2023 WIP Parade and Big Life Announcement
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- Опубліковано 9 вер 2024
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I think you need to get one of those tiny pull behinds just for your crafting stuff. You can pull it behind your little camper like they do with motorcycles. 😂
Ha! Subaru, camper and trailer for my craft stuff! Wouldn’t we be a sight!
You were the first flosstuber I watched, I started Carolyn Manning’s beachcomber after seeing yours. I now have my own flosstube where you can see my progress on it! We are FT in our RV, hubby is retired Army. Safe and happy travels, maybe we will be at the same place sometime. We’re currently at AF Academy in Colorado Springs, they have a wonder fam camp here we come every year. Great video!
Oh, how fun! Sounds like we have a lot in common! I love Co Springs!
I have had to pack away my stuff to live in a fifth wheel for 3 years.
I learned a lesson. Pick your favorites that are calling to you, pack all the rest up. Then go through your favorites and pick your two. Then take your favorites and put into a plastic see through container. Put it into your storage unit last so when you finish a project and have the opportunity to go to your storage unit you can pull a couple of more out. You may want to consider a set of scroll rods that would fit on a lap frame. Be boxed and sitting on top of your tub. That way if you figure out you have room you could grab it at the same time.
Your WIPS are beautiful. I am getting all sorts of ideas.
Thanks Tami! That’s basically my plan! We’ll see how well it works!
My daughter had a great idea: (old school idea): have a photo album of your FFOs since your camper might not have wall space for your beautiful stitching. Would also be a good idea for keeping track of your WIPS in storage. Of course, this is all 'old school', but any modern ways of keeping track and enjoying your stitches. I realize that you have, at least, your WIPS on your tablet/computer, but sometimes, photos are really nice. Have a great rest of the weekend, and 'happy packing'!
That is actually a kind of fun idea. Not sure I’ll have time to print out photos, unfortunately, but we’ll see. Maybe of my most prized ones!
I think you should take The Rose And The Giant Pear since you are enjoying it so much. It is small and doable and would give you comfort. Then I would suggest you take several of your large pieces, to work on when you feel inspired, and to give you some mental stimulation. And then I would include at least one classic sampler, one that speaks to you and Mike of your fabulous journey together. That should keep your needle busy!❤
Do you know, since you’ve settled down in the house I haven’t seen you as exuberant and full of joy as you used to be whilst on the road. Good luck with this full-time adventure and I’m hoping it will bring you both peace and calm and happiness.
You should reach out to Julie (Kansas City Girl in a Colorado World). She recently began the “tumbleweed” lifestyle and is living out of her RV… she went through and showed how she stored her stitching stuff… she and now you are getting me to start considering renovating my vintage camper and start traveling… but my carefully curated collection of fabric, floss, charts and accoutrement is rather daunting!! When I saw the title to your video, I thought, nah, they are not moving again! They are settled! Best wishes as you start this new chapter of your lives!!!
I was watching Julie when she first headed out on the road, but I haven’t watched her in a while. I need to catch up! I think you must be the only one, who when they saw the title, didn’t immediately guess!
What a wonderful adventure for you and Mike.( Happy retirement Mike.). Jan, I don’t know how you’re ever going to choose what to take with you to stitch?! My husband retires this November. We're making plans for next year to drive and take the train to see western Canada starting from Ontario where we live. Two months though, not two years. How blessed are we to be able to just take off and enjoy these beautiful places...with an open return…and still be able to stitch?! Take lots of pictures, Jan, or do drawings for cross stitching pattern design inspiration. Wishing you both good health, safe travels, and lots and lots of enjoyment!🤗❤
It would be so hard to choose just a few projects! Just make sure that the boxes with all your WIPs are easily accessible so that when you go to your storage place you can trade out. Congrats to Mike on his coming retirement. Looking forward to all the pics and videos of your travels.
Yes, we are going to have all of my stuff well labeled and at the front of the storage unit, so they’ll be easy to get to! Not like I had to deal with in San Antonio!
It would be fun to send random WIPs to friends around the country and as you travel around, if you need to swap one out, you could. Congrats on your husbands retirement!
That is a fun idea! I may have to think on that a bit!
