February and March WIPGO and more

My babysitting has picked up again.   My son had a temporary schedule change. Temporary being 15 to 18 months but at the end he will move into a Captain’s position.  So a possible monkey wrench gets thrown into my comings and goings.  And an even worse monkey wrench into their lives.  I wish I was closer than 65 minutes so I could help more easily.  

After a long period of snow cover, we could see the ground again, for about 2 days.  I can’t remember when we have had a snow fall last so long.  Then we got hit by the Blizzard of ‘26.  We got about 12 inches but since the ground had been warm for several days, the sidewalks and roads were melted and cleared the next day.  I am happy to get one good snowfall each winter and this year I got two!   And 8 days later it was in the 60’s!

I’ve done a thing……I joined a Patreon.   Why do I just have to jump in with friends.  FOMO, I guess.  Enough true confessions.   I joined the HOD Ornaments Patreon.   I have always “planned” to do an ornament each month so maybe this year I will accomplish that goal.  I did not order the finishing supplies because I have a ton.   I can use that to justify the enrollment.  I plan to do as much as I can from my bulging buckets of finishing supplies.   So you see, I am eliminating hoards of stash.   Sounds good to me.    Seriously though, the selling point was the monthly finishing tutorials.   

The candle above is the second in the series.  One of the best things about this ornaments “club” is the first five use the same colors.   My rack of floss can sit at the ready by my stitchy spot.  

WIPGO call for March had me working on # 3 and #4.  Heart in Hand 2025 Collector’s Heart and  ABC Bonhomme de neige.   Both are new starts.   WIPGO is meant to eliminate WIPs.  I added each to my board because they are the smallish side and because I have wanted to do them since purchasing I just don’t seem to ever get to either one.  

Actually, I no longer have enough WIPs to fill the board so there really isn’t a need to rationalize!  When the space opens up, they will get added to the mix as a take-along piece.   Because each appears on my 2026 WIPGO board two more times, I am fairly confident that  neither will carry over to 2027 WIPGO.   One can have fantasies.

    

For ABC Bonhomme de neige, I substituted DMC for the called for Gentle Arts.   First of all, I am using things from stash and second, these are small motifs and I think the DMC will work fine.   The fabric also from stash. It is 32 ct. Picture This Plus in the color Glacier.  It is more blue that it appears here.   You know how we all don’t like stitching with white?   I am actually using a laying tool on all the white stitches.  Craziness!

Now here’s a different sort of work.   The owner of the cross stitch store Floss and Flame in Dover, Delaware went to the Nashville Market.  My friend and I helped out by covering her store with her kids while she is in Nashville.  A different experience.   I don’t know how much help we really were but it was fun to see all the shoppers that were attending a nearby retreat.  

I am sticking to my resolve as far as the monthly ornament and WIPGO.   The first week to 10 days of each month are being devoted to WIPGO and my HOD ornament.   After that, I have been working on my two larger samplers.   Not this month though.   So this may be the only cross stitch you see for March.  I promised myself to spend March on quilting and on a scrapbook book I halfway finished for my daughter’s big 5-0.  Unfortunately she was gifted with a concept and a partial book   It really involved much more time than I had allowed to get it done.  

Another reason there may not be much cross stitch going on……the weather.  I know it will find me outside.

As always, thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching, crafting, sewing, knitting…..being creative.

February Progress

I continued to make small steps on both my larger projects.   Once WIPGO for the month is done, I focused on both The French Alphabet and American Sampler.  

With the French Alphabet, I put in some border work, finished off the remnants of some letters on the current pattern page I was working on and then started on a new page.    Three pages done and nine to go!  Thank goodness for photos.   They help me see I am actually making progress.  5th line down, I am getting some of the personalization done:   RThompson is starting to take shape. (If only I have finished that “M” and it would be more clear.)

For American Sampler,  slow progress but progress.   I have actually  managed to work on this for an hour each time I pick it up.  Sometimes that hour is spent on frogging but that is all part of it.  My eyes seem to be getting used to stitching on this piece.

I am getting closer to a finish on Quaker Friends.   I take this to my weekly stitching group to work on there.   This will be another WIP done when I finish and that will be 2026!     

Each of these three prices are motif based and although that makes some stitchers crazy, I am not having a problem changing between them.  

