February Plans

Hello everyone!

I have pulled out a bunch of wips and some unstarted projects for February, and am going to share them with you.

 

A Christmas tags kit from a recent Cross Stitcher magazine.

There are 6 tags and several charts to choose from.  This is unstarted.

I will most likely be working on this during my breaks while at work.

It's nice to have some small finishes to break things up once in a while :)

Sweet Sampler by Country Cottage Needleworks

32 count Lambswool jobelan

Winter Wonderland by Little House Needleworks

28 count lugana in Dubloon by Picture This Plus

Mysterious Halloween Town by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery

14 count aida in Enchanted Glenn by Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie

Hearthstone by Alexstitches.com

This is on 16 or 18 count aida, I cannot remember which, and do not have a ruler nearby at the moment.

Scene Girl, my own design

16 or 18 count aida

Eat Me Axe by Unconventional X Stitch

18 count magic guide aida

Please note that the pattern is in color, this is just my printout.

QS Alice In Clockwork by Heaven and Earth Designs

Artist Jasmine Becket-Griffith

18 count ivory aida

I made a mess of my printed pattern as I was trying a new marking technique.  Since then I haven't wanted to deal with the mess I made, but at the same time do want to work on this pattern.

Panda by Makibird-Stitching on Deviant Art

Cauldron evenweave by Picture This Plus (I did not take notes when I started this and am unsure of the count).

Sakura Blossom by Cross Stitching Art

32 count DaVinci linen by Picture This Plus

Death By Cross Stitch by Long Dog Samplers

18 count Back In Black by Colour Cascade Designs

Custom color silk by Silks4U

I've had this since shortly after it's release, but had an issue with finding thread.  I had purchased a hank from Silks4U originally thinking it was enough (it was more than the called for in the pattern) but then I noticed that the pattern lists the length needed for 1 over 1 on 18 count, which is too sparse for my liking, so I spent forever trying to find a color that I like.  I finally bit the bullet and asked for a custom color from Silk4U on Etsy.  The shop owner was really friendly and easy to work with, I definitely recommend that shop if you are looking for some nice hanks of silk.

The ones I'm listing next I do not have pictures of as they are PDF's, and unstarted.  Some are also ones that I listed in my last post, so they do not need a repeat here.

-Woodland Sampler by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery (I would be working on the border most likely)

-Peanut Butter and Jam Toast by an unnamed designer

-Guardians of Notre Dame by Ingleside Imaginarium (if I do get the fabric dyed for this, it would most likely only be some of the border stitched)

-Fantasy Sal by Lakeside Needlecraft (I would be working on the border)

-Temperature 

-Super Mario Bros 3 World 1 by Boxcat (this will be on my list of planned wips until that page is finished)

-Into the Jungle by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery

-The Mad Hatter by Mrs Peggotty Arts

-In The Fairy Tales Book by Soda Stitch

-Stitches by Heaven and Earth Designs (just to fill in the black box I made)

Now this is quite a big list, and I pretty much guarantee that I will not stitch on all of them.  I do however like to have a good amount chosen so that it's easier to stitch on what my mood desires.  It also gives you more insight to the many wips and kitted projects that I have to work on.  

Happy stitching!

January Wrap Up

January was decent for me, stitching wise.  I accomplished some of my plans, didn't touch some of the planned pieces, and worked on some that weren't planned.  I had a lot energy and desire to stitch for about the first two weeks, but later in the month I found myself always tired and did not feel like stitching anything.  Instead I played a new game that I bought (Slay the Spire) whenever I wasn't in bed (or at work).

I started Mad Hatter by Mrs. Peggotty Arts a few hours before the new year.  I stitched straight until the clock hit 12am.  I decided to stitch up until the end of the page.  It helps me gauge the size a bit better.  This is done on 16 count aida.

My "New Year, New Start" piece was Stitches by Heaven and Earth Designs, artwork by Melanie Delon.  I ended up outlining an area of black to be filled it, but didn't go back to finish it.  This is done on 18 count aida.

I also started my temperature piece on the first.  I completed the first two weeks.  I do have all the temperatures recorded in my planner, it's just a matter of stitching them.

Next I worked on In The Fairy Tales Book by Soda Stitch.  I actually accomplished stitching more on this piece than the original goal that I had set for myself.

I didn't get as much done on Super Mario Bros 3 World 1 by Box Cat as I had planned, but any progress on it is good.  I am down to 2 colors to finish the page.  I had noticed that I used the wrong color as part of the area where the box for 1 is, so I had to unpick it (that was a task!) and restitch it.

