OhSewCrafty

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 

Stitching HD: Fairy Rain

• Design by Joan Elliott
• Materials: Hearth Belfast (Colour & Cotton), DMC, Kreink, Mill Hill beads
• Size: 10.5" x 14"
• Time to stitch: at least 20 stitchy days since 2020, sorry my record keeping over 21-22 isn't great

Oldest WIP no more!  Fairy Rain is finished, second in the Aerial (or weather, as I think of it) series (I stitched Fairy Rainbow a few years back). 

The pattern is fine, the colors are cool and soothing, all my favorites, really.  The skirt is huge and definitely takes some time, but it's bands of color, so the stitching is easy.  She is incredibly sparkly with allover beading and plenty of sparkly Kreinik, used mostly for backstitch.  As for the backstitching, there is a lot of it!  I've learned my lesson well and backstitched as I went along.  My favorite aspects of this chart are the rainy effect, all the sparkle of water with the raindrops falling around her, dripping down her outfit, emanating from her wings.  She revels in the rain and generates it too!  I also love her gorgeous inky black hair and beautiful face.  Her look is quite different compared to blonde Fairy Rainbow, and I appreciate the diversity in the collection.  And I like the puddle at the bottom, too.  The details in the chart are so lovely, and that's a hallmark of Joan Elliott's designs. 

As for the materials, I couldn't be happier with the fabric I chose, Hearth is grey with a subtle undertone of purple, and it definitely reminds me of the sky on rainy days.  Colour and Cotton fabric is just lovely, easy to stitch on, my needle glides though.   Many colors of DMC are used, typically 3-4 shades of each tone, three colors of Kreinik #4 braids (indigo, gunmetal hi lustre, and silver), and three colors of beads (crystal blue, satin blue, and petite ice).  The petite ice beads are charted in between regular stitches, and I basically worked those beads over 1 thread in the fabric, between stitches.  For that reason, I think linen or even weave is best for this design.  And there are a small number of fractionals too, mostly for the face.

I did chart a lot of my own backstitch, because I dislike the stair step effect for "fancy" charts.  I like smooth curves and sharp points.  This lovely lady took way too long to finish, due to my long stitching hiatuses of 2021 and 2022.  But now, it's a fantastic feeling to have another big finish! 

Now my rotation is devoid of Joan Elliott, sadly.  I'm considering the Blue Christmas Angel, but I already have the Sandy Littlejohns's Christmas Angels on the go, or JE Father Christmas, but I have Jim Shore Santa's Workshop in progress, too.  Besides, I currently have 15 wips (8 large/medium & 7 smalls/ornaments) so perhaps that is enough.  

Stitching HDs: Witches Werewolves and the series

• Charts: by Glendon Place / Cheryl Granda
• Materials: Flash Cashel by Picture this Plus, Weeks Dye Works as charted, other hand dyed threads, DMC
• Size: 7" x 7", each
• Time to stitch: around 5-6 days,each, started in 2021

Presenting my final piece in the Glendon Place 2009 Halloween series!  Here is Witches Werewolves Warlocks Watching.  

The PTP Flash, a bright orange (now discontinued) is as charted and I managed to pick up on clearance (a few years ago).  I was able to get the entire series of 4 on 2 fat eighths, which I'm pretty happy about.  I like being thrifty with my fabric.  Sure, it doesn't leave tons of excess for framing, but I frame my own and the excess is sufficient for what I have in mind (matting close to the stitching).  As for the threads, I used mostly the WDW, as charted.  A few of the colors, like white, I substituted with Crescent Colours Marshmallow, which I have in my stash.  And I substituted DMC 310 for the WDW mascara, as always. As for the highly variegated WDW 4101 "Trick or Treat", used in the satin stitch borders, I used significantly less than supposedly needed- about 1.5 of the 3 skeins. I did omit the buttons, simply because I find them unnecessary and it some cases, would cover the stitching.  

The pattern is fine, simple enough, though there is a lot of backstitching and the satin stitch borders takes a hot minute.  It's not difficult per se, but one must maintain tension carefully so it lays properly.  The style is a bit reminiscent of art deco, and I think they will look great next to Spooky House .  I love the aggressive pose of the werewolf and the witch's stoic expression, just facing him down.  Her green skin and striped stockings are fun, too.  

Here are the other 3 in the series. My plan is to stack two vertically, on each side of Spooky House.  It feels great to be done with the series and it's making my rethink my rotation, like maybe I should get back to the seasonal bell pulls and/or the birds!