WIP/UFO Progress Report

Unlike my previous posts under this title, I am unable to cross anything off the lost.  As any inveterate list maker knows, crossing items off a list is one of the purer pleasures in life.  But, alas, not today.   I did make progress on Scherzo.

1. Lori Birmingham's Pansy Garden Nantucket Style Basket (2005 CATS project)
2. Catherine Jordan's Pretty Picot Edges (2006 CATS project)
3.  Karen Bovard's Filet Lace (2006 CATS project)
4. Peyote stitch bracelet (Willow Tree, Boothbay Harbor , Maine)
5. 2007 Stitcher's Hideaway at Mystic Victoria Sampler projects: a stitchers pocket, biscornu, needlebook and fob
6. 2009 Stitcher's Hideaway at Mystic Brightneedle's Ghoulies and Ghosts Etui and accessories.
7. 2010 Stitcher's Hideaway at Sturbridge.  Victoria Sampler's Sturbridge Box and accessories.
8. 2012 Stitcher's Hideaway Martha Washington Sampler.
9. 2013 Stitcher's Hideaway Victoria Sampler's Christmas Sampler
10.  2014 Stitcher's Hideaway Brightneedle Kindred Spirits Sewing Journal.
11. The Jacobean Elegance afghan - with 15 more squares to be stitched.
12. Making Waves needlepoint project - with more than 3/4s of the bargello rows and more than 2/3s of the eyelet area to be stitched.
13. My own design, Fertile Circles needle book, the back panel needs finishing.
14. My own design, Beach Find Pansies, to be completed and incorporated into an embellished crazy quilt square
15. Whispered by the Wind Scherzo.  Started 1-13-16.  MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS.  
    
16. Another needlepoint project, Rice Pudding, using many variations of the rice stitch.
17. Yet another needlepoint project, an Owl, again a project using lots of specialty stitches.
18. Piper's Christmas stocking  adapted from a Dimensions kit.
19. HAED's The Tangle Fairy, barely started
20. Morning Glory The Sheltering Tree.  

Nearing the Finish Line

I've used four of my six skeins of Blue Spruce and have started on the fifth.  I have stitched a little over 2/3 of the design.  This design is addictive.  I am compelled to stitch just one more element and than one more and so on.  With all the handling, the rather stiff Monaco has softened up enough so that I am no longer injuring my forefinger with each stab of the needle.  But the whole experience reminds me why I prefer linen.  Unfortunately, I have two more pieces of Monaco in stash which my frugal soul will insist on using up.  A quick pre-wash will remove most of the sizing and, one hopes, most of the problem.

I need to attend to some chores but if I have time to stitch tonight, I'll concentrate on the corner motifs and the roses.  

UFO/WIP Progress Report

For 2016, I have merged my class project and UFO/WIP into one master list.  The class pieces dropped off my radar last year and I want to avoid that this year.  For now, I'll track progress weekly, on Sunday evenings.

1. Lori Birmingham's Pansy Garden Nantucket Style Basket (2005 CATS project)
2. Catherine Jordan's Pretty Picot Edges (2006 CATS project)
3.  Karen Bovard's Filet Lace (2006 CATS project)
4. Peyote stitch bracelet (Willow Tree, Boothbay Harbor , Maine)
5. 2007 Stitcher's Hideaway at Mystic Victoria Sampler projects: a stitchers pocket, biscornu, needlebook and fob
6. 2009 Stitcher's Hideaway at Mystic Brightneedle's Ghoulies and Ghosts Etui and accessories.
7. 2010 Stitcher's Hideaway at Sturbridge.  Victoria Sampler's Sturbridge Box and accessories.
8. 2012 Stitcher's Hideaway Martha Washington Sampler.
9. 2013 Stitcher's Hideaway Victoria Sampler's Christmas Sampler
10.  2014 Stitcher's Hideaway Brightneedle Kindred Spirits Sewing Journal.
11. The Jacobean Elegance afghan - with 15 more squares to be stitched.
12. Making Waves needlepoint project - with more than 3/4s of the bargello rows and more than 2/3s of the eyelet area to be stitched.
13. My own design, Fertile Circles needle book, the back panel needs finishing.
14. My own design, Beach Find Pansies, to be completed and incorporated into an embellished crazy quilt square
15. Whispered by the Wind Scherzo.  Started 1-13-16.  MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS.  
16. Another needlepoint project, Rice Pudding, using many variations of the rice stitch.
17. Yet another needlepoint project, an Owl, again a project using lots of specialty stitches.
18. Piper's Christmas stocking  adapted from a Dimensions kit.
19. HAED's The Tangle Fairy, barely started
20. Morning Glory The Sheltering Tree.  JUST NEED TO FINISH THE OVER ONE LETTERING.

