Tuesday 29 December 2015

Final WIPocalypse of the year

Time for the final WIPapoclypse of the year:

Question of the Month

Recap your accomplishments for the year! (Your finishes, your final before/after photos, etc).

I have my 2015 Finishes tab up to date so go there for the full list of things I did, it’s not a huge list this year, as Cindy took up a good portion of my time.
As years go this was a bit of a different one, I lost my job, got a new job, and the resulting crossover definitely took away from stitching time. My nephew also stayed for 3 months this year instead of his usual two weeks, another drain on stitching time as we had periodic game nights. So while I had less actual stitching time, the reasons for it were awesome.
Goals for the coming year are as usual few, I’m not really a goal type person, I will continue on the movie project, and WILL finish Cindy this year, which means on new start on a BAP, Fractal is technically next in line, but Pinky’s Mulan is calling my name, I also want to finish Magical’s ornaments, which do need to be updated, here is the complete April and half done May.
   I will have to make baby samplers this year as I have two pregnant nieces, just have to decide on patterns, but as the last one was nearly a year late, I’m not going to worry about when they get started.
As for SALs, I will continue with WIPapcolypse as it’s fun and not to structured which is good for my haphazard blogging style. The TW SAL will continue, always and forever. I will try to do something small of hers as well this year, maybe the 12 days of Christmas. Unfortunately my favourite Stitch from Stash is no longer going, I actually remembered to read other blogs when doing it, so my friends will just have to remind me to do so without this incentive.

And finally, here is a before and after shot of Cindy, from the beginning of the year, to the end,.
January 2nd 2015
December 29th 2015

As for what I watched.

Critical Role  - This pretty much took over my life in the summer, Still is for that matter, The good thing is it's great to stitch to

The Mockingjay Part 2 - This was a really well done series, and now that it’s done I have a yen to reread the books

The Polar Express - Another must on the Christmas watching list







Scrooge - Alastair Sim version, best of the lot, always to be watched Christmas Eve

Dance With Me - A decent romantic dance movie, I forgot I owned this, but once I put it in I remembered seeing it before, nothing about it stands out from the crowd, but it’s an enjoyable way to waste a couple hours.





Detonator 2: Nightwatch -  A really good espionage./ thriller starring Peirce Brosnan, based on an Alastair McLean novel, there are a lot of his movies out there and they are all good solid action movies. This is a sequal. I know I saw the first years ago, but I also liked the second one better.

Disturbing Behaviour - A low budget horror from 1998 starring the popular actors from the CW network as they like to do. This time it’s Katie Holmes.  Basically a new teen comes to town (James Marsden) and discovers the popular jock kids are all mind controlled Stepford types,  it’s typical and not all that great. This one goes into the Do Not Keep pile.

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Almost Christmas Update

Merry Christmas to you all. This is a unique year for me, the store is closed on boxing day which means for the first time in many years I won’t have to work that day, or New Year’s day, I’m really looking forward to that one, I can toast in the new year (with scotch) at midnight instead of the 10pm of the last 8 years.,
I may not have been blogging, but I have been stitching, I have the backstitching done on the ridiculously pretty shawl and am now working on the walls, which will keep me busy for some time to come.
My new store also has a secret Santa so I signed up and made an ornament. Found it in the last Cross stitch Gold magazine and it came out so pretty.
Will do a round up of this years projects sometime next week
Also my SIL had her Gingerbread night last night, and this year I made a train, so much fun.
Oh and my Critical Role banner did make it in time for Critmas and it was so worth doing, Taliesin loved it, here is the video, if the link doesn’t synch up to the correct spot, my gift shows up at around 1:18:30
Critmas

As for what I watched.
Critical Role and some Table Top and Game the Game - I’m so in love with Geek and Sundry lately

Arthur Christmas - This was the movie for works family staff party, typical Christmas fare, but cute and enjoyable nonetheless







Santa Clause 2 - My favorite of the three

Santa Clause 3 - My least favorite of the three, but it still has some
good stuff, misses seeing 1 as Mom and Dad watched it while I was at work



White Christmas - It isn’t Christmas until this movie has been watched

Friday 4 December 2015

Two years in.

It is two years now since I started this blog and therefore two years working on Cindy,  which is about six months longer than I thought it would be, but the distractions that caused the delay are all worth it.

WIPocalypse for Novermber: Which designer has inspired you to stitch the greatest number of designs and why do you think that is?
Teresa Wentzler would be it for me,  I may have stitched more by other designers, but she’s who I have spent the most time with. I love fantasy and her attention to detail is amazing.
I’ve settled into the new job well, my hours are all over the place, but plentiful so no complaints there.  I’ve taken my obsession with Critical Role to the next level and sent out the first fan letter I’ve ever written, as well as some fan art.   One of the player drew up this design for his characters family crest and I took one look and thought I could quilt that.
Which is strange in itself as I have only every quilted once before over 20 years ago.  But the show has this thing called Critmas where they open all the gifts sent to them and it’s so much fun to watch so I made it and have sent it off, hopefully it will make it for this months Critmas, but if not, he shall get it in January.
The wallhanging 

Taliesin Jaffe's original design







I’ve also made progress on the backstitching of Cindy, so much detail but I do love backstitching .





As for what I watched.

Critical Role - Both new and rewatch

Game the Game & No Survivors - Two more Geek and Sundry Twitch shows

Dralion - Cirque Du Soliel  - one that I haven’t seen live, based
more around the Chinese circus traditions.





Dallos - Anime from the early 80’s I think it’s the pilot for a series as there is no ending, but it’s a good Sci-fi story about a rebellion on the moon.