Wow - a lot of WIPS! One thing I learned when I started stitching was if I loved a chart enough to stitch, I needed to kit it and not stockpile charts. So, I have a lot of kitted projects - not yet WIPs - but eventually. If I don't love a chart enough to kit it, then I let it go - usually I gift to a fellow stitcher. And, our taste in charts changes over time so if you pull out a WIP and aren't in love with it, consider letting it go. Helen D said she gave herself permission to use some of what she had stitched and turn it into something else (like a small standup or pin cushion) and then just let the rest go. I now do the same. I wish you many blessings on this next journey in your life.
Hi, Jan!! I apologize for being absent so long…but here I am, and I wanted to wish you and Mike and Nina the best, happiest, and most blessed time on the road!! That’s so exciting, and I know y’all will enjoy it to the full. 🥰 I can’t wait to catch y’all’s updates from the road, and wish you a speedy, easy sale on your beautiful home. Safe travels, my friend! 🚐🏕️❤
Meline
Hi, birthday twin…going on the road sounds fun😂 when you change all the projects to cloth bags, take out the needles… then you’ll have all those extra PC prized needles… that’s a lot of big whips…good luck with the transition…have a stitchy week
We were campers and know of people who did what you are doing. I feel for you. We thought about it but it is a different life. Good thing crosstitch is pretty compact. I do envy the traveling you are going to get to do. I never got to or not will I ever get to do that kind of traveling. I have found my crafting has taken different turns in my life. Since my husband passed away I have been able to do everything all I want. I enjoy it of course but it is bittersweet more than you can know. I had a great husband. I am very blessed and I try to remember that.
Haven’t commented in a while since I watch on big tv. Congrats on Mikes retirement. I retired last year and love it. It’s good to do it while you can still enjoy it. Halfstitch Cross stitch does a daily diary then uploads it all together. It’s pretty cool. Good luck on your journeys I hope you still stitch and video. If you’re ever near Windsor CO come by. I have lots of empty rooms lol. PS why you blushing!!! Lol😊
You have some beautiful WIPS
Congratulations on retirement! We are a military family so I understand the gypsy lifestyle 😊 nothing beats an adventure!! Love your wips ❤ Happy Stitching!
So happy for you and Mike. A new adventure awaits! Love your flosstube and seeing your wips. The wip colors and fabric are more inviting than their cover pics. Thank you for sharing.
Congratulations on retirement and happy travels. I’m not even a cross stitcher, but watched this whole video in awe. You are so talented.❤
Oh goodness, that’s a long one to watch if you’re not a cross stitcher! Thank you for taking the time and I’m glad you enjoyed it! ❤️
Congratulations, very jealous. Love the both of you.
I wish we could have an actual conversation about moving. Since 2002 I have bought and sold 9 houses. Being a 9/11 family I was single until until 2017 when I finally remarried. We immediately bought a bigger house but have since sold that and are on our second house and I'm ready to go again so don't feel bad about moving. We have to go where life takes us especially now that we are senior citizens. Something tells me that you guys should RV it full-time until you're ready to make a permanent move to another country. Take more than two projects to work on. I don't want you to have regrets when you're on the road. Take Winter Rose Manor as one choice. It's a gorgeous piece. Happy Trails to you.
Glad to know we’re not alone in our need to move a lot and travel around! And that is exactly what we are planning, to be on the road while we decide where we want to land permanently. But we will have my Father in law’s place as our home base.
The giant pear seems perfect for your situation.
Take the By the Bay..easy stitching for when you are tired.
(Popping a Xanax) Seeing all those unfinished projects sends my anxiety into overdrive. This is why I can no longer watch WIP parades.
😮😢
I am even more confirmed to be a monogamous stitcher..mostly. 1 large & 1 tiny on the go.
I have two projects going and that's enough for me.
That's me also. I feel overwhelmed with 2 wips but I do love wip parades. The adrenalin it causes cures migraines😂
This is my first time watching your flosstube, I'm loving all your WIPS so far. You both will have an exciting adventure. I wish you both well.
Thank you, Diane! And welcome to my little corner of Flosstube!
I give you so much credit to be able to do that - I do not think I could live in a camper as I have way to much crafting stuff and clothes LOL
One thing I don’t have to worry about much is clothes. I am not much of a clothes collector. Lol
🩷🩷 Loved seeing your WIPS!
So beautiful and fun to see your progress!
It would be hard to choose, only a few...
Admire your adventurous souls! 🩷🩷
I did a 6-month cross Canada trip. In that time, I completed 4 cross stitches (and a whole bunch of knitting & crochet). I'm not sure if you are planning to land "home" during your travels, but I would be tempted to take more than less. A few "quick hits" and a few longer projects. You could also select a few others and leave them with a friend/relative to mail to you if you finish what you've got and need more to work on. So excited for you for your new adventure. I hope you plan to do some RV life videos, too!
