Monday, January 26, 2015

So Far So Good...200th Post!

This is officially my 200th post for my blog!  It may not sound like much for some, but for me this is a nice little mile marker.

January 2nd I had made that little list of 5 things I would try to accomplish for the month and I'll be darned if I haven't done just that!
 
Here were the goals:
 
1) Monthly bookmark - completed January 6th
2) 12 Days of Christmas Day 1 - completed January 25th
3) A tiny - January 2nd (Quaker Ornament Side A)
4) Current Project Skeleton Crew - have stitched on and will continue stitching on (maybe finish by January 31st?  Eyes crossed in hopeful anticipation)
5) Another tiny or small or mini or three when I can't stand to stitch my project anymore - completed January Ornament of the Month January 18th.
 
I don't know about you, but this has me feeling supremely elated!
 
I have to admit that Day 1 is one of the more complicated Days in this project.  Why are there 87 Gabillion shades of greens for those leaves that are less than 1 cm each?
 
I am so very pleased with how this turned out and it was my "learning" start for this project and am now armed and ready for the next 11 Days.
 
Here is what we have learned:
 
1)  the outer border is super easy and fast.
 
2)  the hollies on the four corners are not all in there correctly and two are off by one.
 
3) the 1 over 1 on linen is, at first, a serious pain in the butt, however, changing to a #5 embroidery needle made everything all better even if it was still a microscopic stitch.
 
4)  when doing 1 over 1, one must do full cross stitches one at a time so the thread doesn't pop over the intersecting thread.  This takes more time (as does going blind stitching such tiny stitches) but obviously well worth the effort. (I do recommend evenweave and not linen if you are "lazy", a beginner or want to actually get it done in a reasonable amount of time).
 
5)  the urge to start Day 2 was upon me until I realized I still had a little less than a week until I could officially start it, so I shall wait....even though I want to start.  I know, you are saying "well why not?"  Because it's one per month and I still have Skeleton Crew to work on.
 
Fabric is hooped and ready for Day 2 and February Ornament of the Month and February Bookmark.
 
I'm wondering if all my organizing is now coming to fruition?  It seems I am getting more done now that  it is all within easy reach.
 
The next bit of organizing is to put the mercerized flosses on bobbins and into their boxes.  Still considering whether or not I'll do that with the Weeks Dye Works and ThreadX...probably will!
 
Still waiting on my Surprise Me! fabric from Silkweavers.  I have seen what Nancy received and it is quite beautiful.  Maybe today I'll have a surprise in the mailbox when I get home from work?  I am ever hopeful.
 
Until next time my pretties!
 

23 comments:

  1. Great job on achieving your goals and that's a lovely finish!

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    1. Thank you! I'm thoroughly impressed with myself and still very elated and the month isn't even over. For a "gift" to myself I picked out and hooped the fabric for one of the three biscornu I'll be making in February :D Just realized I just organized more....

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  2. There is a trick to doing over one. Check out this explanation and try it on some very loose weave to see how it works. Once you get the hang of it, it makes sense and goes quickly. http://www.funkandweber.com/cross-stitch-over-one-thread/

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    1. That is what I was doing but in reverse :D too bad I didn't know about this until NOW ha ha! THANK YOU for sharing and I do hope it helps whoever else comes across this post as it does make sense!

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  3. Yay for completing all your goals, and with a week to spare even, reward yourself with some skeleton crew and scotch, but not at the same time.

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    1. The Scotch has to wait until I can save up a little extra...unless it is on sale again, then it's MINE. And I did stitch on Skeleton Crew last night and found that I am what appears to be easy stitching...but then everything will seem easy after Day 1. Holding the regular sized needle for stitching feels weird after that #5 embroidery needle, but it definitely goes super fast :D I was just thinking that if the planets align properly I may have it finished by Saturday evening or night! Please stay tuned....

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  4. Girl, you are seriously on fire this year! I'm so proud of you for finishing all your goals already. Day 1 is incredibly pretty, and I'm debatting with myself if and when I can get in a start on my own 12 days project.
    Now get busy stitching skeleton crew, it's been a while since I've seen the whole thing and we both know that you're itching to get it done ^_^

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    1. Yes ma'am!! Started stitching on it again last night and what pure joy!

      With all you have going on right now you may have to save 12 Days until next year, but it wouldn't hurt my feelings if you were to stitch it with me :D

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  5. Great start. I'll have updated my blog with what I've done by the end of the week although it doesn't seem as if it's a lot. No idea where my started 12 days is. Perhaps I should start digging? No, on second thoughts heaven only knows what else I'll find!!

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    1. Goody! I have been thinking of sending emails to my girls about updated pictures that I can post for TW SAL, so if you don't want to blog it, you can email me and I'll put your beautiful piece up for you :D

      Soooooo, you have 12 Days lurking somewhere? I would say DIG IT UP and dust it off! Even if you just look at it and share a little that would be wonderful! Put blinders on for the rest UNLESS it is a TW ha ha!

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  6. Congratulations on your 200th post and on your goals. I find rotation stitching helps me get so much more stitched.

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    1. Thank you! You know, I tried the rota last year and liked it, but I end up finishing one thing at a time so the rotation ends up not really working. I have been doing a Sunday Start, or a little stitching here and there on my current WIPs but I'm thinking that doesn't really count as any formal rotation :D

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  7. Great finish and congrats on reaching 200 posts. Call me crazy, but i enjoy stitching over 1. The end effect is always amazing :)

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    1. OH! I completely understand the 1 over 1 love, it was addictive and helped me see why so many prefer it over the "regular" way!

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  8. Congrats on 200 posts and on reaching your goals! You're doing amazingly well. The Christmas stitch is gorgeous (especially with 87 gabillion colors in each leaf, lol)

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    1. Tee hee, I may have exaggerated on the amount of greens, but it sure felt like it at the time hahaha! And thank you! Think the little monthly goals will continue and we can see how far I go with it :D

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  9. 200 posts is a great milestone! Congrats!

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  10. It is such an awesome embroidery and you have done so well getting all of your goals done this month! I do hope that keeping a short, doable list like this will mean you have found your path to getting lots done :)

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    1. Thank you! I may have hit on the very thing to get more stitching done! We shall see. January goals met feels so incredibly good, the itching and burning need to do the same in February may see the same results...even though I'm adding a couple more small projects :D

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  11. This looks amazing! I recently got the chart and am hoping they will be my ornaments to stitch next year :)

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    1. It is actually FUN to stitch! If you can do one a month that is fine, but I find myself wanting to continue stitching when I'm finished! I believe you will LOVE it. One little bit o' advice, I really do think evenweave is the way to go here, but the linen is holding up nicely now that I have it figured out...the threads like to pop behind or in front of the cross weave...but that has been rectified :D

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