First Finish of 2025

 My first finish of the year - Calico Crossroads - Kats by Kelly "St. Patty Kat". This is the 4th piece of the series I've finished and was started in February of 2024. Now all I need to do is wash and press it, then put it in it's frame for an easy FFO. One more to cross off the more recent WIP list. 

WIPocalypse 2025 Kick-Off

 This is my first time participating in WIPocalypse, so I will start out with an introduction. I go by the name Tweezle. It was a name given to me back in the 80's by my then boyfriend's close friend. He called me Tweeze all the time and the name just stuck. 

I have stitched since I was a child. Mom started me on embroidery first then cross stitch, counted cross stitch and then crewel embroidery. She also started me on crochet when I was about 5 and knitting a couple of years later. There were many other crafts sprinkled throughout my life, but counted cross stitch, knitting and crochet are the ones that I have stayed with.

I worked as a model stitcher since the mid 80's and have enjoyed working with some great shops as well as amazing designers. I've also proof-read charts, test knitted and crocheted items and did proof-reading both knit and crochet patterns as well. Now, it will pick up a test here and there, but I'm basically retired. It got to the point where I was no longer loving the needlearts and hating the deadlines. I put that aside for awhile and then my eyes went bad. I guess it was just in time. 

My project list is forever changing. In fact, I just pulled another set of patterns off my list. I've decided to scrap Curtis Boehringer's The Needlewoman Murder Mystery in 13 Chapters. I'm just not enjoying it at all. So off to the Pulled List it goes. 

It was my start and focus piece for this year, but after putting 5 days of stitching in, I decided it was time to make room for things I love. 

Before

After 5 days

I have passed the requirement for WIPGO, so I can mark that off and I've put my time in for my focus piece on WIP Warriors. It's been stated that I've wasted my time, but I really haven't. It helped me to come to a conclusion that this one needs to move on. Now I have more time for something else.

My next piece for WIPGO is Lanarte's Romantic Picnic (Stoney Creek). It's being stitched on white linen and it's not as easy to work on as it once was. This one will certainly take some time with my crappy eyesight. 

Next on the WIPGO Board

What I Will Be Working On In 2025

1. Kustom Krafts Sofa Cat
2. Happy Everything
3. Noah's Ark
4. PV May
5. The Frosted Pumpkin Artic Animals Club
6. CWC Hummingbird Garden
7. KK Fire & Ice
8. L&L Celtic Spring
9. The Baby
10. BC Snappers
11. Lanarte Romantic Picnic
12. Dimensions Magic In Motion
13. The Sweetheart Tree - Olde English Needleroll
14. French Calendar
15. Northwoods Stocking
16. Dimensions A Bird for All Seasons
17. Sunset Gettysburg
18. The Silver Lining - Aymers Amber Rose
19. KK Four Horses of Apocalypse
20. Curtis Boehringer's The Needlewoman Murder Mystery
21. Marty Bel''s Hideaway Cottage
22. Marquoir Mystery Sampler
23. Just Nan Last Stitches
24. Creative Circle Inn Keeper's Sign (stamped)
25. The Sweetheart Tree Teenie Tweenies Spring Has Sprung

I'm looking forward to whittling down this WIP list. I can't wait to see what others are doing!

Great meeting you. Now, off to whip my WIP list into shape (I know - Boo Hiss!)

New Tablet for Pattern Keeper

 

I've done it. I ordered a tablet for multiple reasons, but the big one was for trying Pattern Keeper. I've heard so much about this app that I went searching for tablets. I finally settled on a Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 11". It's on sale at Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart, so I thought it was time to finally purchase a tablet to not only be used with Pattern Keeper, but also replace my Kindle Fire and my very outdated Nook. I also play a handful of games that I may also install on it, but that's about all I plan on using it for. 

I have a few full coverage patterns that I'm really hoping will work well with it. There a few HAED and Artecy ones as well as a couple I bought from Etsy. Fingers crossed. It would be nice not having to manually count stitches or keep track of hours. I always seem to screw up on that. 

Now I must patient wait for it to arrive.

Happy New Year!

 Here we are - in 2025. I still can't wrap my head around how that happened. Where did all the time go?! I know I'm not the only one that has commented on how quickly the year has went by. Good-bye 2024. There's so much of you that I won't miss! 