Well, the main thing I will be stitching will be the models for my designs, so I don’t even know if the WIPs will get touched, but I want to have a couple just in case! And yes, I will definitely be doing some RV life videos. We have a separate channel, called Sunsets and Sangrias, that we started when we moved to Hawaii. We didn’t do a whole lot on it, but we plan on reviving that and using it to post about our life on the road.
I can’t personally handle having dozens of WIPs in my life. They would hang over my head like a very dark cloud. About six is a fine number for me😂😂😂
Dear Jan, I will be here to listen and watch as always. I'm not laughing at you, i look forward to laughing with you on your next adventures in life. Life is too short. Enjoy it. ❤ much love.
I admire that you can choose just 2!! I take several when I go just for a weekend!! Love everything you are working on!!! I would take some that are calling you and then take your oldest and work forward!! Your oldest WIP is just gorgeous!!!
Also take the bell pull-gorgeous!
Just think how fun it will be to get these out of storage someday! It will be like a reunion of long lost friends! 🤗 Perhaps you could take a few to keep at your 'home base' while you take 2 or 3 with you on that leg of your journey? Then you could swap out the finished ones when you return to base. Adventures and stitching await!
The bird needs to go with you!! The long and winding road, add special places on curves. Lol 😂 Jeannette Douglas one Wow! Good luck on choosing….you will be so busy designing anyway…giggle!
I know. I very rarely even touch my WIPs these days because I’m so busy with my designs, but I’m hoping to slow down a bit on that side of things. We’ll see. I love your idea of adding special places to the curves of The long and winding road!
Girl, it looks like you have just as much as I do in WIPS😳 I’ll be doing the same thing as you in two to four years😂🤣😂
Great WIP parade Congratulations on your husband’s retirement and you new adventure in life,look forward to future photos of your travels and stitching,Thanks for sharing Jan 👍🇳🇿🪡❤️
What fabulous work!! Good luck on your wonderful adventure ❤
Good luck and God Bless!❤
Wow. Ya'll get to travel. That would be awesome. Congratulations to you both. Hope your house sells quickly for you both. Just make sure you both be safe on the road when it's time 😊❤
😳 I have no words!!
The Jacobean tree I love!!
I won't laugh at you. I found it interesting to see what intrigued you in your cross stitching journey. I vote for the mandala 8. Stunning! I also vote for a couple of smalls so you can get back to GSD mode. Whatever you choose, I hope they bring you joy!!! (By the way, I love how you say you love big projects, but then you stitch on some 56 count fabric so that they are teeny tiny when done. You made me chuckle on that one.)
I think it's wonderful that you are able to embark on a wondrous road trip. Just my suggestion, but I think you should take the largest projects with you. They will take a long time to finish and if you don't get back to your storage for a few years, you won't run out of stitching.
Oh, we’ll be returning to AZ and our storage area every few months. I would think the longest we’ll be gone is 6 months, and even that may be stretching it. One thing we plan on doing next year is heading up to Alaska, so that will probably be the longest we’ll be away from AZ.
Wow! This news is saddening and well as super exciting!! I hope to see more of you guys during this new venture. I can’t wait to see your pics, posts and videos of all the beauty in this world that you’ll both get to experience that I’m sure will inspire more stunning art designs.
I love the relationship you guys have with each other. “The Perfect Pair”❤❤
I know. Change like this always brings the good and bad. But I’ll be back to Stitch West eventually. Not this year, since I had already planned for Jacob-Palooza, but maybe the following year. But I’ll still be around virtually! Lol
@@JanHicksCreates I’m also going to Jacob-Palooza but I’ll be at weekend 1! So close to sharing a table with you but not this time. ::sly giggles:: If you’re ever in my area, we should have a sit n stitch! ::big hugs::
wow! Had to watch that over a number of sessions. If I was you I would just take 2 or 3 and work on them until they are finished. You could always leave another couple with someone to send to you once you finish those. Big news but I look forward to hearing and seeing your travels. Always a big decision to retire and say “what now”.
Congrats, sounds like fun. My choice would be any of carol manning and fragments of time. I in hand stitch so don't have to worry about qsnaps or scrolls. Make sure you take extra fabric so if you design something you just have to stitch. Love your channel, try to keep doing videos once in a while if you can
I definitely will still be doing videos. And we hope to resurrect our travel channel, Sunsets and Sangria, and put more on that.
