Sunday, January 26, 2014

Update on UFO goal

Today, I finished my 2nd UFO for this year.  It is version 2 of Mary's Sampler by Plum Street Samplers.  I really enjoyed this piece, both versions.  I hope she does another one like it soon!


My next UFO will be Fright Night Friends by Stoney Creek.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Stitching from Stash update

This year, I decided to take a stab at reducing my pile of stash and UFOs.  To help with that, first I made a couple of resolutions - stitch 12 ornaments this year and finish 10 UFOs.  I also joined a group that's spending the year putting ourselves on a stash diet.

So far, I'm doing great!  I stitched one ornament


finished one UFO

started and finished a quilt square

and almost have a 2nd UFO finished!  All of this was done from my stash, with only 2 skeins of DMC thread purchased that I was missing.  I have spent a grand total of 70 cents!!

Monday, January 20, 2014

My weekend

It was a pretty darned productive weekend!  

Saturday morning I did my drug testing for Citi.  They've hired me on permanently and my start date is January 27.  I'm so  excited!

My friend, Belinda came over with her sister, Kathy.  They do quilting and we're wanting to do a craft show together so we were talking about a lot of different options.  They brought me 2 gifts.  The first was a quilted bag that they are selling.  It's an emergency car kit and is filled with things like nuts, cheese & crackers, lotion, wipes, etc.  Things that you may need in the car and not necessarily have in your purse.  It's really nice and they're selling them for $30 each.  I will take a picture and post on my blog later.

The 2nd was a floor Ott lamp.  Belinda had ordered a table lamp from Joann's and when it came, the manufacturer had packaged it with the floor lamp free.  She had no need for a floor lamp and new that I was wanting a new one.  So, she brought it over to me!  I love my new lamp!!

I had a couple of finishes this weekend.  I finished a quilt square for a friend.  This is a very special young woman who had a big cancer scare.  She was a member of one of my stitching groups so we decided to make a quilt for her.

I worked on my crocheted slippers, got down to 1/2" of being done & ran out of yarn!!  Guess they'll have to wait awhile! 

Today I'm going to be working on Mary's Sampler version 2 and then a crocheted ruffle skirt after that.  We're going to be going on a virtual tour of Martin Luther King's home later today.  If anyone else is interested, here's the link  http://www.nps.gov/features/malu/feat0001/BirthHomeTour/
 

Sunday, January 12, 2014

My first UFO finish for 2014

One of my goals for 2014 is to finish 10 UFOs from my UFO box.  This is the first one.  It is Mary's Sampler version 1 from Plum Street Samplers and done as a SAL.  It is the story of Mary's part in Jesus' birth and along with the sampler, the designer posted the Bible verses done very nicely.  http://www.plumstreetsamplers.typepad.com/plum_street_samplers/page/2/

 I was doing well on this, finishing each section within a couple of days of release, until the last section was released.  On Version 1, it is the border.  It took quite awhile to get it done.  Version 2 is not only the border, but 2 additional parts that need to be stitched.  

The finishing will be to frame this on top of a 3 ring binder covered with Christmas fabric in coordinating colors.  I will then print out the Bible verse pages that go with it, basically telling the story of Jesus' birth, and place them inside the binder in page protectors.  This will be a Christmas gift for a loved one this year.  I've now killed 3 birds with 1 stone - 
  1. 1 of my 10 UFOs finished for the year
  2. My first Christmas gift almost finished
  3. Entirely done from my stash - no items were purchased to make this project.


How are YOUR goals coming along for this year??

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

My first finish for 2014

I've finished my first ornament for 2014.  It is the Amaryllis Artwork's ornament from the 2010 JCS Ornament issue (love my cd!) titled North Star Mandala.  I love the way it came out but I still have to figure out how to finish it.  Anyone want to volunteer to do it for me??


Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2014 is here!!

2013 was a good year, all in all.  There were many ups & downs.  We moved from Manteno, IL to St Charles, MO.  I'm now working full time and Rich is staying home with Mariah.  Mariah has joined a homeschool co op for art & drama classes.  She's doing great with her homeschooling.

2014 is a new year.  I always try to set goals to meet for each year and this year is no different.  I'm going to post them here and give you an update on the first of each month.

1. Lose 75 lbs by 12/31/14.
2. Learn to cook Asian food from scratch.
3. Take 3 accounting classes through MIT.
4. Read 50 books....
5. Save $4200.
6. Stitch 12 ornaments.
7. Finish 10 UFOs.

What are your goals for 2014??