Saturday 5 January 2008

2007 Review and 2008 Goals

Hi everyone - thanks for all your lovely Christmas messages over the holiday period! I'm now back from holidays and back to my computer (and my needle!).

I thought before we get too far into January, a review of 2007 would be a good idea - it was a big year for me stitching-wise! I had a lot of firsts - my first ever major finish (Mirabilia - Titania, Queen of the Fairies), my first ever exchange, my first ever PIF, my first ever SAL, my first ever biscornu, my first ever scissors fob, my first...well, I only started stitching in August 2006, so 2007 was definitely a big one for me! (You can see what I've been up to in 2007 here.) And of course, the very best bit was starting up this blog and meeting some very special people - thank you all for making my blogging, my stitching, and my life a wonderful place!

Okay, enough looking back. Onwards and upwards! For 2008, I've identified the following goals for myself:

1. Stitch at least one Christmas ornament a month. Leena has kindly agreed to be my SAL partner in this, so we're going to try and keep to this one weekend a month.

2. Stitch a least one Crazy Exchange a month. This is such a fantastic group of stitchers, knitters, quilters and crafters - I believe still open for membership so give it a try, it's such fun!

3. No more big starts until one of either Spanish Wine or Paradigm Lost is finished. It's so daunting seeing something huge in my pile of WIPs, I'm determined to keep at least the huge starts to a minimum (you will see that I haven't limited myself in terms of smaller designs!)

4. Stay on top of blogging, and reading your blogs - now that I've got a home computer, this should be a straightforward task....shouldn't it?? :)

5. Don't sign up to too many exchanges - being a fairly new stitcher, I'm still slow enough, and deadlines can stress me out, so I'm going to try to be sensible about it.

6. Stick to my stash budget!!! (Probably the most difficult of all my goals!)
7. (This is actually not a stitching goal, but it's crafting, so it counts!) Learn to quilt.

And, because I simply can't have a post without a photo or two, here are two ornaments I finished in time for Christmas. The first was for my sister out in Vancouver for her tree:


Design: Partridge in a Pear Tree by Prairie Schooler

Threads: DMC

Linen: 32ct cream

The second is my return Crazy Exchange for Saskia - you may remember the fabulous stitched box full of tea she sent me in late November. This is what I stitched in return for her, as I know she has a soft spot for Bent Creek designs - modelled below by my Christmas tree, which I have just finished taking down for yet another year *sniff*.

Design: The Villa by Bent Creek

Threads: WDW and GAST as charted

Linen: 32ct (I can't remember what now, I think it was CountryStitches linen!)

Wishing you all a happy, safe and successful 2008 - and of course Happy Stitching!

12 comments:

Becky K in OK said...

What wonderful goals. Your stitched ornaments are so pretty. Those trees weren't complete until they were handing on them!

Hazel said...

Brilliant goals Steph. I esp like the christmas ornie sal one weekend a month. If you stick to it you'll have 12 little ornies to put on your tree! Great finishes too. Can't wait to get your parcel. xx

Kathy A. said...

Wow, you have done an amazing number of first this year - good for you. I am hoping to do 12 ornaments this year too. I may not do one a month since sometimes the urge hits and I make several - I wish you good luck with these. Your Paradigm is looking lovely.

Jennifer said...

If you need extra encouragement to stitch ornaments (and a TON of ideas - loads of freebies!!) you're welcome to join us for the Christmas Ornie SAL. There's a whole bunch of stitchers involved and it's so much fun to see what everyone else is working on.

I also have another ornament project, a Bride's Tree SAL

Cheryl said...

Good to hear from you! Good luck with your goals. I too am hoping to stitch one Christmas ornie a month. Love your ornies in this post - ive done that partridge one, just need the other 11 now LOL

Andrea said...

Love the ornies and great goals too. Looking forward to seeing them come to fruition.

Lennu said...

Great to see you posting Stephanie! The ornaments are very beautiful! I look forward to stitching Christmas ornaments with you :)

Sharon said...

You did have an awesome year in 2007! Good luck with obtaining your goals in 2008. Your ornment finishes are lovely.

Sue said...

That's a great list of accomplishments for 2007. Your 2008 goals look very reasonable ;)

Nana's Quilts said...

You are amazingly talented and should give yourself a big pat on the back for all your projects and completions.

Just want you to know, I thought of you yesterday as I put on my Still Stitching socks! They are just great and always gather comments.

Soggy hugs from the PNW.
Marne

Carol said...

You really did have an impressive year, Steph, and I loved watching it all! Your goals look great and this will also be fun to watch :-)

Joyus said...

Very cute ornaments :)

Good luck with your goals for 2008