Weekly Challenges 2020

MYTHOLOGICAL STITCHERS CHALLENGE

Loosely this month is based on Vampires:

Jan. 6 - It Ain't Easy Being Green - for Osiris, a vampire and Egyptian deity, stitch 500 stitches in green or on something with green. Chose Mini Waterhole Master:

and put in 779 stitches:

stitched 1 over 1 full crosses on 28ct Jazlyn colour Sunrise by the Crafty Kitten

Jan. 12 - Would you care for a drink? - regarding the Sookie Stackhouse stories and if you'd be like Bill and be compassionate and drink TruBlood or like Eric and drink whatever was available. I'll be like Bill, so something that shows compassion would work for this task, 500 stitches. I said reading Faery Tales would be a good way to learn compassion and not be evil and worked on Faery Tales

Jan. 19 - Who's your OG? (OV) - Who's your favourite original vampire, Nosferatu or Bela Lugosi's Dracula? I've never seen Nosferatu, so I'd have to go with Bela for this one. That means 500 stitches on something relating to the movie, bats or wine, etc. I could maybe use Durene Jones Spooky Halloween because there are bats in the border. I changed my mind and worked on my unfinished HAED because they play Schubert's Unfinished Symphony in the Bela Lugosi movie.

Jan. 26 - Stay Out of the Sun - To survive a vampire in your town, pray to Ra, the Egyptian sun god for as much sun as possible to keep the town safe. Stitch 500 stitches on something relating to Ra or sunshine. Not sure on this one yet.  Probably Waterhole Master because you can see the sun shining.

FEBRUARY

Feb 1-2 Escaping the Labyrinth - a short quest to stitch 150 stitches or 1.5 hours on a project that links to the myth of the Minotaur, something confusing, labyrinthine, love for Ariadne, a bull, etc. I used Princess and the Dragon since the Princess can represent Ariadne.

Feb. 3-9 Medusa, an icon - the Medusa myth has a lot of misogyny attached to it, as it seems Medusa's power is what frightened men. She has become somewhat of an icon for feminists, and we need to stitch 500 stitches on something that has a woman in it or personifies female fury. Princess and the Dragon fits in this one well. :)


Feb 10-16 Stupid Cupid, stop picking on me - this has both Aphrodite and Cupid involved. For task 1, chose either Eros and stitch on something about love, arrows, or red, or choose Aphrodite (loving yourself) and stitch 500 stitches on something that makes you happy. Task 2 is not stitching related, just do something nice for yourself this weekend.

Feb 17-23 Do not trust the horse - the Trojan horse myth, stitch 500 stitches on something that was a gift, or something you were initially unsure about.

Feb 24-29 Why won't this end? - About Hercules/Heracles and his trials with Hera, stitch 500 stitches on something you thought would be easy, but now feels like it's never-ending. Universal Monsters? since I added an extra 3 rooms?

STITCHY QUEST FOR THE ONE RING

Hobbit Quest #23: Mirkwood - Jan 1 -11, 2020

1. Stitch 200 stitches in black and/or grey. Penalty stitches: 400 - I chose Mini Waterhole Master for this one. This is the latest photo of it as of Jan. 11, 2020 with 2000 stitches so far.

2. There are glistening cobwebs everywhere. Stitch 100 stitches using floss that glistens (i.e. Krienick, Petite Treasure Braid.) Penalty stitches: 200 - I used Mini Winter Magic for this one, and it hadn't been worked on in a couple years I think.

3. Stitch 100 stitches using beads to represent the glowing eyes of the insects in Mirkwood. If your project contains insects (spiders are not insects) you only have to stitch 50 stitches using beads. Penalty stitches: 200 in floss. I did penalty stitches on Mini Waterhole Master.

4. Stitch 100 stitches on a boat, stream, or river. Penalty stitches: 200 - I didn't get this one completed

5. Bilbo climbs a tree and is elated at seeing sunshine and beautiful butterflies. Stitch 200 stitches on a project that depicts the sun or sunshine (penalty stitches: 300.) Stitch 100 stitches on a project with a butterfly (penalty stitches: 200.) - Mini Waterhole Master again as there is sunshine and butterflies

6. When Bilbo returns to the forest floor he is once again filled with misery. Stitch 200 stitches on a project that makes you feel miserable. Penalty stitches: 400 - I started to work on Mini Winter Magic for this, but didn't complete it in time. It makes me miserable because I started in tent stitch, but then did the full page in crosses, so I have to pull out all of the tent stitch.

7. Every time the dwarves or Bilbo try to approach the forest clearings containing feasting Elves, the light disappears and the Elves are gone. Stitch 200 stitches on a project that you were originally excited about but once you started it the feeling dissipated. Penalty stitches: 300 - I used Mini Faery Tales for this one in the excuse that it has so much black.

8. In their excitement to reach the Elves, Bilbo and the dwarves leave the safe path. Stitch 200 stitches on a project where you strayed from the path the designer intended (i.e. conversions or changes to the chart.) Penalty stitches: 300 - I finished Ocean's Curiosity for this one, and it's different because I had to squeeze some of the parts together to fit the fabric I wanted to use.

Bonus: The journey through Mirkwood took a seemingly loooong time. Stitch for 5 hours on a project that just drags on and on and on. - didn't complete

Hobbit Quest #24: The Spiders!

1) Stitch on something sticky or tangly to represent spiderwebs. This is a dice game, so once you stitch for 1 hour, roll the 6D, if you get 1, stitch 2 hours and roll again, if you get 2-5, stitch for 1 hour and roll again. If you get a 6, stitch for one hour and attack the spider. - I worked on Mini Faery tales saying all the black thread was the colour of tar and DD's favourite book is Tar Baby.