Scherzo

This Whispered by the Wind piece is my newest start.  I've had the chart for several years, one of those someday projects.  Now that I am retired, someday is finally here.  I am using the recommended WDW Blue Spruce.  I have 6 skeins in the same dye lot.  Both chart and floss were gifts from a Secret Sister exchange.  Instead of the recommended 28 count antique white linen, I am using 28 count white Monaco.  It's been a long time since I have used this 100% cotton fabric.  I'd forgotten how sturdy and stiff it can be, slowing down the stitching experience.  Using a size 26 needle instead of my usual size 28 helps.

First Finishes of 2016

I have finished the mystery sampler.  I had to eliminate some of the charted cartouches to adapt the chart to the size of my linen.   I switched the animals about somewhat, choosing my favorites: peacock, dog parakeets, owl, robin, rabbit and squirrel, stitched in soft and bright pastels,  I filled in the empty spaces with motifs stitched in the same Blue Lagoon I used for the cartouches.  It was necessary to tinker with the motif as well, turning the roses on their side, changing the squat loving cup into a slender chalice and adding a bunch of grapes.  I wish I could provide more of a provenance for this design.  I seem to recall downloading it from one of the French free sites ... it definitely seems to be in that style.  In any case the final result is very different from the original chart.

The next finish is from Donna of By the Bay. .  I used WDW 30 count Periwinkle linen and Belle Soie silks, mainly Indigo with Boysenberry ans Lilac.  The simple words Slow Down looked pretty naked on the linen so I added a border of my own design, accenting it with some beads in the same shade as the deepest tone in the Boysenberry.  The corner treatment is a simple Rhpdes rectangle
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And there's this one day wonder from Samplers and Such: Bitty Baskets ABC Sampler, a sampler designed to be finished as a pin keep but which I will finish as a jar top.  I used Aurora 32 count linen and Caron Waterlilies Tahiti for a subtle tone on tone [in part] effect which looks much better in reality than in this photograph.  In real life, the pale melon in the floss doesn't fade quite so badly into the background linen.

I seem to be choosing my projects to use up the odd scraps of linen I have on hand.  I guess it's a sort of New Year's sweep and clean up effort.  This latest finish is from Homespun Elegance:
Country Spirits Birds and Bees,   .  I used my Belle Soie silks instead of the recommended DMC.  They are Beanstalk, Chocolate, Cinnamon Stick, Lasagna, Old Crow and Scarecrow.  I still have an extensive stash of partial cards of Belle Soie and am using them for all my small to medium projects: waste not, want not.




All I need to finish this last piece are two Olde Brass bee charms but that will have to wait till I have the time to put together an order.  I need some scroll rods, the proper linens for Sleepy Hollow and the Workbasket Quaker animals.  I'll need a quiet moment to sit down and make up a complete list of my needs for the next few months.

Summing Up 2015

I am way behind with my usual year-in-review posts for some reason.  Perhaps the very poor performance noted in the Annual Goals review was demoralizing but I shall soldier on and take a clear-eyed look at a stitching review.  It wasn't exactly a banner year.

BAPs:  Total 1.  SANQ The English Band Sampler

Medium to Large Sized Projects:  Total 2 Large and 7 Medium.  Dragon Dreams' Dragon of the Summer Sky, Workbasket Quaker Owl, Workbasket Quaker Bat. Sue Donnelly's Best Ships sampler,  Prairie Schooler Primitive Americana: Elephant, Donkey, Sweet Land of Liberty Sampler, Uncle Sam, and Lady Liberty, CEC The Swimming Instructor, Plum Street Sampler Be True,  La-D-Da Something Wicked, Counted Illuminations The Goblin Market

Smalls:  Total: 26.  M Designs Name Tree: Sean.  Sue Donnelly's Making Waves at Sturbridge scissor fob. Ginny Thompson's Sampler ornament.   Cross My Heart Mint Tea Towel.  Morning Glory Needleworks Buttoned Heart pin cushion. Mill Hill Daffodil Easter Egg.   Cross Eyed Cricket's Ice Cream Carrot.  Victoria Sampler's Mystic Smalls: Scissor Fob.  PS Year Round: December, October, September,July, June, May, April, March, February and January.  PS Queen Bee,   PS promo Stars and Stripes.  Town Square series The Acededarium,  The Creamery and Sandie's Sweet Shop.  J. Douglas Halloween Acorn House,  Stitcher's Hideaway 2-13 Christmas Ornament.  Jeanette Douglas' Christmas Tree Ornament.  

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Needlepomt: Total: 0

Crochet: Total: 1.  Liam's Crib Blanket

Sewing Finishes.  Total: 6.  Sue Donnelly's 2015 Making Waves souvenir scissor fob..  Morning Glory buttoned heart pincushion.  By the Bay's Acorn ornament.  Town Square series ornaments: The Pet Store, The Quilt Shop and The Silversmith.  Town Square series ornaments: The Fishmonger's Shop, the Gourmet Shop, Flocking to Knit.  Prairie Schooler Santa ornament.

This was probably my least productive year in decades.  I'll chalk it up to health issues and hope for a better 2016.