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Monday, April 6, 2015

April 2015 WIPocalypse

We've reached another full moon, so it's time for a WIPocalypse check-in, as hosted by Measi.  Actually, the official check in date was Saturday, but since I still don't have internet access on the weekends, I am a little behind on reporting. 

April's question is: Which specialty stitches do you love doing on projects? Which do you dread?

For me, I pretty much dread all specialty stitches.  Most of all, I hate French knots (even though those aren't really a specialty stitch per se).  I can do some specialty stitches, I used the lazy daisy stitch on my Victorian Tree ornament last year, I just don't like the extra fussiness I guess.  And I'm definitely not brave enough to branch out on a pattern with tons of specialty stitches.  Beading is specialty enough for me right now!

Now I suppose I should tally up my progress for WIPocalypse this month.   Looking back at my original WIPocalypse goals, here's where I stand so far:

Goal 1: Keep up with the 2015 Flower of the Month SAL - I did some good progress in March and got caught up with starting.  Now to start April this month. 

Goal 2: Crazy January Challenge, completed.  I have also finished stitching 5 of the 31 projects so far. 

Goal 3: Keep up with the other SALs I've taken on this year.  So far, so good, although I have missed TUSAL a couple times.

Goal 4: Work on my 10 Turtle Trot pieces.  No progress on this last check-in.  And I haven't got much progress so far this month either.  I'm actually thinking about adjusting my TT pieces a bit. 

Goal 5: Finish Frosted Pumpkin Round Robin when it comes back to me later this year - cannot complete yet.  But I've been seeing the progress on my pattern in our Facebook Group, and so far Days 5, 8 and 9 of the 12 days of Christmas are complete.

Goal 6: Other projects to start - none started yet.

And a New Goal 7 (just for April): Finish the A to Z blogging challenge!

My finishes for March the February and March parts of Frosted Pumpkin's Woodland Sampler, (my contribution to Round 2 of the above mentioned Round Robin group), Sparrow on Vine stitched for Love Quilts, and Hoppy Spring stitched for a spring exchange.  I'm not going to post pictures of these finishes again, since long time readers of my blog have already seen them several times this month, but you can click on the links to see them if you wish.

And I have new things to share too!  Although not really a "goal" I did reach a landmark, my first "finished-finish".  I finished up Hoppy Spring as a flat piece, which is my first time ever finishing a small project (beyond a few bookmarks in the past).  I used Vonna's very nice finishing tutorial to help me.  Thanks to the very limited selection of supplies at my local Joann's, I had to really improvise my supplies, but I think it turned out okay despite that.  

 
Here's a picture of the fabric I used for the back:


So what do you think?  Did it turn out okay?

 
I also had a long stitching session this weekend thanks to our church's semi-annual broadcasted conference.  I was able to get done my Round 3 project for the Frosted Pumpkin Round Robin.  This is the November block of Dessert of the Month Club:


Isn't it cute?  I love the eyelashes.  I had a hard time deciding which  block to do, but in the end my brother helped me choose this one.  No progress pics on this one unfortunately, since it went so quick.

Well, I guess that's it for this (rather long) update post.  Until next month!
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11 comments:

  1. New follower here. I'm stopping by from the "A to Z" challenge, and I look forward to visiting again!

    Sylvia
    www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com

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  2. Congrats on your first ever finished finish!, I think it turned out super cute. And thank you for the link, I need to venture out more into the world of finishes that don't involve frames (scary thought). And FP is always cute. :D

    Not a WIPocalypse participant but I think my favorite is the herringbone stitch, especially layered in a rainbow. Or maybe I just like rainbows. :b

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    1. Ooh, I do like the look of the herringbone stitch (I had to Google it). That one I might just try someday. And I know what you mean about liking rainbows. I think it's just the combination of colors for me. We call that the "sharpie effect" in our family, because every time we see a 18 pack of Sharpie markers at the store we want to buy them because of all the pretty colors together.

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  3. Great finish job Alyssa!! Love the ric-rac trim and that bunny fabric is darling. Mostly I'm so stinkin' impressed you did the actual finishing part - nothing against you of course......I just find the "finishing" of the stitched piece such a challenge!! Looking forward to your next finish, keep up the great work!!

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    1. Yes, I was impressed I did it too, LOL. If I hadn't needed to finish it to send it off for the exchange, I'm not sure it would have ever gotten done. I haven't even ever framed anything I've finished (bought the frame and mat, yes, but actually mounted it, no).

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  4. Wow, what a beautiful finish love that little rabbit
    You are going good on your goals for this year
    I really love your flower of the month sal never took part at a sal yet but fell in love with this ond, now i see how quick the month are going by
    Just finished april so thats nearly 4 months gone all ready this year
    Look forward to see your other finishes

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  5. You have done a wonderful job with your ornament! For me it is always nerve-racking to try to finish a stitched piece.

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  6. Love your finished ornament. Well done!

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  7. Your finish-finish is so cute, I'm impressed and totally jealous! And the Dessert of the Month block is really cute as well :)

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  8. I love your bunny finish. Thanks for the link to Vonna's tutorials. I was looking for something like that.

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