I inspired myself by completing two large samplers last year so I feel good about all my prospects of finishing in 2026.   Even though the French Alphabet and the American Sampler will be multi-year projects, I know I will get them done.  So I did some Nashville Market shoppping…. Thankfully I only saw three patterns from Nashville Market that I want.    I pulled the trigger on only one ……Kitten Stitcher’s pre-order…….Warrior Patriot from Plum Street.  More incentive to complete my two larger WIP samplers.   This pattern appears no where on my  radar but I just really liked it.  With the exception of my WIPGO projects, I am not in the market to start anything new, especially not another big project!

That’s my month of stitching progress.   Being at Diane’s for a week and then having a big snow storm, contributed to my progress.   Once the weather warms and I find myself outside, the progress each month will slow.   But that is ok, I already have ideas for the yard and garden swirling in my mind.  I will have to learn to strike that balance.  

Time for me to catch up on your blogs and comments.  As always, thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching and creating.

February 2026

First of February found me flying to Chattanooga to visit my friend Diane.   Pat and I were joining her to go to the Knoxville EGA Retreat in Carson Springs, TN.  The best laid plans…..somewhere about 32,000 feet in the air over Virginia an email was sent to attendees that the retreat was being canceled.    The retreat location was snowed under, food trucks could not make it to the place which was at that time only accessible by 4 wheelers.   Not to worry, although disappointed we were overjoyed to just stay at Diane’s house for the week.     Always a great time with our friend Diane.  

While at Diane’s she helped us make fancy notebooks for retreat gifts.    

We also got to go to Diane’s weekly stitch-in.    

It is always a good time when the “Jersey Girls” come to stitch with them.                                                It is the cutest store.  Her machines have names like “Dolly” and “Cher”

So cute how she has decorated with what looks to be silhouettes from old patterns with tulle and buttons.  

I took my French Alphabet as my dedicated stitching piece for my time in Tennessee.   I hope to be able to finish enough each month to get this piece done by the end of the FB Leap Year Challenge!   I almost completed a whole pattern page when I was there.  

Raegan turned 6 earlier this month.   OMGosh.  Where has the time gone?   Mom and Dad took her skiiing.  She was a little apprehensive about.   But not once she got there - she loved it.  Soon she will be swooping down the hills along side her brother.

We spend a Sunday making her a couple of 100 Days of School shirts using paint and thumbprints.   Making memories with her and her brother every chance I get.   

I trudged along with American Sampler.   Ugh.  Some days I have to use that little thumb print sized lens on the magnifier.   Slow going but I am not throwing in the towel.   I am doing this piece on 28 over one.  I love the look of 28/1 but my vision does not.   I plan to make this my focus until the next WIPGO numbers are called on the 25th.   The WIPGO numbers give ‘permission’ to stitch on something different and often end with a finish.    If I get tired out before new WIPGO numbers, it will be back to the French Alphabet.  Forward progress all around.

Believe it or not, I am itching to get outside in the yard.   Plans and grand project ideas are swirling around my head.  It is a while off still as we still have a good amount of snow cover because our temps have not been above freezing. 

Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching!

Snow Bound Stitching

Not necessarily snowbound but definitely an excuse to stay inside and stitch.   

When the WIPGO numbers were pulled and both numbers on my board were “Stitch Christmas Ornaments” I was off and running.   I do my WIPGO starting on the 25th of each month and end on the 24th of the following month.    What was 5 hours of Christmas stitching, I immediately turned into five days of Christmas and wintertime stitchy pieces is a win/win.   Ornaments are stitched and WIPGO for February is done already.    Fully finishing is a whole other story.

First up, two little felt hats from a December EGA meeting.

No, my Christmas tree is not still up and no judgement if yours is.   I keep a smaller pencil tree up all year and decorate it seasonally.   

Snowman Faces from Dixie Darling - which I believe is no longer in business.  This was an Advent Exchange gift and came with the metal snowflake to mount it in.

Two of the three designs from JBW’s French Christmas Tags, Chart # 386

I added beads to the tree above and changed the bow that was charted to the bow charted for the snowman face.

I have the two ‘tags’ that these are to be mounted on.

I Believe from The Trilogy.    I changed the color of the Christmas ball to a variegated from my stash.   I “manipulated’ the floss colors to try to give is a dimensional (?) look.

And lastly, another felt ornament,  this is Polar Bear Kit from Corinne Lapierre.   She is in England and I bought this kit at Hobby House way back when they were in their original location.  Her kits are complete and the instructions are very straightforward and easy to follow.

Hard to see but the instructions suggested a running stitch in a complimentary color to ‘jazz’ up the 1/4 inch ribbon.  I am going to use this simple trick again.

