A New Project in the New Year

I spent some time today going through my stash and outlining the projects I'd like to complete in the coming year.  I've decided that in order to meet those goals I'll have to retire, give up sleeping, or both!  A very ambitious list that I won't share here.  And, no, I won't be retiring or giving up sleeping.

Instead, I'll show my first start for this year:

I think this will be a quick stitch since it's over 2 on 18 count with perle cotton.  Fun after the struggles I've had with some over one projects in the past few days.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Keep on Stitching!

First Stitching Finish of the New Year

Yesterday I was able to put the final stitches in Country Sampler's Jack's House Pinkeep by Stacy Nash.  This piece has been languishing because of all the white stitching on the house.   Yesterday I told myself I would give it five minutes and then I could stop.  I found my mojo and kept going and this was the result.

Now, to find the finishing materials that came with the kit.  I think I know where they are.

Have a great day.

Keep on Stitching!

Happy New Year!

I underestimated the amount of time it would take me to complete my baking, wrapping, cooking, and cleaning up in my last post.  And we won't even begin to factor in the amount of time spent talking with my children. Amazing.  I was off for five days for the holiday and it flew by until I went back to work Monday.

First, here's a picture of my cookie platter on Christmas Eve.

A few new recipes on there.  The caramel and chocolate dipped pretzel sticks with homemade caramel were a big hit.

I managed to squeeze a little stitching and finished stitching these during the month of December.

Deer in the Meadow from Merry Christmas leaflet by Blackbird Designs

Snowy Eve from the same leaflet

and Merry Christmas also from that leaflet.

I hope that 2015 is healthy and happy for you.

I'm off to my stitching room to look through my stash and formulate some stitching plans for the year ahead.

Keep on Stitching!

Gifts Received

 Today I am baking with mixed success. Things are not coming out quite right.  One cookie tastes nothing like I remembered although I haven't made them in years.  However, I did make them this year since Baby Girl put in a special request.

I'm writing this blog post while I have cookies in the oven and nothing else that is calling for my attention.

I want to share pictures of the gifts I received.  This may seem like a lot, but remember this was my birthday and our Christmas celebration.

My birthday gifts are first,

Santa and a kit from The Purple Thread called Back to Spool,

a close-up of the kit.  Sherry was uncertain as to whether this was something I had.  And the answer was no.  The funny part is that when I saw this kit on Salty Yarns website I wondered if they had three, one for each of the girls.  I changed my mind and never did ask because I decided to go with the gift cards instead.

the rest of my gift from Debbie, the pin that goes with kit she gifted me in October shown  here, a pair of acorn scissors which were on my wish list, and one of the lockets for finishing,

and from friend Phyllis this beautiful sunflower box, a set of Disney teas, and a gift certificate to our local-not-so-local stitching shop.  A good excuse for a road trip.

For Christmas I received the following gifts,

from Phyllis a Downton Abbey lamp made using a wineglass for the base and a battery operated tea light inside, a set of two project bags, and a folding tray and ort container,

a close-up of the Downton lampshade.  Phyllis made these.  I am in awe.  They fit perfectly and are just the cutest.  Now I have to wait until Downton comes on in January.

from Debbie, a Flying Pig solar mobile, pincushion, emery boards, notepad, and spool of  ribbon,

a close-up of the top of the pincushion,

and a side view of the salt cellar the pincushion is finished in.

Debbie thought these spools were interesting and that we could do something really neat with them.

and from Sherry a tea maker from Teavana, loose tea, and a tin of Whitman's candy.  The tin is interesting.  I can't wait to see what the girls do with those.

Here is a picture of my table decorations. The strawberries in the bowl were designed by The Prairie Schooler.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  I'll be back tomorrow with pictures of my baking adventures and hopefully, a little bit of stitching.

Keep on Stitching!

Gifts Given

Here are the gifts I gave the other members of the Fab Four these boxes:

which when open looked like this,

and contained a package from the Victorian Motto Shoppe of rick-rack, chenille, buttons, and twill tape.  Everything a girl needs to finish pinkeeps and other smalls.