This is my first time watching your channel! As someone who has travelled full time in a camper in Australia, I wanted to say that if you keep your other projects accessible in your storage, you can swap projects out if you're in the area a few months down the track (e.g. maybe you have family in the area that you'll visit?).
Welcome Donna! I hope you enjoyed your time here! That is exactly what we plan to do. Our home base will be my father-in-law’s place, so we’ll have everything in a storage unit near him. House goes on the market today!
@@JanHicksCreates exciting times! Hope it sells quickly and you can set off on your adventures!
Your video was a hoot! So many dilemmas we stitchers can relate to...Definitely take the bellpull! Beautiful, handy to hold and dense stitching without taking up too much space. Also some smaller pieces. Hope Nina takes to life on the road. Bon voyage a tous!
I don’t know if I could leave all of my stitching I am addicted! I could leave hubby first😂😂😂kidding but maybe not😮maybe buy a bigger RV? I’m so bad! Hope you guys have a blast and do what you love 💗 to do! I’m a bit of a monad myself, we’ve moved 13 times in 20 years! Love to move! Blessings❤
It’s so fun seeing new places and getting situated and then dreaming of the next place! I am so glad to know that we are not alone in this way of living! Lol. And I’ll still have plenty of stitching, but most of it will be my model stitching of my designs. I am very excited about what I’ll be releasing at the virtual market in August, if I get it all stitched! Lol
Can't wait to see where your adventures take you! I'm sure they will include sunsets and sangria!
You know it! Though Mike will be in charge of editing and dealing with those videos! Hopefully, when we see you in October, we will be out of the road full time! We are hoping the house doesn’t take too long to sell!
Hello. Wasn't I surprised to hear you say you are thinking of eventually moving to Colombia or Ecuador. Yes, I know that is not an immediate thing. I live in Ecuador and have done so for 11 years ++. Bring your thread stash and bring your fabric stash if you decide on us. There is a huge expat community in the city where I live - Cuenca. They will welcome you with open arms, and be happy to tell you all the pros and cons of living here. Because of health issues, I do not get out and about so much anymore so I am not up on everything that goes on here anymore.
Wow Jan... Congratulations and good luck on this next chapter of your life. How wonderful that you and Mike found each other and can spend this time together exploring this amazing world in which we live! While watching your WIP parade I am realizing how many of my WIP's were inspired by you. Thank you! I hope you continue to post updates of all your adventures. ❤
So fun to hear that I inspired some of your wips! And yes, you can count on me still being around sharing my adventures! Thank you for being here, Sharyn!
Just Wow! Lots of WIPS. It would drive me nuts plus my wallet could NOT handle that lol! Good luck on your endeavor. The Long and Winding Road is perfect for the road, a Christmas one and a bird. Have fun!
Loved watching all your WIPs. I especially enjoyed your comments. Your work makes me smile! Wishing you lots of fun on your new adventure! I hope to watch your travels. Please keep us updated!
You bet! We’ll be starting to post more on our travel channel, Sunsets and Sangrias, once we get out on the road.
Wow Jan! Good for you on retirement. I believe you are really gypsies!😂 through and through. Take care good luck selling your house.
Congratulations on retirement!🎉
Oh I saw that one woman used a rod to only roll up one side of fabric and stitch on top of material rest hung over the end of table . I have not tried it yet but think it would work for me in my chair. I just got a stand of two hoops different sizes that fit on legs on top of each other. I am using this for my hard. It collapsed flat. I love it.
Wow! That took me a week to get the entire parade watched. So many pretty projects, so little time. I am drawn to a similar color palette as you. Best wishes on full retirement and the move.
So happy for you and Mike to travel and be free to do what you want and need. I answered plenty for you to take that one and that one, etc. Will you be packing all your flosses. Edited...take by the bay one. And Mexican sampler too.
WOW! What an adventure, so many places to see and so many things to do and enjoy. I hope we will still hear and see what you and your husband are doing through the months ahead via flosstube? Will you still be doing your flosstube? Also you will have to pick a small finished framed project so you can hang it in your AVan.
I will still me filming my monthly Flosstube and we will also be reviving the travel channel we started when we were in Hawaii, Sunsets and Sangria. And I do have a little one that I am thinking of hanging in the camper.
