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

March Goals

In February I wrote:

1. Read 4 more books that are not school related, set in at least three countries that are not England or US, and that meets at least 3 prompts on my reading challenge. (Six books, 4 not school related, set in US, Ireland, South Korea, Scotland, Canada and Germany, meeting 5 prompts)
2. Blog 5 times (only 4 published, somehow forgot to publish one that is written and you will see soon)
3. Stitch the Australia block for Neighbourhood Round Robin (about 95%)
4. Plan baby quilt and gather materials (planned, waiting for materials; but whilst I wait I finished 1/3 of the handquilting on another quilt)
5. Finish scanning Jewel's school portfolios from Germany and scan Flower's as well (done)

Goals for March:

1. Read 4 more books that are not school related, set in at least three countries not yet read this year, and that meet at least 3 prompts on my reading challenge.
2. Blog 5 times
3. Finish stitching the Australia block for Neighbourhood Round Robin and begin stitching the Romania block
4. Start baby quilt when materials arrive
5. Complete 1/3 of hand quilting on t-shirt quilt (will be at 2/3 complete)
6. Organise bottom drawer of file cabinet, disposing of as much paper as possible (housing history, warranty and instruction books, etc)

A Stitching Update (photo heavy)

Once upon a time, one of the purposes of the blog was to connect with other stitchers and to keep a record of what I was stitching.  Stitching still remains one of the main ways I clear my head and relax. I thought I would do an update of the last six months or so, in case anyone was still out there.


My April goals included finishing these two projects.  First is Mirabilia's "Fairy Moon," shown with the companion piece "Stargazer," which was completed a couple of years ago.  I love how this turned out and now I need to get both framed!

Secondly, Drawn Thread's "Summer Garden" finished as a pillow for my guest room:

Whilst on holiday in Ireland, I completed a project of Victoria Sampler's "International Hearts" representing the countries where we have lived (note that I did Scotland, Wales and England to represent Great Britain):

One of my favourite stitching things is to participate in Round Robins, stitching on others' pieces whilst they stitch on mine. My latest RR theme was Coca-Cola Polar bears. I stitched the upper left hand hockey player.

In return, I stitched the lower left part of the heart and the medallion for my friends. Unfortunately the fourth participant's piece went missing in the post.
                                  

I finished a block on an old round robin that was international neighbourhood. This is representing The Netherlands.

As I mentioned, I lost a dear friend to cancer in April. She was one of my stitching friends, and several of us stitched blocks to be made into a quilt for her family. She and I had considered stitching a piece called "Noah's Submarine" together. I stitched a part of that pattern for the quilt.

Finally, here is my current project, Carriage House Sampling's "A Mind Independent and Free." I've finished approximate 25% of it.

Thanks for looking!

A Stitchy Post

I've actually accomplished some stitching the last couple of months. For my record keeping, I thought I'd go ahead and record them here.

First, Tree's afghan which I never showed off. It was finished before his dedication earlier this year.




I stitched 4 Christmas ornaments for teachers that I forgot to take pictures of...DOH!

But here are the ornaments I made for the kids. The backs are labeled with their names and the city and year. A nutcracker for Tree to represent Germany, a purple fairy for Jewel because that was the role she danced in Cinderella and an angel with a guitar for Flower because she began learning the guitar this year and was an angel in the church play (Jewel was also an angel).

And finished this week, Life Lessons by LizzieKate.

A Long-Overdue Stitchin' Post!!

I am finally back to stitching regularly after the sudden changes of this year. Here is a little recap of what I've been doing.

For a Stitch-a-long with a friend, we are doing "Bride's Tree" ornaments which are 12 Xmas ornaments which according to German folklore every new couple need on their tree. I'm doing three sets to put away for some special people in my life.

Here are the heart ornaments (for love):


Here is one of the rabbits (for hope/faith/peace with nature):


One of the flowers (for beauty in the home):


My current big project is The Names of God by My Big Toe Designs. I've completed page one:

Stitchin' Post February 13, 2010

Not much to show for my efforts this week. Here is the start of a Quaker Heart that will be part of one of the set of Bride's Tree ornaments I am making this year.



What are you stitching this week? I hope to finish this whilst watching the Olympics in the coming week. Hope you have a great weekend!

Stitchin' Post for February 6, 2010

I finally finished the border for my Neighbourhood Round Robin as well as my Texas square.  The pictures are not great, but they do give a sense of what it looks like.  I cannot get a good shot of the whole thing--our weather is too dreary.  First sunny day I'll take better pictures.






Thanks for looking!  What are you stitching or crafting this week?

Stitchin' Post Saturday-16 January 2010

No pictures of stitching this week. I've been working on the piecing of a mystery quilt. Almost finished piecing and should start quilting next week. After it is delivered I can post pictures.

What are you working on stitching-wise?

Have a great weekend!

Stitchin' Post Saturday-9 January 2010

Happy 2010!  My first Stitchin' Post of the New Year!  I have been stitching on the border of my Neighbourhood Round Robin, but will wait to take pictures until I have it completed.  Instead, I'll show my last completions of 2009.  I've already posted pictures of the stitched pieces, but I was able to get them framed on Christmas Eve and haven't shown that off yet.  I was really pleased with how they look, and they will take pride of place on the mantle every Christmas. (please forgive the reflections, I couldn't get a great shot of Bethlehem)  They are the exact same height, frame and matting.  The Kings are about 1/3 the length of the Bethelehem piece and will be placed as though they are walking toward Bethlehem.





So what stitching or crafting are you doing in the New Year?

Stitchin' Post Saturday-5 December 2009

How on earth is it December already? I really must finish-finish the Christmas ornaments this week!

I did finish Bethlehem last week and hope to frame it and get it on my mantle before Christmas. I'm so pleased with how it turned out. Was definitely a good impulse buy when we were in Branson this spring.




Have you finished your holiday crafts? Post a link....I'd love to see them.

Have a great day!

Stitchin' Post on a Sunday--22 November 2009

It's the weekend again, and time for a Stitchin' Post.  I've been thinking Christmas around here this week.

Here is the status of my Bethlehem silhouette that I'm stitching:


I completed Bent Creek's Winter Row this week as well:
 

So, what are you stitching this week?  I'd love to see links in the comments.

Have a blessed weekend!

The Stitchin' Post--31 October 2009

German was working out of town all week, which left me with extra time in the evenings (i.e. not as much cooking so not as much cleaning and no one to talk to after the kids were in bed...*sigh*) So, I made up for it with some extra stitching. Truthfully, I'd rather have him home and not get as much stitched. *sigh*

Here are the Three Kings by Imaginating that I completed this week. I'm not doing the rest of the design scene since this will be coupled with "Bethlehem" also by Imaginating and I didn't need two mangers in my Christmas decorating!



This sweet little ornament, mostly worked over one, will be for someone special. It still needs beads to be complete...and of course to be finished into an ornament.


More progress on the Texas Neighbourhood. The cotton field is proving to take longer than I anticipated. I *really* hate making french knots! But it is effective.


So, there you have it. Lots of stitching in a week. What are you up to craft, sewing or stitching wise? I'd love to see it!

Have a spectacular weekend.