2023 WIPocalypse: February

February was a good stitchy month!  Despite being only 28 days, many projects saw significant progress and I even got several finishes!  

My first WIPOcalypse goal, Fairy Rain, oldest wip, is now finished!  She is stitched on Hearth Belfast by Colour and Cotton and took only 2.5 days in February (backstitch, beading, and several ninja stitches) 

Alice SAL, well I wasn't feeling it, but I managed to bang out 1200 stitches over 1.5 days and finished the Knave panel, thanks to the Daily 30 weekly challenge to work 300 stitches on a SAL.  I also got a good start on the border for the final panel, which will be the queen and self charted by yours truly.  Alice is a WIPGO hit for March, so perhaps I will try to finish her.  In any case, I will try to finish the last panel.  Then it will be a matter of going back over the whole piece to add beads and a few metallic stitches.      
Fata dell' Aurora had quite a lot of love, almost 5 days and over 3k stitches.   Finally, I have 3 of the 5 colors of petite treasure braid in hand, and I worked extensively with all 3, lavender, amethyst, and white, mostly on the wings, though I did fill in the the top part of the dress with the white.  I stitched a little bit on her hair, the mountain range on the left side, and the left edge of her dress.

Easter Bunny House had a nice 2k progress over 1.25 days (mostly backstitch counted for half).  I worked on the lower level, then backstitched that plus the right side garden, the easter basket with eggs, and the chickens.  Then I stitched the rock path and backstitched that as well (seeing a theme?).  I started the bunnies and the left side garden.  Maybe 2k next month will be enough to finish?  We'll see... I'm determined to have it done in March or April at the latest.

Santa's Workshop had some love, about 2.5 days and 2k stitches added. I worked on the boots and table some, and quite a lot on the borders. This project continues to be somewhat a struggle on the 32 count opalescent lugana, but I like how it looks.  The color selection, though extensive, is rich and lovely.  I'm feeling pretty good about it now that the border is over half done (excluding beads).   

Bellatrix was loved 1.5 days and had 2k stitches added.  I worked on the bottom left quadrant, using several colors of Kreinik (Plum Berry, Pewter, Silver Hi Lustre, and Bronze Hi Lustre, as well as DMC, to fill in the vine, bottom left border corner, the hem of her dress, and a bit on the vine on the bottom right.  Most of the empty space will be beads, though I haven't done the half cross yet either.  I'm getting excited about this project!  I can't wait to work up the right side and stitch the candle in the bottom right corner, and the black cat sitting on the window frame.  

Renaissance Mermaid had some nice attention, 1.5 days and 2k added.  I worked exclusively on her tail, all with the Waterlilies Silks (Blueberry & Seaglass), and Kreiniks (Pewter & Sky Blue Hi Lustre).  It's super sparkly already and there is plenty of negative space in the tail that will eventually be beaded.  I think she is starting to work up in spectacular fashion! 

As for Scary Apothecary, I gave Broomstick Fuel a small effort, just an hour or so, 317 stitches and it's finished!  There's not too much left on this series.  Skeleton Polish has about 1,200 stitches from January and another 300-500 should do it.  Then for Snail Slime and Spider Legs.  I hope to get all finished and sewn into a banner before October.  

Witches Werewolves had less than one day (1,545 stitches) and was finished!  Now that series is complete, and again, I'd like to frame them before October.  I did some framing, etc, recently for the Daily 30 Full Finish Challenge weekend, and set up a similar challenge for my group, Stitch from Stash, for the end of March (to repeat at the end of each quarter).  I'm feeling good about working through my framing stash and hopefully acquiring some new frames, this year.  

Christmas Angels got a small effort, less than 2 days and 876 stitches added, thank to Daily 30 weekly challenges and for some reason I included it for the yearly challenge, too.  (I might need to change that).  So I worked on the right Angel's red dress.  I am hoping that the rest of the project will go faster, once I get through the red dress (the chart is hard to read with similar symbols for two of the reds). 

Now for all my little ornies, one of my February WIPGO hits was for three Xmas ornie wips, so I picked my oldest, Penguin Greetings (JCS Ornaments 2021 / Rhona Norrie), Goodness & Light (JCS Ornaments 2005 / Sunflower Seed) , and Believe (Shannon Christine).  All were finished in 1.5 days and 1,635 stitches.  Vinney (JCS July/August 2009 / Fresh Threads Studio) was also a goal, being last year's ornament for my son, and February is his birthday month.  So I gave it half a day, 333 stitches, and finished. I also had start and finish of My Wishes for You (JCS Ornaments 2022 / The Queen Stitch, which involved 1.5 days and 835 stitches, for the JCS Ornament SAL.  Finally, I made a new start (about 950 stitches) on St. George's Gift by Dragon Dreams / JCS Ornaments 1998, for a monthly task in the Fandom Stitchers Central group, which I am quite enjoying.  The current theme is the Hobbit and there are weekly, monthly, & yearly challenges.

Question of the Month:  What stitch alongs are you participating in this year?  The JCS SAL hosted by the lovely Jo of Serendipitous Stitching, over on Facebook.  I think the JCS Ornaments 2022 issue was pretty good, and I should have no problem stitching 12 from that issue.  There are a few more SALS that caught my eye, but mystery SALs are not my jam, as I mentioned before.  I only stitch what I love and I don't know if I'll love it before seeing it.  

Now, for March goals: 

•Easter Bunny House, Skeleton Polish, Alice SAL queen panel (finish all)

•Oh Deer Gingerbread for JCS SAL (Wildcard), and Irish at Heart for the Semisane Spring Start to Finish SAL (start & finish)

•Fata dell' Aurora, Minecraft, Bella, Renaissance Mermaid, (2 k each)

•Autumn Bellpull (March WIPGO hit), 1 k 

•Christmas Angels, Santa's Workshop, Night Peony Tee, Silver Blue Christmas, Waiting for Christmas, Iris Faberge Egg- minimum 100 st each as they are part of the March Madness Game with Fandom Stitchers Central (along with all the other pieces named above).  I'm also doing a similar challenge in SfS, starting with 8 projects.  So March will be a little crazy with 16 projects in rotation!  

Happy Stitching 

Comments

[Serendipitous Jo]

You did fantastically well in February! I do love your projects, I think out of all the bloggers I follow you are the one I would steal her projects!
I love the rich reds you’ve been working with too.
And so many ornaments!

[Slughorn]

My (adult) daughter and I are greatly enjoying your cross stitch posts.

I am going to send her the link to your impressive Halloween House.

And you've inspired me to dig out my 1980's cross stitch supplies and start some Christmas stocking cuffs.

[Leonore Winterer]

Wow, you're really back, and back in force! So much great stitching. Bellatrix especially is shaping up really nicely. I like your ornament finishes too - a couple years back you said you don't really enjoy the smaller projects as much, but it seems like you've developed a taste for them?