Tapestry Pillow Update

The new plan is working well.  It really was what I needed to do.  I didn't realize how much the wolf restart had depressed me.  I've made good progress on the Tapestry Pillow.  Here is how I left if for now:

I know I keep saying it, but I love the colors!

I've made some progress on the wolf.  I hope you can tell....sorry about the wrinkles.

This rotation I will work on Owls Galore.  Here is a reminder of the finished piece:

And here is where I left off in January:

Not much of a start.  I'm hoping to make some progress, but we have hit the busy season at work.  That means working late and shorter lunches.

I will continue to work on the wolf in the evenings and on weekends at home.  My son has finally discovered that's what I'm working on.  He is anxiously waiting on my progress.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms!!!

Update

I'm so behind!  I'm so sorry I haven't been able to visit or update.  I find myself in a position of having my own family but then having to care for parents also.  Recently my Dad has suffered some illness and they need a lot more help right now.  I know many of you are in the same place.  I think my sisters and I have finally worked out a rotation (I hope!)  Thankfully my parents only live about 30 minutes from me.

But enough about that, this is a stitching blog.  Let me catch you up because I have stitched some.

I finished Down Jinglepot Road.  Here's a picture:

I've worked on Hope.  Here is where I was before:

Here is where I am now:

And as a reminder, the finished piece looks like this:

So, I haven't told you yet about my disaster.  Thankfully it has been some time since the disaster and I am much calmer now.  You would not have wanted to see me or talk to me when this first happened.  What happened you ask?  I had a terrible, no good, rotten day and had a disaster with The Guardian.  I have had to start over.  I know it almost killed me!!!!

I'm trying to look at the good points:  1.  I restarted on a different fabric that is much softer than the original (it came with the kit and was very stiff).  2.  Since I changed the fabric I made sure I had enough so that I could restart in the top left hand corner and not in the center.  3.  Thanks to Rachel I estimated the time I would need to finish the project by the time I want to have it complete (May/June 2017).  What I discovered was that I need to step it up or it would not be done by then.  So I changed my rotation plan.  And that really didn't work out.  So I have changed it once again (just last night as a matter of fact).  We will see how this one works out.  So here is a picture of the restart:

And that's my update for now.  I'm going to try this new rotation and see how it works.  I'm going to start working on this at home.  Yes, I know he will see it, but he knows I have it.  I worked on it last night and he didn't even ask me what I was working on.  This way I can work on the smaller projects on my lunch hour.  I really wasn't getting much done on The Guardian just stitching on my lunch hour.  For my lunch hour I will start working on the Winter Tapestry Pillow for a couple of weeks.  I love the colors in this design and can't wait to stitch some more on it.  Here is a reminder of what the finished piece will look like:

This is where I left off after my January start:

I'll try not to let it be so long before I post again.  And I will be visiting your blogs this week!  Thank you for hanging in there with me.

Fall Owl Finish

Wow this has been a crazy busy week!  I planned to get this posted on Monday and it just didn't happen.  I have finished Fall Owl.

I might get a few stitches in The Guardian (at least I'm hoping).  Sorry this is so short, but I really wanted to get the blog updated.  Be back as soon as I can.

Frosty Snowflake update

I worked away on Frosty Snowflake but didn't finish.  Here is where I left off after January 2nd:

And after this rotation he looks like this:

Here's another look at a picture of the finished piece:

I really don't have a lot more to go.  It is very tempting to stay on this piece, but I will move on. 

That means I'll be working on my Day 3 start Fall Owl.  This is a picture of the finished piece:

I'm not planning to stitch the year.  Hopefully I can get this one finished in this rotation cycle.

Update on The Guardian and Back to Day 2 Start

Thank you so much for your kind comments about my health.  I'm doing ok right now.  It's so nice to have so many visitors and I'm trying to visit everyone.  Thank you so much for encouraging me.

I have left The Guardian and am back to stitching on my Day 2 start. 

Here is where I left off on The Guardian:

It's a slow go with the blended needles and the color changes.  But I think the end result will be stunning.  I'm feeling more comfortable with the pattern now so that's a plus.


And my Day 2 start was Frosty Snowflake. Here's what the completed project looks like.  I'll be stitching on this for the next two weeks.  We'll see how far I can get!

