What I am working on this week

I am back to working on Moonlit Desert as part of my rotation system. I developed this system a number of years ago to help me reduce my stash. I have six categories of projects (different from the last time I used this system). Within each category is a list of projects, which are numbered. I use a random number generator to pick a project to work on. This helps me pick something when I can't decide what I want to stitch. But it is not cast in stone; if the number that comes up does not quite trip my trigger, I pick a new number.

The plan is to start a project each Sunday and work on it for 7 days. If it is not finished, I pick it up when the category it is in comes up next. If I finish something during the 7 days, I can go back to something I am already working on or pick a new project from the category. Or basically whatever I want.

When I last posted about this some people thought it was too confining. But it does help reduce my stash, help me decide on what to stitch if I am undecided. Also, it is my system, and I can do what I want with it, so if I decide to work on something off the list, I do. Stitching should be fun after all.

My categories are: WIPS (1-31), Bins (1-264) White Cab (1 - 43), Flowerboxes (1-81), Studio (1 - 78) & Stitchers Choice. You can see by the numbers I am doing a fine job creating my SABLE (Stash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy). Although to make life easier on me, when I finish a numbered item, I cross it off rather than renumber everything, so I don't have quite as many projects as it seems.  The categories mostly relate to where these things are stashed and are either complete kits or partials. They do not include my file cabinet full of just charts. So, I guess this is my confession of being a stitching addict - SURPRISE!!! 

That was a long way to tell you about Moonlit Desert. I am at the point of filling in the background - not super fun, so I may work on something else periodically to keep me from getting bored. 

Happy Fall All Y'all

Rotation Project - Fancy Wrap

I seem to be going along with my rotation system and WIP/UFO reduction quite well having finished quite a bit. This week I selected a Needlepoint project from around 2005. I am not 100 percent sure of the year, but I know it was from my Raleigh ANG Chapter so it would have to be sometime between early 2000 and May of 2007. I think it was a later project, so I am guessing 2005.

I may see about a second color besides the red to fill in the alternating spaces, but my "kit" is mainly red - canvas and threads with the gold metallic as the foundation rows. The thread is a red Soie Cristale.

Here are some details of the project.

Have a GREAT day!!!!

Rotation System Update and FINISHES (of a sort)

While organizing and cataloging my WIPs?UFOs I came up with a weekly rotation system to try to reduce some of this stash. The Rotation I chose was:

1. Specialty/Beading
2. Needlepoint
3. XS/Embroidery
4. New/gifts/stitcher's choice

I have since added a 5th category which is FINISHING. Well last week was the week for finishing, but I had a head cold that really made me tired and my thinking capacity was not working so well. I barely picked up a needle all week. So I decided to extend the finishing week into this week. Besides the Heart Perforated Paper Needlebook I posted about already (on Feb. 27), I also worked on all the accessories left from the cyberclass I took in 2000 through ANG with Carole Lake called Glitzy Accessories. I had finished the nametag and scissor fob years ago, and all the stitching for the others, but not the final steps. Well, this week (so far) I have gotten everything lined and sewn together (if applicable) and filled the frame weight (I really wanted to use lead shot, but hard to find, so settled for pennies). I am at the point of making the twisted cord and tassels for everything. I discovered I need one more skein of watercolors, though for the twisted cord and/or one more perle cotton - so they may not get done this week unless I can get to the shop soon.

Now on to the pictures!

 From left to right, needlebook, scissor case, laying tool case, scissor fob and frame weight.

 A closer look (from left to right) of scissor fob, scissor case and frame weight. Note scissor fob has the cording and tassel. It is kind of big for a scissor fob (at least to me) so I have been hanging it from the knob of our china cabinet all this time. I used the two colors (a light blue and light green) of perle cotton for this cord. I made watercolor cord for the laying tool case last night and will soon have a twisted cord nail placed in my studio  so I can make more cord. I am putting it in behind the door so it will not show - but I could hang a picture on it too - but it for security I wanted it on a stud, so of course it is not center. My hubby did not like the nail I chose and decided a hook would be better. He is going to get me one tonight and put it in the stud. I can still hang something over it to cover the hook if I want too, but it will be hidden by the door. I chose this wall for it since it is behind a door and I can get 10 - 12 feet away which would make some really long twisted cord!!

 A closer look (from left to right) of  laying tool case case and needlebook.

Happy Leap Day Everyone!!



Scissor Fob and Oldest UFO/WIP

Last week was my first week of WIP reduction/rotation system and as I posted yesterday I finished the first project selected and went to another one. Well last night I finished it and here is the result. I used the Palestrina Stitch to sew the two halves together (as directed in the instructions).

