Woo Hoo Giveaway Fun In The Blogosphere!

I'm playing catch-up with the blogs in my reader. As I am reading I'm finding lots of giveaway contests. I will add more as I come across them.

Whoo Hooo!! Lots of giveaway fun is going on in the Blogosphere!

Daffycat of It's Daffycat is having a giveaway for her Blogaversary. Visit HERE for more information.

The Hera Chronicles is also having a Halloween giveaway. Visit HERE for details!

Linda of Stitching With My Furbabies is also having a giveaway. Visit HERE for details!

Rachel from Come Stitch With Me is also having a giveaway. Visit HERE for details!

Challenges/SAL/etc

At the beginning of 2011 I remember lots of people starting the crazy 15 challenge, which was to start a new project every day for the first 15 days of January 2011. I have enjoyed watching people's progress on their blogs. As well as that someone created a similar challenge but instead of new starts it was to complete 15 UFOs/WIPs. I've also enjoyed watching progress on those as well. Then there is the TUSAL (totally useless stitch-a-long) where people post pics of an ort container on the full moon of every month. And so many other sal's. For next year Measi of Measi's Musings has come up with he idea of a WIPocalypse. It is kind of a joke over the idea of 2012 being the last year before the Apocalypse occurs. The idea is to get as many of our WIPS/UFOS completed before that happens. Updates are to be posted every full moon during 2012. I haven't joined in other blogging related SAL's before but for some reason I want to join this one, so I did.

Here are the links to further information should you wish to learn more or join up yourself:

1. Rules and sign up page on Measi's Blog is here
2. FAQ on Measi's Blog is HERE.  
3. List of signups is HERE.
4. YUKU board for the group to keep up with each other and encourage each other is HERE. 

My list:

• Woodland Fairy by Teresa Wentzler
• Stroke of Midnight by Teresa Wentzler
• Christmas Dreams by Joan Elliott
• Sentimental Sampler (AKA Anniversary Sampler) from a magazine
• Quaker (I forget full name but I think Marquior was part of it) by Mon Ami Pierre (I think)

I will add more WIPS as I find them. I know I have an LHN on the go, but can't find it right now and I don't remember it's title. Since the lists can be changed over time, I can add it later. Here's hoping I can keep up with this WIPocalypse. I tend to fall so far behind on everything because the depression and pain just seem to eat up all my time. I've spent most of this year just sort of "coasting" along because my mobility has been so severely decreased, daily pain level increased, and my motivation for many things decreased. So I figured I'd give this a try. It can't hurt I suppose and it may help me motivate myself.

Posting dates for progress pics:

Jan. 9

Feb. 7

March 8

April 6

May 5

June 4

July 3

Aug. 31

Sep. 29

Oct. 29

Nov. 28

Dec. 28

Wish me luck! LOL

Update on Sentimental Sampler used as Anniversary Sampler

I realized that the picture I uploaded of Sentimental Sampler (using it as an Anniversary Sampler) is an old one. When I pulled it out to work on it I realized that I was further along than that picture showed. So I took a new picture. I did a bit of stitching last night and am hoping to get some more done today after I do a bit of cleaning in the bedroom.

Sentimental Sampler © The Cross Stitcher
28ct Jobelen with DMC floss over 2 threads
Closeup with decent representation of colors

Sentimental Sampler © The Cross Stitcher
As of Oct. 18, 2011

I had to alter the chart a little bit in order to fit the names into it. So I removed one line from the center and altered the line below the names. I kept the same dimensions (stitch count, number of rows etc.) so I would not have to figure out how to alter the borders of the piece. I was so nervous making these changes, but was very happy when the first border fit perfectly. I was so worried that my count might have been off and the border wouldn't fit anymore, but it did (that's the zig zag border just around the middle part).

Thank you all for your comments on my last post about Quaker Welcome and my daughter's stitching. I really appreciate it. Your support and well wishes do help me a great deal. Sam (my daughter) says thank you for the compliments; they made her smile.

Jenny said: "Isn't it wonderful when the passion for something finally returns?"


Yes Jenny it is fantastic! I was beginning to think my stitching bug was eaten by the frogs somewhere. LOL

OK I am off to do some cleaning and then hopefully some stitching. I am going to try to use my stitching as a coping mechanism for my pain. Cleaning my room will make my pain level go up. Stitching used to help me cope with my pain by distracting me from it. For a while now it hasn't been though I'm not sure if that is because of the pain or because I was in a bout of depression again. So I will try today. I am hoping that my stitching will once again help me deal with my pain.