Test Results

Just wanted to let you guys know my test results came back pre-cancerous.  So it was caught early enough.  The doctor will keep a check on me to make sure I stay ok.  That was such a relief.  I just wanted you all to know that I'm ok.

Joy Banner Finished

First let me say thank you for your response about my rotation plan.  I have to admit I'm already tempted to slide the owls or the tapestry pillow in.  Oh well, they will come up soon enough.

Second, surprise!  I'm not sure who is more surprised, me or you, but I have a finish!!!!  This is my first finish for 2016.  So 1 down 14 more to go.

Here's a picture:

The plan is to pick back up on the Guardian until the two weeks are finished.

The Guardian Update

So much for working on this for two weeks.  The first week I was able to stitch some, but the second week was a bust.

Here is where I left off:

As you can see not much progress.

Last week was spent with medical issues.  I'm feeling better now.  And I've completed testing.  I'm just waiting for some lab results to put this whole thing behind me.  Hopefully everything is fixed now. 

So I mentioned that I had a rotation plan that I was thinking about.  This is the plan.  For the next two weeks I will work on my Jan. 1 start.  This one will not take the entire two weeks.  When I finish I will post and for the rest of that two weeks I will work on The Guardian.  Does that sound like a good plan?  Some of my starts will be finished in the two weeks but others will not.  And with this plan I can spend the "extra" time on The Guardian.  Please let me know what you think about the plan.

Day 15 - The Wolf

Let me start by reminding you why I started this blog.  I really had 3 goals.

1.  I wanted to make some friends.  And I'm beginning to do that.  Rachel has given me lots of encouragement.  (Hi Rachel!!!!)

2.  I wanted to join this challenge.  I watched year after year with envy as everyone started their projects.  So this year I decided to secretly join you guys!  (It's a secret from my family because my husband would probably blow a gasket if he found out---shhhh.  It's our little secret).

3.  I wanted some finishes while I work on my 1 project (ahem) which is a HAED.

You may have noticed most of my projects so far are pretty small.  I guess there are a couple that would be considered medium sized projects.  But there hasn't been anything big.  I planned it that way.  Not only did I want some finishes, I also didn't want to have a huge pile of guilt at the end of the year from unfinished projects.  And I had 15 picked out, but then I had to slide the wolf in there.

When my son was smaller I stitched several projects for him.  You know trucks, dinosaurs, etc.  Little boy things.  Then for a time he could care less about my stitching and didn't want me to stitch anything for him.  But he's watched me stitch the HAED and is fascinated with all the detail and the size.  I've never stitched anything like it.  So for months he's been saying, "Mom I want you to stitch something for me."  Then it went to "And I want a big detailed project like you are working on.  I don't want some wimpy thing."   Of course, my husband would pipe up with, "Well your Mom has to get this one finished first."  I had some time off at Thanksgiving and was able to stitch more than normal and he once again started his "when are you going to do my project?"  Well I looked over at him and said, "You haven't even picked out a project for me to do for you."  Yeah.  Guess what!  He picked out a project.  And not only did he pick it out, my husband went ahead and got it so it wouldn't go out of print, retired, etc.  I'm not supposed to be starting it, but how can I not when I've already started 14 others.

So the wolf got added to my starts.  And I know there is no way to get this finished before the end of this year (not for me anyway).  But I am hoping to have it done by the end of May 2017 or the beginning of June 2017.  I don't even know if that's possible.  Let me show you a picture of the finished piece:



It's a Dimensions Gold Kit.  It says 16 X 20.  With lots of blended threads and half crosses, etc.  It's actually more intimidating to me than the HAED I'm working on.  I was beginning to think it wouldn't come in on time, but it came in around 2 days ago.  So I need to sort the threads and prepare the fabric edges.  I may only get a stitch or two in today, just so I can say I started it.  And it does have a name, I had just forgotten but knew it was a wolf design.  So the correct name is The Guardian.

What have I gotten myself into??????

Okay, don't laugh.  I have 3 little stitches to start:

I really just wanted to have at least a couple of stitches so I could say I started. 

