My Slow WIPs...Turtle Trot SAL Update

Howdy lovely blog readers,

Turtle Trot SAL 2014
I signed up for the Turtle Trot SAL (Stitch-Along) run by BAP Attack at the start of the year.  This SAL is about nominating 10x WIPs to work on once per month and posting their progress on the 10th day of each month.  I was religiously doing the SAL every month until June 2014 when I made the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Castle my focus piece so I could finish it. As I live in Australia I have been posting on the 10th. I didn't realise until recently, there was a spot on BAP Attack's blog, to link my page back to the Turtle Trot SAL. I think this is because I was looking her blog too early living in Australia (it is the 10th when only the 9th across much of the world). So I have missed all of the link opportunities this year so will just have to do it again next year.

Now that I have finished the castle I can give some loving to some of my slower WIPs.  I hope you enjoy the before and after photos.

1. Shores of Hawk Run Hollow by CHS
I have continued stitching on Block 2 this month which is an under the sea theme. The fish are very cute swimming amongst the seaweed.

Before:

After:

32 ct ivory linen two over two

2. I Love London by Historical Sampler Company
I have had fun stitching this border while travelling in October through New Zealand. This will be a January focus piece - I hope to finish the border and sew it into a pillow.

Before:

After:

32 count  white linen stitched two over two

3. Shepherd's Bush 2007 Christmas stocking

Hooray I have a finish! The stocking is now sewn together using a burgundy/black star cotton fabric. Everyone one in my immediate family now has a Shepherd's Bush Christmas stocking.  This is for my hubby. Let's hope Santa fills it with some gifts. 

After:

11ct linen stitched with No 5 Pearl cottons

4. Annet Eriksson's Passion for Stitching Chateau 
No progress

5.  Christmas House by Bucilla
No progress

6. Designers Forum Needlepoint Rug
No progress

7. Country House Needleworks Santa's House

No progress

8.  Bucilla Touch of Gold
I have shown this some loving recently and have stitched some more of the background. I am treating this as practice for my HAED (Heaven and Earth Designs pattern) I am starting on December 1st in the HAED SAL. The muted colours are so feminine.

Before:

After:

Stitched on 28ct mushroom even weave two over two

9. The Prairie Schooler Pumpkin Patch
No progress

10. Promises Kept by Dimensions

I also started stitching the two horses on this project. You can see a grey horse facing it's black horsey friend.

Before: 

After:

Stitched on 16ct Aida

Cross Stitch YouTube Update

It you enjoy FlossTube (cross stitch updates on YouTube) you can see my latest video about my finishes and WIP progress can be viewed here:

IT Help Needed
I am so frustrated with Google Plus! It is constantly converting my status when I comment on blogs. It converts me into a "no reply" commenter which means bloggers cannot reply to my comments as it has unlinked my email address. I am so sick of it I have stopped commenting on blogs as it takes me half an hour to change it back again. Anyone who has a simple way of converting it back please share!

Happy stitching…

                        Jan x

2014 Turtle Trot: March Update

Hello special readers.

My apologies for not posting sooner. A little man's birthday and illness have prevented me.

My Tom has turned 4! He was adamant about having a Star Wars themed party even though he hasn't watched the movies or seen the TV cartoon. I gather he and his day care friends play Star Wars in the playground and this has captured his imagination. His enthusiasm was delightful as he dressed in his Darth Vader ("Dark" Vader as he called it) outfit minus the mask which was "too scary".

Following the busyness of hosting a party and life in general, I came down with a yucky virus. I am pleased to say I conquered that one using the force. Viruses can be such a drag. 

BAP Attack is hosting Turtle Trot 2014.  This is my March update. Although I have 10 projects listed in my Turtle Trot list I just cannot seem to get through all 10! I will try harder next month.  I have completely lost one project somewhere. I am fearful I lost it camping. Let's hope I track it down soon. 

Since February 10th, I have made progress on five of the ten projects on my list.  

1. Shores of Hawk Run Hollow by CHS
I was delighted to finally put the finishing touches to the rocks and ocean and stitch the sweet gull. Now I need to get busy and finish stitching the words and sun on this block.

Before:

After:

2. I Love London
A London cab is now adorning this stitcher. Ain't she sweet?  It reminds me of our London trip highlight in 2006 being driven in a speeding cab around Mayfair and Trafalgar Square.

Before

After:

3. Shepherd's Bush 2007 Christmas stocking
An adorable sheep is playing now on the hills below the king.


Before:

After:

4. Annet Eriksson's Passion for Stitching Chateau - I have still lost this! Where oh where have I put you?

5.  Christmas House by Bucilla
I added a little greenery about the window. I have run out of one colour so it stopped me earlier than I wanted.


