WIP Wednesday 10/01/2014

Wednesdays seem to sneak up on me so quickly!  And to think, it is October already.  The time certainly does fly.

Please note, you may click on any photo to see a larger image.

Above is the progress I made on my Winter/Christmas Wall Quilt.  I forgot just how slow I am when it comes to stitching snowflakes!  Measuring the stitches to keep each section on each snowflake about the same length adds to the time. And, I individually secure each bead.  I have found wrapping the thread through the bead 3 times helps me hold it firmly in place the way I want it.  I then knot the thread in the back and move on to the next bead.  (That way if a bead is torn off at some time in the future, the other beads will still be secure.) Trying to make the snowflakes all unique is also a bit of a challenge.  However, I do love the sparkle the little beads create, so I feel this added touch will be well worth my time.

This is how it looks so far. My hope is to have snowflakes randomly blowing across the blue borders.  I am also trying not to get too close to the edges, as I do not want the binding to cover the snowflakes.

I am linking up with WIP Wednesday at Pintangle.com.  To learn more about WIP (Work in Progress) Wednesday, click here.  To see Sharon's lovely progress on her hussif, click here - and do not forget to check out the links in the comments to see what other stitchers have been up to this week!

Now to look at my ever growing lists... I am back up to 20 items in all.  The number of items really should begin dwindling soon!

Last Week's List of Goals:

 Short-term: 

1. The wall quilt I plan to create with all of my CQI Winter/Christmas blocks. Complete quilting so it is ready to add the back and bind. Began adding snowflakes to border - as seen above.
2. Make a TAST post. Two stitches completed this week.  Learn more about them here.
   
   
3. Complete back for May CQJP 2014 block. Made some progress
4. Freebie Santa and the Mouse Ornament -  Heaven and Earth Designs chart by Michele Sayetta and artwork by Scott Gustafson. (I believe the ornament is a portion of the chart "Santa and the Mouse.") Complete 100 x-stitches by next week. Completed over 200 x-stitches. My boys can tell who is giving the mouse a gift now.
   
   
5. Piece and embellish snowball for Kathy S. by September 30th. - An Africa theme - new for me.  Made a fair amount of progress.  One of the choices I made is taking a lot longer than anticipated.  Kathy kindly extended my deadline.

Long-term: 

1. Make a purse with my April CQJP 2014 block.
2. Make a purse with my May CQJP 2014 block.
3. My CQJP 2013 May block - better late than never?! (It is referred to as Block 4 if you follow this link.)
4. Have a count of at least 50,000 words for my CampNaNoWriMo novel.
5. Embellish July CQJP 2014 block. Completed another seam with a TAST stitch.
   
6. Piece August CQJP 2014 block. 
7. Piece September CQJP 2014 block.
8. Piece October CQJP 2014 block.
9. Make a sew-in frame purse for my Etsy shop. 
10. Piece and embellish a snowball for Lori by end of October.
11. Embellish snowballs for Nicki Lee and Donna by the end of October.
12. Piece and embellish a snowball for Lynne by November 15th. 
13. Complete and mail a gift. 
14.  Paint guest bathroom.

Updated List of Goals:

 Short-term: 

1. The wall quilt I plan to create with all of my CQI Winter/Christmas blocks. Complete quilting so it is ready to add the back and bind.
2. Make a TAST post. 
3. Complete back for May CQJP 2014 block.
4. Freebie Santa and the Mouse Ornament -  Heaven and Earth Designs chart by Michele Sayetta and artwork by Scott Gustafson. (I believe the ornament is a portion of the chart "Santa and the Mouse.") Complete 100 x-stitches by next week. 
5. Piece and embellish snowball for Kathy S. by September 30th as soon as possible. - An Africa theme - new for me.
6. Embellish block for CQI Hearts DYB Round Robin - it should be here by the end of the week.  This will be the last rotation before my blocks return home!  
7.  Embellish snowballs for Nicki Lee and Donna by the end of October.
8. Piece and embellish a snowball for Lori by end of October.

Long-term: 

1. Make a purse with my April CQJP 2014 block.
2. Make a purse with my May CQJP 2014 block.
3. My CQJP 2013 May block - better late than never?! (It is referred to as Block 4 if you follow this link.)
4. Have a count of at least 50,000 words for my CampNaNoWriMo novel.
5. Embellish July CQJP 2014 block.
6. Piece August CQJP 2014 block. 
7. Piece September CQJP 2014 block.
8. Piece October CQJP 2014 block.
9. Make a sew-in frame purse for my Etsy shop. 
10. Piece and embellish a snowball for Lynne by November 15th. 
11. Complete and mail a gift. 
12.  Paint guest bathroom.