All, except for the felt pieces, were stitched with mystery fabrics and floss from stash.  This is like a trifecta of  wins!   So far so good with WIPGO.  Now back to my two larger cross stitch projects.  

Thanks for stopping by, stay warm, stay safe and keep on stitching. 

January 2026

A little after the fact but Happy New Year!  Don’t you just love the new year when you get the new planner or calendar and it is all pristine.   All clean and hopeful with the year spread out before you and promises to keep your planner/calendar neat.  Short lived promises if you saw what mine used to look like.   Scribbles, scratch-outs, doodles and arrows this way annd that, post-it notes.   Using my new electronic calendar has some drawbacks.   No way to doodle on the pages.  

I thought long and hard for my word for the year.   I settled on diligent.  The internal perfectionist in me needs this word.  I am alright on my work, it is my duties suffer.  I am a procrastinator on tasks I do not like by distracting myself with ones I do like.  I need to be more focused on my “have to’s”  and let the “want to’s” fall in place behind them.    I need to stop is the mindless scrolling on Instagram or the countless games of Sudoko…..like when stitching, I hear the voice say - just one more game….. and I admit I can be such a squirrel when it comes to projects catching my eye or chasing a new high score.   Oy!

I did decide to do WIPGO again this year.   I had always been successful until last year.   I needed to change my approach for the amount to be done on each project.   Rather than list each project and pledge to be finished in the month it was called, I have the luxury of putting lower requirements since I have fewer WIP’s.   And WIPGO did that for me.   Last year, I got to June and just caved.   I wasn’t getting anything finished and it just seemed too overwhelming with all the projects on the list and none coming off the list.   I dialed it back for 2026.   One project may show up three times on the 2026 WIPGO board with an assignment of  5 hours of work that month.   Very doable.  Forward progress will be seen.  Some will even be completed.  It is another win/win.    I will be diligent to stay the course.  

For January, my WIPGO’s were Liberty Inn by Chessie and Me.    I logged my 5 hours and made great progress.   It appears on my board two mores times.  A definite finish in 2026.   I could have kept going but I stitched to the assignment.

The second WIPGO was Quaker Friends, a Round Robin from a couple of years back.   I also logged 5 hours on it.   It was mostly fill-in on the little scattered do-dads in the background.   It too appears on my board two more times in 2026 so I am not worried about finishing it.   If I am diligent, I will get there.   I can tell WIPGO might work better for me this year as I am anxiously awaiting the announcement of the February numbers.

 

Those background motifs meant lots of color changes.   

I chose Chantelle 141/Teresa Kogut Blessings Drum  as my Blessings Sampler.   It was an EZ PZ stitch to complete. I wanted to get it out of the way so started it January 1st. 

Even though I live in NJ, I am only 5 miles from the bridge to Delaware.  Two friends from  my EGA and my DVHSG guild are heading up the Delaware tapestry for the America’s Sampler.   I hosted  a day at my house to give south Jersey stitchers an opportunity to stitch on the tapestry.   For more information check this link.   The concept/goal of the project is explained with details for each state’s tapestry.   It is a good thing both Becky and Amy are retired because this project has taken on a life of its own for them.    This is the artist’s concept for the Delaware design.

American Sampler from Crocette a gogo is a sampler I started with two friends.  I got a slow start as I was having such a hard time physically focusing on the linen.

 4.0’s and a great light were not helping.  It is  over one on 28 count.   I am trying a little bit each morning.  Some days the eyes cooperate and other days they don’t.    I have had a bit of frogging.  Seems counting to 1 is just as hard as counting to 2.  There are 6 stitch-heavy pages in the chart and prior to starting, I knew no matter how diligent I would not be able to get this one done by July and accepted that.    No need to add pressure.   

Mid-month I attended Camp WannaStitch in Ocean City, MD.   This is the annual EGA event I go to.   Probably been going something like 15 years.   Knowing I needed to have an easy to stitch on piece, I took my French Alphabet Sampler and made good progress.   Still a long way to go but I will get there one stitch at a time.    

She’s a big girl.   411x 411.  Below is what I accomplished over the stitching weekend.   The “N” and part of the “Q”, as well as the border from below the “P” to the corner and across the bottom; and, 16 of the letters in the bottom corner alphabet.    Friends who have already stitched this piece disliked stitching this border but it does not bother me……all I worry about is that it meets!  I am doing this as a FB Leap Year Challenge and I’ve got about 25 months left to finish it up.   I really hope I am done before that.  

