Look! An Early Finish

Who could've guessed that I'd finish something on the second day of the new year? Not me! The proof is in the pic, so take a look. I'd like to introduce you to Matilda Harrison, and you'll notice that her name has been altered on my list. Yahoo! Some of you are saying, "Simple minds, simply entertained." I can handle that, because in my world, that is a compliment.

That was the good news. The bad news is that this hateful new (to me) tonsilitis/laryngitis bug is a bitch to get rid of. Even with the use of bacteria-killing drugs and vodka, it's been making me a sad sack since Monday. After finally sleeping hours at a time, today is a better day. My voice still doesn't sound like my voice (good or bad news, depending on who you are), but it's getting there. School starts again this Monday, so I have to be ready, with voice intact, to entertain my little friends.

At the risk of sounding like a sap (you know, it takes one to know one), blogland has been so much fun this week. Every blog I read leads me to other blogs that are incredible. I've discovered so many new ideas and projects and outlooks. OK, no more blathering about blogland.

Tomorrow is the last day of my vacation (huge sigh). I love time off. More specifically, I love unscheduled time. It's a gift that I appreciate more as I get older.

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!