Jan, my eyebrows shot up to my hairline when you announced what you guys are doing. You are putting a whole new meaning to Cross Stitch Camp! Seriously, sounds fun.
Hard choices. I cannot get that bell pull out of my mind--an heirloom type piece, so take that. Take pieces you are stitching with friends, to help you stay connected. A seasonal piece, and a destination piece (or two), and a small. I would love to see you doing UA-cams about camping and what you are working on. How do you cook? Set up camp site? How you can manage to stitch while on the road. You be the guinea pig for those of us who are thinking about going on the road, too!
We will definitely be doing some daily life videos as well as videos about our travels. We have a separate travel channel called Sunsets and Sangria where we’ll be posting more. Haven’t posted anything on it since we were in Hawaii.
Congratulations on the retirement news. It is a big decision but I look forward to seeing your post and adventures while you travel.
I have been following you since you were in Hawaii! So excited to hear you are going out on the road! As you can tell from my UA-cam name, I am a fellow stitching rv Gypsy! My husband is retired military and we are loving this life! I look forward to more of your life wandering videos. Take care and safe travels! Maybe we will see each other out on the road some day 🌞
I love that there are so many of us out on the road. I’ve heard from several others who are either already on the road, like you, or who are gearing up to get started, like us! It would be fun to do a meet-up somewhere at some point!
@@JanHicksCreates I would love to go to a meetup! I have not been to any retreats yet, but enjoy watching all of the videos of others in attendance. Keep me in your thoughts if you ever organize a meetup or hear of any!
@@RVStitcher I just created a new FB group called RV Stitchers. Sounds like something you need to be a part of if you’re on FB! If you are, search for it and join. If you can’t find it, let me know. I can invite you if I have you FB name.
@@JanHicksCreates I found it and joined! What a great idea. Thank you for the invite!
I would suggest that you take with you 1 box/bin of WIPs so so can have a selection of projects to choose from. Said box can stay in an under bench storage in your trailer together with your designing stuff. Can also be stored in the boot of your car so it's not in your trailer and just have a current wip in hand for your travel stitching. As soon as one project is finished, then you can choose another one. How about that? Stay safe Jan 💕
That’s basically what I’ll be doing, but of course, most of my time is spent stitching my own designs. I just need to figure out how to space them out more so I can have time to touch some other WIPs!
So many beautiful projects! It would be impossible to pick just a few to take with me 🌻🦋
Wow, the variety of projects and styles are amazing. You will need a lot of wall space once these beauties are completed. Traveling for a while may help with not adding more projects to your stash. I hope you find joy in whatever you do and wherever you are on your journey!
No new projects except for all of my new designs! 😂
@@JanHicksCreates ...we'll see 😂😂😂
Congratulations to Mike on his retirement. I hope that you enjoy your travels. Enjoyed looking at your WIPs. I have about 4 right now and itching to get a finish on one lol
We are going to be building our next home which will be smaller than our current. I eliminated all charts/ projects that no longer interested me and dispursed them among my stitching friends. I then sorted by season. Then I sorted by what was almost finished. I've been working on those projects as I was for our plans to solidify. Once these are done I move to those that are halfway done. Eventually I will have my wips completed. Good luck to you both! I wonder how many times you will circle back to your storage unit? Lol
That remains to be seen! We have a basic route planned out centered around various events between August and next March, with leaving Phoenix in August, returning in November for Thanksgiving and then heading out again, probably returning to Phoenix in March sometime. We’ll see how it works!
I love how we as stitchers will find a way to justify any project into practicality 😂 All my projects are still 1 gallon zip lock bags... it is what I can afford🤷🏼♀ well, what i choose to spend money on is more supplies for my addiction- mainly patterns.
I don’t know if I could leave all of my stitching I am addicted! I could leave hubby first😂😂😂kidding but maybe not😮maybe buy a bigger RV? I’m so bad! Hope you guys have a blast and do what you love 💗 to do! I’m a bit of a Nomad
myself, we’ve moved 13 times in 20 years! Love to move! Blessings❤
Have to admit, once you made your announcement, got too sad and couldn't watch the rest for the time being - too many people I know are moving away - don't get me wrong - am very happy for all of you but was also so happy you found a house you liked! Will continue to watch in a few days - your stitching is always so inspiring!
