Is It 2010 Yet?

I can't believe how fast this year has gone by. Just yesterday I was gearing up for New Year's Eve 2009.


This year has had many ups and downs. Hubby stopped working with his father in the beginning of the year and while this made us tighten up on the household budget, it was really a blessing in disguise. Hubby won't admit it, but I think he is a much happier person for it. Hubby ended up finding another job he liked, but we are faced with the fact that his job will end today. Due to no fault of his own, hubby is now jobless again. Hopefully 2010 will bring better things for us on that front.


I have had quite the year too. I have been kept very busy on the stitching front. I was able to complete 52 projects this year, some big and some small. Most of them were for myself, but I managed to get in a few gifts and my first exchange. I hope that 2010 will entice me with more exchanges. I was also able to model stitch several things for Crescent Colours that appeared at the St. Charles Market in September 2009. My highlight of 2009 was to help work the Crescent Colours booth during the St. Charles Market. It was so exciting to meet many of the designers and I'm hoping that I'll be able to attend many more markets in 2010 and beyond. In addition to all of that, my full time job is as crazy as ever after 12 years. I will have much to look forward to during the beginning of 2010, since that is my busy time of year.


Christmas was action packed this year. We began Christmas Eve at home were we opened up a few gifts and spilled our stockings. (We filled each other's stockings this year since we weren't at home for Christmas) Then we got on the road and headed about two hours northwest to spend Christmas with hubby's family (on his mother's side). We had so much fun and even had a white Christmas with the snow that was leftover from a storm a few days before. My (almost 17 year old) nephew thought that it was 80 instead of 30 and insisted on doing the "snow walk" for us.

We headed home Christmas Day and spent the late evening with Hubby's Dad. I have to say that I was so very glad to be home! Way too much traveling for a 24 hour time span, but well worth it! We defiantly had a great day......look at that haul!

I have great plans for 2010 on the stitching front. My New Year's start will be a BAP this year. I'm going to start on Moulin Rouge by Long Dog Samplers. I was supposed to work on that this year as a stitch-a-long with my bestie from Arizona, but with all the model stitching she gave me it went to the wayside. I'm also in the process of finishing up some model stitching for the 2010 Nashville market before I get real busy at work. I also want to try my hand at some "finishing" this year. Pretty ambitious, I know! I also want to try and blog a little more, but we will just have to wait and see how that goes as well.

Looks like I need to get going. I still need to pick up a few things from the store so that we hubby and I can ring in the New Year in style. I wish all my friends, old and new, a very Happy and Healthy New Year. May this year bring you nothing but good things!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!

My Wish For You

I'm not sure if I will get a chance to blog again before the New Year, so..........

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas or any other holiday, I would like to wish you and your family a Happy Holidays.

May 2010 put blessings into your life.

Happy New Year!

My Clients ROCK!

The best thing in the world just happened to me. I went up to the front office to drop off some files and I was greeted with a surprise.

One of the clients that I work on sent me a wonderful arrangement of Christmas goodies. It is filled with all kinds of yummy looking chocolate, cookies and snacks. As much as I bitch, moan and complain about them each month while I calculate profits and bonuses, they really are a good group. It just means so much more than it normally would with everything that has gone on recently.

I took a little more time for myself last night and I worked on "Bo Peep". I think she has become the key to getting me back into the groove. Maybe I'll even be able to finish her before the end of the year. Here is where she sits now:

I thought I'd leave you with this cute picture I took of the Pupster the other night. He is holding his Hanukkah present from his Grandma & Granddaddy. It is one of those TY beanie dog toys. He just loves to make it crunch and squeak. He was just sleeping so peacefully after romping his heart out with his new toy.

Happy Stitching!

It Was Supposed To Get Better

I'd like to thank everyone for all of your suggestions and comments about my "blah attitude". I did take a little time for myself on Tuesday night and I spent some quality stitching time in my little corner of the couch.

