Lions and WIPs and ORTs, Oh my!

I have one lonely picture of what I've stitched since my last WIPocalypse post. However, I did that post about two weeks ago, so....

I completed my portion of Sophia's Band Sampler RR. You may be wondering why it took me so long to do. Don't let the appearance fool you. It may look fairly straightforward, but WOW, that thing was difficult!!! For every whole cross stitch, there were another two or three quarter stitches. And, if that weren't enough, everything, and I mean everything, was backstitched. In four separate colors, no less! Holy smokes!

My bands

The whole piece

 I sure am glad I'm finished!

I know. Tardy doesn't begin to describe my TUSAL entry. I just plum forgot with everything that has been going on. Fortunately, Bubba seemed willing to help with my picture today.

I just had to share this picture of Honeybee and Squash playing with a rope, today. They were so cute. :)

I've been MIA

I'm sorry that I've not been around much lately. Things haven't been great here.

My father-in-law passed away yesterday. (Thanksgiving day)

Thanks to everyone that has posted their kind condolences on Facebook. It means a lot to us.



I didn't post a hunk last Friday. I was busy making a cake for our annual Cub Scout Cake Walk. The cake theme this year was "Food."

In lieu of a hunk this week, because I'm just not feeling it right now, I will at least post for you a little beefcake.


Seriously, a beef cake...

I hope to be back next week with a real hunk of beef. :-)

October? (November) WIPocalypse #11

Okay. Late again. But there is a small amount of good news. I seem to have gotten some of my stitchy mojo back. I haven't gotten lots done, mind you, but I did start getting into a groove.

So, let's check in...

 I did a wee little bit on CCN's "The Book Store." Just a bit on the door and the bricks.

 

 I did an even "wee-er" little bit on the centerpiece of my Mirabilia Large-Stitch RR. It's got me a little concerned that I won't have all my seaweed or my own mermaid done before it's time to get it in the mail.

 I'm not quite half-way on Sophia's Band Sampler RR, but I am doing two sets of colors (red and orange) instead of one. It is a series of Celtic knot bands that are in beautiful rainbow colors using all silks. Yum.

Here is my big finish! I did the last portion of the Joan Elliott RR on Jacqui's piece. I have stitched for her Joan's Goddess of the Sea. She came out beautifully and was pleasant to stitch.

 

Here is the full piece. Jacqui just needs to finish her square with Cinderella, and add, I think, verses in the blank squares. It is a lovely piece, and I'm so glad I was part of this Round Robin.

 

 Well, here's hoping my mojo will stick with me through the end of the year, and beyond!

I know, I know

I did it again. I missed Hunky Friday. But, all is not lost.

I share with you a new obsession. Sasha Roiz is currently in a show called "Grimm" on NBC. Love him!! Just to impress you further, he is 6'4", and speaks English, French, and Russian.

Heavy sigh...

Not his real tattoos, but woof!

Pay It Forward (PIF) and a SAL conundrum

A little ways back, I read a blog entry from dear Rahenna. She was chosen to participate in an exchange by the equally dear Kaye. Kaye had been sent a PIF gift from someone else, and was inspired to pay it forward by offering a handmade gift to three more people who agreed to then pay it forward to three more people each. (Sorry if that's confusing.)

I recalled that I've been very blessed (and lucky) to have been sent a number of lovely gifts this year, so I asked Rahenna if I could participate.

Would you like to receive a handmade gift from me?

Here's how it works:

1.  Understand that you will be expected to offer three gifts to others if you participate.
2.  Leave a comment here with your email address so I can contact you. :)
3.  If more than three people are interested in the PIF, I will do a drawing.
4. Stitchy gifts are the best, but you don't necessarily have to limit yourself to cross stitch. Any handmade gift will do, but you should specify that when you post yours. I will likely do a small cross stitch gift, and/or something sewn.
5. You may set your own time limit for when you will make and send the gifts. Kaye chose 12 months. I think I will go with 6 months.

I will leave the sign up open until November 30.

I'm excited about this opportunity to share with you how grateful I've been for your friendship.


Now, for my conundrum. I think I definitely qualify as a Serial Starter. There are so many projects out there. I have so many charts and projects kitted up. I want to do them all right now, but my ability to make progress has been, shall we say, spotty? Just wait until you see my WIPocalypse summary at the end of the year. (eyes roll to back of head)

I've tried to limit my commitments to round robins for next year. I've only signed up for two: the Mirabilia Large-Stitch, and a new Joan Elliott. I really want to do a little stitching for myself in 2013.

I think I have an addiction. There are several SALs starting next year, and a project or two that would work nicely as a monthly goal sort. As it is, the Passione Ricamo Mystery SAL I started this year has stalled. Part 5 was released Nov. 1, and I've only completed Part 2! I'm trying to convince myself to either not join/start any more SAL/monthly projects, or just pick one. (I'm hopeless...really)

Here are the ones I'm thinking about:
1. Country Cottage - Santa's Village SAL (Here's the FB group)
2. Joan Elliott Fantasy Stitcher's Diary SAL
3. Ellen Maurer-Stroh Flowers of the Month
4. Ink Circles "99" (I will probably start this anyway. I can pick it up any time and just add one bottle. It's for my DH.)
5. Country Cottage - Cottage of the Month

What am I to do? I'm nuts. Seriously.

What do you think of this one?

Okay, I've tweaked the seaweed a little bit. I mostly kept what was there already, and then added some of the thicker, wavy portions like the other version that looked more like real seaweed.

Tell me if this looks better or worse, please.

Thanks!!

Version 3

Results and a fiery hunk

Here I am. The bad blogger.

I've been so absent lately. I haven't been checking in on your blogs as much as usual. I haven't been stitching as much as usual. aaargh! I apologize for not being very attentive. I'm just having that feeling of not enough hours in the day.

I haven't even posted anything for WIPocalypse yet. It feels like I just posted about 2 weeks ago, and I have very little to show you. (again) I'll put up some pictures in the next couple of days.

For those of you that shared your opinions regarding my "seaweed," thank you so much!! The results were overwhelming. You all seem to like my original "viney" looking scribble. That's really all it was, too...a scribble on PC Stitch while I was laying out the shells and mermaids. Because it was such a haphazard scribble initially, but you all like the flow of it, I think I will go with Version 1, but I will try to tweak it a bit and make it more polished. I will probably stitch it in a couple of shades of overdyed floss. When I clean up the pattern I will share a new copy.

Be on the lookout...I will be posting soon about a PIF (Pay It Forward) exchange.

But, lest we forget, today is FRIDAY! And you all know what that means...another hunk!

I've been watching a new show called "Chicago Fire." Naturally, since I do live in the far west suburbs of the Windy City. And, girls, let me tell you, this show is wall-to-wall hunkiness!! Woot, woot!

My favorite hunk on the show is an actor by the name of, Taylor Kinney. I just found out today that Taylor is romantically involved with Lady Gaga. Who knew?

Please enjoy Taylor.

See you soon!
*hugs and stitches*
~ Karen

I need your opinions

Hello All!

I've been thinking about my Mirabilia Large-Stitch round robin. I wasn't sure if I was happy with the seaweed borders as I had them. I've tried a different look to the seaweed. I'd like to know if you like Version 1 seaweed better, or Version 2. Please keep in mind that the mermaids will be in their full regular color, not the silhouettes I've shown. Also, the black rectangular borders around each mermaid are just for placement.

Version 1

Version 2

Please share your opinions. Thank you!