Stitching Goals?

Christmas Eve


Last Year's Post-Christmas Mess


Tomorrow night we'll be celebrating the new year--hard to believe it, this one has flown by so quickly.

I have taken my Christmas decorations down, and they're all thrown in one corner waiting to be put away. I don't like to leave them up too long after Christmas. I guess to me I feel like, "It's over, time to move on." Do you take your decorations down right away, or do you wait until after the New Year's holiday?

I have never been one to set stitching goals. I really admire those who do it, but it's just not in my nature.

This year, however, I do vow to finish this piece:

Mirabilia's Summer Queen

There's only a bit of beading left to do, and few patches here and there of stitching. I also noticed that some of the beading needs to be redone. I'm just not happy with how those beads on her head are looking.

I also should finish this piece. I only have a bit left to do:


Oberlin's Minnesota Sampler

I've had these WIPS for far too long ,not to mention several others. I've had an afghan I haven't finished in years and years. It's ridiculous, I think I started it in 1990!!!!


Granny's Attic Afghan by Sue Hillis, with Sam Hawkin's patterns thrown into it

Not to mention Paula Vaughan's Wedding Ring Bouquet, which is pretty well underway:



And the beautiful Fruit Bellpull by Theresa Wentzler, which is barely started:


I'm kind of tired of seeing them unfinished, really, and I don't usually feel that way about any WIP...even if it's very old. Each Christmas I vow to make ornaments for the upcoming year, and I never seem to do it. Hopefully this year will be different, but I won't hold my breath. I'd also like to do a bit of surface embroidery this year, and must figure out a way to factor that into my stitching time. I have a huge pile of iron-on patterns that seems to grow and grow, without any progress in the actual embroidery done! Does that happen to you?

Do you set stitching goals? Do you find you reach them each year? What sort of goals do you set? I used to rotate my projects to try and get more done on them. Maybe I need to go back to that method. Please do share, I would love to know how you do it.

Thanks for stopping by today! Happy New Year to you and yours!

Christmas Memories

I got this ornament way back in 1987 from a very dear friend. I love hanging up all the precious ornaments I've received over the years. I haven't made many ornaments myself, but some year I will!

Here is a recap of the holiday season, done pictorially:


Animated Figures on a beautiful display we visited


Arriving at the Hotel's Display


Gorgeous Lights!


Viewing Beautiful Lights


Love the Carriage- Some Lucky Folks Ready for a Ride


An Elf


Stagecoach Ride


From Across the Street, and Down a Block

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Some Crafty Project Kits


Love the Colors!


Waiting for Adornment
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I did a lot of baking this holiday season, but I didn't take any pictures of anything I baked or made. The bottom line is I realized that next year I won't do very much baking. I'm saying that now, but maybe by next December I'll forget my words.

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A Few of Our Stockings
Counted Crosstitch and Country Crafts Heirloom Stockings by Donna Kooler (BHG)


Reindeer from Finland- A Gift to my Parents

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It was a wonderful holiday, and we had family with us on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Day. I can't believe it's already over for another year. I hope you too had a joyous holiday.

 

Thanks for stopping by today!

More Autumn Events

Autumn Colors
Originally uploaded by Elliotphotos

A beautiful fall photo from the photos of Elliotphotos, on Flickr (click on it to get a better view)
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Before I get to the present time, I wanted to share a few more autumn photos. Above is a gorgeous photo taken by a fellow Flickr member. The colors are so gorgeous. Thanks, Elliotphotos, for allowing other Flickr members to share your photos and enjoy the beauty you've captured with your lens.

One other fall outing we went on was an evening trip to the local county fair. I encouraged my husband to take a photo of this fair stand in all its tacky glory and color. Just look at it:



The nutty ice cream cone towards the top of the stand was about 12 feet tall! It's like a giant sugar nightmare.

Later on in the fall we celebrated our grandson's first birthday. What a fun day that was, and it's amazing to think already a year has passed since he was born.

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Lizzie Kate Design- Sampling Thanksgiving

Finally we're getting a bit closer. Thanksgiving was wonderful! Here are a few photos of that day's meal:


Turkey- Brined and Baked



Coleslaw, Mom's Cranberries, and my orange cranberry bread

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Thanks for coming by today! It's great to have you visiting here.

Dusting the Blog A Bit

Today someone mentioned to me that my blog had 'dust on it'. She is so right, I haven't been here in a long while.

I was thinking about it the other day, in fact, and decided that I should just post some pictures from the last few months, and thus be 'caught up' and 'to date' on this little blog.

But first, a crosstitched oldie in honor of the season. This was a very unfinished WIP that I completed years after starting it. (like 15 years later, or more...)


It was a Stoney Creek giveaway, and I've yet to have it framed. Oh, procrastination, again! It is truly a seasonal piece called "Home for the Holidays", but it would be nice to have it displayed this time of year, wouldn't it?

Back in October, we visited Disneyland to see the fall decorations and other Halloween features. Here are some photos from that day:




The Main Street Train Station


A Lamppost on Main Street


The Haunted Mansion at HalloweenTime


Sally from Nighmare Before Christmas


Town Square Jack O'Lantern


People on Main Street, Waiting for the Parade



The Balloon Man- One of my Childhood Favorites to See

I always wondered how they managed to carry around all those balloons and not have them get all tangled up together!


Service Dog on Main Street, Disneyland U.S.A

Next time we'll get into November here, and get closer to the present time. Thanks for stopping by today!

I hope you're having a great holiday season.