In 2009

Remember back in 1999 when people were stockpiling food for the end of the world? Oh what a difference a decade makes...or not. I mean stockpiling doesn't seem like such a crazy thing to do in these economically challenging times.

Time marches on... though I refuse to age. Let's check out the New Year goals, shall we?

In 2009, I will

1. Make sure that I am always happy stitching on a project. This means that if deadlines are stressing me out, I will change the goal. No more panicking
2. Finish-finish more projects for myself. Last year I did 13, including ones I sent for framing and things I finished for gifts. This year, less framing, more alternative finishing. I'm going to shoot for 12 pieces from the finishing pile finished by myself for myself. I think that's specific enough!
3. Mermaid SAL with Michelle. This is for my mom's 65th birthday, and if she's lucky it will be done in April. If it's not, it'll be a helluva Christmas gift.
   
4. Flea Market Souvenir SAL with Linda and Rosa. (Someday I am going to Iceland. Really.)
5. Put at least one Saturday a month into the French marquoir.
6. Make a dent in the WIP pile. (I know I say this every year.) We'll talk more about this one later.
   

Also...

1. Make tiny little changes to make myself healthier. Last November, I started taking my steroid inhaler twice a day like I am supposed to. It's made a real difference in my health. I know, those doctors spent all that time in medical school and learned something! Do you know how hard it is for me to comply with the doctor's orders? Not difficult at all. Other changes I can make: take all my meds as directed; eat more whole grain; drink more water; exercise 30 minutes every day. On that last one, Geggie's going to keep me honest.
   
2. Find a new job. I know, I gushed about this one. How could I need a new one already? I still love how friendly everyone is, and I like the people very much. It's just that my boss and I come to the story from different angles--he's a journalist and I come to this writing-thing via the academy. He thinks my writing requires too much editing. These things happen, I guess. I've never met anyone who didn't like my writing this much. I am working hard to make this work, but...
   

This post is ending on a downbeat note and the dude thinks I should try to be more positive in 2009. If he's willing to bring his shirts to the cleaners every week (instead of growing a pile of dirty shirts in the corner of the bedroom to harvest every 3 weeks), being positive--which seems very unnatural--is the least I can do.

To all of you and yours much good health and happiness in 2009.

PS: GO SC!

Resolved? 2008

I've got my feet up while I watch HGTV's coverage of the Rose Parade. I've gathered some projects to finish-finish because that's part of what I hope to do this year: make progress on my many projects in various states of undone--finishing and attacking WIPs. But first, having declared this the year of selfish stitching (that's what I like about blogging, you can declare things, someone makes a button, and then it just is), I am going to allow myself a guilt-free January. I know a lot of people have done this for a while, and I am late to the party, but I think this will be a way of turning over a new leaf (ha ha). I will set my annual goals in February.

Some projects I have that I'd like to start:

1. Hillside Samplings, Folk Art Threadkeep
2. Heart in Hand, Monthly Mania (I've stitched January, August, and October)
3. 4 My Boys, Pumpkins Three for Thee
4. Sisters &BF, Button Borders: Pumpkins
5. Mirabilia, Emerald Mermaid (SAL)
6. BOAF, Spring Garden
7. Raise the Roof, Off the Deep End
8. Blackbird Designs, Flea Market Souvenir
9. Little House, Curly Q Ewe
10. Lilybet, Spots II
11. Cricket Collection, Skeleton Crew
12. Little by Little, Star Light, Star Bright
13. Fancy Work, Sampler Scissors Box
14. Liberty Street, Rose Bunnie [sic]

I've decided against joining the 365 bloggers. Part of being a writer is finding interesting things to say; for me that part is easy (at least I think they're interesting)--it's finding time that's so difficult. Unfortunately, I haven't learned how to manufacture that. My biggest concern is weekend posting because traffic is so low. You will miss reading bestpal's guest blogs. Or maybe not. We'll see what she says after a few weeks of maternity leave.

