Saturday, December 31, 2011

Year in Review

Our week hasn't slowed down much. On Thursday, we drove back to my sister's in New Jersey to say goodbye to my parents. We ate leftovers and played Wise and Otherwise. (Where my father created an old Korean proverb, "Eating pears...is better than eating singles." He also hit it out of the park with a Cameroonian proverb about a man and his nutcracker, but we can't remember the exact words because we were laughing so hard.) Last night, my parents decided we needed to play the game again, this time with my BIL who had been at the gym the first night. He wasn't as enamored with the game, but one of his friends came over and she took to it like a duck to water giving us "Dogs and small children...like to sniff butts" which we blamed on my poor father. He, however, scored big by keeping a poker face and taking the blame! My folks are well and truly underway, but we are celebrating tonight with my sister so it's another trip out there. On Sunday we'll be back to Sunday dinner at my cousin's. Monday we are going to crash; I swear.

 Last year's goals were to
  1. Find a job. I think a job found me. I've decided to throw myself into the freelance work I've been doing for the past three years. If *WHEN* I can get enough clients, I can work part time and still make more money than I did in an office. 
  2. Crazy January Challenge. See Below. 9/15 Not terrible! I never really thought I would finish all of them, but it was a fun thing to have done. Especially since I never feel like I am starting new things for myself...or finishing them.
  3. Work on the marquoir--finish one page (of the 22 remaining) each month.This started well but I stumbled. Maybe this will be my Olympic Stitching project for the London Olympics.
  4. Finish-finish one project a month.--Things were looking kind of bleak for a while, but I caught up and stayed on it. I finished 12 projects (leaving plenty in the finishing pile). 
  5. Complete one quarter of my WIPs (see below)--or four. I'm down three even though I only finished two. I'm also very close on the Bent Creek stocking.
  6. Learn to crochet. I did it. I crocheted a lip for a fish. A fish lip. As you will...
  7. Become proficient in Photoshop. I did look into a class. I'll do it. And soon.



CJC
  1. City Stitcher, Willow Trees Sampler Completed August 25
  2. Lizzie*Kate, Dog Lessons for People Completed August 17
  3. Little by Little Designs, Star Light Star Bright
  4. Mill Hill (Sticks), Love Me, Love My Dog
  5. With Thy Needle and Thread, Hoppin' Along Sampler Completed April 16
  6. Hands to Work, Love, Me Completed March
  7. Sisters and Best Friends, Winter Peace Completed March 
  8. Sisters and Best Friends, Button Border Pumpkins
  9. Shepherd's Bush, Blue Snowman Completed August 16
  10. Sheepish Designs, That Dern Parrot
  11. Raise the Roof Designs, Off the Deep End
  12. Just Nan, Owl Winder Pocket
  13. JBW, French Country Pumpkin Completed September 2
  14. Just Nan, Screamy Mimi Completed February 25
  15. Cricket Collection, Frost Completed October 7


WIPS
  1. Moss Creek, Elizabethan Rose
  2. Heart in Hand, Monthly Mania Completed January 16
  3. Heartland House, Tree of Life Window Completed November 15
  4. Linda Jary, Majestic Rooster
  5. Nutmeg Needle, Treasured Tulips
  6. Liz Turner Diehl, 16th Century Knot Garden
  7. Bent Creek, Snowman Stocking
  8. Watercolor Geranium
  9. Theresa Layman, Mermaid
  10. Mirabilia, Emerald Mermaid
  11. Corinne and Gigi, Marquoir bleu et rouge
  12. Dimensions, Santa kit
  13. Dimple's Designs, St. Basil's Cathedral
  14. Heart's Content, Merry and Bright
  15. Hardanger Napkin Rings   I got rid of these. They had some kind of stain, and I wasn't thrilled with them any more.

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I finished 15 projects this year, which is about 10 off my usual. I'm not sure what I did instead of stitching. 

Thank you for stopping by my little piece of the blogiverse, double thanks to those of you who leave comments and send emails. It's always such a pleasure to correspond with you. Let's do more of that in the new year too.



Happy New Year, everyone

All best for a happy, healthy, stitchy 2012.

9 comments:

Birdie said...

Happy New Year to you and yours.

True the bog is a good way to keep track of finished project but I had over 20 something gifts I did for friends and family members that I didn't post on the blog because said friends and family read it. But you are correct that the blog is a great source to keep track if only I was better at it. :)
hugs
-missy-

Needle Nicely said...

I always enjoy reading your take on things. Thanks so much! (And down with nemesis!!!) Mary Agnes

Jennifer said...

I was also down on stitchy finishes for the year. Still, it is all about the journey.....

Hope you have a wonderful and blessed 2012!

Anonymous said...

I must look into that game. It sounds like it is perfect for our family!!

Mary in TN

Jennifer said...

What you did instead of stitching? Pinterest. Oh wait. That was me.

Cheryl said...

Happy New Year to you and your family!

Maggie said...

I think you did really well with your stitching and finishing, much better than my pathetic amount, i'm too ashamed to count them. Like you, i don't know what i did instead, probably too much blog reading and drooling over others work instead of getting on with my own, lol.

Happy New Year to you and yours :-)

riona said...

2011 was just that kind of a year: my stitching and finishing numbers were down as well. Maybe 2012 will see more productivity. I know I did more reading this year than usual and a lot more just plain old vegetating [aka, napping]. I am blaming all this on my advanced age, a convenient excuse for a 60 something. Being much younger, you shall have to come up with another explanation entirely.

Aussie Stitcher said...

You did well with your finishes, I think I can count my number of finishes on one hand. I hope that 2012 brings your everything that your desire, and more great stories about Maggie.