Full Moon - Third Month

As I was driving to work this morning, the full moon was large, beautiful and just going down past the horizon. It made me think that this is one the last mornings I will see the full moon on my way to work in the morning until next winter. Full moons mean one thing around here - it's time for another WIPocalypse update. This month hasn't been as exciting as last month. (I still need to do happy dance posts for my nephews pieces.) I haven't even framed Swirly Sampler yet, but taking advantage of a sale at a local frame shop, I have the frame ready to go. I just need to stretch the piece and it's ready to go.

Not as much in the way of happy dances this month, but I can't only have months with three pieces that are days away from happy dances. So what has been worked on this month?

In Progress
1.  Newborn Joy

I haven't worked on since the last update. So much for my fantasy of finishing it. However, the plan is to finish it in the month of March

2. Blackwork Sampler
Very pleased with the progress on this one. I have only one section left to complete. A couple of good stitching sessions (and the Brier - curling - is on, so lots of good stitching time) and it should be done.
Last Month:

This Month:

No Progress
1. My Way Canvas Work
2. Once Upon a Time - have decided that this is the next one to get worked on after Newborn Joy is done.

New Starts
1. "M" is for Mother - no news
2. Fairy Moon - no news
3. Lost in the Garden - no news
4. Victorian Garden - no news
5. Nothing new has caught my eye and demanded to be started this month. I did on Leap Day buy 10 new patterns from Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED) and Patterns On Line.

That's all folks and have a wonderfully stitchy month.

I Knit on Fridays

Last week I stopped at my local yarn store (aka lys) which is also the closest thing to a needlework store we have in this city (lns). The owner was surprised to hear that I was there to buy yarn. I told her it was Friday and "I knit in Fridays."

So it is Friday again and tonight I knit. I knit with a group that meets at a local coffee shop. I thought I would tell you a little bit about my current prices and future plans.

While I have avoided the whole "oh look, shiny"distraction with my needlework, it struck with my knitting last week. I have decided to knit a dog.

Month of Crafts

Apparently March is the Month of Crafts. While I'm primarily a needleworker, I do like my crafts. I haven't done any projects for awhile, but I stockpile project ideas like they are about to disappear from the face of the earth soon and if I don't save them, I won't have any projects or ideas. So it's time to take some of those ideas and turn them into reality.

Given the success I've been having with WIPoclypse, I thought I would apply some of the same logic. So the first step is to create a list.

1. I think I need to make some stars: Lucky Stars
2. In the spirit of trying things: Baking Soda Clay
3. Under the thinking big category: Craft Suitcase (I have my Great-Grandpa's old suitcases in my closet, this would be fun to do with them)
4. Playing with colours: Spring Wreath

I think that is enough for now. There is no time schedule for these, but I would like to try to do them in the next 2 months. I'm also taking a needle felting class in April. That should be fun.

Full Moon - Second Month

As I drove to work this morning under the light of the full moon I thought of all I accomplished this month. I'm happy about the progress I made this month. So here is my WIPocalypse update.

Finished
1. Swirly Sampler 
Yes, it's done - the HD post is here but to summarize
Last month

This month

I have the frame picked out and am just waiting for the framer to assemble it. I took advantage of a annual sale offered by one of the local framers so it'll be at least 2 weeks until I see the frame and get all the parts put together.

2. On Grandmother's Quilt
I haven't done a Happy Dance post for this, but it is complete and framed
Last Month

This Month

3. Rosebud Lullaby
Yep - same scenario as On Grandmother's Quilt, complete and framed, but have to do the Happy Dance post.
Last Month

This Month

In Progress
1. Newborn Joy 
I'm happy with the progress on this one. I would love for this to be done this month, but that might be ambitious.
Last month

This Month

2. Blackwork Sampler
Also pleased with the progress on this one. I started to work on it February 2nd so in a little less than a week this is the progress I've made.
Last Month

This Month

Ideally I would like to complete the stitching by March 7th. At this time this looks doable.

No Progress
1. My Way Canvas Work
2. Once Upon A Time

New Starts
1. "M" is for Mother - I have now purchased the pattern and the accessory pack and still need to pick and buy fabric.
2. Fairy Moon - no news
3. Lost in the Garden - no news
4. Victorian Garden - no news
5. Nothing new has caught my eye and demanded to be started this month. However this is a new month.

I'm quite pleased with the progress I've made this month and hope to continue it. I've been thinking about why I think this is working for me. Creating the list has given me focus. Having no expectations means that I'm not rebelling. Then I also like the fact that I'm reaching my goals so hopefully that will be a high that will spur me on the continue with the progress I've been making.

Cue the Machines!

I'm doing it again, writing blog entries in my head instead of, you know, on my blog. Here's one that has been simmering since Tuesday.

I'm well known in my lack of affection for housewrok. If I have to scrub something I tend to get bored and wander off. I do like the whole putting things away aspect - I can putz away at that for quite sometime. It's just the actual scrubbing of surfaces that I do not enjoy.

On Tuesday I did the kind of housework that I enjoy - 3 loads of laundry and 1 dishwasher run. At the end of the evening I had clean clothes, clean towels, clean dishes and a nice chunk of stitching done. It reminded me of the other machines I would like in order to take over more of the housecleaning responsibilities.

First of all is the Roomba - a vacuuming robot. I don't actually mind vacuuming, but it's possible that this thing could go under my furniture more than once a year which is my current rate.

But the one that has me really excited is the Scooba which WASHES floors.  That is the task that needs to be done way more often than I have a desire to do so. My floors are old and crappy in the bathroom and kitchen and my really poor mopping skills and motivation are not helping them at all.

(The best part of the product description is where it says "all you have to do is sweep" and all I can think is "not if I also have a Roomba.)

So CUE THE MACHINES and let them clean!

Somewhat an Obsession

So I started with Pioneer Woman and the perfect iced coffee and last summer I made my own.

Oh Wow! was it ever good. But now I know why I don't drink coffee - if I added as much sugar and cream/milk to regular coffee as I do to my iced coffee, the results would not be good. So this stays as a special treat.

I turn this

into this

(In the tupperware container is sweetened condensed milk and the glass jar holds simple syrup)

A lovely treat!

(Oh, I will have an occasional cup of coffee, but only if my sister-in-law doctors it - she is a fellow sugar addict.)

Swirly Sampler Happy Dance

I actually finished the stitching last Tuesday (10th) but only got it washed and ironed last night. The only reason I own an iron and ironing board is for my stitching.

Swirly Sampler designed by Bent Creek. I stitched it on 32 Count Belfast Linen in Vintage Country Mocha with the recommended floss. I haven't added the charm 'cause I don't have it and haven't decided if I'm going to get it.

I bought the pattern, fabric and thread probably more than five years ago at Stitchers' Heaven in Edmonton AB.

At the beginning of October I was going through my stash looking for some old working copies to see if I had written myself any notes so that I could match with some projects I'm currently working on. I never did find the old working copies, but I did run across the Swirly Sampler all kitted up.

I threw it into my stitching bag since I was heading to my weekly stitch in night with other members of the needlearts guild I belong to. I asked them if I should work on a piece already in progress or start this one that I had found in my stash.

Everyone agreed, start the new project.

This marks the first finish of my WIPocalypse list.