Before:

After:

6. Designers Forum Needlepoint Rug - no progress this month

7. The Prairie Schooler Alphabet
I have started stitching the whole alphabet on one piece of linen 36 ct two over two. I am totally addicted to this that this will definitely move from my Turtle Trot to my WIPocalypse.  I have almost finished the first letter and have started B is for Blackbird.

Before:

After:

8. Country House Needleworks Santa's House- Whoops no progress

9.  Bucilla Touch of Gold-  Whoops no progress

10. The Prairie Schooler Pumpkin Patch- Whoops No progress

Overall I am proud of my stitching progress. 

Happy stitching…

                        Jan x

2014 Turtle Trot: February update

BAP Attack is hosting Turtle Trot 2014.  I am a day late in Australia but I figure it is still the 10th of February somewhere on the globe. I had to spend the actual 10th with my darling father for his birthday and he lives over 2 hours away. To top the day of travel off with my three children, a motorcyclist fell off his bike in front of us. Scary! Thankfully he only sustained minor injuries but enough to remind me of how risky the roads can be and how relieved I was when we arrived home in one piece at 10pm.

Since February 10th I have made progress on six out of the ten projects on my list.  

1. Shores of Hawk Run Hollow by CHS

Before:

After:

2. I Love London

Before:

After:

3. Shepherd's Bush 2007 Christmas stocking

Before:

After:

4. Annet Eriksson's Passion for Stitching Chateau - I have temporarily misplaced this project so I couldn't take a photo. I have stitched two more letters on it.

5.  Christmas House by Bucilla

Before:

After:

6. Designers Forum Needlepoint Rug - no progress this month

7. The Prairie Schooler Alphabet L is for Leaves - FINISHED! I have replaced this project with the whole alphabet. Crazy I know. Stitched on one piece of linen 36 ct two over two.

A for Anchor:

8. Country House Needleworks Santa's House- No progress

9.  Bucilla Touch of Gold- No progress

10. The Prairie Schooler Pumpkin Patch- No progress

How's your Turtle Trot going if you have signed up for it?

Happy stitching…

                        Jan x

Turtle Trot 2014

BAP Attack is hosting Turtle Trot 2014 and I have signed up.  Since January 1st I have made progress on seven out of ten projects out of my list of 10.  I will get busy over the next few days and work on the other three.

1. Shores of Hawk Run Hollow by CHS
Before:

After:

2. I Love London
Before:

After:

3. Shepherd's Bush 2007 Christmas stocking
Before:

After:

4. Annet Eriksson's Passion for Stitching Chateau
Before:

After:

5.  Christmas House by Bucilla
Before:

After:

6. Designers Forum Needlepoint Rug
Before:

After:

7. The Prairie Schooler Alphabet L is for Leaves
Before:

After:

8. Country House Needleworks Santa's House

No progress

9.  Bucilla Touch of Gold

No progress

10. The Prairie Schooler Pumpkin Patch

No progress

This Turtle Trot has been motivating me to stitch on those other projects which haven't been on a regular rotation.  How's your Turtle Trot going if you have signed up for it?

Happy stitching…

                        Jan x

2014 Cross Stitching Goals...

Happy 2014!!! I am inspired to join a few SALs to help me push ahead with my projects. I had few finishes in 2013, partly because my projects are mostly BAPs and partly time-related. I am sure that with the progress I have made during 2013, I will have quite a few finishes during 2014.

2014 WIPocalypse

My name is now on the 2014 WIPocalypse sign-up list run by Measi's Musings. I was part of this in 2012 which helped me finish my Marjolein Bastin Four Seasons sampler.

Here are the two WIPocalypse projects I will work on during 2014:

1. Bothy Threads "Cut Thru' Castle"

Stitched on 16ct Zweigart AIDA

2.  Dimensions The Gold Collection "Promises Kept"

2014 Turtle Trot

This is my first attempt at doing the Turtle Trot. I have to choose 10 projects to work on and document progress monthly for 2014.  I have 10 unfinished or kitted up cross stitches (and thankfully no more) that deserve to be in this SAL.

1. Carriage House Samplings "Shores of Hawk Run Hollow"

2. Historical Sampler Company "I Love London"

3. Shepherd's Bush 2007 stocking

4. Anett Eriksson "Chateau" cushion cover (new start)

5. Bucilla Gallery of Stitches "Christmas House"

6. Designers Forum "Holland Park" Needlepoint Rug

7.  The Prairie Schooler alphabet series

L is for Leaves

8. Country House Needleworks "Santa's House" from Santa's Village series (new start)

9. Bucilla Heirloom Collection "Touch of Gold"

10.  The Prairie Schooler "Pumpkin Patch"(new start)

My aim from January 1st to January 10th is to stitch on one of the Turtle Trot projects each day.  

Wow what a big post! I have never done one so picture heavy.

May 2014 be full of lots of stitching time for you…

                                                                            Jan x