time for an updated introduction to me

 I just looked back and this will be my 12th year participating in WIPocalypse - you'd think by now I'd learn how to spell it, but alas, spelling has always been a challenge for me.  

This group is the brain child of Measi Musings who for the past 13 years has been inspiring us all to work on our WIPs.  I wanted to join the first year, but didn't know how to create a blog, still not very good at it, but at least I'm trying - maybe an old dog can learn new tricks.  So the first year I just read people's blogs and enjoyed their journey.

Back when I joined (not going to say started) this group my goal was to work on my WIP's and eventually get them down to where I was a one at a timer again, but like spelling that just doesn't seem to be my thing.  I love having different things going, lots of large projects with a few smaller ones sprinkled in so when I have a need for a finish, I can get one.  And I LOVE people who have more WIPS than me and especially love their WIP Parades on Floss tube.  So you will never hear a negative comment from me about the number of WIPS you have, or if you UFO any of them - totally understand and I've got your back :) 

So who am I?  I'm old enough to be retired, but decided to work a few more years because we decided to add a room on to our house and I want it paid off so I can enjoy retirement and not have to work.  (my space!). I've been married for almost 40 years and we have 4 kids, all over the age of 40 (I call it the new math).  We have 5 grandchildren and soon to be great-grandparents in July.  I get to work from home and have been since before the big shut-down, which meant I never got to enjoy any actual time off - just more work.  I can set my own hours as long as my work gets done, which is nice as I'm also a caregiver for my folks.  I was an avid reader when I use to commute to an actual office since I rode a bus, but since working from home and not traveling like I had been, my reading has been almost non-existent anymore - I loved mysteries and if I'm going to read, that is what I'll grab.

I love to stitch BAP, which is like my quilting - if I'm making a quilt it's a king size quilt, hence not finishing many of them - my Quilt kits would rival my stitching projects all kitted up.  the last couple of years I've been obsessed with Samplers - before that it was L&L Angels.  I love the full coverage pieces people do, but know it's not for me, I've tried it and it was an epic failure on my part.  My lovely friend finished the piece for me and it hangs on my walls and I love it.

I currently have 37 WIPS that are active (if you count there are more than 37, but I count the Noah's Ark as one since they are all on the same piece)- there are a few that have been abandon for longer than many of you have been breathing on this earth, but here is my list.  There are only 2 on this list that may never get finished, one I just plan don't find any joy in stitching and the other has been pledged with frequent visits from a frog.  We will see what happens to them this year.

Designer	Chart Name	Theme	Started
Heartstring Samplery	His Eye is on the Sparrow	Antique Sampler	Yes
Plum Street	Vexation Sampler	Sampler	yes
With Thy Needle & Thread	Coming to America - The Women of the Mayflower	Sampler	Yes
Scarlet Letter	Elizabeth Eyles	Antique Sampler	yes
Heartstring Samplery	A Dog's Last Will and Testament	Sampler	yes
Lavender & Lace	Peace Angel	Angel	yes
Curtis Boehringer	Noah's Ark	Urial
Curtis Boehringer	Noah's Ark	Vicuna
Curtis Boehringer	Noah's Ark	Wolf
Curtis Boehringer	Noah's Ark	X-tra Large Hippos
Curtis Boehringer	Noah's Ark	Yak
Curtis Boehringer	Noah's Ark	Zebra
Curtis Boehringer	Noah's Ark	Noah
Curtis Boehringer	Noah's Ark	Yesah, Noah's wife
Needle Work Press	The Mary Ann Aldred Sampler	Antique Sampler	Yes
Dragon Fire Designs	Family	Sampler	yes
Carriage House	A Mind Independent & Free	Sampler	Yes
Tempting Tangles Designs	Arc of White	sampler	yes
Glendon Place	WITCH	Halloween	Yes
AuryTM Desing	Alice	Quaker	yes
Lila's Studio	Nevermore	Halloween	Yes
Heartstring Samplery	Winter Comes	Sampler	yes
Symbolic Gestures	Summer Basket Sampler	Sampler	yes
Needlwork Press	Ann Kirby 1845	Sampler	yes
Heart's Content	Wicket Was Here	Halloween	yes
Stitchy Posel	Frankenstein Sampler	Halloween	yes
Rosewood Manor	O'Santa	Christmas	Yes
Lavender & Lace	Ice Angel	Angel	yes
Indigo Rose	Walking to St. Ives	sampler	yes
Barbara Ana Designs	All Creatures Great & Small	Sampler	yes
Lavender & Lace	Earthdancer	Angel	yes
Rosewood Manor	American Flag	Sampler	yes
Heart's Content	Inspire Others	Sampler	yes
Scarlet Letter	the Four Angels Mouring Sampler	Sampler	yes
Rosewood Manor	Autum Quaker	Sampler	yes
Shepherd's Bush	Peter's Stocking	Christmas	yes
Lizzy Kate	Things Unseen	Christmas	Yes
Thistles	Family Tree	Sampler	yes
Lavender & Lace	Guardian Angel	Angel	yes
Courtney Collections	PeliCan 9	animal	yes
Carriage House	Halloween @ Hawk Run Hallows	Halloween	yes
PraiseWorthy Stitches	Simple Gifts - Courage	Quarter	yes
Whilst Iris Naps Design	Mary Gypsoon 1828	Sampler	yes
La-D-Da	Awake my Soul	Sampler	yes

I have plans to add more, and this list doesn't include any needlepoint that I have going - this is just cross stitch.  My goal for this year is to complete one angel and to touch all of my WIPS at least once.  I think there was only 2 or 3 that didn't get touched in 2023, so I was happy with my results.    This is the angel I hope to finish, so we'll see if it gets done.  April and August will be Angel months for me.

I also participate in WIP Warriors and hope to do some of the challenges this year - need to figure them out and then actually do them.  I also do WIPGO, which this year isn't too specific on what I need to work on as I find that I stitch what I want and don't like being told what I need to stitch on.  Since it's my board and my rules, I'm going with the way I have it this year and see if I can't get a black out - came close last year.

If you want to see pictures, please scroll through the past year, you'll see where I was on each of them with the exception of Awake My Soul, that one was a new start the end December and will be photoed before I put it away.

Sandy