Happy New Year One and All

I trust everyone had a pleasant Holiday Season and welcomed in 2023 with joy and hope.  Not one to go out on New Year’s Eve, I properly ushered in the new year with a new start.  This has been part of ‘my plan’ since the September class so I didn’t get overwhelmed during the crazy busy fall/pre-holiday crush.  This is  Eternal Flame Huswif from a Jackie DuPlessis class.  The silks are so sumptuous!     

  

Aren’t I just so nice to not put pressure or over extended myself…..it’s a new concept that I am trying out as I am my own worst enemy.

Christmas was a good one at our house.  We had the usual with my son, his family and one of his two sisters spending the night and the little ones tumbled down the stairs at 5 a.m.!   Eldest daughter and husband joined us by 9 a.m. and we had all the family, fun and laughter.   This year we did a Pollyanna exchange.  We all agreed none of us need anything; we are all in a position to buy what we want when we want  and aren’t we are all trying to declutter and downsize anyway?  It was different to not have to buy and wrap a ton of presents.  We all still  bought for the babies.  And, of course, I did stockings for everyone.  I had tried to stop a few years ago but ONLY for one year as there were protests and much moaning about no stockings.  

I had fun with five, yes FIVE, different advent exchanges.  Four with friends and one that I signed up for.  It really is 6 if I count the one I failed at.   It was fun each day squeezing and feeling the bags to try to guess the contents.   Some brought laughter and some tugged at the heart but all were wonderful.  The sixth one was the iStitch Advent SAL but I floundered.  First I couldn’t see to stitch on the fabric I chose.  It’s was the fabric, not the eyes. I did a stash dive and found other banding to use.   I had started stitching it horizontally not vertically.  Stitcher's prerogative I thought but the more I saw, the more I was liking the vertical placement I was seeing others do.   I keep saying I was going to turn the banding to the other end to restart and just didn’t get to it.  I was two days behind, then five and then…..  Again to eliminate any unnecessary stress, I  put the piece aside and with the intent to relaunch my efforts December 1, 2023.  But you know what, after seeing the completed SAL, I am not ‘in love’ with the piece.      It did feel good to not have to fret about starting over, catching it up, getting it done, etc.  And it feels good to grant myself permission NOT to have to stitch the piece.  I downloaded all the files in case I change my mind.  We should stitch what we love right?   

The SAL I did complete was from Moonfeathers. It was fun and I did keep up with it.   There was a day or two that I fell behind but it was quick to catch up.   It was a bit fussy to assemble and my first attempt was just not on target.  I decided to frog and try again.    The day-to-day directions were great and the 2021 SAL videos were still on Instagram to view and follow.   It has really put me in the mood to do some embroidery work.

I had some end of December finishes and one FFO completed before Christmas.   I put the last stitches in the Civil War Huswif from Linda Vinson.   Now on the to-do list is fully finishing this.

I stitched up this tree, an EGA project from our December meeting.    I don’t know if I will finish this as a flat fold or as an ornament.   

Lastly, I am super happy with how Christmas Rules turned out.   Better yet, it was FFO’d and on display for this holiday season.

I have joined WIPGO 2023 on FB.  I put more finishing on my chart than stitching but when I thought about it, it is finishing I want to accomplish. Also every year I have so many things I want to get accomplished but never seem to get to them.   I am thinking this monthly assignment from WIPGO will give me permission to stray and work on say the Christmas Ornaments I always say I am going to do each year or to start a wool appliqué piece I put on my list each year; or to  fully finish some of my stitched pieces.  

These are my two.  January WIPGO projects.   First, to chart the initials and do work on the BBD Our Lasting Friendship.       

My second WIPGO for January is a Shaker Sampler from the Shaker Retreat I attended in November.  Another piece with fabulous fibers.  

I am such a Labrador when it comes to what I am stitching on/working on …..you know, Squirrel, and I am off as soon as I see something else and of course I jump in with both feet with absolutely no regard to what I am leaving behind undone!  True story.    I want to do ALL THE THINGS so hopefully this will help me work on ALL the things and at the same time get things done.   We did something similar in EGA a few years ago and I able to get a lot stitched and finished.   My Delaware Guild is also doing a monthly number pull on one of five different projects.   Somehow I hope to be able to dovetail the two WIPGO’s.  I just hope it doesn’t increase my WIP’s/UFOs from 10 to 20!

I plan to return to my Block a Day Quilt in the next couple of weeks.  I put it aside because, again, I was lessening the ‘stress’ of too many projects/too little time.  You know, Jack of All/Master of None type behavior I have that leads to be going off in too many directions and NOTHING getting the attention it deserves, but I digress.  At any rate, I am close to the finish and I am anxious to get this quilted.   Just a dozen more blocks to cut, stitch and add to the mix.  I have the backing fabric and batting already; just need to finish the quilt top.