Happy New Year!

These past few years I’ve made some resolutions to move out some pieces. Since I started doing this, I’ve been paying more attention to how I work, and, as a result, I’ve noticed that I am not good about focusing. I’m even worse when I don’t get to do a new project every now and then. So this year, I am going to make smaller goals. Instead of trying to finish a UFO every month as I set out to do last year, I am going to try to finish one every other month. I am also going to give myself six new starts, which I can start all at once or over time. I’m also planning out my obligation pieces, of which I will allow six. Most of these projects are medium to large, so I will also allow myself some travel projects, but I won’t put them in the rotation here. Finally, I will work diligently on the marquoir.

6 UFOs

1. Anna’s Bird
2. Elizabethan Rose
3. Frickin’ Chicken aka Majestic Rooster
4. Alpine Garden
5. Tree of Life Window
6. Watercolor Geraniums

6 new starts

1. Curtis Boehringer, apple sampler
2. Cross Eyed Cricket, Promise of Summers to Come
3. Liz Turner Diehl, 18th Century Knot Garden
4. Liberty Street Designs, Tall Flowers Sampler
5. Bent Creek, Christmas Carols
6. Bent Creek, Snowman Stocking

6 obligation pieces

1. Dolly Mama Kitty
2. Dolly Mama Poodle
3. baby White announcement
4. baby Palmer announcement
5. SB Jillian’s stocking
6. SB Elisabeth’s stocking

stitching resolutions

I've never made a public resolution. Lots of private moments of saying, "oh, I have got to lose weight," but none where I've said anything to anyone else. This year I did. I've resolved to keep in touch with friends and family better. It's kind of sad when you only talk to your friends once a year when you see them. (I'm a phone phobe.)

Obviously the big stitching resolution is going to be finish the afghan on time (4/4). Next, I am going to go through the UFOs and make a serious effort to finish them. I'll put up a rotation schedule on Monday--but remember nothing gets started until the afghan is finished (I'm so one note). I'm also going to get rid of the projects I don't care to finish and to sell off the patterns I'll never do. (I have to do it now that I've said it, don't I?)

Working Backwards
Christmas: For the first time, I made a list of all the patterns I'd like to have and gave it to my family. Who knew they'd go to such lengths to get them all for me! Christmas was a load of fun. My sister and cousin must have spent some serious time in the LNS--places neither of them frequent. Again, list to follow. Too bad I blog from work (superior computer power) and all the stitching stuff's at home.

Happy New Year

Well kids and kidlets we have less than 4 months to the big party when the afghan project needs to be complete. Unfortunately, the trip to NH with its attendant five hour plane ride was lost to the project. I just couldn't bring it along given how large it was and how little time I'd have to work on it out of my mother's sight. She does seem to be cooling on the idea of the party, though, so perhaps I don't need to have it done for her specific birthday, but more like her birth month.

When we put up the tree with all its Santa ornaments, I couldn't help but long to stitch some more. And I did...I finished Olde Time Santas Sinter Klaus (Dutch) and Father Christmas (Irish); and two very old kits another Sinter Klaus and a Santa with striped socks. Sure it dug into the afghan time, but so did finishing my cousin's scarf (12/24) and my sister's shawl (12/27). It made all of us so happy.

I'm doing a lot of paring down of my craft stuff. It's just everywhere and seems to be breeding. I'm sure none of you know that feeling. :) So I've resolved to get rid of about 80 craft books--I guess I should have stopped buying books through the mail well before I did. I'm also getting rid of the scraps from various kit projects. I always save the pattern, thinking I may want to do another (who am I kidding?). But now, I've stapled the original picture to the pattern, written down good DMC number matches for the floss, and thrown the crap out. It's remarkable how much less space that takes. I've also found that I have about half a dozen duplicates. I've got to find out how to sell stuff either on ebay or wherever. I've got stuff, boy howdy.

Here's to less of it in 2004.