By yesterday afternoon I was feeling a little bit better and a little more optimistic about the season in general. My grandfather had given us some money for Hanukkah and we earmarked it for a new table for our dining area (we don't have an eat in kitchen). We found the perfect size counter height table and chairs on Sunday, so last night I thought I'd take advantage of "The Biggest Furniture Sale of the Year" (they say that about every sale) at a major furniture store in town. As luck would have it, the price with tax was less than I had originally thought.....by about $40. We are going to pick it up this weekend. So, in a better mood I headed home.

Once I was home I sat down to watch the new accapella show that was on NBC. (I love that kind of stuff, it must be the high school bandie coming out in me.) I was about to settle into my stitching corner when Hubby called. He informed me that "something was going on at work" and he would call me back after they had a meeting. An hour later he called with the news that they are closing at the end of the month. UGH!!! Just when we were getting back on track with everything! I know I should be happy that he got the notice instead of showing up to work one morning/afternoon only to see a sign saying "CLOSED". So, yet again we are going to have to tighten our belts.......that means no new stitchy purchases for me after today.

Some good news is that I am supposed to be receiving some model stitching next week. I had planned on putting that money into savings so that I could attend the Shepherd's Bush retreat in 2010, but going to Utah again is beginning to look more like a dream than a reality. I'm still going to put that money into savings, but I'm going to hope and pray that Hubby finds something to tide us over so that I don't have to dig into the savings. Sheesh!

But, I'm still grateful.......after all, I do have a wonderful job and somehow, someway I know that we will be fine even though I'm in panic mode again.

I think I'll do a little more stitching tonight. I hope it will help......

Bah, Humbug!

I'm just not in the mood. Not in the Holiday mood or in the Stitching mood. I'm not real sure what it is all about. Don't get me wrong, I'm by no means depressed, but I'm just not feeling that holiday spirit.

(I tired decorations.)

Our little 4ft tree sits proudly on the hearth covered in handmade Christmas ornaments and even some Hanukkah ornaments. It also has plenty of gifts piled underneath. Our mantle is filled with Hanukkah decorations and most of the Hanukkah gifts were passed out over the weekend while at my mother's house. (Dad's "holiday party" is this weekend so we only have one gift to get before Sunday.) There are still a few Christmas gifts to buy, but most of them will be purchased this upcoming weekend when we travel to a part of town that we rarely see.

But I still don't feel it........the holiday spirit.........

(I tried lights.)

I come home from work each night and the first thing I do is turn on the tree. I just love seeing all those little white lights. I love how they reflect off of the ornaments and send sparkles all over the room. I love seeing the piles of gifts under the tree.

But, I still don't feel it.........the holiday spirit........

(I tried food.)

We are having our Holiday party at work tomorrow. It will start off with a wonderful luncheon at a local seafood restaurant. Then we will have cake and "reindeer games" later on in the afternoon.

But, I still don't feel it...........the holiday spirit.......

Maybe it is the fact that the sun sets so early this time of year. Maybe it is the situation with our economic "crisis" or the war(s) overseas. Maybe it is the fact that I know too many friends/loved ones with financial problems, marital problems and health problems. Maybe that is what is bringing me down.

Please help me feel that holiday spirit!!!!!

Maybe I'll feel better after I get my stitching mojo back.......

Wow! This last week really flew by. I can’t believe that I haven’t posted once this week. I’ve had very good intentions, but you know “best laid plans” and all that jazz…..
I had a hard time with my Christmas Holly ornament last week so I was able to work in a couple of other finishes in between stitching times. (That’s what I get for trying to stitch over one on 40ct!) I started and finished two ornaments. Both of these will be gifts for cousins on my Hubby’s side. We decided that they will get these ornaments along with a small gift card from Williams Sonoma. I just hope that they don’t expect a stitched ornament every year. While I do enjoy stitching and giving them away, I don’t always have the time.
I picked some easy ones this year, so I didn’t have to worry about not finishing in time…..

2008 Snowman Freebie
By The Prairie Schooler
32ct mystery fabric

Peace*Joy*Love
By Lizzie*Kate
40ct Acorn by R&R Reproductions

I also managed to finish Christmas Holly. This was my 50th finish for the year. I have to say, I’m quite impressed with myself (LOL!) and I’m going to have a hard time giving it away. It is just so cute and dainty!