Coming up in January I have Camp WannaStitch in Ocean City, MD. In February I will be Ocean City for Super Bowl and will get to see the new Salty Yarns location.   At the end of February I will be in Tennessee for a week visiting a stitching friend.  A couple of pending guild retreats pending.  I am driving with a friend to Rhode Island in June while she attends a class.  A Prim Retreat at Hobby House in October and attending the Shaker Retreat again in Enfield NH in November. Since it is only January  WHO knows what else will fill my calendar.  Lots of laughter at each and probably not as much stitching as I think at any I am sure.  

Wishing you all a healthy and happy new year.  May your needles stay sharp, stitches be many, your floss stay untangled and your frogging be at a minimum.  Thanks for stopping by, stay safe and keep on stitching.

Merry Christmas

 One and all.  

Happy Holidays one and all

I am hoping all had a wonderful holiday season and I am wishing all a wonderful, healthy and prosperous new year.   

Here's a close up of two recent finished that are part of my tabletop collection of Lefton as seen above in my header photo.   On the left is a wool felt poinsettia I made at a class at a local quilting store.    So easy that of course I walked out with two additional kits to make.  And my Sampler Santa has found his place of honor.

As I close out the year and take inventory I find I still have a to-do list the length of my arm but I can also look back and be happy for all I have accomplished around the house, the yard and craft wise.    I just checked into my Goodreads accounts and I see I smashed my goal of 18 books by reading 35 this year!    I must admit there are a few audio books included in that count.   It is a good way to tick off those miles when I drive to western PA.  Favorite reads of the year, Where the Crawdads Sing, The Only Woman in the Room, Inside the O'Briens, The Great Alone.

I am not a resolution person for the most part.   I have the standard be a better person, don't fall behind on tasks, exercise, diet, volunteer more thoughts on my list......nah.....not going to do it.   Just going to try to make the most of each day.

I do have an overall long term goal that has nothing to do with New Year's.........I want to really pare down that list of half done projects......needlework or otherwise.    My 2019 EGA challenge has really helped me make a huge dent in that pile.  We are continuing the same challenge for 2020.   By year's end I may even be able to eliminate that basket of WIP's.....well at least make an even bigger dent in it.  Maybe I can target to complete one each month.   Now that is a fantasy for sure.

My current stitch is Jardine Prive's ABC on banding.  This is another project that I was gungho on and then it got pushed aside for something new and shinier.    But I am back at it.    When I picked it up earlier this month, I had this much done.

And now....

Wahoo!  Moving forward.  It is not a difficult stitch unless you are not a fan of one over one.

Also I close out the year, I have to be thankful for my wonderful family.   That includes my D-in-L who includes me in my grandson's life with countless Face Time visits between real visits.  Between work, classes at college and being pregnant, D-in-L never got to take Will to see Santa....once she was at my house for the holidays, I found local store that had Santa.   Thinking he would turn shy and not want to sit on Santa's lap, we were surprised he walked right up, sat down and told him he wanted action figures for Christmas.

We had fun making cookies for Will's daddy.

  Damma decorated his bedroom complete with Christmas lights and a few small trees.  He had his own wonderland.    What fun it was to scurry around Christmas Eve after Will went to bed and set all the presents out.   Christmas morning found Will having fun playing with his Uncle Miki and the magna tiles Santa brought.

My son had to work Christmas Day so he didn't arrive in NJ until 6 pm.    Will didn't want to leave his side once he arrived.  He really is a daddy's boy and my son loves being a dad.

And then we took Will skating at the Riverfront.   If daddy has his way, this is the start of Will's NHL career.

One other thing that Will did that all you grandmom stitchers will love.    He told his mom when he got to Damma's house he wanted to 'needle' with Damma.    So what's a Damma to do.....get out the DMC, a yarn needle and some large count fabric.     I will definitely have to frame this.

Life is wonderful!

As for tonight, I will be home in my pj's, under an afghan, stitching away.   I went out for New Year's Eve the first and only time about 7 years and ago and thought ....hmmm...what's the big deal.  New Year's Day always finds me cleaning the kitchen top to bottom.  (Why???....a fresh start I guess.)   Since I recently did the kitchen when we did the updates and the craft room was done with a I bought new shelves.......I am not sure what I will get into......maybe I will take on some much needed finishing.   Whatever you choose to do to start the year make is a great day and wonderful year.  Wishing everyone a fabulous new year with lots of family fun, great projects, much health, prosperity and happiness.   

Thanks for stopping by and indulging my grandson posts!  Keep on stitching.

Christmas is coming

and everyone is scurrying about with last minute shopping, visits with friends, Christmas parties and decorations.   But for me a bit of relaxing for me on this Sunday afternoon.  