2) Kill the spider! You must do 20 damage. Stitch for an hour and roll a 4 sided die, your result is the damage. Choose something you want to be free of. I almost finished Mill Hill Sleigh Ride for this one.

3) Find the dwarves! Choose a project that is easy or lucky and roll a 6D for how many hours you need to stitch. Maybe Faery Tales would work because it does feel easy right now with lots of black and Pattern Keeper.

Hobbit Quest #25 Hobbits vs. Spiders - we were split into 2 groups, everyone who wanted to participate, and I was in the Hobbit group. You got extra points if you stitched on something with claws/stings since Bilbo uses his blade Sting to fight the spiders. I worked on a lot of the black in Faery Tales to get as many stitches in as quickly as possible:

Hobbit Quest #26 Rod of Wonder - this is something Kili has found in a spider's nest after Bilbo has freed everyone. There was a bunch of options depending on a roll of a 60 sided die or you could go task by task if you wanted. I only completed one so far, to match a designer from the previous task. This was an easy way to put another 150 stitches into Faery Tales and I started on some of the confetti.

Hobbit Quest #27 - An Encounter with the Wood Elves Feb. 3-9

1) Elves and dwarves are enemies. Choose a WIP you feel is an enemy, roll a D4 and stitch that many hours on that project. I'm going to use Hogwarts in a Bottle since I keep making mistakes on this one. I need to stitch for one hour.

2) The wood-elves fires were so numerous they were like stars, stitch on something with a light source and roll a D6 x100 to find out how many stitches you need to do. I rolled a 6, so 600 stitches on something.

3) Bilbo wasn't captured, but had to run after the elves to catch up. Stitch 100 stitches on something you had to catch up on, like a SAL. Then flip a coin, if heads, you're done, if tails, stitch 100 more stitches and flip again.

4) The wood elf King's crown varies by season. Stitch 250 stitches on a seasonal WIP. Mini Winter Magic would work for this one.

5) The dwarves refused to tell the elves why they were in Mirkwood and were imprisoned separately. Stitch 50 stitches per dwarf alone, apart from anyone else, no Flosstube, etc.

ENCHANTED STITCHERS CHALLENGE

All challenges in this group are at your own pace, 50 stitches/30 min or 100 stitches/1 hour or 250 stitches/2 hours. 

JANUARY - Peter Pan

Week 1: Peter Pan

1) Wendy has to grow up! Stitch on a piece you have to put away, like leaving the nursery, something seasonal or WIP rotation, etc. - I worked on Waterhole Master

2) Nana the dog is the nursemaid, who or what is your ideal nursemaid? - Mini Waterhole Master, I said an elephant would be a good nursemaid

3) Peter is in search of his shadow, stitch in black or grey - Mini Waterhole Master again ending here:

4) Happy thoughts to fly to Neverland! I chose Ocean Curiosity since it was so close to a finish.

Peter Pan Week 2
1) Stitch on something with night sky colours for Wendy and the boys flight to Neverland. (Faery tales)

2)Stitch on something related to pirates because the pirates want to leave Neverland in search of booty. Princess and the Dragon since there's treasure.

3)What would you dress up as if you were a lost boy? I'd dress as a dragon! And stitched on Mini Winter Magic

4)The mermaids tried to drown Wendy! Stitch on something fun or something that makes you feel like you're drowning in it. I chose Faery Tales for all the black!

Peter Pan Week 3

1)Stitch on something with flowers for Peter saving Tiger Lily from Hook. Faery Tales has lots of flowers.

2)Stitch on something confusing for Smee being confused by Peter throwing his voice like Hook. I made a fair number of mistakes on Mini Winter Magic.

3)Peter and Hook skewer each other's caps, stitch on something with a hat or cap. Lots of hats in Faery Tales, so used this one again.

4) Stitch on something green or with a crocodile or clock to represent the Tick Tock Croc. I chose See Ya Later Alligator and finished off the 3rd last section, only 2 to go!

Peter Pan Week 4

1) Tinkerbell is annoyed with Tigerlily's rescuse and is captured by Smee. Stitch on something that could capture Tinkerbell. I think Princess and the Dragon for this one because of the treasure that looks like magic lamps. 

2)Wendy is acting as mother to everyone. Stitch on something reminding you of your mother. I chose to start a new project because my Mom loves Christmas. This is Angel Stichin' Joy ornament from 2019 JCS Ornament issue. Part of Jo's JCS FB group for January. 

3) Hook kidnaps the Darling children and Lost Boys and they can join the pirates or walk the plank. What would you chose? Stitch on something that represents this choice and explain. I think Princess and the Dragon because Wendy is fierce like the Princess. 

4) Tink covers the pirate ship in pixie dust and it becomes golden. Stitch on something related, like golden, sparkly, flying, happy ending, etc. Mini Faery Tales has some happy endings, so that might work for this one. 

FEBRUARY - Frozen

Week 1 
1) Princess Anna is awake and the sky is awake, stitch on a piece with sky in it. Mini Winter Magic?

2) Elsa injures Anna accidentally, stitch on something you've made a mistake on. Hogwarts in a Bottle.

3) Elsa ceases contact with Anna, stitch on something you haven't worked on for the longest amount of time. Siberian Forest, 2012! This is what it looks like:

4) Stitch on something you fell in love with at first sight for Anna and Hans. Princess and the Dragon! I started stitching this as soon as I bought it practically.