NeedlepointCategory Archives

2008 Stitching Year in Review

WOO HOO! I can’t believe it, but I actually managed to decrease my total number of WIPs (works in progress) by ONE last year!! Hey, that’s realllllly good for me as most years I end up with more than I started. On top of that, of the 21 new starts I had in 2008, I actually finished 12 of them within the same year which is also equally amazing for me!

In looking over my spreadsheet, I definitely have some older, more long-standing WIPs that I need to pull out and show some love to in the near future. One of my stitching goals for 2009 is to knock some more off my current WIP list and cut back on the number of new starts. Ideally, I would like to get my outstanding WIPs down to 15 or less which means finishing at least 7 more projects that I start in 2009.

There is a tradition among the online stitching community of having “Guilt-Free January”. During the month of January, you are free to start as many new projects as you like free of all guilt. I haven’t actually decided yet if I’m going to participate this year. I have plenty of projects I really love already started. I think I want to focus on them for a while instead, especially since I’m sure I’ll be starting a couple of new class projects in early February when I go on the stitching cruise with a group from my LNS.

In case you are interested in a bit more detail of how my 2008 stitching year went, here are the numbers & info:

WIPs Beginning 2008	23
New Starts in 2008	21
Finished/Retired in 2008	22
WIPs Beginning 2009	22

2008 Finishes:

Quaker Quarterly Exchange – Ackworth
B is for Bunny – The Sweetheart Tree
Tiny Little Quaker - Papillon Creations
Stitcher’s Chicken – Sisters & Best Friends
Broom Hilda’s Hat - Margaret Bendig
Hannah Beeby test swatch (finished into floss tag)
Dazzle – Margaret Bendig (needlepoint)
Lilies Quilt Corner – SHEAR Creations (needlepoint)
La Petite Holidays Halloween – Curtis Boehringer (shop model for LNS)
Samplar Noel – Fancy Works
A Christmas Wish – Blue Ribbon Designs
Gingerbread Cottage – Country Cottage Needleworks
Coffin Buzz - Plum Street Samplers
Peace – Elizabeth’s Designs
November Twirls – Bent Creek (adapted to say Autumn Twirls)
Where There is Hope – Little House Needleworks
Christmas Tree – Jane Chandler
Snowman – Prairie Schooler
Ellen’s Hat in Noro yarn (knitting) – all 3 hats are pictured together (l to r)
Ellen’s Hat in Paton’s SWS (knitting)
Ellen’s Hat in Bernat Satin (knitting)

Hopefully I can have an equally productive 2009 with my stitching. Of course, since getting my Kindle, I haven’t been stitching nearly as much as I’ve been reading.

2 January 2009

Cross Stitch, Needlepoint

2 comments

Broom Hilda’s Hat

I got my Broom Hilda’s Hat back from the finisher today. I *love* how it turned out. She did a fabulous job and I adore the fabric she used for the lining. Here are particulars about the piece as well as pictures of it before (post stitching) and after the finishing.

Designer: Margaret Bendig
Canvas: 18 mono
Fiber: Rainbow Gallery Mandarin Floss

Before Finishing:

After Finishing:

I also picked up a couple of new charts for my stash when I was at the shop today. The first was on a complete no brainer for me. Since I’ve already stitched “B is for Bunny” by Sandy of The Sweetheart Tree, I just couldn’t resist picking up her latest “A Bevy of Bunnies”.

The other chart is Quakers & Quilts from Rosewood Manor. I’m only planning to stitch the “Only Quaker” version of the chart and won’t be including the quilt squares.

4 October 2008

Needlepoint

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Stitching Update

Since I’ve been focusing so much lately on my weight loss & fitness journey, I haven’t provided a stitching update in quite some time. I am still stitching, but obviously not as much since a lot of my free time is now spent either at the gym or in the pool.