I also included a gift card for Salty Yarns.

Keep on Stitching!

Grace

Along with my list of 57 Things Bbefore 57 I have chosen a statement for myself for the coming year.  Usually I choose a word and try to go by that.  However, this statement resonated with me

"I will hold myself to a standard of grace - not perfection."

I had to do a little research on the meaning of grace.

As a Christian I have a very basic understanding of the grace that comes from God.   And am thankful for His grace and the comfort it provides me.

But the grace referred to in the quote is more like an "ease and suppleness of movement or bearing"(thank you Merriam-Webster.)  Or maybe as Webster says "elegance and beauty of movement or expression."   However, I think the best definition for me is "elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action" per Random House Webster's College Dictionary.

I know that perfection or striving for perfection can be paralyzing for me.  I get defeated by thinking that if I can't do it perfectly it's best not to even start.  Striving for elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action - I think I can do that.  It provides a new way for me to think about what I'm doing.

Tonight is our Fab Four party.  The Fab Four, previously the Fab Five, are four stitchers that get together for stitching, food, road trips, and most importantly to laugh.  I value these ladies more than words can say. I have known these ladies longer then I have know my Baby Girl who is 21.  We have been friends for many, many years.   I am looking forward to our time together tonight.  

Tomorrow I will post a picture of my gift to the ladies.

Keep on Stitching!

  

57 Before 57

Today is my 56th birthday.

In anticipation of this day I have been composing a list of 57 things I want to accomplish before I turn 57.  I got this idea from various posts I've seen around the blogosphere.  The difference is that these ladies are doing 30 before 30 lists.  Anyway, I thought I would share that list with you and check in with my progress throughout the year.  Some are stitching related, some are gardening related, and a few are health related.  Some are a continuation of things I've done in the past.

Are you ready for the list?

1.  Take a family photo.

2.  Release 57 pounds.

3.  Grow pumpkins.

4.  Grow sunflowers.

5.  Force bulbs for winter.

6.  Empty the 'box of shame.'

7.  Walk 10,000 steps daily.

8.  Use the one-in-one-out rule for new purchases and gifts.

9.  Reduce stitching stash.

10.  Use my planner daily.

11.  Plan tomorrow tonight.

12.  Daily blog post.

13.  Take a knitting class.

14.  Get bloodwork done.

15.  Start playing my flute.

16.  Deal with the mail daily.

17.  Develop a cleaning routine.

18.  Drink 8 cups of water daily.

19.  Develop an after work routine.

20.  Sleep 8 hours a night.

21,  Read Simple Abundance daily.

22.  Do 6 No Spend months.

23.  Take a trip with the Captain.

24.  Continue my gratitude practice.

25.  Try 57 new recipes.

26.  Take one stitching class.

27.  Finish 57 stitching projects.

28.  Throw out 3 things every day.

29.  Take off 10 Fridays in the summer.

30.  Read/listen to 57 books.

31.  Take a dance class.

32.  Take a yoga class.

33.  Stitch every day.

34.  Journal daily.

35.  Get my mammogram.

36.  Make my love list.

37.  Make my success notebook.

38.  Make my inspiration book.

39.  Finish decorating the stitching room.

40.  Do garden and plants in the front of the house.

41.  Do bank garden in front of the house.

42.  Eat when hungry 90% of the time.

43.  Stop eating when satisfied 90% of the time.

44.  Find and use a blog planner.

45.  Do a 5 year journal.

46.  Visit Florida.

47.  Visit Neverending Farm.

48.  Daily bible study.

49. Go to Moravian Book Shop.

50.  Attend 1 stitching retreat.

51.  Save $1,000.

52.  Finish hexagon quilt.

53.  Finish flag quilt.

54.  Organize recipes.

55.  Develop a menu plan.

56.  Track personal expenses.

57.  Attend Cuzfest.

Are you tired yet?  Some of these may not make sense to you but will when I discuss them as the year progresses.

Do you wonder what I look like?  I often wonder that about bloggers and designers.  Here is a picture of me taken today.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Keep on Stitching!