Personal Update

The busy time at work has passed and I am back to the usual pace.  A bit more sedate and much less stressful most of the time. 

A month or two ago I realized that my personal time for resolutions should not begin until March 1 or thereabouts because of my work commitments.  After all, it's not a good time to add stress when you are already stressed to the max!  So with that in mind, here is a list of the things I hope to accomplish in the next few months.

1. Follow my Nutrisystem plan which includes daily exercise.  I have quit my gym and am ready to get back to my walk at home dvds and soon my walks outside.

2.  Work through the book Throw Out Fifty Things  by Gail Blanke.  Her website is here.  (Looks like they are making some changes to the website so check back another time.

3.  Work through the book The Prosperous Heart by Julia Cameron.  I've borrowed this from the library and haven't quite figured out how I'll complete the twelve week program.  I think I can renew it a few times.  So far, I am enjoying doing her Morning Pages.  I journal most days anyway and this just adds to my practice.

4.  Get my stitching room organized.  I keep chipping away at this one - I'll get it if I keep at it.  It's such a small space and one thing left out makes it look cluttered.  I am having serious organization envy after reading these posts  -  overview and details by Coni a/k/a Spinster Stitcher.  I'd also like a space that large but don't see that in my immediate future.

That's about all for today.  I haven't been doing much stitching but will be getting back to it in short order. I miss having a needle in hand on a daily basis.

WIPocalypse Update #2

Here's my progress for the second WIPocalypse post.

Sweet August by Blackbird Designs.  I put the last stitches on these on February 1.  You can see close ups of the individual stockings in my February Already? post. 

Pretty scant - but it's a busy time of year for me at work which spills over into the amount of energy I have left for other things.

Oops! Old Post

Sad to say, I didn't get much  any stitching done this weekend.  Don't know why - just didn't happen. 

I did do a little stash enhancement at my not so local LNS for their Super Bowl sale.  I got some of the fibers I need for planned upcoming projects by Breath of Spring by Blackbird Designs and Make It Do by Heartstring Samplery (a freebie  ).  I wasn't able to get all of the colors I wanted so will do some substituting for Make It Do - I know, I know, buying fibers for this one goes against what it says to do.  Sometimes that's just how I roll!  I do intend to do that over one so that I can keep it on display in my little trug.  One of these days I'll post a picture of that trug - I probably should get it out of the attic first :).

Mr. S and I did not watch the Super Bowl but we did enjoy a Super Bowl dinner, hot wings, potato skins, and nachos.  I think there were some vegetables in the salsa.  Not so nutritious, but it is only one day a year.

So, today is my first day on Nutrisystem.  So far, so good.  I do have to say that I need to use smaller plates.  The cinnamon roll I had this morning looked puny on the usual plate I use for breakfast.  Thank goodness I have lots of plates to choose from - this should be fun.

February Already?

It seems like yesterday that we were celebrating New Year's.  And I'm a day late with this post, but I wanted to share my monthly decorations for February.

Sheepy in my stitching room with his February blanket by Homespun Elegance.

February Monthly Mania by Heart in Hand

February Heart that hangs on my corner cupboard in the dining room by Leisure Arts.

February Santa of the Month by Curtis Boehringer

Be True by Shepherd's Bush.  This is on the end of the love seat that serves as my happy chair.

January was a busy month around here.  I did get some stitching done - a minor miracle since I spent a good part of the month recovering from bronchitis - but I am much better now.  You can see pictures of my earlier accomplishments in my WIPocalype post.

Last night I put the last stitches on these three beauties from Sweet August  by Blackbird Designs.

Gentle Poppy

Wild Sunflower

Roadside Thistle

I have yet to finish finish any of these little stockings but will be attempting that soon - maybe in the next week or so.  I'd like to put these in a little basket that I have with seasonal pillows.

Also, in the next few days I need to get out my Valentine's Day decorations.  I don't think I have that many things finished for this holiday but I sure have a lot in the box in shame to be completed.  I think I feel some finishing coming on in the next little while!

Keep on Stitching!

A Gift Given

I finished this bag quite some time ago and have been saving it as a gift for my stitching friend Sherry.  We celebrated her birthday last Saturday at Panera so now I can share a picture and not ruin her birthday surprise.

The bag was made from a kit I purchased at The Village Sampler in Big Flats, New York, ages ago.  They had these kitted up with a Moda HoneyBun, the batting, and the little bit of velcro needed for the closure.  I had to provide the thread and the little jewelry charm that I subsituted for the called for button.   The pattern is called Sweet Treat Bag.   I also made the scissor fob shown in the picture with goodies I got from Michael's to match the bag.

I  included a little plastic jar to use for orts and one of the cool calculators I got at The Village Stitchery Shop in the Fall.

Keep on Stitching!

WIPocalypse Post #1

I wanted to post a picture of each item on my WIPocalypse page but found out that would be over 30 pictures!!  YIKES!!  So I will post what I have so far.   I finished stitching and have even framed Little Boys by Cricket Collection.  Shown below.

I have finished stitching By the Chimney With Care (Three Stockings for January) by Blackbird Designs.




I am currently working on Sweet August (Three Stockings for August) by Blackbird Designs.  Sorry for the lousy out of focus picture.  A better picture will be coming soon when they're stitched.





I also fiddled Anniversaries of the Heart and organized the floss - no small feat - and with all this would you believe that I am missing some of the colors?  I'm sure they are around here "borrowed" most likely for a different project.  I'll track them down soon.

Getting ready for the WIPocalypse  forced  inspired me to clean up my stitching room.

Happy New Year! Happy January!

I have a few pictures to share of my January Monthly Decorations and my winter pieces.  Not as many pictures as my last post.

Monthly Mania - January by Heart in Hand

Heart of the Month for January by Leisure Arts

Santa of the Month by Curtis Boehringer

Sheepy with his January blanket by Homespun Elegance

Be Warm  by Shepherd's Bush

Winter Solstice by Eventide Designs

Winter by Lizzie Kate (I think)

Winter by M Designs

My snowmen by Heart in Hand or Bent Creek - not sure which one today.  If you know please leave me a comment so I can give proper credit to the designer.  Thanks.

I've been stitching but working on a piece for a special little boy.  I'm in the home stretch and will post a picture after he receives his gift next week.

Have a great week.

Keep On Stitching!