I finally managed to get all the decorations done, inside and out, except for the tree.   I voted to start the wrapping of presents over doing the tree.   Sweet William will be here on the 19th.  If I can't steal  a few minutes each morning before work to get the tree done, Willy and I can do it together.   Much more important I get the presents wrapped and hidden before the wee one gets here.

 Even Mother Nature has decorated the trees and bushes with tons of red berries.

Inside, the carolers are all queued up.

As I count down until Christmas, I am also sure to count my blessings.

And I am counting down until my last day at work!    January 9th will be my last day so between holidays and a few vacations days I have to take, I have 8 more 'get ups!'.    It has taken until the last week or so to get excited.  I have a list a mile long of household projects, craft projects, trips and adventures of things to do once I retire and have been warned that I may start with gusto but will soon have my zest for accomplishing these tasks quickly be dashed as I learn to put off until the next day.

For a well deserved treat this afternoon, I have turned to Betsy Morgan's Pioneer School Girl project.   Until recently I had not picked it up since I took the class in 2016 at Salty Yarns.   I decided to suck it up and dive in.   Earlier this month I did all the backstitch outline for the smalls and managing to steal a few minutes here and there have been able to stitch through the smalls.

Close to finishing up the last of the smalls and then I will start the 'book'

I gave myself an early Christmas present.   Mr. W. and I decided not to exchange presents this year.   Not only have we enjoyed a new pergola on our deck this year, a new bathroom and an upgraded kitchen, we really don't need anything.   During the year, we see it, we get it.  And I want to be on the downsizing side of collecting stuff and to more actively get rid of things.    My present to myself, Betsy Morgan's  Willing Hands.    What a beautiful book, beautiful photos, great stitch diagrams, complete patterns and finishing instructions and background on each piece.   What a nice respite in the middle of the holiday crush.   I have enjoyed paging through it.

Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching

Happy Holidays

Well I am finally able to stop to squeeze in a blog post.  On top of the normal heavy workload I have been covering for a girl out for surgery and an extended leave, I am training two people and have had the supervisory responsibilities expand to eight.    It has been exhausting with non-stop 10 hour days.   The most stress comes from the back-log of my work that is accumulating.  Add that to the holiday stress of shopping and decorating and house parties.  Although I am tapped out I have been able keep up with the bare minimum at home but I can tell you thoughts of delaying retirement are waning.   I am tapped out.   But after leaving work on Friday, I am now off until after the first of the year.......a well deserved rest which I plan to make the most of.    But enough......

I finally finished the last of the decorating yesterday morning and then started with wrapping.   My saving grace is that I won't see my son and his family until the 29th.   

As for decorations, I didn't put up as much as I have in the past and what I did  put out, I changed up a bit.  Take this corner of my kitchen......I put my snowman baker in a a red ceramic pie plate, added greens and a little wrapped package. I like it better than just plopping him down.  Got some ideas from staging from watching Priscilla! 

I added a metal cardinal for my brother to the top of my package display on the front steps.

My living room shelf is filled with holiday stitching and bits of greens and holiday things.

Not a original idea.   I copied how designer Patty Yergey of Samplers Revisited displays her samplers in office.

A table top of Santa's

I love my Lefton ware.  The relish is under the creamer and sugar is new this year.   A gift from a friend.  I need to get back into some consignment shopping and see if I can score some new pieces.

Another Priscilla idea.   I put this miniature tree on a cake stand, using a gingham trimmed tea towel and added smaller wrapped packages.

 A setting of Byer's Dolls

All kinds of bits and bobs added to the shelves of my china closet.

 A second setting of Byer's Dolls.

My hoosier in the kitchen.

My kitchen Christmas Tree and the wooden angel from my brother's house.

 Greens and sparkling things on top of the Hoosier.

 My mantle display.  Of all the places for Buddy to decide to lay.....

 He doesn't look too happy that I woke him up.....well I'm not happy he keeps knocking over the blocks.

And now for stitching.   One thing that has helped me stay sane through the overtime is carving out 20 minutes or so at lunch each day to stitch.    Usually when I have this bouts of overtime, I get angry and snap when I can't do the things I want to.   Stealing a few minutes each day at lunch time it helping me stay sane.   Stitching really is therapy.

 Above, is one of the block party series from Hands On Design....this one is called Mend.

 I love Kathy's designs and this was a really quick stitch start to finish.

My current work is progress is another Hands On Design piece.    A limited edition collection of smalls and the box as part of a exclusive set from Hands On Design and Elegant Stitch.

 I fell in love with the colors which are not showing as nicely with this cell phone photo.   It is an easy, fast stitch and my EGA monthly challenge piece.  No guarantees I will be finished by next meeting by here's hoping!

Well thanks for stopping by and indulging my Christmas Tour.    Merry Christmas to all and a bright and shiny new year to each and everyone.