Janaury Month End Report

Well I managed to achieve three of the four goals I set myself in January. I finished the poncho for my niece over the weekend. She is into pink and fluffy in a big way at the moment so she should love this. It was a quick and fun knit. I think maybe it is time to move on to knitting an adult sized garmet but I love the quick finishes that knitting baby outfits and scarves brings.

Stitching wise I have not got very far this month and only managed to progress the Macintosh Rose Window piece that I am working on to about the halfway stage.

End of January Stash Update
Cross-stitching
Stash Pile as of 04 Jan 06: 59 projects
Stash Pile at 31 Jan 06: 59 projects
Currently working on Rose Window by Derwentwater Designs (currently approximately 50% complete).
Beading
Stash Pile as of 04 Jan 06: 12 projects
Stash Pile at 31 Jan 06: 12 projects
Changes in Jan: Finished one (fuscia scissor tassel) and added one (zig zag braclet)
Not currently working on any beading projects.
Knitting & Crochet
Stash Pile as of 04 Jan 06: 14
Stash Pile at 31 Jan 06: 12
Changes in Jan: Finished two projects - Pink Poncho and Scarf of Hope
Currently not working on any knitting projects.

January Goals

• Complete Rose Window - No where near done I have only got the halfway stage
• Complete at least one beading project - DONE
• Complete knitted poncho for my neice - DONE
• Complete one knitted scarf - DONE

February Goals

• Complete Macintosh Rose Window

Well I got some knitting and some stitching done at the weekend - not a lot but at least it was some. I think I should have the poncho that I am knitting for my niece complete by the end of the week but sadly the Macintosh Rose Window cross stitch piece will not be completed by the end of the month in fact it may not even reach the halfway stage.

Mid-January Panic

How on earth did it get to beyond the middle of January without me noticing how much time has passed already this year. In a months time I will be packing my bags to get on the plane to New Zealand and there is just far to much stuff to be done before I go. I really need to start getting myself organized. I feel a few lists are needed - what to pack, what needs to be done before I go, what I will do when I get there (still haven't sort out more than the first few nights accomodation) etc. etc. Guess that will be next weeks task.

I am behind on my goals both for January and for 2006 so tomorrow I plan to spend some quality me time doing nothing but being lazy and either stitching or knitting. I really need to finish the stitching project that I am in the middle of otherwise I am in danger of having to put it away part finished in order to work on a wedding gift. The problem with putting things away part finished is that I very rarely ever pick them up again and they can remain in an unfinished state for decades. My oldest part finished piece is approx 15 years old and counting.

Here are my fist knitting and beading finishes of 2006.

The scarf is from the Scarves of Hope leaflet purchased from Fiddlesticks, the pattern is called Marine Life.

The scissor tassel is from a Spellbound Bead Co kit. Unfortunately when I went to get out the beading kit I found another kit that I had missed off my stash list (zig zag braclet by Spellbound Bead Co) so I still have 12 beading projects in my stash.

The Start of New Crafting Year

I am planning on making a severe dent in my piles of stash this year and in order to keep myself on track I shall be posting monthly updates. Rather than keep repeating the lists I plan to just post a summary of progress, or more likely lack of progress together with with goals for the next month and I shall update the lists once significant changes have been made. So the summary for the start of the year are
Cross-stitching
Stash Pile as of 04 Jan 06: 59 projects
Currently working on Rose Window by Derwentwater Designs (currently approximately 5% complete).
Beading
Stash Pile as of 04 Jan 06: 12 projects
Not currently working on any beading projects.
Knitting & Crochet
Stash Pile as of 04 Jan 06: 14 projects
While away over the New Year period I purchased two new knitting projects (one scarf and one shawl). Not a great start to the year of stash reduction but I could not resist.
Currently working on a poncho for my niece.

