Year End Summary

One year ago I posted my goals for 2010 on the sidebar of this blog.  How did I do?
1)My Cross Stitch goals were: Red House Sampler and Christmas ornaments.  I did not finish RHS but here is a pic of where I am on it.  Sorry for the poor quality of the photo!

I had hoped to finish this in 2010 but other projects distracted me.  I at least wanted to finish everything but the border before I go back to work on Monday but that's not going to happen.  I did not stitch any Christmas ornaments but I did stitch one Blackbird Designs Halloween stocking.

Unfortunately the haunted house bit the dust. It was accidentally knocked off the mantle.

2)My Quilting goals were:  Finish Washtub Scrappy....This project was my very first attempt at a quilt.  It has been quilted but needs to be binded.  I am waiting for a binding lesson from my daughter, Heather.

Denim Quilt for grandson.....easy and finished the same day it was started.

Quilts for Hubby or youngest daughter.....not accomplished.  DD says she doesn't want one but she'll get one eventually despite herself! lol  I made another quilt top.  It too has been quilted but needs binding.

I made a Christmas table runner top.  I'll have to plan to quilt and bind it in the coming year.

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 I also made several tote bags, treat bags, pillowcases, and 12 quilt squares for my Underground Railroad Sampler quilt.

3)My Crochet goals were:  Black and gray scarf for youngest daughter...done!

 Baby afghan for a coworker.....done!

I wanted to make baby doll afghans for my granddaughter and my niece but I didn't.
I did finish this afghan which was started in 2009 as a "take-a-long" project.  I worked on it this summer while driving to, from, and around PA.  It was so close to being finished that I continued with it until it was done.  I love this stitch pattern.  This fall I found some green yarn on clearance and bought it to make another.  It will become my 2011 "take-a-long" project.

4)My Scrapbooking goals were:  Finish 2009 family album, finish family Christmas album, finish grandson's first year album, and finish granddaughter's first year album.  Despite a day crop and two weekend crops, I did not meet any of these goals.  The only time I really devoted to scrapbooking this year was at the crops I attended.
I guess I got a lot accomplished this year.  I'm working on posting my 2011 goals to my sidebar. Like I always say.....so many hobbies, so little time! I am ringing in the new year as I always do....watching the Twilight Zone marathon on the SyFy channel, with one exception this year.  We are going down the road to Heather's house to ring in the new year. The last time I left home on NYE was to ring in 2000!  Not as much stitching going on this year end but something better!  I am so thankful to bring in the new year with all of my family together.  Happy New Year!  I wish you health and happiness, and lots of time for your hobbies!
Ciao!

New Years Eve Stitching

Happy New Year's Eve!  Thanks for the wonderful birthday wishes!  I had a great day!  We did go to LNS and Williamsburg.  The decorations were beautiful but it was COLD!  I also made it to the D&B outlet and got a purse for $98, regular price $210.  It has the pattern I wanted but it is a different style bag.  For a savings of $100, I can live with that!
I'm spending New Year's Eve as I have for the last several years: stitching and watching the Twilight Zone marathon on the Sy-Fy channel.  I started Red House Sampler last night while watching two of my favorite new year's eve movies: The Posideon Adventure and When Harry Met Sally (caught them both after they had started so not 4 hours of stitching here...just a disclaimer)  Here is the progress I made:

The best advice I have ever received is that when you are faced with tasks, tackle the most difficult or the one you are dreading the most first and the rest will be a piece of cake.  That said...I started the house.  It is the largest single item on the chart and once it's complete, the rest should go quickly.
I used my new sewing machine to stitch an overcast stitch on the edges of the linen.  Nice!

LNS didn't have the fabric I wanted for RHS so I chose 32 ct Lambs Wool.  I think it will be fine.

I have been stitching on it all morning and will post progress pics later this evening.  We're spending NYE at home as usual and I'll be making my family's favorite party appetizers for dinner.  Til then, I'll leave you with some pics from Christmastime at Colonial Williamburg.  Have a great day!

