Stitchy spot

March 16 – Topic:  Show us your favorite places to stitch.

I don't have any. My flat is 25 square meters small. That is about 270 square feet. That includes the kitchen and bathroom, yes. Not many spots to sit around, let alone comfortably. I just sit wherever I can and make the most of it. Here, an example from about eight years ago:

WIPocalypse sign in

February 14 – Topic: How many projects do you generally feel comfortable having in progress at a time?  Tell us about your one-at-a-time or rotation habits!

LOL. Comfortable. I am very comfortable with the idea of drowning in WIPs. Cross stitching is my favourite hobby, and I am quite certain it has saved me and changed my life for the better. I'm not going to ruin it by setting goals or deadlines or limits. That's not a hobby, that's work. So whenever I feel like starting a new project, I start it. I stitch on whichever WIP itches the most in my mind. I love the whole process, from staring at a chart and drink in the sight, to daydreaming about working on it; gather all the materials, pick or even dye the fabric, do the occasional conversions, experiment; stitch, photograph, blog, stitch, photograph, blog, until the eventual happy dance when I can start daydreaming about framing or other ways of finishing an item. I love all of it. And I'm done apologizing for it. No rules. No habits. No deadlines. Just the joy of stitching.

WIPocalypse forever

Back in 2012, when we thought the world was going to end, I signed up for a little thing called WIPocalypse 2012. I posted as much as I could and had every intention to continue after that. 2013, however, turned out to be a more challenging year for me so I dropped out. This year I will attempt to resume my monthly WIP updating, so I signed up again. This year there will be themes, check out the general introduction to the idea on Measi's blog.

Copy+paste from the page:

January  16- Topic: Introduce yourself, your projects, and any goals you have for the year!

Introduction... my name is Krisztina, I'm 40 and live in Budapest, Hungary. I'm a single mom of one little lady, I'm an avid reader, movie fan and cross stitch addict. I'm currently on a job hunt. I enjoy quiet days at home as much as noisy parties at night. I'm adaptable. I consider myself a feminist and a nerd. I don't make plans. I hope to make the most of each day as they happen. I struggle with depression, so even that much is a challenge. Some stuff I posted on Facebook recently:

10 things you probably don't know about me:
1, I taught myself English by translating pop songs with a pocket dictionary and figuring out grammar as I go
2, I taught myself cross stitching and crochet too (from books)
3, I visited countries that no longer exist, like the German Democratic Republic, or Yugoslavia
4, in my school days I was fluent in Russian
5, I had plastic surgery at 16; had my ears done to escape mockery and bullying
6, used to write Star Wars fanfic in secret before I ever heard the term "fanfic"
7, I always thought I am gonna live a solitary life
8, I got the nickname Jade because my eyes turn green when I'm happy
9, I have fantasized about my own funeral since I was five
10, I learned to swim at university.

 I like to have several WIPs, and I do mean several. If I had to guess, I'd say I have about thirty. They range from tiny freebies in cross stitch magazines to huge Heaven and Earth Designs charts. My favourites are Mirabilia ladies. I will try and upload them on the WIPocalypse page I have on this blog, in my own time, please have patience. I will also attempt to do regular updates on my project, but no promises. Photos coming up soon, have to pick up my daughter from school.

Back to blogging

I missed blogging, but due to recent rearrangements in my job I just couldn't find the time and/or energy to do it. It's been a long winter and I missed my sunshine. I mostly run on solar power. Also, I have more and more problems with blogger, so I started to experiment with Wordpress. I may move my blog there. I will let you know if I do. Here is a brief recap of important things that happened, told mostly in pictures. 

October in November

It's time for the October edition of the WIPocalypse report. Do not adjust your clocks and calendars.

Kit by Vervaco

Progress and S.E.X.

I've been stitching a lot lately, obviously I cannot show you the secret project, but I can inform you that it is growing steadily and I even started another minor secret project I am about to finish and reveal. Here are my progress pictures and a photo of my recent purchases. Yes, I've been a bad girl and increased my stash yet again.