January Goals

• Complete Rose Window
• Complete at least one beading project
• Complete knitted poncho for my neice
• Complete one knitted scarf

A Busy Holiday

A few days off work with nothing to do but eat, sleep and relax with family and friends and not only I am I feeling fantastic but I have managed to finish several small projects. I had a wonderful Christmas at my sister's house being well looked after by my sister & her husband and being bossed around by my 2 year old niece.

The first projects that I managed to finish are a very fuzzy scarf and hat knitted in Cosmic yarn from a free pattern that came with the yarn. I am off to spend New Year with very good friends who are currently residing in Rega and I thought I needed something to keep me warm. It will be great to catch up with my friends - I just hope that I do not catch a cold while out there.

The second is a lacy ribbed scarf knitted from a pattern booklet called Scarves of Hope available from FiddlestitcksKnitting.com with country silk yarn also purchased from Fiddlesticks. The yarn was a delight to knit with and I shall definitely be buying some more once I come off the stash wagon.


I also finished a bead bauble and a knitted baby jacket but both are gifts for friends so no photographs for the moment.

This all means that I have made a dent in my knitting stash and am well on the way to my aim of reducing my knitting stash pile to 5 projects. My stash count was at 16 projects but with these recent finishes I am now down to 12 projects. Only 6 more finishes before I can start planning for a new purchase.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful & healthy 2006.

I am off now to spend the Christmas period with my family and am in the middle of my usual pre-holiday packing dilemma - just how many stitching and knitting projects will be enough. I am so used to having my piles of stash around me that taking just one or two projects with me never seems possible. But on the other hand I am only going away for three days so surely 2 projects will be enough to see me through. I think I may just have to add a few extra projects into my bag.

A Festive Stitching Finish

Over the weekend I finished this piece of cross-stitching. The design is by Lizzie*Kate and was really fun to stitch. I now just have to add the buttons and decided what to do with it.

I now have a head start on reaching my 2006 goal of reducing my pile of stash to somewhere below 50 cross-stitching projects. I can not decide which project to stitch on next so instead I am working on a knitted scarf instead.

Stash Lists & 2006 Plan

Well I have finally got around to cataloging all my stash (well I think this is all of it but there may be some more hiding somewhere). I have only listed those projects that I have all of the supplies for. I will try and reduce these lists before worrying about the partially kitted projects.

Cross-stitching and other counted stitching projects

1. Beth Russell - Orange Border (80% complete)
2. DMC - Sweet Pea Fairy (5% complete)
3. L&L - Angel of Spring (80% complete)
4. TW - Above the Clouds (30% complete)
5. TW - Noah's Ark (15% complete)
6. TW - Peacock Tapestry (5% complete)
7. Barbara Thompson Designs - Skyscape
8. Barbara Thompson Desings - Around the World in Cross Stitch
9. Bent Creek - Swirly Sampler
10. Butternut Road - Earthdancer
11. Coleshill Collection - Sunflower
12. Derwentwater Designs - Rose Window
13. Derwentwater Designs - Rose Bouquet
14. Derwentwater Designs - Macintosh coaster 1a
15. Derwentwater Designs - Macintosh coaster 1b
16. Dimensions - Power of the Serengeti
17. Dimensions - Toy Shelf Birth Record
18. Dimples Designs - Wee Beasties Part 5
19. Dimples Designs - Wee Beasties Part 6
20. Dinky-Dyes Designs - Celtic Heart
21. Dinky-Dyes Designs - Celtic Knot Diamond
22. DMC - Laburnum Fairy
23. Just Nan - Amethyst Snowflake
24. Just Nan - Celeste
25. Just Nan - Christmas Jewel
26. Just Nan - Ice Blossom
27. Just Nan - Grace
28. Just Nan - Serena
29. L&L - Angel of Autumn
30. L&L - Angel of Christmas
31. L&L - Angelica
32. L&L - Heavenly Gifts
33. L*K - Bless the Baby
34. L*K - Wanted! Santa 02
35. Lanarte - Orchid
36. Maria Von Scharrenburg - Night
37. M-Designs - A
38. M-Designs - A + D + Heart
39. M-Designs - E + J + Heart
40. Mirabilia - Royal Holiday
41. Mirabila - The Fairy Moon
42. Moira Blackburn -Growing Like A Tree
43. Sheperds Bush - Cherry Heart
44. The Silver Lining - Royal Affair
45. The Silver Lining - Joy
46. The Silver Lining - Hope
47. The Silver Lining - Honor
48. The Silver Lining - Grace
49. Thea Groverneur - Jays
50. Thea Groverneur - Pheony Rose
51. Thea Groverneur - Rhapsody in Blue
52. Thea Groverneur - Rose
53. TW - Celtic Cross
54. TW - Futurecast
55. TW - Knotwork Bookmark
56. TW - Paisley Corner
57. TW - Stretch
58. TW - Tempest
59. The Victoria Sampler - Beyond Cross Stitch Level Six No ?
60. The Drawn Thread - Toccata Number One
    

