Tweeked Project Challenge

I have been giving some serious thought to the multi-project challenge the past few days. I could easily expand this to 25. It is not like I can't buy stash as one of my exemptions is going to CATS and then being able to purchase any threads, beads, fabrics, etc. for something I already have in my stash. It is just the buying of patterns, kits, etc. between now and CATS that I won't be able to do. Can I do it? Sure. Will I do it? I will try my hardest.

Face it, I am in this for the long haul. Tesori D'Italia is not going to be done any time soon. This is a HUGE project and I can see me still working on it 2 years from now. I am being very realistic when I say that. When I am still working on Tesori, I know I will have the support of many stitchers. They will give me the motivation to move on so that I can go on an all out budget-blowing pattern shopping excursion outside of any CATS/stitching show. Even if I don't buy another chart for 2 years, I have PLENTY in my stash to revisit. I have many "have to have it NOW" charts in my stash. A year or two later and they are still sitting there some even still in the bag. Pathetic!! Don't even get me started on magazine patterns I want to do. I have tons to keep me busy and like I said, I do have the exemption of being able to purchase any supplies needed for patterns already in my stash drawers. When I need a cross stitch pick-me-up, I can order supplies for an up and coming project on my list. That will satisfy my need to buy and I will be able to throw another pattern into the so-called rotation I do.

The more I thought about it, the more I thought that doing just a 10 project challenge is not going to work for me. I almost baled out but after CATS. Then I realized how much I have in my stash. Trust me, I saw finished models of stuff I bought last year and two years ago. Mine are still in project bags, fully or partially kitted or not even kitted at all. In some cases, it is lots of money sitting there doing nothing. So the next logical step is to move up to 25 projects. DH kinda just stared at me when I commented about not buying anything significant til I finish 25 projects. I already told him I am one ahead already. LOL I think DH didn't realize I have 25 projects I can do right at this moment. (Shhhh...I could easily do 50 or more projects if you count all my magazine/freebie/charts in my stash).

So without further ado, here is my revamped multi project list. It has what I think to be a great combination of small, medium, big and HUGE projects. They are in no particular order. I am not actively working on all of them at the present time. These are just the things that are kitted, partially kitted or bought this past weekend at CATS and I want to do them soon. This time I took care to list my finish as #1.

1. 12 Days of Christmas by Hinzeit (finished Sept. 8, 2006)
2. Tesori D'Italia
3. Coffee by Mystic Stitch
4. Rose Panel by Heritage Stitchcraft UK
5. Gingerbread Boy Ornament
6. Snowfolk Ornament
7. Coffee (Charmed mini-sampler by Hinzeit)
8. Witches Brew by Pine Mountain
9. Dear Santa by Glory Bee
10. 8th Grade Graduation Acknowledgement for DS (from Stoney Creek Magazine)
11. Recipe for a Scarecrow by Pine Mountain
12. Yummy Christmas by Stoney Creek
13. Child Proof by Glory Bee
14. Cafe Walk I by Mystic Stitch (artwork by James Lee)
15. Witchy Washy by Raise the Roof
16. Santa Clothes by Raise the Roof
17. Espresso from Coffee Mini Series in Stoney Creek Feb. 2004 issue
18. Cappuccino from Coffee Mini Series in Stoney Creek April 2004 issue
19. Caffe Mocha from Coffee Mini Series in Stoney Creek June 2004 issue
20. Latte from Coffee Mini Series in Stoney Creek August 2004 issue
21. 2 Bookmarks for DD from Stoney Creek Leaflet Bookmarks for Everyday
22. Spot of Coffee from Little House Needleworks
23. Cookies for Santa from Brittercup Designs
24. Haunted Halloween from Brittercup Designs
25. Ornament from any JCS Ornament issue

My exemptions are:
1. Attending and buying at any CATS/Stitching festivals
2. Purchasing any fabric, threads, beads, buttons, etc. needed for any project listed above.
3. JCS Ornament Issue
4. I don't know if this falls within the rules but if I should finish the list and the remaining projects are Tesori, Coffee and Cafe Walk I (my three largest projects), I will add some small designs so I can have travel/car projects. These projects will be added from my stash.

So there you have it. The list is scaring me as I even have a few other things I could have listed but I wanted a good mix. But it was fun putting this together and revisiting stash that I forgot I had. About 1/2 of the designs listed here are already kitted or partially kitted. There are about 9-10 that need to be kitted completely. Those will give me my stash shopping fix when I need it.

At the rate I have been stitching since I got home from CATS, I may even have finish #2 of the challenge to show you by the weekend or early next week. :)

Have a great day everyone!