I'm looking forward to this year. Plans include a No-Buy year for yarn and pretty much the same for Cross Stitch. Cross stitch won't be as strict, because I'll be needed threads, beads and possibly other supplies to finish my projects. I am enjoying the idea of working from stash. I want to complete the projects I have going and as a reward, I think I will have my large pieces framed - maybe even professionally. I've only paid for a couple of pieces in the past to be framed. Unfortunately, although I loved the finished pieces, my LNS who did a gorgeous job has since moved to another state. I've been putting off sending my things to Michaels or Hobby Lobby, just because of all the tales I've hear about the chain craft stores. I need to do some research before I do decide where to take them. 

Professionally framed by 
BushMountain Stitchery

Someone asked me a bit ago why I have so many OLD WIPS. Well,  it just sort of happened. I would be working on something that I liked for myself and then I'd get a model stitching job, and that personal project would be put aside. Then when I'd send the model back to the designer, I might have a gift that needed worked on or just not feeling like picking the set aside piece back at the moment. After a while, those pieces just piled up. Honestly - I really don't like starting a new piece. There's something about finding the right spot to start, getting the first hour of stitching correct before I start feeling it and wanting to continue. Weird, isn't it?!

2024 Stitching Year Report

Cheers - Mill Hill Ornament

The list is slowly changing. I've decided to become realistic and pull a few projects. Surprisingly, shedding some of these pieces felt good!!! However, I also added some.

 Here's my updated list:

FINISHES (6)

Bent Creek - Snowman Flatbed Zippies 1-18-24

The Silver Needle Secret Needle Night - Boston Tea Party 1-19-24

The Silver Needle Secret Needle Night - Love Machine 2-1-24

Pam Kellogg - Cinnamon Bear Ornament - JCS Ornament Magazine 2-7-24

The Silver Needle Secret Needle Night - Mom's Stew 5-23-24

The Silver Needle Secret Needle Night - Joyful Holiday 12-20-2024

RECENT WIPS (12)

Alice Okon - Happy Holiday Ornament (started 1-16-24)

Calico Crossroads - St. Patty Kat (started Feb. 2024)

Dimensions - Laundry Day Kit (started Fall 2023)

Elizabeth Spurlock - Purrfect Halloween (started 1-9-24)

Janlynn - Live Simply Kit (started 1-22-23)

Jesse Schofield - Icy River Started 1-5-24)

Linda Myers - My Husband (started 1-4-24)

NMI - Waiting for Santa Coaster (started 2-2-24)

Riolis - City Cats in Autumn Kit (started 12-27-23)

The Frosted Pumpking Stitchery - Artic Animals Club (started 12-21-24)

The Silver Needle Exclusive - Snoman Mitten Tree Kit (started 12-15-23)

Stony Creek Magazine - Eastern Bluebird (started 1-10-24)

Older WIPS (22)

Art Ventures - Old Sentinel (started 2003) 15%

Creative Circle - Inn Keeper's Sign (stamped - started in the 1980's)

Cross Stitch & Country Crafts - North Woods Stocking (started 1985)

Crossed Wing Collection - Hummingbird Garden (started pre-2005) 35%

Dawna Barton - Dinner Call started pre-2007) 60% - has mistake - need to find
Diane Arthurs - Happy Everything (started pre-2004) 60%
Dimensions - A Bird For All Seasons (started pre-2008) - 5%

Dimensions - Magic In Motion (started 2008) - 5%

Dimensions - Wolf Portrait (started Jan. 2009) 65%
Drawn Thread - Miniature Reversible Sampler (started 2004)
Drawn Thread - Winter Spot (started 2004)

Hearts Delight - Noahs Ark Kit  (started 1-1-2005)- 50%

Just Nan - Last Stitches (started 1999)

Lanarte - Romantic Picnic (started 1-6-2006) 15%
Lavender & Lace - Celtic Spring (started pre-2005) - 35%

Marty Bell - Hideaway Cottage (started pre-2008)

Pat Rogers - Hearts & Lace Sampler (started pre-2005) 70%

Paula Vaughan - May kit (started 2004)

Pegasus - Pekingese Dogs V. 4 (started pre-2004) 15%

The Silver Lining - Aymars Amber Rose (pre-2005) 30%

Sweetheart Tree - Olde English Needle Roll (started 2007) - 50%

Sweetheart Tree - Teenie Tweenies Spring Has Sprung (started 2004) 30%

MYSTERY/SALS/MONTHLYS (5)

Bent Creek - Snappers all 12 w/border (Started 1-3-2006) - 1/2 of the border to go!

