January WIPocalypse update

Once again, I am late to post for a stitching group.  I think it's my thing.

At any rate, I thought I would share a quick snap of my progress on my biggest WIPocalypse project, Richmond Sampler.  I finished the grass and now I am moving on the the house.  I can feel a finish and it is exciting!  Sorry for the wrinkles but I thought I would wait to iron her when she is finished.

Thank you one and all for the kind comments on my previous post.  I have been derelict in my blogging as of late but please know your comments really do make me smile!

Have a great week! 

A Little Richmond Progress

Happy Sunday!

The weather is beautiful here in the Shenandoah.  The sun is shining, the birds are chirping.  If I did not know better I would think it was spring and not the first of January!  Oh, well.  I am sure Mother Nature has a trick or two up her sleeve and hopefully one of those tricks is SNOW!  Bring it on!

I have been busy stitching away on Richmond Sampler.  I thought that I would share a quick picture...

Those little horsemen gave me a fit.  Figures that the men would be a problem.  After staring at the graph and my linen for multiple hours analyzing how I should approach those little men, I decided to re-visit my pictures of the original sampler.  I am glad that I took so many pictures when I went to view the original Richmond Sampler at the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia.  As I looked over pictures and analyzed Anne Maria Clarke's original stitches I realized that Anne Maria fudged her stitches quite a bit.  They were far from perfect so I figured if fudging was good enough for Anne Maria, then it was good enough for me.  I marched over to my stitching stand, picked up my needle and just stitched the darned things.  They may not be perfect but they are done. 

I am about two-thirds finished with the grass.  After that I will move on to the house and then I will be finished!  WOO HOO!  I cannot wait!

Thank you for all of the kind comments and a huge welcome to my new followers!  Thank you for taking the time to visit my little blog.  I hope that everyone has a wonderful week. 

Happy Stitching!

New Year Plans, Hopes and Dreams

Hello dear stitchers!

I hope that everyone is enjoying a fabulous New Year!  Hubby and I spent New Year's Eve snuggled up on the couch with chips and salsa and one of my favorite wines.  Calm.  Quiet.  Perfect.

Stitching was definitely on the agenda last night as well.  I started with my SAL piece, "The Sparrow"  and ended the evening with Richmond Sampler.  Yes, I am still stitching away on Richmond but there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Seriously!  BRIGHT light at the end of the tunnel.  I will share progress soon.

I decided to take the plunge and sign up for Measi's WIPocalypse challenge.  Lord knows I have plenty of WIP's so why not challenge myself to finish them?  As I went through my stash, I realized that I did not have as many WIP's and UFO's as previously thought.  So, that was a nice surprise!  I have compiled a list of WIP's - old and new - that I plan to focus on.  I also added in a few new projects that I would like to start in the new year.  I realize that I will not start all of the new projects but I thought I could at least list the possibilities!  So, here is my list...

WIP's already started:

Richmond Sampler - The Essamplaire (almost there!)
Rebecah French - The Essamplaire (1/3 finished)
The Sparrow - Tree of Life Samplings (2/3 finished)
Family Record Sampler - Hester's Needle (1/4 finished)
Twenty-Third Psalm - Vera K (2/3finished)
Nantucket Rose - Lavender and Lace (2/3 finished)
Santa and the Merry Animals - Homespun Elegance (a few stitches)
Cynthia Burr - The Essamplaire (this probably won't see the light of day in 2012, but a girl can dream)

A wish list of projects that I would like to start in 2012:
(Note - it is highly doubtful that I will start more than two or three of these projects...but a girl can dream!)
Shores of Hawk Run Hollow - Carriage House Samplings
272 Words - Primrose Needleworks
Elisabeth Hoover - Scarlet Letter
Of Female Arts - Primitive Needle
Peppermint Twist - Little House Needleworks
Winter Sheep - Little House Needleworks
Other ornaments - TBD

As you can see my wish list of starts contains quite a few BAP's.  Therefore, I have chosen to also participate in Becky's BAP challenge.  Hey, if I am going to indulge in a BAP, might as well do it with other BAPers, right?  However, I have promised myself that I will not start another BAP until I finish Richmond Sampler.  A little incentive never hurt anyone, right?

I realize my goals are pretty lofty and quite honestly, if I can get four or five of my WIP's finished this year and a half dozen ornaments stitched, I will consider it a good year.  Several of my WIP's are dangerously close to being finished (I consider "dangerously close" to be over half finished - yeah, I am generous) so finishing four or five should not be a terrible stretch.  Here's hoping. 

My New Year's Stitching Resolution is to revisit my goals, make changes if necessary and figure out what to focus on each month.  I am generally not that organized but I love my stitching too much to keep putting it on the back burner. 

Now, I thought I would leave you with a few snaps of my Christmas presents... 

"One Stitch at a Time"

Jim Shore

 I collect Jim Shore Santas and my needle worker is right at home with them!  Of course, she will stay out all year!

 My Longaberger Sewing Notions Basket - it is a discontinued basket but hubby found one for me!

 It came with the wonderful liner/dividers

 Lovely presents from my friend, Robin.  Am I not just the luckiest girl?  I love the pillow and it has a place of honor right beside my stitching chair.  Penny America contains all of the beautiful threads so we can stitch it together as one of our SAL's

Robin remembered my love of brownies so she found this delectable recipe book.  I have not tried the

recipes yet, but I promise it will be soon!  They are very famous brownies...listed as one of Oprah's Favorite Things.  Hey, if they are good enough for Oprah, then they must be good enough for me!

Thanks to everyone for your kind comments and well wishes for the holiday season.  I look forward to catching up with everyone very soon!

Happy Stitching!