Sunday

Yesterday I put away Christmas.  Today I finally got out my things for January.  Here is what  I put on display.

Monthly Mania - January by Heart in Hand in the kitchen

January Teapot and January Tea Cup by Just Another Button Company in the kithcen

Hearts of the Month by Leisure Arts hanging on the china cupboard in the dining room

Santa of the Month by Curtis Boehringer in the living room

Be Warm by Shepherd's Bush part of Be-Attitudes series in the living room

 

 

Now, for a little stitching.  This afternoon I got the five pockets for A Fine and Fancy Tulip Tray by Patrick's Woods basted.  Thankfully I did not have as many setbacks with the other four as I did with the first.  It may help that I was trying to baste in daylight.  I tried to take a picture again and I think that my basting thread is too light to show up.

We are having freezing rain as I write this.  Yuck!  I must say that it does make the snow look pretty, kind of glossy like marshallow fluff.

One final picture for today.  Twenty-nine years ago I married the love of my life.

Have a wonderful evening!  Remember, Downton Abbey starts tonight at 9:00.

Sunny Saturday!

Hello, from sunny Pennsylvania.  This is the second day of sunshine here, so welcome any day but especially in winter. 

We survived the snow storm.  I did have a late start for work yesterday.  And I found that the roads while snow covered weren't too bad.

I realized yesterday that I haven't been updating on my declutter goal. Thursday I dropped off a bag of hats and gloves at the donation bin.  Yesterday  I finally got rid of the hot rollers I haven't used in years and one curling iron.  Today, so far it has been one jar of hair product that I won't use and a candle.

It's dark now.  We had a beautiful sunset!  And I think a bit of snow melt today.

Here are a couple of pictures taken from my kitchen door yesterday morning. 

At lunchtime yesterday I finished the stitching on Country Sampler Silent Night Pinkeep.

And I made a little tiny start on Silent Night Ornament.

Tonight I plan to work on Hibernation Day.  I found out last night that I had a mistake in one of the reindeer.  A little frogging ensued and I think I'm on the right track.

Have a great evening.

One Last Finish for 2013

I almost forgot to show a picture of my final finish for 2013.

This is Irish Blessing by Twisted Threads that I stitched for Baby Boy.  This is the piece I took to Just Cross Stitch in Lederach, PA for framing.  I am so pleased with the job that Carolyn did.  And amazed that I had a figure in my head for the framing and it was very close.  I was thinking $70 and it was $69.99.  Not bad!

In other news, I did make a little start on A Fine and Fancy Tulip Tray.  I got one of the pockets basted - after four tries.  I hope the other four go a little quicker.  I tried to take a picture but I used a light thread and my camera isn't picking up the basting.

It's snowy and cold here.  The perfect night to stitch on Hibernation Day by Heartstring Samplery. 

Here is where it stands tonight.  Maybe I can get an hour in before bed.  After I fold the laundry.

 I have almost completed page one.  That should be doable for tonight.

Have a great day!  Thanks for stopping by.

A New Year

A new year and a fresh calendar, I like the promise of the  coming year.

You may have read my goals for the coming year in an earlier post.  I hope to share my journey toward accomplishing those goals with you this coming year.

Today I threw out my one thing, actually two things.  These full journals.  I don't go back and re-read what I've written so there's no need to save them.  I write three pages almost every day as a part of my weight loss journey.  This writing helps me to set my intentions for the day and work through any junk from the prior day. I found this technique in The Writing Diet by Julia Cameron.

 

After my treadmill time today I rewarded myself with some time spent on stitching on this piece.  I am close to finishing this pinkeep and have yet to start the ornament. 

Country Sampler Silent Night Pinkeep and Ornament by Stacy Nash Primitives


This is a little better picture of the kit.

 

 



Later tonight I hope to make a start on A Fine and Fancy Tulip Tray by Patrick's Woods.  I will be taking this class in April.  Actually, if you count ironing the fabric and reading through the directions I have started.  I think a start is putting in those first few stitches.  This project starts with basting. 

I'd also like to get the Christmas things put away tonight.  Baby Girl said she would help with that.  Once we get started it should only take about half an hour.   We'll see.

Have a wonderful day!

Happy New Year

Wishing you a happy, healthy, love-filled new year!

I'll be back tomorrow with a stitch post!

Stitch from Stash SAL

I found a mention of Stitch from Stash 2014 on Lynda's blog  and I had to do a little search to find out what she was talking about.  After looking around a bit at Mel's idea I've signed up.  Her SAL is in line with my goals for the coming year and hopefully this will help to keep me accountable.

Are you up for the challenge?

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

New Year Plans

My birthday is in December.  Around my birthday I begin to reflect on the past year and plan for the coming year.  This year has been no exception. 

Here is what I'd  like to focus on in 2014. These are not in any particular order.
      
        Continued weight loss;

       Finish the UFO's in the baskets of shame;

       Participate in Theme-A-Licious 2014;

       Post to my blog more frequently;

       Turn a bunch (a very specific number) of WIPs into finished projects;

       Walk/tread 8,000 steps per day;

       Go on a stash diet;

       Attend two stitching functions, one is already planned;

       Declutter by getting rid of one thing each day;

       Stitch - a - lot; and

       Enjoy time with my family.

My word or rather phrase for this year will be Lighten Up.

My word for 2013 was Balance.  I'm not sure that I achieved it all of the time but I was more mindful of what I was doing.   That probably was the best outcome. 

Having shared by goals (scary word) for the coming year I hope to share my progress in my journey through 2014.  

What are you hoping for in 2014?