Awww, I’m sorry. Don’t be sad. I’ll still be doing all of the same things I am doing now, just not in a house. And yes, this house is wonderful, and I will miss it, and we still have a lot to see in Idaho, so we’ll be in this area a lot, too, but I won’t miss the winters! Lol
Wow! What an incredible collection of WIPs! There's a few I need to make note of for future stitching.
My count was 86… I might be off 2 or 3. My feeling is that you should choose several small projects that don’t take up a lot of space - after all, you like variety in your stitching, & then select one or two larger projects that you want to make progress on. Best of luck in your new adventure!!
Great video. I say take the bell pull and welcome friends. Although I would want to take them all. Beautiful
Oh two won't be enough I suggest 5. I took 15 only did 5.
Well remember, I will still be stitching the models for my own designs as well. That is what I am working on the majority of the time at this point.
Wonderful job on all your finishes! 1 2 I have to find a good fabric for that tiny town too. 😊
That sounds exciting. You guys should buy a tiny house because you can pull it just like a trailer but then it would have everything you need.
OMG! He startled me!!! lol...
Sorry!
Loving your WIP parade...I think what youre doing is fabulous, its not strange at all !!! Youre living by your rules & from your joy & how wonderful that can be. Im so happy for you both. Im looking forward to hearing more as time goes on.... 💙
My brother-in-law says, “Bob’s your Aunt!” 😂😂😂
😂😂😂
Oh, my goodness! Adventure awaits! Have a blast and make memories! It would be hard to decide what to leave behind...I don't think I could leave that Sur le Route de Indes with that BEAUTIFUL gold silk...
Isn’t that silk gorgeous! But such a hard decision on what to take and what to leave behind!
Hope your adventure is twice as amazing as you and Mike imagine! Know you are always welcome to camp at our house. We'll leave a light on for you! 🥰🏕⛺
I think you can count on seeing us quite a few times as we trek back and forth across the country!
@@JanHicksCreates 🥰
Congratulations on your decision to travel! I applaud and admire your adventurous spirit. I have so enjoyed your WIP parade. Gorgeous pieces that will be waiting for you down the line.
Fun times await you and Mike. - Sue T
Season of Friendship would be good to work on during the right season.
Congratulations on your new adventures, I would take one big project that would totally be your travel journey project and a lot of smalls
First have to say been missing cos se,s you tube loves to miss some flosstubers, you,sew grateful, sambrie stitches all seem to fly under my radar. A stitchy friend said go watch Jan she has a huge announcement you will be amazed. Ha yea cos we are thinking the same thing,haven’t totally committed till end June when we see what his old age security comes to as he just turned 65. But yea.. if you remember we were doing this 7 yrs ago when I developed breast ca and had to stay around for 5 yrs.. so… eeek but yea maybe!!
Love the wip parade! I think there was one near the start was a big one darkish fabric which you said was all motifs,that and a grouping of small as (counts as 1lol) ones to take. Oh as soon as I saw mandala 8 I was that is so you!
Exciting times ahead for both of us, hopefully! Hope you’re able to get it all worked out!
Depending on how often you'll be able to access your storage, you might set up 2 or 3 or 4 sets of projects in a bin that you can grab.
I'd love to see your Smith Sampler finished. That fabric is great. Mine is on something like Platinum. Maybe 1 of the "should I just take this and concentrate on it" projects plus a couple of small and a medium. Don't forget your knitting. So a bin of cross stitch, a bin of knitting...
I've been nomadic since October 2021 and I have a few knitting project and 3 quilting (Epp) projects in the car with me. I'm soon going to hit the storage locker and grab a HAED (Orion) and Parolin's Christmas to work on while I'm cat sitting for the summer.
Have fun and send us some interesting travel shots and keep us updated on your whereabouts.
Congratulations to Mike on his retirement. My brother just retired and is having a blast...wishes he'd done it sooner.
Bon voyage à tous
Thank you, Robyn! I will have one knitting project with me, but the reality is that I will have one big bag of what I need for stitching models, and then just these few other random projects if I happen to get a chance in between models. I expect we’ll be heading back to AZ to visit Mike’s dad and exchange stuff in storage every few months. Mostly it will be for me to get what I need for my next chunk of designs. And of course, there’s always shopping at stores along the way!
You must take as many wips as you possibly can. Put more than one in a project bag. Take lots of smaller ones that you think you can make a dent in/finish, as well as that Tapestry by Jeanette Douglas. I'd purchase a bigger camper (joke 😉)
Well remember, most of my time is spent stitching the models of my designs. I really don’t get much time to stitch on other WIPs, so I don’t need to take a bunch of those to just be sitting around taking up space. But I do want to have a couple just in case. The Jeanette Douglas piece is a big contender!
