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!