July WIPocalypse at long last

I think I didn't post in June. That's because I got my new job in late May and had a lot to learn and even more to do. But I never stopped stitching, and here is proof!
I apologize for picture quality, I snapped these with my cell phone.

Almost mid-month April WIPocalypse report

March had been a pretty hectic month and a particularly unlucky one for our family, so I am glad it is over. Here's hoping it will never surface again. Not only were most of us really sick last month, my baby was also bit by a dog very badly. I will never ever get her screams of pain out of my head for as long as I live. Never. Ever. It's been almost a month since it happened, but I wasn't ready to talk about it until I could see it healing. She was bit on her thigh and most of the minor bruises are almost gone, but two big holes where the dog's fangs have pierced the skin are still healing and will take at least another month before they are closed. For now, we change bandages several times a day to make sure the wound gets some air too. My girl still refuses to look at it. It seems the horror of being injured is multiplied by the disturbing sight.

And now for the regularly scheduled stitchy news. 

March WIPocalypse report

I've done really nicely with my stitching. Again, I cannot show you the super secret project, you will have to take my word for it. I did stitch a lot on other projects too.

I did a bit of progress on my Victorian Elegance. She looks better every day, and I am absolutely in love with this design. She is no more than half done and already breathtaking. I cannot wait to finish the crosses and start with the ribbons on her hat.

February WIPocalypse report

First of all I would like to say that I have never stitched so much in my life as in these past weeks. Ever since I signed up for the WIPocalypse and Crazy January Challenge, I have really been stitching like there is no tomorrow!

Update

Healthwise we are all fine right now. Tami is back in school and I am back on the job hunt. I am optimistic despite the incredible cold that is here and the huge amount of snow that is reportedly going to come this weekend. We have our flu shots and are taking vitamins every day. Let's hope the sick days are behind us for this winter.
Homewise I am getting better at doing chores. I also installed a makeshift hammock. I tied the old baby carrier sling to the edge of our gallery. My girl can use it to just chill or swing about. She absolutely loves it and spends most of her afternoons in it.

Can be a swing

Can be a hammock

She can watch the telly like this...

...or this

Stitchwise I have worked on my CJC projects in rotation and did a bit on the secret project as well. I did, however, spent most time with Little Wings and with every stitch it looks more and more stunning. Here, take a look yourself:

Stuck at home

My baby has been having a lot of health problems lately. She's been missing some school days too. Illness also makes her very emotional and so she cries even if I just try to pop outside for bread an milk although she knows the shop is just around the corner. Despite her demands for my non-stop attention I have managed to stitch quite a lot, I'm just getting sick of being grounded for weeks. I wish her a speedy recovery, mostly so she will be her old happy and healthy self, but also feel a bit selfish for wishing to get outside, at least for 30 minutes a day, or I'm gonna be sick too soon. Also, I want our old sleep pattern back. She cannot sleep well because of her illness and I wake up every time she turns in the bed. My head has been aching for the past two days. Medicine wanted.

Dimensions Gold set Lace and Roses

Happy puppy with pigtails and rocker girl t-shirt.

January WIPocalypse report

I spent most of my stitchy time working on my BAP items and starting the Crazy January projects. Here are my big progress photos and I will add my CRC scans later today.

Victorian Elegance by Dimensions Gold

Lady of the Thread by Lavender and Lace

Little Wings by Lavender and Lace

2012 - The year of the WIPocalypse

I have decided to sign up for Measi's WIPocalypse project. It sounds like a fun SAL, and if the world is gonna end, I sure don't wanna leave any UFOs behind for the cockroaches! :) I will post about it on every full moon, and I even opened a new page on my blog for it. The pictures on it do not show the latest progress, they are just the most recent pictures on my hard drive. I will probably not update those this year, because honestly, I am too busy with christmas preparations and such. 
Check it out and see if you can join us! You know, the more, the merrier!