Happy New Year!

I like New Year's. I think it's my favorite holiday, because we sorta get to officially start over and do better. My New Year's Eve is extremely quiet. First, the man I hang out with is on a man trip with brothers and friends. Man trips are good. To emphasize quiet, even though laryngitis is something I've had at least once a year for almost 40 years, some particularly dastardly and disgusting case (that didn't stop me from golfing yesterday) has weaseled its way into my throat. Everyone who calls asks if it's me ... even my mom! It'll be normal soon enough. Oh, and the good news: swallowing is difficult, so I've already inadvertently begun my after-holiday diet!

I know I said the last view of Christmas was yesterday, but I had requests for an answer to the final round of Musical Ornaments. Below are the new ornaments that might have been spotted in the last couple of pictures. That's really the last view of Christmas for 2008.

Next is a picture of the project that has taken most of my stitching time this year, which has to be squished into non-work hours along with a class, a tutoring student, piano practice and lesson, golf and other fun. My version of And They Sinned is being worked in Sampler Threads on 40 count Lambswool. Because I am left-brained and what my friend Rhonda calls a "tuck, tuck, fold" person (she is too, so we get along fabulously), I chose to make the vine border the same all the way down, instead of doing it as charted. Of course, you can't make one change without making others, so some of the cute little things (a brain fart is denying access to the word for those things) had to be moved around. And then I had to center (or center better) some sections because they bothered me. The great news is that I've finished two of four pages, and I'm devoted to finishing all of it this year. Adding to our fun ... my sister is on Page 4 (bitch), and my mom started it right around Thanksgiving and has already made it through the cloud (she's retired and gets to do whatever she wants)! I am definitely the slowest stitcher in the family, but I know more piano songs and chords ... na, na, na.

Finally, here is my New Year's start ... Miss Lila's House. I've started it on black 32 count linen, over one, with Needlepoint Silk. So far, I'm not loving NP silk over one on 32 count. I think it's a fiber twist issue, and I'm trying to get over it (tuck, tuck, fold again rears its ugly head). If worse comes to worse, I may have to change to cotton floss, but I'm gonna give it a chance.

So my goals for 2009 ... 1) finish ATS, 2) keep better track of what I start and finish, 3) make the record more public (a blogland bonus), so I know my successes as well as denials. I'll start with those and see how it works out. Peace, love and understanding to you all in 2009.

Looking Back

I'll begin with one more look at Christmas this year. Here's the little Santa I made for my friend Lucinda. He's stitched in DMC on needlepoint canvas and then cut out. I backed him with brown paper bag, which sounds not-so-good but is very cute. The chart is from the 1987 JCS Ornament edition (holy cow), and this is the third or fourth time I've stitched him.Below are the unfinished projects from my Ongoing Projects list. The oldest is on the frame in the bottom picture. I started it back in the 80's! I love it, so why haven't I finished it? I don't know! When I saw the picture of all of these, I felt so appalled that I immediately started working on Matilda Harrison, and she's almost finished! Most of these projects were begun before the death of our Bekah, and I haven't been able to pick them up again. I just lost focus (and oh, so many other things), so I'm holding myself accountable to finish them ... or at least to be aware that I haven't finished them. After almost 13 years, it's time to get motivated. To be fair to myself, I have finished some of the things I started way back when, and my sister says her unfinished project pile is much larger. We could also compare stashes. There's enough in my stash to keep me busy for decades ... but we're not going there right now.

Tomorrow ... ATS and my New Year's start!

Musical Ornaments - Final Round

Oh, you're gonna hate me for this round! Your mission, should you accept it, is to find the new ornaments in the following two pictures. There are at least six, but I haven't done a really good count yet. Actually, there have to be more than that, because in just the bottom picture, there are five ... I think. Anyway, if you're in need of a diversion, it's just been provided. Wagering is allowed, but no whining, ... just enlarge the pics.

To make your search a little easier, here's the new ornament my sister gave me. Isn't it pretty? She works at Brighton, so she always has access to fabulous items that we don't need but truly have a hankerin' for.

