WIPocalypse 2014 – January

One of my goals for this year is to finish up all of the work-in-progress cross-stitch projects that are languishing around the house.  (Remember my word for the year – Release.  This is me releasing all of my angst around finishing, which is one of my least-favorite tasks about sewing.)  To keep myself accountable, I’ve joined the WIPocalypse 2014 group.  This month’s theme is introduction and goal listing.

So who am I?  I’ve been stitching, and avoiding finishing, since I was 9 years old. I’m an engineer by day and a mom of two (three in April!) by night.  I feel incredibly guilty about neglecting all of the lovely designs I committed to, but I hate-hate-hate the finish work that has to be done to wrap projects up.

My goals for this year are the following projects (aka, the parade of shame):

1. Red Scroll Heart from Etsy.  I thought this came from DanceNeedle, but I can’t find it listed anywhere.   Roughly 12″ x 12″ on 14-ct aida.  I started this in fall of 2012, had it almost completed by Valentine’s Day 2013, but then set it aside when V-Day passed.  My plan is to have this matted and framed to hang on the wall (sorry about the upside-down shot):

2. Kitty Kat in Presents from Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments 200…9?  Pretty sure it was the 09 edition.  Roughly 6″ diameter on 28-ct linen.  This was started as a gift for my mom that has just lingered around in the hoop for years, until I needed the hoop and de-mounted it.  Probably 2/3 complete at this point.  Though it’s technically an ornament, I was going to give it to her mounted in the hoop to hang or sit on a stand:

3. Bluebird – free download from Janlynn.  Roughly 2″ diameter on 28-ct oatmeal linen.  This is only part of the download, but I don’t like the background pattern around the center bird.  Started this at the beginning of last summer for a friend, and all it lacks is the backstitching for definition around the details.  Again, planning to give it to her mounted in the hoop.

4. Christmas Sampler – kit from Hobby Lobby.  Started probably 5 or 6 years ago, I never got going on it and then started having kids.  It’s been packed up for ages, and I’m afraid to take the hoop off because I’ve probably put permanent creases in the fabric (14-ct aida).  Also, I remember that I am a stitch off already! and haven’t decided whether to wing it or to frog it and have a clean design.  Have not really thought about final finishing, but it would be nice mounted to hang on the wall or as a pillow.

5.  Fireman Sampler – the true pattern of shame.  I don’t remember where I bought this – it was a kit, and probably from Hobby Lobby or Wal-Mart.  I know this was WIP in 2002 before I got married – I don’t remember how much older it was than that.  If my memory serves, it was originally going to a friend who was a Pike – they have something about firemen? or Dalmatians?  It’s been a long time.  But since then, my father joined the volunteer fire fighters in his town, so I’m going to give it to him instead.  Plan is to frame it for him to hang.

There are two other patterns that I have in progress that I’m not adding as goals for the year, but I would feel dishonest if I don’t at least list them.  I have “Mother and Child” from Cross Stitch Collectibles, but it’s an undertaking of years on its own – a 25″ by 20″ with 100+ colors.  I have a inch wide by 6 inches down completed and that took forever.  The second is Cherry On Top from Brooke’s Books Elf Babies Collection.  It was supposed to be baby’s first Christmas stocking – and baby turns 5 this year.  I don’t want to talk about it (so ashamed) (and I might as well throw all my shame out there – I also have Peekaboo Teacup for the second baby’s first stocking – and that baby turns 3 this year, and I haven’t even opened the package.) (Did I mention that my mother stitched baby’s first stockings for me and both my siblings, including my sister who was born on Nov 29? No?  Clearly, her ambition didn’t get passed down to me.) (Or maybe it did. She has a tablecloth that has been WIP for at least 20 years.) (And maybe I should stop using parentheses.)

I also have two Christmas ornaments that I need to stitch, but they are 1-hr projects each (1 inch letters on 18-ct aida).  I stitched a set of initials for my college girlfriends this year, but I didn’t do my own or the one for an out of town friend I’ll see next month.  But those are easy and I’m not in a frantic state over them.

But to end on a high note – I have actually finished one of my WIP since the beginning of the year!  It was a small pattern from Janlynn, I think – I picked up the kit for a dollar at JoAnn Fabrics:

I love the colors and the shells, but I’m not sure what to actually do with it.  I’m thinking a bookmark? Or a topper for my ORT jar?  Suggestions are welcome!

Please introduce yourself in the comments – I try to get out and about online, but sometimes it’s hard to visit everyone unless I know exactly where to look.  If you leave me a message, I’ll make sure to come and visit you back!