 

Edited to add photo of today's stitching progress.  Doesn't look like much but I stitched pretty steady today working in meals and playtime with the grandbaby.  I've put my last stitch in for 2009.  Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I am planning to spend my New Year's Eve the same way as I have for many years past. Cross stitching while watching the Twilight Zone marathon on the Sci-Fi channel. I look forward to this each year. My project is Find Your Happy Place and my goal is to finish it. I have so many projects I would like to stitch in 2009, but.......my family insists that I finish Scarlet O'hara. My husband told me that if I will finish it, he will immediately take it to the framers and get it hung on our wall. He, and my daughters, think I will never finish Scarlet so I think I will have to prove them wrong.
Christmas has once again come and gone. I had a great Christmas and I hope you did too. The best part was being with my family and seeing my grand babies enjoy the magic of Christmas.
My oldest DD and her baby spent the night here (her hubby is deployed) and I remarked to my DH that this is probably the last Christmas morning when all of our children will wake up in the house together. DD2 will begin her teaching career in the fall and she plans to get her own place then. DD3 was very excited to receive a Wii for Christmas and we are all quite sore from playing the sports games. You really get a workout playing a Wii. I hosted Christmas dinner here and my parents and my brother's family came over and it was just wonderful to be with family.

On a crafty note, I made these treat bags to give to my co-workers.

It's snowman soup! The tag reads: "Was told you've been real good this year, always glad to hear it. With freezing weather drawing near, you'll need to warm the spirit. So here's a little snowman soup, complete with stirring stick. Add hot water, sip it slow, it's sure to do the trick." It's not my original idea.....it's from Papercrafts magazine, Nov. 2004 issue. It was a big hit!

And last but not least, our biggest Christmas surprise, our chocolate lab became a mother! She gave birth to 5 puppies on the night of the 23rd and DH discovered them on Christmas Eve morning when he went out to feed the dogs. We didn't even know she was pregnant. DH noticed she had "gained some weight" but he attributed it to winter weight. I guess she and our male chocolate lab "got together" when no one was looking!




I hoe you have a happy and safe New Year's Eve! Thanks for stopping by!

Stitching Plans for 2007

What are your stitching plans for 2007? My plan is simple: stitch more than I did in 2006!!!

I hesitate setting stitching goals because "the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray". For someone with a very busy next six months ahead of them. I hardly think I'll have a lot of time to devote to my stitching. My oldest DD is getting married in June and wants to get married here at my house. Not to mention lots of already planned out weekends. However, I do plan to stitch and here's what I'd like to accomplish:

12 Christmas ornaments (participating in a monthly ornament challenge in my Desperate Stitcher's group)
Finish Evergreen
Devote stitching time to Mermaid of the Pearls

Speaking of my DD getting married, many years ago I purchased a Paula Vaughan chart "Through a Mother's Eyes". I had planned to stitch 3 of them, one for each of my DD's to give to them on their wedding day. Doesn't look like that will happen. Like I said, the best laid plans......

Happy New Year! As usual I have really big plans for the new year and as usual I will probably flounder miserably! Okay so with that attitude, failure is imminent, but why dream if not to dream big? There are so many projects I would like to complete this year. I would like to crochet at least 2 afghans. I would like to knit 5 or 6 scarves. I want to get completely caught up with my family scrapbooks. I want to complete my 2 oldest DD's school days albums. I want to create a family Christmas album. And then there is my cross stitch. I have several works in progress and quite a few projects I would like to start and complete this year. Of the works in progress, I would like to complete Mermaid of the Pearls and Paula Vaughan's Grandma's front porch. New projects include Christmas ornaments, at least 2 samplers from my newest favorite designer, Blackbird Designs, and at least 2 samplers from a designer I discovered at a shop in Williamsburg, Words of Praise. I wonder if I could get all of this done if I didn't have a full-time job, a house, and a family which includes an active 9 you and an first year college student.
I'll have to really discipline myself if I intend to accomplish even one of these goals. Some nights I sit on the couch and watch TV without even stitching one stitch. What an incredible waste of time!! Ok, back to the Twiight Zone marathon on SciFi channel.
Happy New Year!! I wish you health and happiness in 2006!