I worked a bit on Friendship Compass by Glendon Place.  I'm happy with the progress that I made.

My kit arrived for Into the Jungle by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery, and the pattern was released in January.  Once I saw that the starting block was a sloth and is super adorable I just had to get working on it.  I'm not that far off from finishing the first block.  It is stitched on the called for fabric: 14 count aida in Shale by Picture This Plus.

 

Now for some (dare I say) finishes!

Picked up the Cute Kitty pattern, as I had decided that it had been sitting for too long and would be an easy finish.  I made a couple changes to the original pattern.  I used a variegated thread from my stash for the heart, and I decided to backstitch around the heart.  The pattern had the very front paw showing and not being stitched in, which looked odd to me, so I stitched that as well.

I was searching through my a box of my floss and saw that I had some pretty satin dmc floss that I had never stitched with before.  I decided on a small free pattern to give it a try.  It may be small, but I hated every stitch of it.  The satin floss is very twisty and difficult to work with.  The upside is that I learned this now as opposed to later, as I had kitted up a big pattern quite a while back and it called for several skeins of dmc satin floss, which I purchased, and am now purchasing a different thread to use for that pattern.

Lastly I picked up one of the kits from the Cross Stitcher magazine that I have lying around.  I thought it would be interesting to try stitching on the wooden base.

That's my January.  While I did not hit all the goals I had intended to, or stitch on all the pieces that I had planned on, I still accomplished a good amount of stitching, and tried a couple new things.  I have yet to decide on my February plans.  I will be deciding on some pieces that are calling out to me and will make a plans post in the very near future.

As I have mentioned I am participating in the WIPocalypse Sal this year.  Every month they have some topics/questions to answer.

What sals are you participating in this year?

Aside from the WIPocalypse Sal, for facebook I am participating in Stitch From Stash, Soda Stitch Fairy Tales Land, and any sal in Stitch Maynia that catches my interest.  I have started Into the Jungle sal from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.  I have a some other current sals that are not yet fully decided on fabric/floss, and some past sals that are in my kitted/barely started piles (lots of Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery)

The Olympic Stitching Challenge - What challenge am I accepting (if I am participating)?

I currently plan to participate.  I will be doing the rotation relay, where you work on as many projects as possible.

What are your goals?

-get caught up on my temperature piece

-finish January's block of Into the Jungle, stitch all the block frames, and work as much of February's block as possible

-fill in the black box I created for myself on Stitches

-play around with dyeing some fabric (and have it hopefully work out for a couple projects I have in mind)

I'm sure I will have more goals for the month of February once I choose my wips.  I do not however set any long term goals with my crafts as it often makes them feel more like work, and that I have to do it, rather than just having fun with it.  This usually causes me to get annoyed with the project and not work on it for a long time.  Definitely more of a mood stitcher/crafter.

That's a wrap for January.  My February wips/plans post should be up within the next few days.  Until then, happy stitching!

January Plans

Welcome back!  

This year I plan to participate in several SALs (stitch alongs) with varying facebook groups.  I am participating in Stitch From Stash, Wipocalypse and many SALs in Stitch Maynia.  Here are my plans for stitching in January.

Stitch From Stash

Stitch From Stash has one SAL for January - New Start, Old Stash. I have chosen to start on Stitches (Mini) - Melanie Delon from Heaven and Earth Designs.

18 count aida

(Apologies for the picture quality, it's a photo of my print out)

I also have decided on some projects that are sort of "focus for a finish" type pieces.  Ones that are further along and closer to being completed, or small and should stitch up quickly.  These will not all be worked on in January, but I am wanting to finish them this year. 

Alice au Pays des Merveilles by Jardin Privée

18 count oatmeal aida

Teacups by Petal Pusher

14 count Chasescape aida from Silkweavers

Cute Kitty

(A free pattern I found quite a while back, cannot remember the designer)

14 count light blue aida

Antique Locks and Keys by Shakespeare's Peddler

14 count DaVinci aida from Picture This Plus

Floss is Equinox from Mo's Sale

Super Mario Bros 3 World 1 by Box Cat

16 count white aida

*I am aiming for a page finish

Friendship Compass by Glendon Place

(facebook exclusive)

16 count chalkboard black aida

Stitch Maynia

Stitch Maynia is where the bulk of the SALs that I plan to participate in come from.  They have several annual SALs that have a suggested sub-theme, and several that occur on the same day each month.

