Looking Back at 2015

I like to look back at all the projects I've worked on during the year. This year, I've tried to branch out my needlework interests.

I did a lot of cross stitching but also tried out pulled and drawn thread (lots of whitework, my new love). I also did some crochet and learned a bit of knitting (still trying to improve that by the way).

So here's a final count: I have 6 finishes this year and 4 WIPs left. I'm not including the Creative Festival projects as WIPs since most of them I think of as learning pieces.

This year I learned that:

I love working on a project with a group. It's so much more fun to see every one's progress. I hope to be able to do more of this next year.

I absolutely love whitework of all types and want to try all of them.

I enjoy stitching outside.

Starting multiple projects at the beginning of the year doesn't work for me at all. Although I did my best, some of them fell through the cracks. For example, I did really good work on Fantasy Lace and Tree of Hope.

But Tracery Dragon didn't see the light of day all year.

Finally, although I will never truly enjoy doing "finishing" I can do it when I need to.

P.S. I haven't forgotten Bramble and the Rose. In fact, it's been taken out of hiding and had quite a few stitches put in. We're doing a Star Wars marathon at home before going to see the new movie and Bramble and the Rose is the perfect project for it since there is no color change. I'll post an update after the new year.

WIPocalypse 2015 – December

This month's theme is a recap of what we've stitched and finished this year. I will do a later post on this as I'm hoping to finish one more project.

I didn't work on Bramble and the Rose yet. The plan is to take it out tonight and work on it until the New Year. So there should be an update of this in next years WIPocalypse.

	No Update
Ink Circles - The Bramble and the Rose

Tree of Hope is all done! Well the cross stitch is done. I will start the beading sometime after the New Year.

Mirabilia - Tree of Hope

I still haven't touched Tracery Dragons. No idea if I will work on it this year.

	No Update
Teresa Wentzler - Tracery Dragons

In my rush to finish Tree of Hope I didn't take out Fantasy Lace at all. I might switch between this and Bramble and the Rose.

	No Update
Satin Stitches - Donna's Fantasy Lace

Since I finished Tree of Hope ahead of time, I decided to see if I could finish stitching one of the Creative Festival class kits. So I took out Precious Jewel by Gingerbread Girl Designs. I only had the bullions and beading left to do. I'm quite happy with how the bullions came out this time (I guess I was in the right mood for it). I've started the finishing process (which I really dread). I hope I can finish it before the New Year.

Previous Jewel - Gingerbread Girl Designs

Tree of Hope Quick Update

I've been stitching non stop on Tree of Hope hoping that I would finish all the cross stitch before the new year. It's looking good for me as I've managed to stitch the big flowers on either side of the maidens.

All that will be left is a little stitching at the bottom and the maidens' dresses which I've been avoiding finishing. It's entirely stitched with the Caron thread which always give me a headache. I want to aim to finish these by Saturday so that I can spend the last week of the year on Bramble and the Rose. A project that hasn't seen any stitching action since last year.

December TUSAL

Finally some color. This is the last TUSAL of the year, so here is what my jar looks like after a year of stitching. I've surpassed last year that's for sure :)

Two Maidens and Dessert

This weekend felt both interminable and short at the same time. I had my office Christmas party on Saturday. The night felt like it would never end. Then waking up Sunday morning, the day just flew by. I also got a new mixer that I wanted to try out so that took a small chunk of my stitching time. Isn't it pretty? The color is called Ice Blue. I'll have to match it to a DMC color, it would look great with a light purple.

We decided to test it by using an old recipe of my mother's. It's a pineapple upside down cake. My mom was telling me that back when she got this recipe, everyone was making this cake (we loved it as kids). But after we moved to Canada, everyone was about the banana cake. All I remember was that we used to fight over those pineapples. They were always sugary sweet.

I did manage to get some stitching done on Tree of Hope the week before. My two maidens are now at the same stage. I really would love to finish this before new years, but I don't think that will happen. I will settle for getting as much done as I can.

Virtual Stitches Stash Sale #2

Virtual Stitches had their second stash sale a few weeks back. I wasn't really planning on getting anything, but there were a few choice kits and patterns. It was very hard to resist. Most of these beauties were put up for sale by Jeanine Robertson. I guess she has a huge stash from her years of stitching.

Can you guess why I bought it?

I'll say it: I'm obsessed with anything white work. This piece has a lovely Reticello center and I've always wanted to try Bargello. The design is called Strawberry Lace Sewing Case and is by Diane Clements. I did a little bit of research and found out that this was a class that was offered by the EGA. Ms. Clements has since passed away, but you can still find some of her class kits for sale on eBay.

When I received the pattern, I was shocked by how thick the book was. Over 80 pages of instructions, from how to stitch each section to final assembly of the case. And that doesn't even include the pages for the actual pattern. The kit itself also contains everything you'd need to stitch and finish the project. The actual cost of which would have far exceeded what I payed for it (not to mention the cost of the class itself). I can't wait to start reading the book. I need to start prepping before I could even think to start stitching.

I've also really gotten back into Tree of Hope. I'm trying to finish stitching the skin of the second maiden. Hopefully I'll get that done this week.