The Big Zipper Progress

I am really enjoying stitching on this piece. I will continue working on it till Friday and then will complete my January biscornu before making a start on Monthly Musings by Heart In Hand Needleart. I may end up stitching multiple biscornu (not too sure what the plural of biscornu is, or is biscornu the plural?) as I will finish one I started last year and am carrying the supplies for at least two others around with me as my travelling pieces. The plan for Monthly Musings is to stitch at least one month block plus a little of the border each month thereby completing it before the end of the year, only problem is in order to stay on track I need to put the Zipper down which is going to be really really hard. January is really to early in the year to fall behind on my stitching plan for the year.

At Last Photos

December by Lizzie*Kate completed January 2009.

The Big Zipper by Bent Creek, started 01-Jan-2009. Stitched on 36ct natural linen using recommended colours.

At last blogger has decided to allow me to upload a couple of photos. I am still stitching away on The Big Zipper but will have to put it down this weekend to finish off the stitching I need to do on the UFO RR as mailing date is the 12th. I am also wanting to complete my January biscornu and make a start on Monthly Musings this weekend (oh well I guess the housework will just have to wait another week).

New Look

I have decided that I need a new look for a new year so please be patient since things may look a little odd for a while.

A Good Stitching Start to 2009

Unfortunately Blogger and I are currently not working well together and I am finding it impossible to post photos so this report will have none.

Since the begining of the year I have managed to complete December from the A Year With Charm series by Lizzie*Kate and I have made a good start (with only minimal frogging) on The Big Snapper by Bent Creek. Which I started on 01 January 2009 on 36 count natural linen using DMC stranded cotton threads plus recomended overdyed threads. I will decide about the buttons once I have completed the stitching. The original design calls for stitching over 2 on 18 count fabric so the recommended buttons will be a little large but I am sure that I wil be able to find suitable subsitutes. As I started a couple of Christmas / wintery designs before Christmas which I have not finished I might switch to stitching on them in an attempt to finish them before the end of January when I want to make a start on both my goals for 2009 and Spring themed stitching for my season collection.

As well as my previously published stitching goals I have decided to sign up for the Basket of Biscornu SAL so shall also be stitching a biscornu a month (or at least that is the plan) - I am beginging to think I may have set my goals a little high for this year but I am going to have a very good try at achieving them.

I promise to post photos just as soon as Blogger allows.

Happy New Year

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2009.

Last night I saw the new year in with a long lost school friend who I was very happy to find again late on in 2008 after having lost touch for the best part of 10 years. We celebrated the begining of the New Year and our renewed friendship by partying the night away like we did in our late teens - dancing and singing (badly) in a night club. As a consquence my feet now hurt and I have lost my voice but I throughly enjoyed myself and it was a total change from my usual way to see in the New Year. I do not go back to work till Monday and therefore am planning on spending the nect three days sitting on the sofa (I might get dressed but then again I might stay in my PJs) catching up on watching all the tv programmes I have recorded, stitching and doing very little else. Sunday I am going over to my parents for a family meal and to meet my cousin's new fiance. Stitching wise I want to finish up a few things, make a start on Bent Creek Big Zipper and maybe a start on the border for Heart In Hand Needleart Monthly Musings.

A Chrismassy HD

Lizzie*Kate 2007 Limited Edition Christmas Kit, started 7th November 2008 completed 23rd Decemeber 2008.

Finished just in time for Christmas (but not ironed since I am staying at my parents and my mother refuses to let me get the iron out as it does not go with the Christmas decorations). It was a really fun and, for me, quick stitch. I have a couple of other Christmasssy projects on the go but may not get them finished this year.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas.

2009 Plans

I have been thinking about my stitching plans for 2009. Having once again said in 2008 that I wanted to reduce my stash and failing miserably. Despite finishing 30ish projects I have ended up with a couple of dozen more projects in my stash than this time last year. Almost all my 2008 finishes were of small(ish) recent additions to my stash and I hardly stitched on anything I have has in my possession for more than 12 months. Having spent some time reviewing the contents of my stash I have come to the conclusion that I love my stash all of it. So the idea for 2009 is to reconect with some of my larger and older project in my stash but also to enjoy my stitching. I am not too bothered about actually finishing anything but would like to make progress on some of my larger projects. Nor am I going to try reducing my stash but rather just practice a little restraint when going on shopping sprees. So here is the plan for 2009:

The Plan

Week 1 & 2 of every month work on any project from The Project List.

Week 3 of every month work on Monthly Musings

Rest of the month stitch on any project from either The Project List or anything else from my stash or RRs or exchanges.

The Project List

1. Noah's Ark by TW (started about 6 years ago and about one third done).

2. Angel of Spring by Lavender and Lace (started about 20 years ago and almost done).

3. Night by Maria Von Scharrenburg (can't remember when I started this but it must have been at least 5 years ago).

4. Growing Like a Tree by Moria Blackburn (not yet started but has been in my stash for years).

5. Summer Queen by Mirabillia (also not started but a long standing stash member).

6. Big Zipper by Bent Creek (a very new addition to my stash).

November Stitching Report & December Goals

November from the A Year With Charm Series by Lizzie*Kate. Started and finished (just) in November 2008. I switched a few of the threads for ones that I thought looked more Autumny.

For November I said I would like to

1) Progress Bluebirds Message by Blackbird Designs - yes made some progress

2) Progress Their Song by Blackbird Designs - no

3) Progress Beneath the Sunlit Sky by Blackbird Designs - no

4) Progress Rose Bouquet by Derwentwater Designs - no

5) Make progress on at least one small project from my stash - definately yes I started and finished three, Tall Snowman, Celebration Winter and November

6) Make progress on at least one Christmas projct from my stash - yes started two Lizzie*Kate Christmas pieces (Ho, Ho, Ho and Just Be Claus).

3 out of 6 is not bad but I think I could have done better. I am not setting myself any goals for December since it is Christmas. The only thing I would definately like to do is make my plan for 2009 which I have already had some thoughts about but need to finalise.

Introducing Georgia

Georgia, Christmas Angel 2008. Created by me on the 29th November from a design by Pat of Totally Patched.

Totally Patched in Bewdley is where I go to learn how to quilt or to be more accurate where I go to learn patchwork since at the moment I am rather struggling with the quilting part. As a slight change of pace I made Georgia, named after my niece. I think I may well be making more of these angels in the future.

Stitching Pictures

Firstly my holiday finishes:

Tall Snowman by Heart In Hand Needleart, started and finished in November 2008.

Celebration Winter by Heart In Hand Needleart, started and finished in November 2008.

Secondly progress pictures:

Bluebird's Message by Blackbird Designs. I am really enjoying stitching on this piece but I think I am going to put it way for a little while to concentrate on Chritmassy stuff.

Ho, Ho, Ho by Lizzie*Kate, started while in Florida

and last but not least

Just Be Claus by Lizzie*Kate, also a new start while in Florida. I think it currently looks like a pink bat.