Hi all!  I'm back working on one of my oldest UFOs, now an active WiP! I started this in 2001 for my DSIL down under in New Zealand. She bought the pattern and asked me to stitch it. I should say that this was a very large project for me at the time (pre-TW and pre-Chatelaine). I got it out early this month, and within a week I had finished the South Island!  After years of "training" on other BAPs, now it seems much easier!  All I had done in 2001 was the outline shown...(sorry about the picture quality-older camera!)

And here is my first week's progress.....

I have been working on the North Island and just have to finish the coat of arms (which is off shore to the west) and it will be done.  I'm going to make it into a door banner because DSIL is coming for a visit this spring and that way it will be easier for her to take it home.  Hope to have more pictures soon!

My 7 year old UFO is done!

This was started in 2002, and last year I pulled it out, vowing to finish it! May I present the Dragon Feathers Afghan by Fanta Cat Designs! It is stitched on black Anne cloth, 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide, hemmed and fringed as well.

UFOs...sometimes you get the frogs, sometimes the frogs get you!

I've had NO LUCK with the UFOs I have chosed to try and complete this year! First I got out the New Zealand map, only to discover kitty claws had been at it.....that one is an obligation piece and will have to be a future re-start. Then I thought I'd try and finish a tote bag design I started last year for a gift, only to find at least 3 counting errors that would force the frogs to invade. My enthusiasm for the design has waned, and if I have to frog most of it, I might as well frog it all and pick a different design to stitch on the tote, right? That will be another new start someday. So far I have failed to finish a UFO, but at least I did reduce the number in the box!

My dilemma now is to decide which of the UFOs left should get my attention....I have 5 left, not counting Flower Power (which I have discovered is also miscounted (too low on the fabric), so that one goes in the re-start category (thankfully I had only stitched a few leaves, and I do want to stitch it still!)

The 5 UFOs are:
17th Century Italian Garden by Liz Turner Diehl (aprox. 50% done)
Evening in the Park, Chatelaine Designs (just past the halfway mark)
Dragon Feather Afghan, Fanta Cat Designs (again aprox. 50% done)
Companions by Teresa Wentzler (maybe 25% done?)
Breaking Dawn, Kustom Krafts (only about 5% done, if that...)

All of them are either large, or detailed, or both! I'm already working on another Chatelaine piece (Holland) as well as the Papillon SAL Castles in the Air, each on a monthly rotation, or close to it. I need another large, detailed piece like I need a hole in the head! I'm leaning toward the Italian Garden, or maybe the Dragon Feather afghan, but I'm not sure! If you wanted to finish one of these THIS year, which would you choose?

My UFO that needs attention....

Hi all! Thanks to Jen for letting me join....I certainly need to be motivated on all my UFOs, but the one I have chosen is a special case. My sister-in-law (DH's sis) is married to a great guy from New Zealand and they have 3 kids. We visited them down under way back in 2000, and got the grand tour of the North Island. While in Taupo we visited a cross stitch store (of course, you say!) and SIL offered to buy a chart by Susan Ryder for me if I would stitch it for her and her Hubby. It was the Heritage Stitchcraft map of New Zealand, and not looking too closely, I said Sure! So I get home and start it the next year (2001), and quickly discovered how LARGE it was! At the time I had not stitched anything so large, and with so MANY color changes, so by the time I had done the coastline of the South Island I was in trouble! There is a small pic here in the center of the page if you are interested in the final product. It's been languishing ever since, and after several large project experiences, including three Chatelaines, I feel like it's time to drag it out for some attention....plus, SIL and family are here in the US for an extended visit and are returning in August, so IF I can get it stitched by then, she can take it home and get it framed down there! How's that for brilliant? ;-)

I'd like to give it a few days in May and see how much I can get done, then decide if it's possible to finish it by the end of August....or continue on and mail it for Christmas (still to be framed there due to the cost of shipping it so far already framed). Here's the last pic, as of the end of 2001.