I have finished a couple of pieces since my last update. One is the very first painted canvas piece I ever attempted. It’s an ornament called “Lilie’s Quilt Corner” from SHEAR Creations. Here’s a pic of my finished piece (as always, you can click any of the photos below for a larger view):

I also finished another cross stitch piece as well. It’s the Halloween design from the La Petite Holidays series by Curtis Boehringer. I made a couple of fiber changes from the charted design. I used an over-dyed fiber for the jack-o-lantern, and I used a combination of DMC 310 & black Wisper for the cat.

I’ve put in a big more stitching time lately on my Taj Mahal Mandala Garden by Chatelaine. I’d forgotten just how much I love this design until I picked it up to work on it some more. Here’s my latest progress pic at 72 hours of stitching time:

I’ve also been taking the opportunity at the last couple of stitching Sundays at my LNS to learn some new techniques. I’m learning to do Hardanger, and I also learned how to stitch a plaid design in needlepoint. Here are a couple of pics:

In one last bit of stitching news, I have decided I am clearly a stitching masochist. As if I didn’t have enough BAP’s (big ass projects) already, I picked up the supplies for yet another one. It’s Nova by Genny Morrow Designs. The chart book calls for using 18-count canvas, but I’ve decided to stitch mine on 24-count Congress Cloth instead. This project will also be my first experience with using scroll bars.

Well, I guess that’s it on the stitching front for now. Until next time …

19 July 2008

Cross Stitch, Needlepoint

7 comments

Ta-Da! & Lots of Other Stuff

Ok, so I’m a few days late posting this, but I had a needlepoint happy dance earlier this week. I finished this piece on Monday and really like how it turned out. I’m planning to put it into the lid of a wooden box. This means I’ve now completed 4 out of 10 projects for my WIP Killer Challenge.

The piece is called Dazzle and is by local designer Margaret Bendig. She is in the process of having a website created, so once it goes live, I’ll post a link.

I’ve also been spending some time on my lunch hours this week on my latest diversion. It’s a crossword puzzle I received from Nick. It’s literally titled the “World’s Largest Crossword Puzzle” and contains over 28,000 clues. Thankfully it isn’t in one huge piece. It’s made up of 6 different panels each measuring 2.33 feet by 3.5 feet. I taped the first panel up onto the wall behind my cubicle. It’s become pretty popular with a couple of my office mates as well, so it should be fun to see how long it actually takes us all to finish it.

Warning: What follows in the next section is a bit of a plus size clothing rant. If you aren’t interested in hearing my rant, skip this part.

[rant on]

Why is it that plus size clothing, most especially activewear for exercising, is so fucking expensive?! Yes, I realize that there are more costs in making larger sizes as it requires more fabric, but come on?! It surely can’t cost double, yet that’s what I find myself paying. It just ain’t right, I say!

For example, I have been wanting to get a running skirt. I happened to get a catalog from Champion which listed their Women’s 14″ Performance Skort at $25. Of course, it’s only offered up to a size 16. I need a size 22/24. So, instead I ordered a QuikWik® Power Play Skirt from Junonia which set me back $50. I ordered the skirt, a pair of QuikWik® running capris, and 2 QuikWik® t-shirts. With shipping, it came to nearly $200 for 4 freakin’ items.

It just seems SOOOOO wrong to spend that much money on workout gear, but there just aren’t many options for those of us over a size 16/18 when it comes to activewear. I guess that should just help inspire me all the more to get rid of the extra pounds, but it just frustrates me more than anything else! But, since I need the proper type of wicking clothing for training, I pony up the money they ask. (sigh)

[rant off]

I realized today that I’ve been very remiss in updating my status on my 50 day no cheat challenge with my eating plan. Yes, I’m still on track and going strong. Today is day 46 for me. I can’t believe it’s been nearly a week since I posted my stats! So, in closing, here they are for the past 5 days:

Saturday:

Total Points: 29.5
Exercise: None – rest day prior to tomorrow’s 5k
Weekly Points balance: 35
Water: 64 oz
Days OP: 41

Sunday:

Total Points: 36 (used 5 APs and 1 WP)
Exercise: 5k race (54:24) – 5 APs
Weekly Points balance: 34
Water: 64 oz
Days OP: 42

Monday:

Total Points: 26
Exercise: Post-race rest day
Weekly Points balance: 35
Water: 64 oz
Days OP: 43