Annuals:

These are the same theme each month, but the suggestion of what to stitch changes.

Christmas All Year Round - Santa Claus

I did not choose a piece that is Santa Claus themed as the only piece that I have with Santa is not fully kitted up.

Ruffles in Red - Joan Elliott

Cross Stitch Crazy Christmas 2016 Issue 222

28 count Helix lugana from Picture This Plus

Halloween All Year Round - Pumpkins

Hallowed Halloween by Angela Pullen Atherton

Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2015

32 count natural light linen

Princess - Your Favorite Princess

I didn't go with the theme for this one either, as I'm not a big princess person, although I do like fairy tales.  The piece that I chose for this is also part of Soda Stitch Fairy Tales Land SAL.

In The Fairy Tales Book... by Soda Stitch

14 count Chasescape from Silkweavers

While most people are starting a new project for this SAL mine is a start from Stitch Maynia in 2016, but it is barely a start.

Fifty Nifty United States

If you've read my introduction then you know that I am not from the USA, I am Canadian.  So I have changed this SAL to be related to Canada.  I will be stitching a Canadian themed/related piece.

Canadian Beauty by Joan Elliott

28 count opal lugana

Temperature

I am doing a single line for each day, 65 stitches.

I started a temperature crochet blanket in 2017 (I'm still catching up on it).  This actually helped me refine my temperature range for 2018, as I had +31 and over, and -31 and over on my original, but we only hit those temperatures a total of 3 times in the whole year, so I decided to take them out.  My method for the temperature is that I usually look it up between 8am and 10am when possible (I work overnight, so that time is equivalent to the evening for me) and I base my temperature on the "feels like" posted on the weather network.  I feel that this is a more adequate representation for my liking.  As I live in Atlantic Canada we see temperatures from a huge range, we get really humid in the summer, often hitting the mid 30s, and we get nasty windchill in the winter, creeping towards -40.

16 count aida

Ranges are in Celcius

Monthly:

These occur monthly, almost always on the same day, with varying themes.

Tour De Designers - Glendon Place

Every month there is a different designer.  January is Glendon Place.  I will be working on Friendship Compass, which was pictured further up in the post.

Full Coverage on the Fifth

On the 5th of every month you work on a full coverage piece.  I chose Super Mario Bros 3 World 1, which was pictured further up in the post.

Work That Wip

On the 15th of every month you work on a previous Maynia start (if you don't have one you just work on a wip).  I will be working on Friendship Compass by Glendon Place.

Year Of Starts

On the 18th of every month you start a new project (it's a twist on the year of starts, where you start a new project every day).  

Butterfly Effect by Felicity Hall

Designer Cross Stitch Projects (book)

32 count crystal DaVinci from Picture This Plus (not what is pictured)

Color-a-day - Aquarius

Every month on the starting date of the Zodiac you stitch the colors associated.  January 20th is Aquarius, with the colors being electric blue and turquoise.  I will be working on Friendship Compass by Glendon Place

Other SALs:

New Year, New Start - Stitch Maynia

A new start for the first day of the new year.

Key To Wonderland from Gecko Rouge

Artist is Shawna Erback

18 count aida

This will be my first Gecko Rouge kit.  The design is retired.

I also had one more project that I was debating on for a new start, but I believe I will give in and start it today.

The Mad Hatter by Mrs Peggotty Arts

16 count aida

(picture is of the black and white printout, chart is full color)

So these are my plans.  I will mention that I am more of a go with the flow/mood stitcher.  I am more about the process of stitching, than the finishes.  Although as listed above I do want to finish certain pieces.  While I like to plan the month out like this, I may change my mind on some pieces, or stitch on ones that are not listed.  Also as you can see, I am a big fan of Alice in Wonderland (5 pieces in this post contain something related), so you will see several pieces over time that are Alice themed.

I also forgot to mention in my introduction that I have an Instagram as well, it is @TheEllyssium .

Happy stitching everyone!

An Introduction

Hello crafty friends!  My name is Danielle, also known by the handle Ellyssium.  I live in New Brunswick, Canada.  I have been into crafts and fine arts since I was a child, thus I decided to create this blog to share my hobbies with others.  I have been cross stitching for 2.5 years now, and crocheting for 1 year.  I can be found in several cross stitch related groups on facebook, and a few for crocheting.  A couple other hobbies of mine are playing video games (expect to see related pieces), and nail art, among other things.  


In my next post I will go into detail of my stiching plans for the near future, and the sals that I intend to participate in.  Stay tuned! :)