Carol Harper's articles with the keyword: completion

Today's discussion topic is: "How did you learn to stitch?" To be honest, I don't really remember! I know I watched PBS to learn crewel and took up needlepoint soon after, sometime around the late 1960's. I think my first cross-stitch piece was completing an eyeglass case kit for a friend's wife in grad school (late 1960s - 1971). She was trying to make it as a gift for her Mother and give up and asked me to finish the stitching. I guess I just applied my understanding of stitchery from the…

Today's discussion topic is: "Do you belong to any stitching groups or guilds (either in person or virtual)? If so, tell us about them." Easy answer - no. I do some SALs that are sponsored on Facebook by some designers and I do post my progress on their SAL facebook pages but this doesn't strike me as being the same as belonging to a group. As for guilds, I belonged to a quilt guild for several years and was their unpaid website manager for many of those years (even though quilti…

Today's discussion topic is: "Which of your current WIPs do you consider your most difficult piece to stitch?" It all depends on what "difficult" means. Several of my long-term WIPs have difficulty associated with them. Three examples from my current stitching rotation: "Royal Gardens" by Fox & Rabbit, their 2023 SAL: the border. I always find borders difficult and usually pray that they actually meet up. This one didn't! And while I have (just this month) found where I went wrong, it wou…

Today's discussion topic is: "Recap your accomplishments for the year! (Your finishes, your final before/after photos, etc)." I really have little new to post here since I completed my December check-in so I will summarize briefly: 1. My 2023 finishes were "Happiness is Handmade", a Lakeside Needleecraft SAL designed by Durene Jones; the "Halloween Sampler 2023" by Stitchonomy; and the "Charity 2023" SAL by The Steady Thread 2. Since the last post, I have made progres…

This month's discussion topic is: "What is your favorite way to finish ornaments and/or smalls?" I haven't stitched or "finished" any ornaments or smalls in a LONG time --- MOST of what I stitch is medium to large and intended for a frame or some sort of hanging banner. However, when I DID make ornaments, I usually went the way of flat-folds or pillows. ~~~~~WIPs~~~~~ What I stitched on in November: I decoded that I wasn't making a lot of progress in rotational stitching where…

This month's discussion topic is: "If you have been to retreats, what are your must-bring items and supplies?" I have attended three two-day paper crafting "retreats" (Simon Says Create in Columbus Ohio), one two-day scrapbooking crop (with a local crafting friends, even though I don't scrapbook!), and three two-day quilt retreats (put on by the guild of which I am webmaster, even though I truly do not quilt) in the past two decades. All within a two hour driving distance of my home. S…

The topic for this month's discussion is: "Retreats and seminars – have you ever been to any stitching events? If so, tell us about them!" I have attended one scrapbooking crop (I do not scrapbook) and three quilting retreats (where I “worked” on piecing together in-progress crazy quilts - three quits the are STILL unfinished!). I have attended three in-person paper crafting events where I did learn a lot of technique, acquired a lot of swag (shopping at paper crafting events is de rigu…

The topic for this month's discussion is: Do you prefer Halloween or Christmas stitching? I don't really have an answer for this question. An honest answer would be I don't tend to do holiday-oriented stitching of ANY kind of late. I USED to stitch a lot for both holidays and have a fairly extensive collection of ornaments for both. But, now, I am stitching more SALs than either ornaments or big projects. If there are holiday themes in the SALs I am registered for, then I stitch them.…

The topic for this month's discussion is: "What was the first project you ever stitched? (whether you finished or not)" My answer depends on what kind of stitching you mean! I was in graduate school at University of Florida and was into crewel embroidery at the time. I don't know how I got started on this and I can't remember my first stitched crewel. Meanwhile, a friend had purchased a kit for an eyeglass case with purple pansies in the design to make as a gift for her mother but…

The topic for this month is: "Are you a seasonal stitcher, or can you stitch on any holiday/seasonal stitch at any time of year?"​ ​I don't consider myself a "seasonal stitcher" in that I stitch whatever appeals to me at the time. However, there are seasonal items which get started (and sometimes finished) ahead of the season when the magazines and charts start appearing on the market for Halloween and Christmas. Both seem to start in September of each year although there are some hints earl…

August's topic for discussion is: "Have you participated in any of the mystery SALs on Facebook (or other social media)? What do you think makes a successful mystery SAL?" ​I am participating in four mystery SALs at present, all of which are supported by facebook groups: "52 weeks of Blackwork" by Peppermint Purple, which has weekly installments throughout the year "A Year of SALs" by Stitchonomy. There are five separate SALs (three now complete), with installments released at 2 day…

The WIPocalypse question of the month is: "In honor of “Leap Year,” tell the story of a time you had to make some sort of a “leap” in stitching – taking the chance on a new style of stitching, attending a meetup or class, etc." I have taken several "leaps" in my stitching... To begin: A room-mate taught me to knit while I was senior in college (56 years ago! AAACK!!). I evolved into booties and then two disastrous sweaters. Although I loved cables, I learned my lesson from sweaters a…

Question of the month: What SAL’s are you participating in this year? Well, for someone who hasn't stitched for nearly a year, I was overly ambitious. I signed up for four SALs, in addition to WIPocalypse! I thought maybe they'd keep me diverted from my BAP UFO/WIPs and allow me to get in some practice on linen/evenweave. SAL #1 is the Stitchonomy Year of SALs . It appealed to me because it came in small installments over a two month period for each SAL, with the first one - "Homel…

I finished a little 2x2 square designed by Michael Powell. It's meant to be one side of a scissor keep but I think I'll make it into an ornament instead and stitch the other side as another ornament. OK, I shouldn't brag but it's been so LONG! Two strands of Anchor floss over one --- in an 18 ct (I think) canvas. A bear to frog so there is one mistake I simply fudged around. Luckily, Powell designs are wonky enough to make fudging invisible! ​On to the other side --- this is where it…

This month's topic for discussion is: "Talk to us about your longest-running WIP or UFO." I had to go back into my files to find the longest running WIP... it is a round robin I participate in on Cross Stitch Crazy, a long gone forum on the now defunct iVillage. I started in January 2007. I stitched it on full yard of Silkweaver's 28-ct Jobelin, in the "Carol's Meadow" color. It is a 12" x 12" square stitched with a knot garden in "blackwork" from Stitchin'spirations ("Brandon", designer Sall…

The discussion topic for this WIPocalypse period is “Tell us a story about the journey you took through one of your completed pieces.’ Sadly, I can’t answer this as, for me at least, what I stitch doesn’t necessarily reflect a story about me or it’s stitching. It just is/was… It may have traveled with me (usually a needlepoint piece) but that is just in case I am left alone in a hotel room while husband is out on his conference duties and I need something to fill the time if I’ve run out of read…

I have finished something! Woo Hoo! I couldn't wait until my usual check-in to celebrate! Here is "Return", completed: And here is the complete series, ready to frame (man will that cost a fortune --- the stitched portion of the fabric is a little more than a half yard! This started out as an online SAL, organized and moderated by Tracey Horner of InkCircles There are 9 Roll Your Own mandalas. I decided I would do them all on one piece of fabric ("Iris Garden" by Silkweaver, 32…

A completion to celebrate the end of 2015! Well, part of one, anyway! I finished "Revenge": and here is how the "Roll Your Own" Mandalas look today: Other than that, Christmas day at brother-in-law's and then again on Sunday (for the other two in-law families who were in town for the day), lunch with the widow of one of husband's dear friends, and an eye-appointment on New Year's Eve (which is why I'm late with this check-in) took up my week. Not a great year for stitching (see…