Curtis Boehringer - Needlewomans Murder Mystery (started 1-3-2005)

French Mystery 52eme rue - (Started 1-4-2006) 23 of 52 finished

Helga Mandl and Barbara Ana - Mystery Sampler (started 1-15-2008) - 45%

Marquoir Mystery Sampler freebie SAL (started 2002) 4 of 9 finished

BAPS (5)

Kustom Krafts - 4 Horses of Apocalypse (started pre-2005)
Kustom Krafts - Fire & Ice (started pre-2005)
Kustom Krafts - Sofa Cat (started 2007)

Sunset - Gettysburg (started 1-1-2008)

The Cross Stitch Gallery - The Baby by Harrison Fisher (started 1-20-2007)

PULLED OFF LIST FOR DONATION OR FROGGED

Leisure Arts - Noahs Ark Baby Afghan

Carriage House Samplings - The Houses of Hawk Run Hollow

DMC - The White Bindweed Fairy

Pamela Kellogg - Cupids Garden Mystery SAL

Teresa Wentzler - Stretch

Teresa Wentzler - Under the Evergreen

Vermillion Stitchery - The Holy Family

OTHER ITEMS FOR DONATION

Misc Printed XS kits

Children's kits

Teresa Wentzler - Millenium kit (new)

Preparing For WIPGO & WIPocalypse

 I am ready!!! WIPGO called the first set of numbers on Christmas.They were numbers 20 and 11.

2025 WIPGO Board

I am not going to mix up my numbers but put them in the order that was originally on the example WIPGO board. So my numbers will run left to right 1-5 first row, 6-10 second row, etc ending with 25 being the last square in the bottom right corner.

I pulled all my oldest WIPS and put on the board. The only one that's new is the Artic Animals Club because I really would like to get a chunk done on that one.

Here's my WIPGO list in order including dates started. I had to do a lot of digging to find those dates and some are still at best, quite vague:

1. Sofa Cat (2002)
2. Happy Everything (pre-2004)
3. Noah's Ark (1-1-2005
4. May (2004)
5. Artic Animals Club (12-21-24)
6. Hummingbird Garden (pre-2005)
7. Fire & Ice (pre-2005)
8. Celtic Spring (pre-2005)
9. The Baby (1-20-2006)
10. Bent Creek Snappers (1-3-2006)
11. Romantic Picnic (1-6-2006)
12. Magic in Motion (2005)
13. Olde English Needleroll (2007)
14. French Calendar (1-4-2006)
15. North Woods Stocking (1985)
16. A Bird For All Seasons (pre-2005)
17. Gettysburg (1-1-2008)
18. Aymer's Amber Rose (pre-2005)
19. Four Horses of Apocalypse (pre-2005)
20. Needlewoman's Murder Mystery 1-3-2005)
21. Hideaway Cottage (pre-2005)
22. Marquoir Mystery Sampler (2002)
23. Last Stitches (12-31-1999)
24. Inn Keeper's Sign (1980's)
25. Twwnie Tweenies Spring Has Sprung (2004)

I did not include the designers in this list, as there will be a more detailed list posted tomorrow with my starts, finishes, WIPs, UFO/donated, etc.

Here's where I am at for Curtis Boehringer's Needlewoman's Murder Mystery in 13 chapters. I'm on Chapter 1. The last time I put stitches in this piece was 1-12-2004.

And here is Lanarte's Romantic Picnic. I can't remember when I touched it last. Yah - it's been that long ago.

New Bags Arrived!!

 I have been seeing so many people on FlossTube show and tell about their amazing project bags. I've been admiring them for a long time. Well, a week or so ago, I was looking through Etsy and came across a seller that had a lot of bags I really liked, so I decided to order a couple. They arrived yesterday and I'm absolutely in love with them! The stitching is very nicely done, each bag is large enough for me to put leaflets, thread, fabric, q-snaps and even the rest of the set inside the bag.

Bee Happy is holding Stoney Creek's Lanarte Romantic Picnic. It contains everything I need for this project with lots of room left!

Bee Happy Vintage -front

Bee Happy Vintage - back

Fall Gourds Set

I am using the Fall Gourds Set to hold the Curtis Boehringer Needlewoman's Murder Mystery set (all 13 leaflets plus fabric, threads, the extra bags to the set and a set of q-snaps and I could still put more in the project bag!! These are going to be perfect for WIPGO and WIPocalypse!!!

All of these lovely bags were purchased from SassySassanach