Look at our view as we entered the area where we stitched at the Ashore Hotel for Camp WannaStitch.

We pretended we were on a cruise ship.🛳  💦   Below is what I saw over my left shoulder.   Don’t let the view fool you.  It was cold and blustery!🌬  Such a rough life for stitchers.

I promised myself some quilt time and I didn’t break the promise.   I thought I would designate Monday’s as Quilting Day but the calendar is not always agreeing. I was able to get 11 blocks cut and  7 of them sewn.    It felt good to be back at it but it came with a caveat…..cleaning and tidying the craft room before AND after.   I have more than half of the blocks completed. I like to say I am on the downhill side but there is the sashing and corner stones and borders……..I am 7 blocks closer than I was at the start of the year so it is a win.  

So pretty happy with my accomplishments in my stitching corner of the world.  It’s early 2026 but I so far so good on the diligent side.  

The first of February, I am heading back to Tennessee to visit a friend and attend a Knoxville EGA event.   I hope to be able to share more great progress on my French Alphabet Sampler.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by everyone.  Keep on stitching. 

2025 Reading - Year in Review

 My reading this past year was down.   I fell short of my 40 books Reading Challenge.  I am not sure why only that I didn’t do as much yard work this year.  Partly because I lost my gardening Mojo and partly because of the heat.  Prior years I would pop my ear buds in while I weeded or planted.  All that time for books on tape was lost.   Still 28 books is not bad.  I do not have a favorite book for the year. Some of what I read was  David Baldachhi,  Greg Iles,  James Patterson,  Elin Hildebrand,  Harlen Coben, and  Lisa Jewell.   New to me, Elena Ferrante, the Neapolitan Novels, 1 and 2.  

I sure did.   I was drawn to mysteries much more than usual.

Wow.  I wonder if it would count if I said I was up and down the Eiffel Tower?   

My grandson has become an avid reading.  He chalked up 840 pages in November in a school challenge.   At that rate, if he keeps it up he might pass me next year in number of pages read!

Time to set my Reading Challenge for next year.  

December 2025 Wrap-up

So nice to escape the hustle and bustle of the holidays and take time to sit down to read other blogs.  It’s been a great year for me life wise and stitch wise.  Fun travel with family and friends.   Kiddos continue to entertain me and are growing up strong and talented.  Raegan was in the Nutcracker with her ballet class (all 2 minutes of stage time) and William scored 3 metals in his first gymnastics meet and performed well in his violin concert.  Life is good and I am enjoying great fun with family and great friends.

Always around Thanksgiving I amp up my gratitude meter.  Not that I am not grateful every single day but tend to focus on what cause I want to donate to this time of the year.  One thing I forgot to share from my trip to Stitching in the Smokies was the United Cajun Navy.   A quilt was auctioned at the retreat with the proceeds going to the United Cajun Navy.   The Executive Director spoke to the group and explained their origin and  mission.   They evolved out of necessity after Katrina hit New Orleans.   Owners of small boats banded together to help their neighbors and provide rescues.   It is a group that continues to work for those who have experienced issues from a natural disaster and need emergency response.  They work with FEMA and other government agencies to fill the gap in services needed.   Not just with boats but boots on the ground.   As of November, they were still assisting in California helping those who lost their homes in the California fires earlier this year.    As you can tell, I was very moved by their work.    Several years ago I stopped making donations to various charities when I found out what small percentage of my donation went to the cause.    I now only donate to the local fire and rescue department, Gary Sinese Foundation which helps wounded warriors, veterans and fire responders and the local homeless shelter.  I am adding United Cajun Navy to my list.  I had never heard of this group before.   They have a 3 star or better rating and donate 85% or more of donations they receive to their cause.  I am sure there are countless other worthy agencies others are aware off.     I am so blessed that I feel passionate about helping others.    Time can be donated, canned goods to a local food pantry, clothing to a homeless shelter.  ….there but for the grace of God go I…….  

Here is my latest group of boxes ready to take to the homeless shelter tomorrow.  