I tried to keep track of your WIPS. Lol. I came up with about 90! When you said you had a big announcement, I thought you were moving again! You are definitely going to be on the move! I thought about buying an rv to live in, but my daughter told me I need a home base. I’m glad you will have Arizona. I think my hubby and I would have to live in separate trailers if it was that small. Lol. I agree with you on your keeps. But, that is going to be so hard! Take care.❤
Yes, having a home base is important, especially with trying to continue to design. We are also planning on staying at some AirBnBs along the way, when we feel we just need to get out of the camper.
@@JanHicksCreates that sounds like a great idea!
Congratulations! I celebrate your decision to embrace this moment in time. Thank you for referring to “Weeks Gray”. Such huge choices of what to take. Exhilarating yet gut wrenching in a way. Looking forward to seeing you at Jacob Palooza!! (Shelia, Sunshine Stitchers)
Dear Jan, your situation brings back memories for me. My ex and I moved 6 times in 5 years- I never even got all the boxes unpacked. Move #7 was the last straw. I’ve now lived in the same home since 1993 and have deep roots into the community. To each their own, right? The nomad lifestyle is great, but eventually you’ll want to settle somewhere where there is great medical care (trust me on that one). Anyway, I wish you and Mike all the best and happy trails. I hope you’ll keep uploading videos throughout your adventure because I feel we’ve become “virtual friends”. If your travels ever find you in Indiana, be sure to let me know. I’d love to meet you in person. God bless! ❤️
Hi Kathy! Yes, our trajectory at this point is to travel for a couple of years, with an eye out for where we want to settle down eventually. Great health care is a must! I do plan on continuing my videos, and we will also be doing separate ones of our travels, reviving the other travel channel we started when we were in Hawaii.
Congrats on ur new plans. Awesome idea. Wish I could travel like that. So many to choice from can't wait to see what u take
What beautiful wips. I enjoyed this so much. I would be filled with anxiety if I had that many wips though. It is a long short but do you happen to know where you got the pink hydrangea bag. It is beautiful. Good luck on packing and traveling. I wished In
lived near you to help you pack. What a dream to travel for that long. I am glad you can live your dream. Safe travels.
HI Anne! The pink hydrangea bag was a gift from a follower. Isn’t it pretty! We are doing pretty good with the packing. At this point, we are just worried about getting things cleared out to make the house ready to put on the market, and we are just about there!
Jan! I cannot imagine deciding on a few projects to take, packing everything to store, especially after having just moved and settled into your new home. Good luck. I know y'all will enjoy it. You made me laugh out loud when you sniffed the fabric to see if it was XJu's. I do the same thing.
Her fabric smells so wonderful, doesn’t it! Lol
A WIP parade and a big life announcement? This video is filled with excitement! 🎉🎉 It's always inspiring to see your works in progress and witness the progress you've made on your stitching journey. We sent you an email, please take a look.
The only thing that would of surprised me, was if you two and Nina were going to travel by motorcycle. For some reason Dr. Seuss “Oh the places we will go!”, has always played in my mind when I think of the two of you. You only live once, so you should do everything, see everything this world has to offer.
We’re gonna try!
I LOVE watching your WIP parades!!! It makes me feel so less guilty about all the WIPS I have here! 😅 But seriously, your work is just gorgeous and you “enabled” me to go search for Jan Houtman’s designs (wow!) and I ordered two. But first
I have YOUR Palace of the Winds all kitted up (and dying to start)! ❤
Ok back to your WIP’s! 😊
LOL. I do what I can to help relieve other people’s guilt! 😂 But yes, Jan Houtman designed some stunning pieces! I have several other of his designs as well. Hope you love stitching Palace! What colorway did you choose?
@@JanHicksCreates I bought all the red/pink tones that you used on the model. I can’t wait to start on it, but I’m “trying” to be good and get a little more done on a SAL sampler I’m working on (Sarah Rindner by HATS).
Congratulations on your new plans! I’m starting my new plans like that too. I’m moving to apartments but I’m going to go from city to city every couple of years. I’m hoping to try different kind of environments. I’m 59 and ready to experience something like this. I’m packing now and having the same fun dilemma of deciding what to keep out as my projects. That way I can just pack without unpacking every few weeks! Do you have pets going with you?