Tuesday:

Total Points: 32 (used 2 AP’s)
Exercise: 27 mins stationary bike (2 AP) & 18 mins brisk walking (2 AP)
Weekly Points balance: 35
Water: 80 oz
Days OP: 44

Wednesday:

Total Points: 29.5
Exercise: 27 mins stationary bike (2 AP)
Weekly Points balance: 35
Water: 48 oz
Days OP: 45

Until next time …

17 April 2008

Challenges, Misc., Needlepoint, Weight Loss/Fitness

6 comments

A New Start

Yes, I’m fully aware that I’ve not yet completed my WIP Killer Challenge, but I started a new project. Today is the first day of the Hannah Beeby 1816 SAL that I signed up for several weeks ago. This was one of my planned exceptions for my WIP Killer Challenge. I’ve been so looking forward to actually starting this piece that I got up a little bit early today so I could start on it this morning.

Ok, so I realize it’s not much, but it’s a start. I’m pretty sure I’ve already mentioned my fabric & fiber choice, but if not, I’m stitching this over 2 on 36-count Tundra from Lakeside Linen. I’m using 1 strand of Snoqualmie Falls overdyed cotton from Needle Necessities. I still don’t think I’m capturing the color of the fabric that well in my photos. According to the Lakeside Linen site, the approximate DMC equivalent for it is 3024.

I did manage to get in some good stitching time over the weekend as well. I put in more time on my Dazzle canvas project. I’m really loving how this piece is coming together. Since it’s nice size square when finished, I plan to use this as a topper for a wooden box. Here’s my latest progress pic for it:

You KNOW I have to give a March Madness update, too. My beloved Vols pulled out the win over Butler in overtime. It was a real nail-biter, but we did it! The East region is pretty much going as one would expect. The 1-4 seeds are all through to the Sweet Sixteen. So, now it’s on to Charlotte where we’ll face off against Louisville. If we can win that game, then we’ll face off in the Elite Eight against the winner of the North Carolina – Washington State game to see who will be off to the Final Four to represent the East region.

I’m doing pretty well in my bracket pool, too. In my most successful bracket (I submitted 3), I’ve correctly picked 35 of 48 games thus far. I’m in 2nd place so far. I’m actually trying to defend my title since I won last year.

In closing, here is Sunday’s WW stats:

Total Points: 31.5
Exercise: 45 minutes stationary bike – 3 APs
Weekly Points balance: 35
Water: 16 oz
Days OP: 21

Until next time …

24 March 2008

Cross Stitch, Misc., Needlepoint

2 comments

Silkweaver Sunday

I received my Silkweaver grab bag that I ordered recently in the mail yesterday. I didn’t get around to really looking at the fabrics until today. I think most of them are fabrics I can definitely put to use. Here’s a photo of what I received:

Today has been a fairly low key day for me. I got together with Darla for a late breakfast. While we were there, she showed the the fabric and fibers she’s selected for the Quaker Turtles from Ellen Chester of With My Needle. I also handed off her copy of the Hannah Beeby 1816 chart to her. We’re both participating in a SAL that starts tomorrow, so we decided to order together to save ourselves a little bit on shipping.

I have managed to get in some time on Dazzle the past couple of days, too. It’s too dark tonight already to try and get a decent photo, so I’ll take one in the morning to post tomorrow. It’s really coming along quite nicely, IMO.

On the weight loss front, I tried a really tasty new cereal yesterday. It’s Fiber One Caramel Delight. For a high fiber cereal, it was amazingly tasty and nothing like a typical cereal from that category. I don’t know how often I’ll actually eat it with milk though. It’s definitely one of those cereals that will be tasty dry as a crunchy snack food. Here are the basic nutritional stats for it:

Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 180
Total Fat: 3g
Fiber: 9g (Total Carbs: 41g, Sugar: 10g)

Saturday’s WW stats:

Total Points: 31.5
Exercise: 2 miles walking & 35 mins bike riding – 4 APs
Weekly Points balance: 35
Water: 64 oz
Days OP: 20

Until next time …