I rounded out the year with more purging - my interpretation of simplifying - my word for the year.    Every drawer and cabinet has been sorted, cleaned, culled and arranged at least once this year.   Now I have all-like things stored together.   It feels great.   Even some craft items were boxed up and donated.  We have two sheds out back - mine and his.   Mine was streamlined when it was rebuilt a couple of years ago.   His - is in need of a grand sort out and decluttering.   But alas, Mr. W doesn’t mess with my crafts so I don’t venture to declutter unless asked.  Two things I have not sorted are my costume jewelry - so necessary when I worked and my silk/silk like scarves.  And of course the attic!   I have started by bringing down 2 to 3 boxes at a time.   Better to make slow progress than no progress.   No worries, even with dropping off  30+ boxes this year to the homeless shelter, I am under no illusion that packing to move would still be a monumental undertaking. 

Here is my progress on Cornwall Cottage.   Very happy and I am feeeling good about a completion by New Year’s Day. Especially since I plan to continue with laying the ‘foundation’ lines in the basket which will leave mindless fill in.  When this is finished it will be the completion of the second big WIP this year.    Smalls WIP’s were done but these two big ones (Land That I Love and this one) are really a big hurtle behind me.   Next time you see this beauty, it will be in a frame.    On the left is where I was December 1st; the right, as of this morning.   I see the end in site!

Stitching goals for 2026 would more aptly be titled Stitching Fantasies.    Since I knocked out both of my large WIP’s in 2025, of course I fell down the SAL’s rabbit hole and will be doing an SAL with friends.  

American Sampler from Crocette’ a Go Go.     Yes and that is after I stated I wasn’t doing any more SAL’s!   Obviously I’d like the American Sampler to be done by the 4th of July but I am not putting the stress on myself.    I am stitching this with the called for colors, 28 count, one over one on  Vintage Country Mocha.   My plan is this will be my main focus until completed.  

I am sure other smaller  pieces will jump in the mix.   I hope I can keep to the pledge of working on the WIP’s in the basket.   Both older and ones I created this past year.  I hope to spend one month in 2026 doing some fully finishing.   I had toyed with working on focusing on a WIP and a class piece until each were completing and I moved to the next ones in the pile.    I haven’t decided I will do that or if I am going to join back with WIPGO  but I am drafting a tentative list of possibilities.  If I do decide to move forward with WIPGO, it will be more progress oriented than full on completion of a project each month.  Much more attainable then last year which discouraged me.   We shall see.

I had picked out a pattern for the January Blessings Sampler but then I was lured into snagging a Chantelles 141 Limited project.   Imagine that!

I also caved and bought myself a present.   My husband and I don’t exchange gifts anymore.   We get what we want when we want.    At any rate, I debated for a while but since I am somewhat of a tech nerd, I caved.   I bought a Skylight Calendar for myself.   I absolutely love it.   I am working to get everything in it.   All my random lists of shopping needs, birthdays, cross stitch needs, upcoming retreats - you name it, I had/have a list for it.  Some lists are in Notes, some on scraps of paper,  some tucked in my wallet, some in my spiral notebook, some in my pocket calendar.  I am still learning to color code entries.  At least now they are all in one place that I can access my Skylight calendar from my iPad, or my iPhone.  Mr. W can see any changes in real time.  He can even add to the groceries list if he were so inclined.  

Every Sunday I was giving my husband a handwritten list of my comings and goings for the upcoming week.   For me, a lunch can be canceled and a movie night added and dinner postponed.  I can’t count the times Mr. W has said to me, “that’s not on the list you gave me”.   We put the link on his desktop and now he can click it anytime to see what I am up to.   I can change something on my phone and instantly it is updated in my Skylight Calendar.   I merged my email calendar and my son’s.  I am slowly adding things out of my paper calendar, out of my book of birthdays, etc.  I was using a spiral notebook with tabs for WIPGO, Guild Program possibilities, Christmas lists, upcoming retreats, cross stitch needs, things to do, things to buy and more.   Now they are all at my fingertips in SAME place.   It is part of my need for everything to be in its neat little box.   A place for everything and everything in its place.  Not too OCD at all.

Future life plans, the same old get into a fitness plan.   No matter how vital that may be,  I am not making any empty promises on that front.  I need to contract a painter to paint by sunroom sometime in 2026.   I hope to do some changes to my vegetable garden in the spring,  I really want to get back to my Civil War quilt and complete it.  And I vow to get the 20 or so bags of stones I need to fill in and finish the Back 40 pathway next  summer.  These are on the list after enjoying time and travel with family and friends, and getting in my daily stitching!

Merry Christmas and Happiest of Holidays one and all.   May your holiday season be filled with wonder and joy and your New Year be a happy and healthy one.

Thank you for your continued friendship and …….keep on stitching.