Setting Goals for January and Beyond

As always, I am much more apt to meet my goals if I write them down.  So, I've gone back to see how well I did in achieving my 2017 goals.  I am mostly pleased with the results.
Master 2017 list:
Books:  Read 100 books (including those used for school)--YES
             Read books set in at least 30 distinct countries--Only Read 20 Countries
             Complete PopSugar Reading Challenge and Advanced Challenge (52 books)--YES

Cross-Stitch/Quilting:  Complete stitching A Mind Independent and Free--YES

                                      Complete Neighbourhood Round Robin 2--It is at 75%
                                      Complete Bride's Tree Ornament sets--no
                                      Start/Finish Autumn and Spring Garden--no
                                      Participate in Ornament Exchange--YES

                                      Stitch Ornaments for each of the children--YES

                                      Make baby quilt for godson and his wife (June)--YES

                                      Organise and participate in Round Robin with CSC--no
    (plus I stitched and finished 2 pillows for gifts, started Bookshelf cross stitch and quilted a Christmas banner from a previous cross stitch project and framed a large cross stitch project)
  

Other: Eat healthy and lose some weight--Lost 15 pounds, was doing great until move
           Blog 3x per month minimum--not even close
           Memorize 24 verses--only 10
           Decrease paperwork saved in household by 50%--I don't know the percentage but I made great progress on this

So, here are my 2018 goals, many are similar:
Master 2018 list:
Books:  Read 100 books (including those used for school)
             Read books set in at least 40 distinct countries (have actually planned 30 countries already)
             Complete PopSugar Reading Challenge and Advanced Challenge (50 books)

Cross-Stitch/Quilting:  Complete stitching Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow
                                      Complete Neighbourhood Round Robin 2
                                      Complete Bride's Tree Ornament sets
                                      Complete Bookshelf cross stitch
                                      Start/Finish Autumn or Spring Garden
                                      Participate in Ornament Exchange
                                      Stitch Ornaments for each of the children
                                      Organise and participate in Round Robin with CSC or a stitching gathering
                                      Frame another project

Other: Eat healthy and lose some weight
           Post something on social media 4x per month minimum
           Memorize Job 26:5-14
           Decrease paperwork saved in household by 3 boxes in the attic

Personal goals regarding family have been written down and shared with family and will be reviewed at end of year with them.

In order to achieve these goals, here are my January plans:
1. Read 4 books that are not school related, set in at least one country that is not UK or US, and that meets at least 3 prompts on my reading challenge.
2. Post on social media 5 times
3. Finish block 4 on Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow
4. Finish Romania block for Neighbourhood Round Robin
5. Scan Jewel's school workbooks (1/2 box in attic)
6. No chips for snacks--replace with carrot and cucumber sticks
7. Research volunteer opportunities through church or local outreach center

Stitchin' Post Saturday---14 March 2009

Welcome to another Stitchin' Post Saturday!

This week I finished Mystery Quilt 2!!! Yay! In a couple of weeks I can show pictures. I've also sent Mystery Quilt 1 to its new owner, so when it arrives I can show it.

Here are the current Works in Progress:


I've been working on this Neighbourhood Round Robin (NRR) on and off (mostly off) for a couple of years. I have almost finished my "England" block. Here is the current status picture. I think I'll finish it this week. The pattern called for grey shadows at the top of each panel, but the grey was just too dark and it did not do the house any justice. So yesterday was spent frogging (ripping out) all of the grey and replacing part of it with a dark cream and filling in the rest with ecru. Got about half of what was ripped out replaced.


Here is a quilt top that I'm working on for a friend's new baby. I'm going to add some yellow "dots" to the white square centers to continue to the play of daisies. Then I just need to sandwich it and quilt it.

Thanks for looking! Please link to your latest stitching accomplishments so we can come and oooh and aaah.

Have a great weekend!

Stitching Post Saturday

Once upon a time, a long time ago, this blog was started with the intention of talking about stitching as well as a place to be a writer. God changed my focus and I am happy that it is much more about my journey to live as God has called me. However, I am still a stitcher and quilter and don't want to be remiss in documenting the things I make with the talents God bestowed. Since I rarely post on weekends, I've decided to have a "Stitching Post Saturday" where at least most Saturdays I'll post an update of what I'm doing. I know a lot of my fellow "stitching bloggers" have also seen a transition of their blogs from stitching to life in totality. If you guys are interested, I'm willing to make this a weekly meme and add a Mr. Linky to link to your work as well. Just comment and if there is interest next week I'll add a link.

Without further adieu, my first Stitching Post Saturday:


Some ornaments I completed before Christmas:

For an exchange on Cross Stitch Crazy


For Jewel and Flower
Every year I make them an ornament representing something from that year and date it with where we celebrated Christmas that year

A wedding gift I made for friends from church:


A protea flower for my friend from South Africa (this is a round robin):


A quilt for a friend's baby:


My main project the second half of 2008 was this Flag Quilt Sampler. I really wanted to finish it by the end of the year, but fell one and 2/3 stripes short. ;-( So here is my starting place for 2009:


There you have it, I actually do accomplish some stitching. I have a couple more finishes that can not be posted until they are in the hands of their recipients. Thanks for looking!