Good luck and god bless you both!
That’s an awesome alternative! Yes, our cat travels with us. She’s a great little traveler.
@ Cyndi Loo - Wow, that sounds like a great, fun idea! Good luck on your new venture! 😊
Meline
@@mm-qm9zh thank you! I’m looking forward to this significant change! It can’t come soon enough!
@@JanHicksCreates my ultimate dream plan was living out of a teardrop trailer and car with my little dogs, but I still have a couple of cats, so that plan is on hold, but someday. I can’t wait to see your adventures!
Another chapter in your life have a wonderful time! Suggestions tape more projects on ceiling! Your not going to take enough projects
Well remember, these WIPS are only in addition to stitching my models for my designs. That’s what I stitch the majority of the time these days. Taking a couple of these WIPs are only as fillers if and when I have time.
How exciting you will love it. What I did when we host camping put a plastic container in my truck with cross stitch wipes and one with my threads. Even at that I had to buy floss. It was in 2020. I suggest you might try camp hosting as you get sight and usually washing facilities. Usually it's only 20 hr a week. Have fun and enjoy the adventure
We have thought of that, and it’s a possibility, but at this point, I don’t think we want to be held to one spot for that long of a time.
Hi, new to watching you. I’m just getting back to cross stitch. I commented on your FB page, earlier. It was a bit crazy to watch this as my first video 😂. Then I watched you and Maria, because I had ordered a bag….. 😍. And now I have binge watched your beginning series of 12 starting to cross stitch. THANK YOU, I loved them, and learned lots, and am not nearly so nervous about embarking on this hobby again. I have questions 😅. And I know I will be checking back on some of the videos… but…
1. Do you not do anything to the edges of the fabric before you begin stitching????? Why or why not?
2. If you use a hoop or Q snap, do you remove it each time you stop stitching???? I learned on a hoop, but want to try in hand when I get braver😏.
3. It appears you keep your floss in hanks in long plastic bags, have you ever wound them on bobbins or use floss drops? Why or why not?
4……. I’ll stop now……
I’d be ever so grateful if you have a moment to answer…I know you are packing etc. I can’t really imagine doing what you are planning…..maybe because I’m 80 now or a because I’m alone😮
My shop just got your new flag pattern…she is holding one for me til I can get there to select fabric and flosses…I am so excited…I think it is one of the coolest flag designs I’ve ever seen 🇺🇸💛. And I got my bag from Maria, so the flag will christen the bag……so beautiful.
PS. You and Maria talked about ‘thread beds’..so I asked her to make me one 🥰. If you have one, I must need one 🤣🤦🏼♀️
Hi Peg! First of all, welcome back to cross stitch and welcome to my little corner of Flosstube! If you continue to watch more of my videos, you will see that over the past 5 years, I’ve done a lot of moving, hence have a lot of these crazy announcements. Lol. I am glad you found my beginning series useful! Now for your questions.
1. No, I don’t usually do anything to the edges, unless it’s a really big project, and then I might sew a zigzag around the edges. The reason I don’t is because I’m too impatient to get started stitching. Lol. But also, even though there is some fraying that happens, I don’t find it to be enough to annoy me usually. If it does get annoying, I pull out the fraying threads. I have found that if you pull out all of the shorter threads, and get down to where there are the threads the length of the fabric, that helps to eliminate the fraying. Hope that makes sense.
2. I don’t usually use a hoop or Qsnap, since I do stitch in hand for the most part. If I use one of those, usually on my larger projects, I try to loosen up the fabric so it’s not pulled taut when I’m done stitching.
3. Floss storage - I don’t use bobbins. I don’t want to take the time to wind them. For some projects, I will cut off lengths and put the lengths on floss drops. But again, I don’t like to waste time on all of that prep. I think I usually do that on larger projects that call for DMC. But for the most part, I leave the floss on their tags if it’s overdyed floss, and use thread beds to arrange lengths to use while I’m stitching. If it’s DMC, depending on how big the project, I may pull out skeins from my master set or lengths and put them on a thread bed. I also no longer am using those long bags to store my thread. I have my DMC in drawers (much easier to access) and my overdyed floss on rings. I think I showed the drawers I am using for my DMC in a video not too long ago.
I think I need to show all of these things that you asked about in a video at some point! Great questions! And thanks for the compliment on the flag design! Many must agree with you, it’s flying off shelves in stores!