First 2024 Completion

 It has already been an eventful 2024 and it's only one week in. I worked three of the days so far and have been trying to get a handle on plans for our vacation in a month. It finally became cold enough for the ground to freeze, so I haven't had to fight the mud battle I was waging in December. There have been a couple of doctor visits for me and for dogs, and finally a couple of days to try to relax. Of course the minute I sat down I spent most of a day doing paperwork. I swear the world gives me more busywork than an elementary school teacher! Saturday I was excited to have a friend over to stitch with me for a few hours. That is the first time in a couple of years I have been able to make that happen! We had a great time. I was working on the letter Z in the Black & White project. She was working on Glendon Place's Plum Pudding. 

Today I was able to finish the letter Z. I was pretty excited because it seemed like it took far longer than I hoped. I grabbed the letter Y to work in next but decided that I wanted to work on The Bramble and the Rose a bit before I started back in on some of my smaller portable projects. Here is the finish of Z and some of the progress on The Bramble and the Rose:

Now that it is winter (it snowed about 6" today), I start to think about what WIPs I can work through to completion. And I always hope I will be able to get more done than I actually do. This year I'm going to think more about just trying to find time to stitch and not worry about what I might or might not complete. I am hoping that things start to settle down with the house so I'm not tied up with fixing all the things that one finds wrong with a 200 year old home the first year living in it! I look forward to making things to make it beautiful instead of just focusing on just keeping it standing - a lofty goal. 

I know that things always happen and some are good and some are challenging. I hope that everyone this year is able to find more fun times than challenging ones and that the challenging times are short lived. Be well!

Holiday Projects

 This time of year is always busy, even if you don't celebrate the winter holidays. I always pick up overtime so others can spend time with their families - and it is extra pay after all. But it is also dark and the weather is in upheaval, so what better time to work on sewing projects?

This year I joined the Milk & Honey Quilters Guild. I haven't had a chance to go to a meeting yet, but I did join the mug rug exchange and the 30-year challenge project. I am still working out what I want to do for the 30 year challenge, although I have the fabric. But the mug rug exchange is done and I was excited to make a fun little project for one of the other quilters.

This is a great pattern. The green block to the left is a pocket for holding tea bags or a napkin. I recevied lovely feedback from the recipient. It was nice to participate in the group effort.

I have also been going to the fabric projects group at my local library a couple times a month as my schedule permits. I have been able to make some progress with my various projects. No photos at this time however. I've been a bum on that front. I have made good progress on the letter Z from Black & White. That is really all I have been focusing on currently. Although I had a day of educational seminars and was able to quilt for the day. During that time I madea couple of blocks for the Nebula quilt and move my halloween quilt along. I also made huge progress on a queensize quilt I am working up. So this is all encouraging. As always, it is fits and starts because of this whole employment thing.

A few days left in the year to work on projects and then a new year begins - same plan as the last, do my best each day. And I'm looking forward to a vacation early in February. What a great way to welcome a new year!

Giving Thanks

 Thanksgiving came early to my home this year. We have other obligations on the actual holiday so my Aunt and I decided to get together early this year to have some turkey, good conversation and a little break from our daily lives. We had a wonderful time and enjoy a delightful pre-cooked turkey with all the trimmings and some roasted vegetables. It was lovely.

Not long before she came I was able to wrap up binding a couple of quilting projects I had laying around (it was "cleaning"). I am so happy with the result on both of these.

The first is my own design. I made it to commemorate completing the 46 Adirondack High Peaks a few years ago. It was fun to participate in the seminar at the Schweinfurth Art Center which resulted in this quilt. The second quilt is Mod Flower Box by Robin Pickens. It was a lot of fun to do and was the first time I was sewing round pieces. I have another one that I made with the same fabrics except with a light gray background. I feel lke the black background is so dramatic.

In the meantime I am doing little projects about the house and spending some time working on my Black and White, perpetual calendar, and marine life stitching projects. I discovered that there is a stitching group that meets at the local library a couple times per month. Everyone is lovely. One of the ladies owns an alpaca farm and sells knitting and crochet patterns as Berry Meadow. They are gorgeous - she is very talented at project design.I'm looking forward to getting to know all of these people better over the next year.