UPDATED: Since there already seems some interest in joining me, I'm adding a Mr. Linky! Anyone interested in posting a link to their most recent needlework project of any kind, please join us.

Vintage Quilts and Inspiration

A few weeks ago I went over to a friend's house for a showing of vintage quilts. My friend's friend collects quilts, US and UK predominantly, and was displaying them and talking about them to a group of about 25 ladies who had gathered. They were beautiful. Some dating to the late 1800's. Most from the 1930's forward (including the one that I am using for my banner). It was fun. It was informative. I totally enjoyed myself (except for when Jewel dropped her glass of water and broke it, thankfully my friend is also gracious). My favorite was a yo-yo quilt top, pieced around scraps of paper. The history in the pieces of paper used was fascinating.


We were also invited to bring our own quilt collections to show. I took this beauty. When my grandmother died, we found this quilt top in her things. My aunt remembered her piecing it from her old clothes when she was sixteen (1928). My grandfather took the top and had a neighbour quilt it--she was 99 when she quilted it. He gave it to my Mom. And in April, Mom gave it to me. I will treasure it. I also took the double wedding ring that my great grandmother made for my grandmother. Another of my favorite quilts.

But there was more to the evening than vintage quilts. The presenter also had some of her own quilts. She had one that was a flying geese pattern. She pointed out that it was her first quilt and two family members were critical of how her points came together and it almost made her quit quilting. Then she said, she decided to continue and do the types of things she loved and not worry about precision and such. This was such an inspiration to me. Back when Jewel was born I determined to make a quilt for each of her birthdays--she would leave with her own quilt collection started when she was grown. She has just about worn out her 1st year quilt. Her second year quilt is carefully displayed. And her third year quilt, well....it wasn't finished. It was a flying geese pattern (chosen by Jewel). She loves the block and I took it and her fabric choices (pink and purple) and was going to do a windmill to represent the area we live. But, my points don't match. And some criticism from my "it's gotta be perfect" quilt friends put me off. Then I moved and lost the background material (later found). Well, the whole project had just left a bad taste in my mouth. But this lady's reminder that it is about what we love and not about precision caused me to want to finish the quilt. I abandoned the windmill idea. I assembled the flying geese in rows and quilted it. And now Jewel has her 3rd birthday quilt complete! It is far from perfect, but she loves it because now she has her purple and pink quilt. I even made a pillow cover! Sometimes looking at the old can inspire the new.
(BTW, for her 4th birthday I opted to make a pillow out of Dora the Explorer fabric--which she adores. I have cut out Flower's first quilt and decided on what her second quilt will be--just gotta get busy. *sigh*)

In other quilty news, the cross stitch board I frequent makes baby quilts for the new babies born to members. I had the honour to quilt this piece for baby Madison. I hope she loves it as she grows.

Thanks for looking!

A Cross-Stitch or Quilt Party

Actually, this kind of party is among my favorites. I love for a group (or a couple) of friends to gather and we gab and drink tea and quilt or stitch. Usually there is more gabbing and laughing than stitching, but that's okay. That's what makes it a party and not a chore. So in that light, here is some crafty updates.

First my huge cross-stitch finish of the month:

America, Land That We Love
c. Jean Farish Designs
Started December 27, 2004
Finished February 22, 2007
81.5 hours stitching
This is my biggest *happy dance* in a while.

Secondly, here is a little bag I stitched up this week. I'll soon have pics of the second one I stitched (and maybe a third and fourth if I sew this week).

This is a great little bag that I first saw on Katrina's site. Then Lisa made one for me for a Christmas exchange, and I love it! Then Pauline started stitching them. I finally got my hands on the instructions last week. They are a breeze to make, and so versatile.

March will hopefully be a big stitching month for me. Here are my goals:
1. Finish stitching Texas by Hinzeit
2. Start and finish Alabama by Hinzeit
3. Complete 2 blocks for baby quilts
4. Prep my Stained Glass piece for Blackwork Round Robin
5. Complete the blue background section of Rosewood Manor's Flag Sampler
6. Make at least one more tote bag.

I participate in a weekly meme with Stitching Bloggers. Here is this week's question:

Today's SBQ was suggested by Danielle (http://scopist.blogspot.com/)
and is:
Do you find yourself stitching faster when you are getting to the end of a design?

I don't think I stitch faster as I near the end, but I do stitch more determined to finished--I take fewer breaks, etc. I stitch pretty fast to begin with, so speed is not really an issue; commitment to one piece is the issue.

Thanks for indulging my craft habits. Do you craft? Do you get together with a group? I'd love to hear what you do.

Have a blessed Sunday!