is a free chart by Teresa Wentzler and can be found HERE.  I started this on Day #3 of the UCJC.  It is on 16 ct Angel Blush Aida and will be 4.25" square.  The leaves and flowers are stitched over 2, and the hummingbird will be stitched over 1.  I did all the green in the leaves today.  The white border is done with perle cotton.

Hummingbird update #2

November 14 - #22 Cut Thru' Pirate Ship.  This was my Day #23 start of the Ultimate Crazy January Challenge, but after my first day of stitching, I realized that the fabric was turned the wrong way!  So today I did some reverse stitching and frogged out everything I had stitched before.  It's time for a fresh start!  It seemed to take me all day to get these stitches out on 18 ct Aida and I'm frustrated, so I'm going to put it away for now.  You can buy the chart in the USA HERE.

Cut Thru' Pirate Ship (fabric turned the wrong way)

Cut Thru' Pirate Ship (ready to start again)

November 15 - #37 Dance of the Geckos.  I found this free cross stitch chart HERE.  I started this one in the Super Duper Ultimate Crazy February Challenge but haven't touched it since.  It will be a gift for my mom and is stitched on 14 ct black Aida using DMC Light Effects floss.  I finished the purple gecko, but it still needs gold metallic floss for the eyes and the design on its back.  There will be two more geckos in other colors.

Dance of the Geckos update #1

November 10-12, per Random Number Generator!

I hope to finish some more of my Ultimate Crazy January Challenge starts before the end of the year.  The Random Number Generator chose these designs.  It's still fun to see the winning number pop up!

November 10 - #21 Pac-Man.  The only video games I ever played at the arcade were Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, very simple ones with only a joystick.  I couldn't handle anything more complicated than that!  Does anyone remember back in the day when you had to go somewhere and bring quarters to play pinball machines and video games?  This was hundreds of years ago before you could play video games in your own home!  I stitched more yellow and light blue outlining.  This is on 14 ct black Aida.  I'm making this one for me!

Pac-Man update #1

November 11 - #47 Leo.  This is a free chart from Stitch Alley.  I started this one in February and today I stitched more of the lion's head.  I'm making this one for my daughter, since her zodiac sign is Leo.  It is simple black on red 14 ct Aida.

Leo update #1

November 12 - #41 Noel.  I started this ornament in February but haven't touched it since.  Today I stitched the letters E and L.  I'm glad the Random Number Generator picked this one to stitch.  In fact, I'm happy whatever WIP is chosen!

Noel update #1

Three more tools and TUSAL #11 update!

This week I finished the power drill, wrench, and C-clamp.  That leaves 17 tools to go and 6 weeks until Christmas!  My ORT jar for the year is filling up nicely!  I've been happily stitching every day!

TUSAL #11

So Many Tools update #8

Remember to check in on Daffycat's blog with a link to your TUSAL update, too!