An All-In-One Post (it's a biggie!)

 

This is becoming a bit of a habit. I've been a less than reliable blogger. Sorry.

In my defense, we had another death in the family in February. We suddenly and unexpectedly lost my uncle. We had family come in from out of state, for whom we were entertaining for a couple of days. In that same time frame I got terribly sick. (again!!)

I apologize for whining. It was just a tough month.

So here I am with a huge post. I will cover not only my February WIPocalypse update; not only my end-of-month Theme-a-Licious wrap up; but, I've also remembered that it is Friday, and you are overdue for your hunk.

Let's see...Where to start?

WIPocalypse
The themes for Feb. were Little House Needleworks, Love/Family, and white and red colors.

I found and started a new project that would fit all the categories of the theme. (Don't expect that to happen often!) I started stitching LHN's Baked Goods. I love baking pies for my family at the holidays. This reminds me of that. It does have the colors of white and red in it. The red that was called for was GAST Mulberry. The skein of Mulberry that I got, though, was very brown and has almost no red in it. The next time I'm at my LNS, I will pick a different color that I like better.

In January I started my Joan Elliott Diary SAL. This is how far I got on the January piece.

And this is how far I got on my February piece.....

[  ]

Yes, it is supposed to be blank. I never got to start Feb., so on to March I go.


I allowed myself another new start. (So naughty!) I did the first bottle of Ink Circles' "99." This piece is for my dear hubby. He really has been supportive with my stitching, even though I tend to make him sound grumpy. He even turns a blind eye to my stashing addiction. (mostly) I wanted him to see me start on something just for him. I changed the shelf color from the charted solid mauve to a pretty wood-colored overydyed cotton. There will be more to the shelves than just one row of stitches. That's all I got to before starting the Blue Moon beer bottle.

I have been working really hard on Laura's band sampler round robin piece. It is sucking the life out of me! The problem is that the sections ended up side-by-side (long story) and quite wide. Each section seemed to get larger and larger as each stitcher got more adventurous in the Celtic theme. Dear, sweet Catherine, who did the section to the right, was so inspired that she created an absolutely enormous section. Normally that wouldn't affect me at all, but since I had to stitch across from her, and because I am the last stitcher, I felt that my section needs to be the same size as hers to keep it symmetrical. Gaaaaaaa! This thing is eating my mojo.

How about some entries for Theme-a-Licious?

The theme this month was:
Figural February: Who are the people in your neighborhood...your WIP neighborhood, that is? Give your people-populated projects some face time this month.


Firstly, I posted last month that I finally received my Mira round robin back, with Lavender started in the wrong spot. I ripped out the offending stitches and re-stitched her in the correct position. I will send this on to Julie to work on Sweet Pea shortly. When I get it back from her, I will bead everything and call this one done!

I had wanted to get at least another 300 stitches done on Bellydancer No. 1. I didn't get quite that far. Almost 200 done in a couple of hours, but it doesn't look like much.

Before

After

 

 

 

I had intended to stitch a step or two of my exceedingly neglected Passione Ricamo SAL. I didn't get to it at all. I blame Catherine of the uber-large band. :-b (If you're reading this, Cat, I'm just teasing.)

The theme for March is:
March Madness: Work on something different every day...it's madness...of the funnest possible kind.


Honestly, that's not going to happen. I have too many obligation stitches to finish. Once I get through those, though, I might jump around a bit to some WIPs that have been neglected. I may even make a new start or two, just because I'm nuts that way.

Now, what you've all been waiting for...HUNKY FRIDAY!

Again, I'm sharing some special requests. Today I have John Cena for your entertainment. I much prefer Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson over this guy, but to each her/his own, right? ;-)

Oops. How did that get in here?

If you got all the way to the end of this everything-but-the-kitchen-sink post, thanks for sticking it out!

Until next time...
*hugs and stitches*

~Karen

Theme-a-licious Check-in

So this is my first mid-month check in for Theme-a-licious.

I don't have any pix ready to post, so I think I'll just tell you a bit about my plans.

This month's theme is: Figural February - "Who are the people in your neighborhood...your WIP neighborhood, that is? Give your people-populated projects some face time this month."

Most of what I stitch includes people, but I will make a special effort on a couple of neglected pieces this month. (I hope.)

I received my 2012 Mirabilia Round Robin back (finally). However, the last stitcher only put in a partial section, and she stitched it in the wrong box. :(    So, I picked out the stitches she had done, and I stitched Nora Corbett's Lavender Pixie in the correct box. Dear, sweet Julie from Red Couch Stitcher , has volunteered to stitch the remaining box with Sweet Pea pixie, so I don't have to do two boxes. When I get it back from her, I will do the beading on all eight pixies. I will share a picture during my WIPocalypse check in.

I really want to put in another couple hundred stitches into Yiota's Bellydancer No. 1.

