I got a lot done in April, although not all of it on my WIPs (see A Start and a Finish). I switched gears to work on the Italian Bird Tile and got a decent amount done. Top pic is from January, bottom pic is current.
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A Start and a Finish
I’ve been concentrating on my WIP projects, but once in awhile something new slips in. I found a cute needlepoint “stitch & zip” glasses case that I couldn’t resist. My current clamshell style sunglasses case is comically huge – I can’t even use some of my favorite handbags because it takes up too much space, fer cryin’ out loud. I enjoy working on this kit, although I’m disappointed that it came with 6-strand embroidery floss – not the greatest coverage. On the plus side, I was able to swap out the very bright red and white for more subtle versions I already had in my floss stash:
I also finished a project I started years ago in a class at Elegant Stitch. I simplified the project (it had a lot of different pieces & parts) into an elongated box top. The hardest part was finding appropriate material to put around the sides of the box. I tried different fabric and ribbon, but they all clashed with the top. Finally I found scrapbooking paper that was just right. I had fun putting together the inside of this box as well – my finishing skills need improving, but it’s not a bad first effort:
WIPocalypse, April
I almost didn’t post this month, with not a lot of progress to show. But the WIPocalypse has been so inspirational I decided to go ahead and share.
Biggest finish for April – the reindeer rug. It still needs to be bound, but it has already been claimed by Clark. I like his enthusiastic appreciation!
‘Atta boy, Clark. Work those blond hairs in!
Also small progress on Lurcher and Fantasy Landscape backstitching. I keep these away from Clark.
Thanks for viewing!
WIPocalypse, March
I concentrated on three pieces and made a decent amount of progress. I’ll show the January photo, then the March photo to show maximum progress. 
Fantasy Landscape (January)
Fantasy Landscape (March)
Lower stitching is done, it’s all backstitch now. Once I finish that, I will return to the top – there is a flying zebra I haven’t even started.
Lurcher (January)
Lurcher (March)
I’m doing basketweave, which makes beautiful uniform stitches but takes a lot of yarn. Last needlepoint piece I finished (Two Elephants) I did half-cross stitch, which doesn’t look as nice and I had TONS of leftover yarn. So I’m living dangerously, if I run out I’ll just have to request more from Ehrman.
Reindeer rug (January)
Reindeer rug (March)
Oh reindeer rug, will you ever be done? I only work on this Tuesday evenings, and we’ve been quite chatty lately at my hooking group. But seriously, it was 70 degrees out this weekend, time to wrap this one up and put it away for Christmas!
WIPocalypse, February
January kinda sucked. There, I said it.
A bright spot is my honest-to-goodness finish of Two Elephants. Woohoo! Some blocking needs to happen, then I get to go to Triad Fabrics and pick out some trim and backing fabric for a pillow.
A small bit of progress on the reindeer rug:
And I’ve started the backstitching on Fantasy Landscape. I enjoy backstitching – aside from the occasional stripped/knotted thread (which would probably happen less if I used shorter floss), it’s easy and moves fast.
February will be all about Fantasy Landscape, Italian Bird Tile, and hopefully finishing the Reindeer rug! It’s 65 degrees out today, I’m ready to hook a springier rug!
Thanks for the push, Measi. 
Let the WIPocalypse begin!
I may be starting a month late, but at least I’ve got organization on my side. I mutated my 10 Project Challenge list into my WIPocalypse list (see sidebar). All projects are cataloged, photographed and ready to be called to duty:
The reindeer rug is so close to done I can taste it! I only rug hook on Tuesday evenings, so I’m still a few weeks out from being done. I’m not doing the outside border.
Also rug hooking, this is a bench seat. Sooo much background left to go.
Needlepoint, so very close to done!
I will finish this for my sister in exchange for a portrait of our dog Billy, who just passed away.
Funnest XS project ever! Fantasy Landscape.
Italian Bird Tile.
Grateful Heart Band Sampler.
Celtic Bird.
Haven’t started this yet – it’s a french knot kit based on a hooked rug design.
This one takes a little explaining. These are my practice bullion knots. I’m really bad at them, but would love to be able to create some of the designs in A to Z of Bullions. So, the goal is 100 practice knots. Got a ways to go!
Weston’s wondering…
Why I’ve neglected the blog so long? I don’t know, baby, but it’s time to get back in the swing of things! Nice work on the French door, by the way.
Weston at the window
Fiona’s video
We currently have three bunnies: Hank, who has been with us for 12 years, and sisters Nora and Fiona, who have been with us since they were wee babies, five years ago.
Fiona, Nora, Hank
Fiona’s leg, which sticks out to the side, is from an injury she received while at the shelter (she and Nora were born there, after a large-scale rescue brought in a huge number of rabbits). Her hip was dislocated, and since she was just a few days old when it happened, her muscles and tendons simply compensated. By the time I adopted them, there was no way to fix it – her body had changed too much.
Fiona is a very happy camper, and unfazed by her somewhat unconventional configuration. She runs, she jumps, she bosses me around. What has happened to her over the years, however, is that her left back leg has been shifting, and is now almost as flat as the right leg. It isn’t dislocated – we’ve taken xrays – but it is troubling, and after a talk with my vet, we are trying to come up with some sort of device that might help ease the strain on her joints, and lift her butt up a little so she isn’t putting pressure on her lower abdomen. To put the word out to the vets at K-9 Carts, I put together this video of Fiona in motion.
I’m curious to see if we are able to come up with something for her (and if she’ll put up with it).
Mermaid Rug
Saraphina
She is done! And by done of course I mean pretty darn close to done. She is hooked, bound, taped on the back, but still needs the label and the glitter, which I have started but it doesn’t really even show up in this photo. The only glitter you can see is the slashy lines in her hair, and those are coming out (too distracting). There is glittery Sulky floss in the red outline of her tail. It is wonderfully subtle but adds a little oomph! I will put more of that in her tail and hair, then she will be done, as in complete. She is going in the State Fair, along with my Drawn Thread sampler and Morning Dew sampler.
WIPS
Cameryn's quilt
This is my first quilt in awhile…about five years, since the last one was for Kendall! I like making baby quilts that don’t scream “baby”, since there is no telling when the young ‘un will receive it. I’ve got enough deadlines in my life, I don’t need to add more!
This is all pieced and quilted in the middle (ditch), and has languished because now I need to quilt the border, and that involves planning and math, and a strong possibility of getting it wrong. But maybe today is the day…
Chocolat
I’m almost done with the stitching on Chocolat (there are two more medallions rolled over the top of the frame). This will make a needlebox, and is from a class I took from Elegant Stitch back in the fall of 07. The finishing of this project is going to be a challenge. I have simplified it from the original design. It was beautiful and complex, but I really want it to be something I use, so I streamlined it. We’ll see how it comes out.
Fantasy Landscape
Two Elephants
X stitch and needlepoint projects I am chugging away on. Both with animal themes, of course.
