Hope everyone had a great American Thanksgiving. I am still in food coma mode. How about you? It was great to spend some time with my sister and her family this year. So very nice. Food was fabulous as well as the company. Now I am ready to settle into the Christmas season with Christmas less than 4 weeks away. Ready. Set. GO!
Starts & Finishes
So exciting that this week I finished two and started three. I was relieved that I was able to wrap up these small projects.
FINISH: WIPGO Project: Winter Basket #1 by Hands on Design
Finished the first of 3 charts for this Triple Play Pillow series chart. This was a fun and easy design to stitch. The pop of pink is perfect. Just wished my fabric was a little darker blue so the white popped more, but it is all good.
This project and the one below are stitched on 16 count stone aida with the called for threads
START: WIPGO Project: Winter Basket #3 by Hands on Design
I didn’t think I would be starting chart 3 on night 4. Can you how imagine how pleased I was to start this one? I have not quite gotten a rhythm stitching this one yet. A matter of fact, I realized I was off a little with my triangles so did some frogging and restitching. Looks good though.
FINISH: September Mini Calendar Crates by Stitching with the Housewives
Stitching these mini charts with the Stitching with the Housewives series is downright fun. They do an excellent job with the small charts. My Classic Colorworks Tartan Plaid (blue) is a little darker than I might want but the color variation is fabulous just like the Pumpkin Harvest (orange).
This was stitched on 14 ct chalkboard black aida with the included Classic Colorworks called for floss for this project and the one below.
START: September Main Calendar Crates by Stitching with the Housewives
I was starting to wonder if I was overly optomistic thinking I could finish the mini and start the main chart. It is not a big start, but it is a start for the house in the middle of the chart. Yea me! I don’t know why it seems easier to work on if it is started. But here it is!
START: Fabulous House: Santa’s House by Cottage Garden Samplings
This start is 400 stitches which doesn’t seem much in the scheme of things. I am excited to start Chart 1 of the Fabulous House series – Santa’s House. It is being stitched on 18 ct stone Aida with the called for floss which is a combination of Classic Colorworks and DMC this time. This is me working on the door and the roof over the door. I am looking forward to working on this in December!
WIP Updates
Last night I was able to check off working on every active WIP for the month of November. I am sad that I won’t finish my Year of Celebration this month. That day I didn’t stitch when I was sick has come back to haunt me. C’est la vie.
WIPGO Project: Calendar gnomes: Mr. September by Charlie’s Needle
I had amazing progress on Mr September this week. I am done with the right apple tree and even started the word “September”. I am hopeful that I will actually finish this on November 30th. I absolutely love the fabric. It is an amazing background.
February Month 2 Month by Stitching with the Housewives
I was able to finish the “Y” and started on the roses which are fun to stitch. Who knew I would enjoy stitching roses. The pink here is Classic Colorworks Sea Shelley and the amount of variation is great. It really adds to the texture of the flower. I reached my goal of 400 stitches this night even though it doesn’t look like I did much. Good progress.
November Year of Celebration season 2 by Hands on Design
I was sad I didn’t finish this chart. I did however finish the turkey on the right and almost finished the left turkey as well. I even got the Nov sign done. Unless I finish up the two WIPGO projects tonight and tomorrow, this one will be finished in December before starting the final chart – December. I can say, I will be very happy to finish this next month. This was another small year long project. I enjoyed stitching season 1 more than season 2. I am happy I did them anyway.
2024 SJ Temperature Library by Kristi’s Corner
I did a little catching up this week with this one. I actually stitched books all the way through November 26th as well as more of the bookcase. This will not actually finish until January but it should be easy peasy since I have really stayed with this project all year. This was my third all year long project. This temperature Library would not be nearly as cool without all the great knick knacks on each monthly shelf. So fun!
House on pumpkin hill by Hello Liz matthews
This was my Thanksgiving Day project while visiting with the family. When I got home last night, I had to rip out a little bit because I obviously was talking too much and missed a few wholes. But not too bad. It was fun to finish the cauldron and witch on the sides of the house as well as fill in the pumpkins. I forgot to do the pumpkin on the roof but elected to get some sleep instead of pulling out my threads to finish. This will go in the closet until next fall.
When I started this, I really didn’t expect to finish the house (or anything really). I am totally stoked that the house is almost done. It will be easy to pick this up next year and get rolling.
December WIPGO Projects
DEC WIPGO Project #7 – Christmas Calendar by Tiny Modernist
The original Project 7 was Autumn Beauties which I already finished. I toyed with many different things to replace this project. I settled on the Christmas Calendar which I originally started in December 2020 and had to restart last year when I realized my fabric was not big enough. I know this was a WIPGO already but I figured what would be more perfect than having a Christmas project for December?! I considered starting Prairie Schooler Santa but it is not a wip so now you have my thoughts. I am actually excited about having this as my WIPGO project. I got very discouraged last year when I had to restart, but then it was my January 2024 WIPGO project and now it seems like a good thing. LOL! So excited!
DEC WIPGO Project #20: Monthly Markings by Heart in Hand
Another great project to end the year with as a WIPGO. I only have December square to do but still have the whole border to complete. When I realized it would be popping for December, I got all warm and happy. I have so enjoyed this year long project. It will be a pleasure to see it completed.
Upcoming Plans & Thoughts
Here we are where I normally tell you my plans for the upcoming week and/or month. I am staring at my December calendar and it is blank. What do I know.
This Week
I will be definitely finish my fifth night on my two WIPGO Projects:
- Mr September (hopefully finish)
- Winter Basket #3
- I need to finish November Year of Celebration so penciling that one in.
- Depending on if Mr September is finished or not, he may get penciled in for a finish this week as well.
- Finishing the November bookshelf on the Temperature Library.
The rest is a free for all at this moment in time.
December Goals
I will be going to Vancouver, Washington to visit my daughter between the holidays for 7-10 days depending on the weather. So I am going to take both WIPGO projects – Monthly Markings and Christmas Calendar so that may happen this week. I will either be leaving Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. I prefer to leave Thursday but I will be weather watching so I can make it through Grant Pass. I am thinking I will take our joint project: Crescent City so I will probably start that before I leave just so I make sure I have everything I need.
I pulled out of the closet all my Christmas and Winter WIPS as well as kitted projects. There are a lot of them but I was surprised to see that most of them are Winter projects. So I am thinking I will save the Winter projects for January and just do Christmas projects in December.
I have been collecting Prairie Schooler Santa charts for a couple of years. I think this will be the year to start. Maybe I should start with the current year or not. So many to decide from. After seeing how long it takes to do one, I might make it a 2025 Santa per Month year. I also have a Christmas Quaker Sampler to start that i bought the most gorgeous thread a few years ago. Also have some Primrose Cottage charts that could be fun to stitch. All this will take some planning which can’t really happen until I see how the next two days fall out.
So many things I want to do and so little time. Retirement problems right? By the time we talk again, I will have it figured out. Have a great stitchy weekend and enjoy this holiday season!
Peggy Stockwell in San Jose, California