Here is what she looked like last time:

I'm almost certain that I won't reach the actual bellydancer, but I'd like to make some progress.

I have also long neglected my Passione Ricamo Mistery Fairy SAL. I completed through Step 2. We've received Step 8 at the beginning of February. I guess I'm a little behind.

This is what it looked like through Step 2 (keeping in mind that I do the beading at the end):

So, let's see if I've made any progress by the end of the month. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Tardy WIPs and Hunks

I know, I know. I'm tardy again. Being on time has never been one of my strong points. (blush)

I've been busy stitching away this month. Here are my WIPs/Finishes:

Let's start with my RAK project. You've already seen this, and I haven't added anything else, but it counts as a WIP for this month, right?? ;-)

Next, we have my RR portion of Kathy's Mirabilia piece. You saw a sneaky pic of it last time, but now it's done. I loved this one! (except for the #8 Kreinik. Blech!)

 

I finished my section of Debbie's Joan Elliott RR. This is Water Goddess. This piece is absolutely fantastic!

Next up is Linda's Band Sampler RR. She is doing an Indigo Rose-themed piece. Really stunning.

 

I finished Part 2 of the Passione Ricamo Mystery SAL, just in time to receive Part 3!

 

I added another 300+ stitches to the Bellydancer from Yiota's . 

 

I started some of the shells and coral that are going in the center of my Mirabilia large-stitch RR.

Lastly, I did a bit of work on TOT from Nora. Most of you out there know what I mean, but I'm being purposely vague. This is a birthday present for a dear friend that might, possibly be reading this blog. I don't know if I'm going to get it done in time, but I'm sure gonna try.

 

Now, for the hunks.

I've been feeling really down this week, so I think I need some extra hunkage today. One of my very favorite hunky movies is King Arthur, starring Clive Owen. There were LOTS of hunky, manly men in this movie. Here are my favorites.

Clive Owen as King Arthur

Ioan Gryffudd as Lancelot

Mads Mikkelsen as Tristan

Ray Stevenson as Dagonet

Joel Edgerton as Gawain

Hugh Dancy as Galahad

I hope you found one that you like. I found six of them!

See you next time.

August WIPocalypse and stashing

All through July I kept thinking that I wasn't getting as much stitching time as I wanted to over the summer. However, when I started taking pix for this post I said, "Oh. I guess I had a bit more time than I thought.."

 I finished Steph's little fairy for the Joan Elliott RR.

I did a Sweetheart Tree Heart for Kathy's Band Sampler RR. This one is Morning Glory Heart.

 I stitched Part 1 of the Passione Ricamo Mystery Fairy SAL. (I just received Part 2, and will stitch it after the next couple RR finishes.)

 I don't usually like to show full pix of partial RRs, but I haven't done enough on this one to worry about it. Besides, Debbie already knows that I'm stitching Water Goddess for her Joan Elliott RR.

I put in about another 400 stitches on my Bellydancer for Yiota. Not much, but I'm trying to get at least some done every month. The colors are quite pretty in person.

While the pic gives away more than I'd like, I'm very excited to be almost done with my portion of Kathy's Mira RR. Her theme is Christmas. Do you know what this is?

Lastly, I haven't stitched on her in months, and I have lots of higher priority stitching to do, but I got some kind of bug up my keister and had to pick up Mediterranean Mermaid. Her hair is almost done. She needs some more blue highlights. Speaking of which, I changed the main color of her hair to 310, because the only hair I know of that has blue highlights is jet black. (Besides, when I saw the original pic of her, that's what I thought it was. Not brown.)

I said lastly, but what I meant was the last WIP pic. I did not, however, share a picture of the results of my naughtiness. My postie was very good to me this week. *blush*

 

I ordered two extra Polstitches fabrics to go along with my FOTM. There are also two Joan Elliott charts (Goddess of the Sea and Woodland Goddess), and a whole bunch of beads. Some are the purple ones that I will put on the PR Fairy, and the orange/yellow ones are for JE's Fire Goddess. I'll post about that another time. BTW, the fabrics are left-to-right, Toffee Popsicle opal lugana, Abyss opal Cashel, and Bali Sunset L/E jobelan.

I will try soon to scan my whole collection of fabbies and put them on a separate page here.

For those of you wondering about Hunky Friday, I'm exhausted after camp. I'll post tomorrow.

Hugs!

~ Karen

p.s. Tomorrow is the deadline for entries into my giveaway!

4th of July WIPocalypse

Well, here we are. Another month has gone by. Have I gotten any stitching done? Yes, but not enough.

I finished Cat's Band Sampler RR. Boy, was that one a doozy!

Cat's Band Sampler RR

I finished Linda's Mirabilia RR. Garden Beauty. I gave her a little nose job. She had quite a beak on her.

