2014 WIPocalypse Begins!

Because I have SOOOOO many WIPs/UFOs and I just started blogging again, I thought joining in on the 2014 WIPocalypse would be great motivation to keep me on track. 

As far a a brief introduction, I learned to cross-stitch from my mother when I was in the 7th grade - that was...a long time ago!  I  have a problem with starting new things before I finish what I'm working on (look shiny!).  I had someone in a stitching group a long time ago who called me a "project slut", and she was right!

Over the years I also learned how to bead, knit, spin, and most recently QUILT!  I have the same "project slut" problem with those pursuits as well!

This year DH and I will celebrate out 25th wedding anniversary (yes, I was young).  We are kitty parents and currently have nine babies.  Six of them are recent additions.  In May of last year we discovered a kitten born to a feral momma who had a litter the year before under our deck.  DH was able to catch her, and we tamed her and fell in love.  That's Elora.  Over the next couple of months, we discovered she had three sisters (they all look very much alike!), and 8 nieces/nephews born to two older sisters from the momma's first litter that we didn't attempt to catch (our bad!).  All last summer we caught and tamed kittens (12 of them!), and got two of the momma's trapped, fixed and released.  The third momma unfortunately disappeared when we took her kittens.  We were able to adopt out half of the kittens, but ended up keeping the rest.  Luckily we have a large, multi-level house and everyone gets along.

So, back to the task at hand. Wednesday evening I pulled out a few WIPs to focus on this year. I know I'll probably add more as the year goes on, but I wanted to start with these six.

My current WIP is my Bent Creek Snowglobe Mantle that I started on Boxing Day. I've already stitched parts 1 and 2, and I hope to have this finished by the end of the month.  It's so much fun to stitch!  

I have a couple more zipper/zippie kits in my stash and they are great for when you want to work on something fun, fast, and not too challenging.

I'd also like to finish this one by Little House Needlework's called Forest Snowfall sometime this winter.  I started it in December and put it aside for my new Bent Creek kit. (Photo bomb brought to you by Willow!)

Next on my list is this 17th Century English Stuart Garden by Liz Turner Diehl.  I don't remember when I started it, it has to be more than 5 years ago, but it was almost finished and I got bogged down in the detached button hole leaves!  I just need to buck up and do it. I could probably finish it in a day or two. 

I have three more of these garden kits in my stash. My original thought was that I could frame them the same and hang them together - I should probably start another one as soon as I get this finished.

Next up was also on my WIP/UFO list last year, and I got some fairly good progress!  It's Little House Needlework's The Family Sampler. I was at a bit of a loss about what to do with the "family" section. I started it when the chart was first released in 2010, and at the time we had 5 kitties. By the time I picked this back up again last December, we had lost two of them. I brought it out Wednesday evening and talked to DH about it and we jointly decided it will become our 25th Anniversary sampler and I'll put all 9 of our current babies on here. I aim to get this finished by our anniversary in April. 

Here's where I started last year (I took this pic mid-January, and I had several weeks worth of work on it, which is why there is stitching in the rolled up part).

And here is where I am now - the people/animals are skipped, but there really isn't much left to do!











Also on my list from last year is The Drawn Thread Sanctuary. I started this about 9 years ago. The Drawn Thread is one of my most favorite designers to stitch, and I always enjoy myself when I pick this back up to work on.

Here's where it was at the beginning of last year.

 And here's where it is now.

This Blackbird Designs Easter Parade was also on last year's list, but I didn't get any stitches in it. It's on 40 count - what was I thinking? LOL

 It will be lovely when it's done, but definitely requires a bit more concentration.

Added to my list this year is Prairie Moon Thine is the Trick and the Treat. If I remember correctly, this is also on 40 count. I started this soon after the chart was released.

That gives me a bit to work on!  I'd also like to finish up one of my old Round Robin's - I have quite a few to choose from. I've set a goal to stitch for a least 15 minutes EVERY day. So far I've been able to stick with that, even if it means I go to bed just a bit later. 

I've always loved the saying 'Til needle, thread and fabric meet, I cannot count my day complete, and even just a tiny bit of stitching helps make me feel better!