So the starts are finished for me, now comes the hard part, trying to finish everything.   I do have a rotation plan I'm going to try out.  And to start with, I'm going to work on this project for the next two weeks.  Remember I'm working in secret, mostly on my lunch breaks.  I really am a little overwhelmed with this project, but I really want to do it for my son.

Day 14 - Believe in the Magic

Today I worked on Believe in the Magic.  It's another ornament.  Here's a picture of the completed piece:

And my start:

Again not a lot, but it's a start.

Tomorrow is my last start.  That means we have to talk about the wolf.  I'm really going to need your encouragement on this project!  I've had a wonderful time with this challenge.  I know many of you are going to continue with new starts till the end of the month.  I'll be visiting you and cheering you on. 

Day 13 - Owliver

Today I worked on a bookmark.  Here is a picture of Owliver:

And here is my start:

I just love these owls!

Day 12 - Dear Santa

Today I worked just a little on Dear Santa.  Here is a picture of the completed project:

 

 

 

And my small start:

 



Day 11 White Christmas

Today I worked on White Christmas.  Here's a picture of the finished project:

And here is my beginning:

Catching Up

I'm behind on posting, but I have been stitching.

Let's see.  I think I need to post Day 8.  I worked on Have YoursELF a Merry Christmas.

Here's a picture of the completed piece:

And a picture of my start:

 

 

Day 9 found me working on Traveling with Santa.  Here's the completed piece:

 

 

 

And a picture of my start:

 



 

 

Day 10 found me working on Nothing is Impossible. 

 

 

Here's a picture of my start:

 

 

I know it's a very small start.  It's kind of hard to sneak in stitching on the weekends. 

Well, I have 5 more days left of new projects.  I have been working on a rotation plan so I can hopefully finish most of the pieces in 2016.  At least that's the goal.  One big piece I know will not be finished in 2016.  More on that later. 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 7 - Owls Galore

Owls sure are popular right now.  And there are so many cute patterns out there.  I think I have 3 owl projects in this 15 that I've picked out.

Here is a picture of the finished Owls Galore:

Aren't they cute??!!!  So here is my small start:

 

 

Sorry for the wrinkles.  As you can see I really didn't have a lot of stitching time today.  Here's hoping tomorrow is a better day.

Day 5 and Day 6

I wasn't able to post yesterday, so this post will be for both days.

Day 5 Winter Tapestry Pillow

Here is a picture of the completed piece:

Aren't the colors amazing!  I really didn't want to stop working on this but I did.  Here is my start:

 

 

Day 6 is Hope

 

Here is a picture of the finished piece:

 

 

 

And here is my start:

 

 

 

I'm so glad I entered this challenge this year.  I'm having so much fun.





Day 4 Down Jinglepot Road

I'm so glad to have things back to normal!  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the holidays and being with my family; however, getting back into my routine feels great.

Today I worked on Down Jinglepot Road.  This makes me think of my son.  He really really wants a truck.  No, he doesn't drive yet, but he's all about trucks.

Here's the picture of the completed project:

And here is my start:

 

I'm really excited about tomorrow's project.  It's one of my favorites.  The colors are amazing. My favorite color is turquoise and it's in this project!

Pictures

Rachel asked if I could post pictures of the completed projects I'm working on.  I guess that would be helpful!  Sorry I didn't think of it before.  And I'm hoping this works, I had to get some tech savvy friends help me out. Then I felt silly for not thinking of it myself.  So here goes.....

Day One was Joy Banner

Day Two was Frosty Snowflake

 

 

Day Three was Fall Owl

 

I'll post today's stitching in a little while.



 



Day 3 - Fall Owl

Today I put in a few stitches in my Fall Owl.  Fall is my favorite season.  I just love all the colors! 

Again, not really much time to stitch today. I'm off to see what everyone else is working on!

Day 2 - Frosty Snowflake

I worked on Frosty Snowflake today. 

 

Not sure if you can see the start of the snowman, but he's there. 

 

Now to decide what to work on tomorrow.

Day 1 - Joy Banner

Happy New Year!

I've been so excited to get started with this challenge.  For Day 1 I started on Joy Banner.  I really didn't get a lot done because most of the day was spent packing up Christmas decorations.  But it is a start!

Can't wait until tomorrow.  I have my fingers crossed that I'll get more done on tomorrow's project.  Can't wait to see what everyone is working on.