Fall Stitching

This summer was so rainy and we were so short at work that I spent most of my time at work. Not much stitching was happening. But now that the weather is turning and I am working fewer days I have been able to work on my project. This week I did some mending and some quilt binding. But I was able to finish the next in my Mill Hill Marine  Life Quartet...the turtle!

I'm hoping I will be able to get some work done on my calendar project or my alphabet project in the next few days. But in the middle of the week I am heading out for a dog show and am not sure how much I will be able to sitch since I will be camping. I'm hoping I am able to improve my dog show technique!! My dogs deserve it!

Spring is Turning to Summer

 It has been a lovely spring in Vermont. We wish we had more rain for the plants, but it has been nice to be able to be outside on sunny days as much as we have. It has been a hot week here, but nothing too intolerable if you are able to pull up a comfy chair in the shade.

This past week I was able to finish one of the new projects I purchased. In January I got the bug for some beading/cross stitch kits and ordered far too many. I decided to start stitching the Marine Life Series from Mill Hill so I can have a few more "beachy" items in my morning room. I finished the lobster and couldn't be happier with the outcome.

I have started on the Turtle and have made some great progress. I am still working on the perpetual calendar project, but I needed a little break from it.

Meanwhile the puppy continues to grow like crazy. He is an awesome addition to the pack and has really bonded with his big sister Doss who is also new to the pack.

My biggest challenge right now is that my allergies are flaring like crazy so I am very very tired much of the time. This is cutting into my stitching time because I am often just fall asleep in my stitching chair. Not that it is terrible to get some extra sleep! Hopefully the rain this evening will knock some of the pollen down so I can perk up some. 

Vacations, Puppies, Stitching = Spring Fun

 April was a busy month for me. We were getting ready for a vacation and prepping for two new additions to the household. The weather was overall cold and damp so my free time was all about the stitching. I was able to finish the next month in the Perpetual Calendar project. 

I'm hoping to be able to keep finding time to stitch, but I know it will be difficult because I picked up my two new dogs this week. Sprite is a 9 week old German Shepherd Dog.

Doss is a 1 year old Bloodhound who needed to be rehomed when her owner passed away. 

They are both settling in well. I am sure we are going to have a great time with the new additions!

We also went on vacation last week. It was a nice break and took us to the Carribean for a little sunshine. We have been wondering why no one is showing up with fancy meals now that we are home. Terrible!! It couldn't have been a better time. We are looking forward to the next one!

March Shenanigans

We are coming up on St Patricks Day. For many this means a day to imbibe, get red faced and be merry. For me this means the anniversary of passing the nursing licensing exam and the confirmation that I would be able to continue having a job. It also marks the onset of spring. This will be our first spring in the new home and I am excited to see the greenery coming out on the farm and watching (maybe even helping) Jon put in his gardens. 

However, today we have gotten about a foot of very wet heavy snow and I am also off work. I just worked a 6 day stretch and am very uninterested in doing much of anything. I was awake at 5 am, but stayed in bed reading the news and snoozing for a bit. Then the power (and my internet) went out for a few minutes so I got up. The dogs and I went outside and jumped around in the snow for a bit. I shoveld the walk. They did not help. We then stood in the kitchen for a bit. Then there was another cavorting trip to the outdoors. Then impoortant-seeming phonecalls to ensure adult things were adressed. The cat and Jon came down to break up the party. There was general confusion for a bit as the cat was trying to help with the project and thus was taken outside to be reminded how distasteful it is to have to live somewhere other than here.

An egg sandwich was then made and destroyed. I took to the couch to complete a project. 

I have finished the April installation of the "Fun Every Day!" calendar from Sam*Sarah. Sadly, Patti Connor, the artist, has retired from stitching. So here is the photo of my finish from today:

So now, over the course of 3 years I have successfully completed 4 months totalling 16 tags. What might be the chances I will finish this project this year? Probably not very good.

I have been working on The Bramble and the Rose but do not have a photo update at this time. Not much more to say on that!

I shall now begin the May series for the calendar. It is a good day for stitching.