Blackberry Scissor Fob a Stumpwork design 

by Marsha Papay-Gomola

Marsha taught this to the Colorado Chapter EGA in 2008 or 2009.

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So to continue on with my WIP reduction/rotation plan I chose a Needlepoint project and let the random number generator pick it so to speak. It turned out to be my oldest WIP/UFO. The kit was a gift from my mom in around 1977. I have worked on it bit by bit at least in each of the decades I have had it (although I may have missed working on it in the 80s). I still have the cover sheet and stitching instructions which say it is from the Columbia-Minerva Corporation and is "one of a series based on illustrations from THE ORIGINAL PETER RABBIT BOOKS(r) by Beatrix Potter as interpreted by Erica Wilson"

As you see I got it stitched up to and including a bit of the background. The background stitch is called the knotted stitch and in the finished project picture looks very nice. I am not sure if I will stick with this the entire week for two reasons. First, and mainly because I don't know what I would do with it; second because it is kind of boring and tedious at this point! Only time will tell.

That's it from here!

Getting My WIPs in Order Part 2

Just a quick follow up to my last post. I don't mind the regimented like plan and it won't spoil the fun of stitching (for me anyway) because:

• I am an organized person and a planning fool (for the most part)
• Without some sort of plan of action I seem to run willy nilly and collect more projects
• There is flexibility in the plan (the new category)
• It is  not cast in stone and there are no WIP police so I can stop or alter the plan at anytime.

Having a goal with a plan should help get some of the WIPs off the list (gotta make room for more after all)!!

Enjoy your day!!

Getting My WIPs in Order

As you know from a previous post, I created a list of my WIPs to see just what I had (not) been keeping up with. Then I decided to figure out a system to start whittling them down. I created an excel spreadsheet and my columns included a number – source – date – project name and the last column was location (in my studio). I can say everything is in one room anyway! I then decided on some categories, one of which was guild project, but when I saw by my source column that at least 90% were from guild classes or seminars I got rid of that category pretty fast. It was way too broad. I also see from it that my main source of WIPs are my guilds!!! Oh well, too fun to stop now.

So I came up with three categories – cross stitch/embroidery; needlepoint; specialty/beading and then color coded them – not 100% sure why it just seemed like a good idea and easy enough in excel. In case you are wondering my specialty category included some stumpwork, canvas that had photo transfer or painting that you add stitching too and other things along those lines.  Because I added beading my WIP list is now at 53 by the way!

I decided on a weekly rotation system stitching on one category for a week then moving to the next category. I decided to start with specialty/beading then move on to cross stitch/embroidery followed by needlepoint and then finally a category I call New/gifts after which I would start again with specialty/beading.  I then decided to use the random number generator (www.random.org) to pick the first WIPs in the rotation. Not sure why just seemed like a novel way to do it. Ironically the needlepoint WIP came out to be my oldest one from around 1974 (more on that when it comes up in the rotation). I won't always choose the WIP to work on this way, but it gave me a place to start. I can see on my list I still want to finish them (expect perhaps one) so this helped me find a place to start.

Any way in this process I decided that the category New/gifts should be changed to New/gifts/stitcher’s choice. So if I don’t have a new project to start (is that possible given my stash*) or a gift to make, but there is a WIP I want to work on then I would do a “stitcher’s choice.” Looking at the list I saw a few projects that are almost done and they would make great stitcher’s choices. I like having a rotation category like New to give me a little wiggle room. Of course this could lead to a future WIP. And in retrospect maybe my list is a combination of WIPs and UFOs!! Just when does a WIP become a UFO anyway??

I have done these rotation things before and they have worked pretty well until something gets in the way – like in 2010 when work sent me to Boston for a month! So we will see how far I get this time. I would be happy if I stuck to it at least until the heavy gift stitching season starting in late October or early November. 

I will add it was interesting and enlightening to create this list. I know there is at least one thing that may become and remain a UFO since it is a technique I discovered I do not like – time will tell. I also learned that spell check does not like WIPs.

Here is the WIP I picked up for this week, a beading project that I got online during the peak of my bead work (2001-2004). It is called Delica Pendant with Spiral Rope from www.thebeadlady.com.

You can see in the picture the pendant is done, I just need to finish the spiral rope. I did change the bead colors.

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*Stash?? Now that would be a list of epic proportions!

Shhh, don’t tell the hubby.

I did a bad, bad thing!

I created a list of all my WIPS in an attempt to whittle them down. I came up with 46!!! That seems like a LOT to me. How about you?

Next step is to figure out a rotation system or something to work on them. Past rotation attempts have worked to a degree, but not for long. Any ideas?

I think my 2012 goal will be to get a certain percentage done, but still working on what that should be too.

I look forward to your comments and suggestions and will get back to you all when I make a decision.