For any of you who are following along, I'll be showing proof of all the unfinished stitching projects tomorrow. It'll have to happen before golf, though, because my friend Rene just called with a tee time (woo hoo!!). One of many good reasons to live in Colorado: the perfect vacation includes golf and skiing during the same week!

Between Rounds

It's been one of those I'm-taking-the-day-off days, so I've been stitching and looking at stitching blogs. After viewing many completed and in-progress projects, I've come to the conclusion that I'm possibly the slowest stitcher in the world, and I still can't imagine how all of these people have time to write so much. They must be much more organized than I am! So you may notice on the right side of the page ... a list is forming. Hopefully, if I start a list of all of the things I've started, maybe I'll become a little more aware of the many things that could use some attention. I'm following a couple of great blogs, so check my blog list at the bottom of the page ... truly amazing stuff is out there to see and to read about. I'll add more as I get to read more blogs. Now, about Round 3 of Musical Ornaments: no one has really had time to play, so I've decided that I'll put together one more round in which you'll have to look for new (no, I'm not kidding) ornaments. I'm working it out in my slow-moving brain, so it'll appear in a day or two. Hope everyone is having happy holidays.

Musical Ornaments - Round 2

Sorry it took so long for me to get to Round 2, but it's the last week before Winter Break, and I haven't been home when it's light enough to get a good picture. First, everyone who posted a comment or emailed me had the correct answer to Round 1. Good going, kids! Today, three different pairs of ornaments exchanged places on the tree. Can you find them? Be brave and give it a try. Remember ... to make it easier (especially for the old folks like me) you can enlarge the pictures by clicking on them once. Since vacation is very close (less than 24 hours, thank goodness), I'll try to be back soon with Round 3. If I'm having too much fun to sit at the computer, surely you'll understand. Won't you?

Musical Ornaments - Round 1

Oh, goody, let's play! After spending last evening with some younger friends, I learned that I'm not the first to think of this game. I've been thinking about it since last year, and it's exciting to get to put thoughts into action.
My mom and I have an irritating habit (probably one of many) that is especially offensive to Nikki, who will no longer help decorate the tree. We constantly rearrange the ornaments in an effort to make the tree more aesthetically pleasing (can you say OCD?). My excuse is that there are so many ornaments, and it gets to be like a jigsaw puzzle trying to find spots for all of the ornaments. And, of course, they can't touch each other! You're probably thinking I should try some medication, but instead I'm inviting you to play.
Below are two pictures of the tree. The first one was taken before I rearranged, and the second was taken after. Your job is to ascertain what, exactly, has changed. I'm beginning with an easy one, just to get us all started. Please play along by emailing me or posting a comment to tell what the change was. Unfortunately, the only prize I can offer is praise and your own self-satisfaction, but hey, this is cyberspace, after all. Good luck ...

Christmas Fun

As you can see, I've been busy getting ready for Santa! On the left are the stockings. Unfortunately, I didn't get them finished until Dylan and Nikki were almost grown. Lucky Korby got his when he was still a little guy.

The stockings were stitched using perle cotton on linen, and you can see the great little charms and buttons and ribbons on them by clicking once on the picture.

Now we come to one of my eccentricities ... the tree. I have a reputation, of sorts, for going a little overboard when decorating the tree. My mom says it can be seen from space. She's probably exaggerating.

The angel topper is made from an old quilt, and I wish I could remember where I got it (quite unlikely). At the moment, there are more than 400 ornaments, but that will definitely change. As long as someone sells new and antique ornaments, I'll probably have to collect more (hello, my name is Doris and I'm an ornament addict). Just like the stockings, you can get a really good look at the tree by clicking once on the picture.

So, everyone, we're gonna play a game. Check back here in a few days, and there will be an activity (individual or group ... your choice). If you show up, I'll be expecting you to play along, so be ready. Hope to see you then ...

First Post (eeeek!)

Because I'm new at this, I haven't a clue about what to post! Ideas?