Christmas Holly
By Hands to Work
40ct Vintage Meadow Rue by Lakeside Linen

This past week was also filled with fun at work. I had to attend a two day Tax Seminar. While there were many interesting parts (especially when dealing with new tax laws) there were also just as many boring parts. Last year I took Christmas cards with me and I was able to address them. This year I’ve been slack and I have yet to purchase cards. So, in order to keep myself awake, I brought stitching with me. I dug through my stash and picked out the 2009 Scissor Fob by Shepherds Bush. I figured that since it was a 2009 fob I’d better hurry to stitch it. I wasn’t able to finish it since I did have to pay close attention to several of the topics being discussed, but I think I did a pretty good job anyway. I guess I will have to put the ‘pedal to the metal’ and get it done in the next two weeks.

Well, I was a bad girl this weekend and I forgot to take a picture of the framed Hanukkah Bits that I gave my mother for Hanukkah. I guess I’ll have to remember next time I go over there. Now that I think about it, I forgot my Pampered Chef Deviled Egg carrier too. Hmmm…….just another “what was I thinking” episode, I guess!

Happy Stitching!

Still Not Thinking

I took a break from my own stitching on Wednesday night to help a dear friend with her Christmas stocking. It was a welcome change from my own work. This was my first time stitching on a Shepherd's Bush stocking, but hopefully it won't be my last.

Stitching on her stocking also gave me inspiration to keep going on my latest project. Remember that dang 40ct OVER ONE ornament???? Well, I guess I'm still not thinking, because here it is after an hour or so last night......

(Sorry about the color and the distortion, but this was a quick cell phone snap in the dark this morning.) My goal is to have this dang thing done by the end of the weekend. I really need to get moving since I have two other ornaments to stitch as gifts for family members. Thank goodness the other two ornaments are NOT on 40ct over one. Although I love how it is turning out, I couldn't hack another one like this right now!

Happy Stitching!

What Was I Thinking?

The Thanksgiving weekend was full of fun and family for me this year. I spent the day cooking at my mother's house and watching football on TV. (GO COWBOYS!!!) Dinner started around 6pm and included my mom & step-dad, two (of three living) grandfathers, my Uncle, his fiance, my husband, his mother and her boyfriend. Oh, and most importantly.....our pups. You know it is not a family gathering if the dogs are missing!

Black Friday was not full of shopping for me, but full of family. I got to see my cousins (who live out of town) and their families. It was so nice to see them again. I couldn't believe that the last time we saw them was on my wedding day over a year and a half ago. Time just flies by!

Sunday was spent "getting into the season". We put Hanukkah decorations on the mantle and our little 4ft tree on the hearth. Then hubby and I filled the tree with all of our Hanukkah ornaments and stitched Christmas ornaments. As my sister says....."Now it's a Hanukkah Bush, Silly" (What was I thinking???)

I also decided to get ahead of the game and make a list of all the people we need gifts for as well as those we have already bought for. My that list got long......real fast! We've already spent quite a bit of money in total and we are really trying to watch our budget. This really didn't help when I realized how much more we needed to buy. (What was I thinking???)

In my infinite wisdom I decided that this might be a good year to make a few gifts instead of buying them. Heck, I've got a ton of stash as well as quite a few years of Just Cross Stitch Ornament issues. Might as well put them to good use, right?

Now, over the weekend I was out at Michael's and I picked up these great little ornament frames:

I also picked out several different patterns. This one won't fit into the frame, but I have some great fabric to make it into an ornament.

Caroline by Miss Crescent's Crowne

Stitched on 32ct Days Gone By by Silkweaver

I also picked a great design by Hands to Work called Christmas Holly. I had all the Belle Soie it called for, so no substitutions there. I just played around with fabric colors from my stash and I came up with Lakeside Linen's Vintage Meadow Rue. It's a lovely shade of brown and the picture doesn't show its warmth:

Now, I wasn't really bothered by the fact that it was on 40ct. That is one of my favorites! But, look closer........

IT IS 40CT OVER ONE!!!! WHAT WAS I THINKING????????

You've got to love the insanity of the holiday season! Seriously, what was I thinking????

Happy Stitching!