Linda's Mirabilia RR

I'm around halfway through Stephanie's Joan Elliott Garden Fairies RR. I don't usually like to show partial pix of RR squares, but I tried being clever keeping my section unfocused in the back. (A trick I got from Laura of Passione Ricamo, revealing unfocused teaser pieces.)

Stephanie's JE Garden Fairies RR

Speaking of Passione Ricamo...I have the supplies to start the Mistery SAL (except a few PTBs), but I haven't had time to start it yet.

But, speaking of new starts...I figured I needed to start a wee bit on the Bellydancer kit that I am reviewing for Yiota's . I managed to quickly do the first two 10 x 10 blocks yesterday.

Bellydancer No 1 from Yiota's

"What else have you done, Karen?" you ask. Well, I decided that I'm not happy with my DMC StitchBows, so I'm going back to Ye Olde Floss Bobbins. I've been winding, and winding, and winding...and I haven't even scratched the surface. The Girl-child seems to enjoy watching me wind, though.

By the next WIPocalypse check-in I will need to have worked on and/or finished: Steph's JE RR, Kathy's Sweetheart Tree Band Sampler RR, Kathy's Mirabilia RR, and Debbie's JE RR. Not to mention putting a dent in the Bellydancer, completing Section 1 of the PR SAL, and starting Section 2. I'm exhausted just thinking about it, but in a good way.

That about sums up this month. See you in August!

I'm excited!

I'm very excited that I've joined the Passione Ricamo Mistery Fairy SAL!

I have several PR charts that I haven't gotten around to starting yet. (Along with dozens of Miras and Joan Elliott's, etc.) But I think they're fabulous and I've been eager to try one. I saw the post on Laura's blog and even though I'm swamped with round robins and the kit I need to review for Yiota's, I knew I had to sign up! I figured that if I can do one small-ish section a month, why I'll just have my very own FINISHED Passione Ricamo fairy next year. How awesome would that be?

In looking at the Polstitches fabrics that Laura suggested, I knew I had a piece of Angel Dust jobelan. But, it turned out, and Laura agreed, that it was just too colorful for this detailed pattern.

So, I dug back into my box and found a Limited Edition monthly jobelan from Polstitches called Bouquet. It's breathtaking in person.

The photo I took for the floss toss is making all the colors look a bit washed out, but you get the idea. (I'm missing a few of the pretty PTBs that have been ordered.)

In case you are interested in joining the SAL, the sign ups close on June 30. The first section will be sent out on July 1st. I can't wait!! Now I have to hustle and get my outstanding round robins done. Come on needles, FLY!

WIPs, Stitchy Mail, and a True Blooded Hunk

Hello Dear Readers,

I'm tardy again. Seems to be a habit lately.

My summer of doing nothing but stitching has not started well. I've been much busier than anticipated, and I've hit a HUGE stitching slump. I just can't seem to get myself into it. Makes it difficult to hit those round robin deadlines. hmmph

Well, since last WIPocalypse what have I accomplished?

I finished my square on Ginny's Mirabilia RR. I stitched Lilly of the Woods for her.

I finished my bubble on Michelle's Joan Elliott RR. I stitched Butterfly Fairy.

I have started Cat's band sampler RR on which I am doing a section of Winter. I have also started Stephanie's JE RR. Hers is all little petal shaped sections of Garden Fairies. I don't want to share pix of these until they are done.

I received Linda's Mirabilia Ladies RR, but haven't started it yet. (See Stitchy Mail below.)

I also put in a few stitches on Book Store, but it wasn't really enough to warrant a photo. Maybe next time.



So, I've received a ton of stitchy mail in the last couple of days!

I am going to review a kit for Yiota's XStitch . It is Belly Dance No. 1.

I've been very lucky to win some giveaways on the blogs of some sweet stitchy friends. I won a piece of fabric from Leslie that she hand-dyed for me. It's beautiful, blues with a hint of pink and lavender. I love it! I also won a big handful of DMC variegated floss from Melanie . They are such pretty colors. I've never had or used any of the DMC varies and I guess I never knew what I was missing! Also, in my mail picture you will see Linda's aforementioned Mira RR, and my monthly L/E fabric from Polstitches, Lust and Laughter. It's gorgeous. I love the splashes of peach in it. Don't know what I'm going to stitch on it yet, but it'll come to me.

Thank you so much to Leslie and Melanie! They are sweet and generous. Melanie did her giveaway to celebrate reaching 50 followers. I think I'll do a giveaway when I get to 50 as well. Thanks for the idea!



Last, but definitely not least, I have a hunk for you. The season premiere of True Blood starts in just over an hour. My favorite hunky character is Eric Northman, played by the superbly hunky Alexander Skarsgard. Yum. (Watch out for the extra naughty pix at the bottom. Shield the younguns eyes!)