A finishing finish

Back in September last year I posted about trying out 40 ct for the first time after a friend gave me a piece of her's at the weekend GTG
Today I finally got fed up of seeing it sat there along with everything needed to make it so I've sat and done it.

Considering how bad my finishing skills are I'm really pleased with how it's turned out

Start #6

VS Jingle Bells Xmas Tree Farm

Most of band 4, I still have a few things to do on it but they can wait until next month

Fantasy Sampler

After have such a successful year last year with Floral Bellpull and TW Monday's this year I'm going to work on Fantasy Sampler along with one day of the TW SAL weekend (Mermaid will have the other)
So this is how it looked yesterday morning before I start my quest to finish it this year

I don't remember it being quite so far along but hey I'm not complaining means I may get it finished early in the year allowing me to concentrate on a different one
Yesterday was said TW SAL weekend so I worked on the lion (top right box for those of you that don't know the design) and got most of him done so today I'll work on getting him and his box finished if I do I'll move onto the greenery on the left that's started

New start #4

A birth sampler for my first grandchild due March 23
I picked up the Riddle this morning fully intending to spend all day today and tomorrow on it before joining in on a TW SAL this weekend.
But after trying to the queen stitch beehive 4 times I gave up (doesn't help that I've been sick all week and my head is still catching up with the rest of my body in getting better) and started a nice simple Waxing Moon design of a Snowman instead

First HD of 08

TW's Holiday Jar Lids from Just Cross Stitch Dec 1989

As you'll of worked out they are suppossed to be made into those thingies (can't remember the name of them) that go on top of jars but being me I decided that I'd be different and stitch them in row with the idea of making a mini bellpull (please don't laugh, I can do such things but it's rare)

Crimson Poppies

I started this in 06 and if I remember rightly the chart was a gift off my Secret Stitcher at the time (I don't have the info to hand), when I was going through my WIPs deciding which one's I would work on for the next 6 months this one called out to me.

If you want a before pic go take a look in the Silver Lining album at Webshots, I can't do a before pic as they were all done with the old puter and I'm not sure where I put the disc with the pics on

New Start # 3

Red Velvet Inscription Sampler by Blue Ribbon Designs

I'm stitching it on 40 count Newcastle linen and using NN 195.

Other than a tiny freebie I did after a friend gave me a piece of her 40 ct last year it's the first time I've done anything on such a small count and I've decided that I love it.
If I had a piece left that was big enough I'd be starting one of the huge Silver Lining's I have in my stash on it, as it is I don't but if I get chance and have the £ in the next couple of weeks I'll be off to Willow Fabrics for some more so I can start one

The second new start is......

TW's Mermaid, stitched on Beige Jazlyn and started on Saturday morning

Most of what you can see was done on Saturday, I spent most of Sunday fighting a migraine and wasn't up to stitching until quite late in the day

I got to see an almost finished one in person last year and was tempted to start it then but I resisted because I wanted to get Floral Belpull done first then a SAL came up on TWBB the first weekend of the month so I thought why not.

Other than the SAL I'm planning on working on it one day of the third weekend when I take part in a TW SAL

Things I keep getting moaned at for not posting

AKA I have a bad memory

First up is the scan of my first Grandchild due March 23rd, I've had this since November but 1) I have a bad memory and 2) I couldn't get a decent pic on the digicam.
I now however have a nice new all in one that talks to my new puter so I thought I'd better it done before I get moaned at again by DD

Also from DD is the news that she got engaged on Christmas Day last year and they plan to get married on July 4th 2009
I've told DD that she needs to get it booked now and tell DT that he's not allowed to be filming that day cause I want to meet him (DD's BF is friends with The Doctor)

And the last thing is my final advent gift, ExH gave me a beautiful sparklie silver pendant


It took me about 3 hours today to get the new gadget up and running, it's not that I'm a techno phob? but that I've been fighting a migraine all day so could only do a bit at a time before my brain gave up or felt like throwing up from moving to much
The little pink and yellow pills are working their magic at last and I don't feel quite so bad now

My first new start

Tessellations by Orna Willis

Started at 1.30am on New Years day, not a good time to start a new project cause I ended up having to frog some of it!
I have 2 more cells to do in these colours but after 10 hours of unpicking Jessica stitches and redoing them several times I couldn't face it anymore
I'm sorry the pic is so dark, the colours are much brighter IRL

Dec progress & January Goals

For December I said
Finish Floral Belpull Done
Finish The Riddle I changed my mind about this one and finished a few WIPS instead
Get an ornament done for my parents and DD Done, both ornaments came from my stock of stitched ones
Decide on Jan starts Done
Pick WIPs for first 6 months of 08 Done

For January I'd like to
Finish the Riddle
Start all the new projects I want
Try and work on a WIP or two

So far I've started on Tessellations and done my hour for this week on a UFO as part of a SAL, this morning I've been pulling floss to send out with Angel of the Morning that's off on her travels as my project for this years UFORR.
This afternoon when I'm home from shopping I'll be pulling floss ready to do a floss toss to pick fabric to start on Mermaid this weekend as part of a SAL on TWBB

2008 Goals

This year I would like to

1, End the year with less than 30 WIPs (I'm starting with 41! Let me know if you want a list)
2, Reduce my stash in some way (kits, charts or fabric, most likely to be fabric) even though I'm getting off the Wagon
3, Finish a large TW
4, Start and hopefully finish Tessellations
5, Get some ornaments done
6, At least match the number of SOLAK squares I did in 07 (which was 16)
7, Finish more than I start or at least have them even by the end of the year
8, Not get sucked into any more challenges (SAL are OK)
9, Get off the wagon and stay off

As for my 2007 goals I'd only really set myself one and that was to finish Dragonheart which I did on June 6
I had a really good stitching year in 2007 with a total of 1000hrs 15mins, 39 starts and 33 finishes

Happy New Year

To one and all, may 2008 be Happy, healthy and stash filled