Knitting and Crochet Projects

1. Black Dune Scarf
2. Blue Fuzzy Scarf
3. Baby Jacket (Penny & John)
4. Haze shawl
5. Scarf of Hope 1
6. Scarf of Hope 2
7. Collinette Jumper
8. Black & White Jumper
9. Black sleeveless jumper
10. Toddler Poncho
11. Socks 1
12. Socks 2
13. Ripple Scarf
14. Hat
15. Lacy Lattice Stole
16. 63 square afghan

Beading Projects

1. Beaded Box (10% complete)
2. Romanov Bauble
3. Fandango Braclet
4. Fuchsia Scissor Tassel
5. Aurora Stars (x3)
6. Toulouse Chocker Necklace
7. Georgian Bauble
8. Turkish Rope Tassel
9. Persian Tassel
10. Art Deco Bauble
11. Starry Night Bauble
12. Mayur Necklace

So there it is I have 60 stitching projects, 16 knitting & crochet projects and 12 beading projects. Far more than I can hope to finish in a reasonable timespan maybe more than I can finish in my lifetime. Unless I win the lottery and can retire very very early. So I have decided that I am going on to the stash Wagon at least for a while - no more significant expenditure on stash for me till I have made siginificant progress towards my ultimate goal of having a stash list consisting of no more than 5 projects in each category. Obviously this will take many many years to achieve so the goal for 2006 is to reduce each stash list by at least 5 projects. I have 3 planned cross stitching purchases already for next year so will have to finish at least 8 cross stitching projects.

Since the vast majority of my stash is stitching I aim to concentrate on reducing this list first. So the plan for 2006 is to work on one main large cross stitching project at a time completing each project before starting a new one. I will also work on a second project selected from any of my lists to provide me with a travel project or a quicker finish to prevent me from becoming bored. I will only be allowed to purchase a new project when I have finished at least 5 projects. I have not decided which projects I shall work on as I don't want to restrict myself I shall just pick up whatever I fancy working on next.

I would love to finish 2006 with less than 50 cross stitching projects but this may well be beyond me so I am not going to beat myself up if I do not achieve this after all these are supposed to be hobbies and hobbies are supposed to be fun. In order to get a head start I am trying to finish a few projects before the end of 2005. In fact I finished one last night, admittedly a very small finish but none the less a finish.

It is called Damask Rose and is designed by Sue Hawkins.

A Rare Event

Well for me at least - I have actually finished a cross stitching project. It is to go in my niece's nursery which is fully decorated on a Humphrey and Lottie theme. So now from the list of projects that I decided to try and finish before the end of the year I have finished one and have disposed of another. So 2 down and 8 to go. The chances of me actually finishing all ten projects before the end of the year and slim to none, especially since I am going away for a long weekend and the project I have taken with me is not on the list. At least it is a project that I have a chance of starting and finishing in a long weekend.