2009 Has Arrived!!

Hoping that everyone has made it safely into 2009. It was a pretty quiet evening for me for it was brutally cold. Still, I managed to see fireworks and feel the wonderful love of family.

As I reflect on 2008, I see that I blogged, stitched, crocheted and knitted more. My wish is that I continue this trend in 2009.

Keeping a stitching budget is in my 2009 plans as I have tons of stash. Being a bit more disciplined will ensure that I only buy items that I really truly desire and will someday stitch. There are many stitchers on the net that have been challenging themselves to stitch from their stash and only purchase items for those projects when needed. Sometimes I will do that, other times I will allow myself to go crazy and shop. After all is said and done things will balance out. They always do.

A better can do outlook and positive thinking along with the doing will definitely make 2009 my best crafting year yet! I am looking forward to all the blessings of 2009. With 2008 behind me I venture forth to fulfilling my stitching wishes. I will continue to blog about my crafting throughout the year. Making this blog an exclusive crafting journal where I can share my stitching experiences with every stitcher who comes.

On the sides of the blog I will add lists of WIPS, finishes and other blog sites. Hopefully, my blog will also appear on other stitchers blog lists. More pics of my stitching and doggie are promised for 2009.

Life is good! Needles up!!!!!

Voila !!!! The Capelet is Finished !!!!

How exciting to have finished my capelet. It is soooooo beautiful. I can't believe I finished it.
This project has definitely taught me much more patience and discipline. Both lessons I will take with me into 2009.

Lately, as I have written, my thoughts have focused on my crafting 2009 goals. With the New Year fast approaching, I want to set a few guidelines for myself so I may not only enjoy crafting but actually produce items for my enjoyment. In 2008 I did not set any real goals and found myself severely upset at not having handmade items for my closest family. Little did I know that a few had hopes of receiving a token or two.

This year I realized that there are lots of people who value my crafted items and that wish to own a few pieces. It is a great feeling to be able to pass on heirlooms. But, first I have to make them. In 2oo9 I will make a couple of gift items.

• Christmas stocking
• scarf
• hat (something new....I have never made a hat before).

Cross Stitching:

• Disney Neighborhood R & R
• Christmas Stocking (same as above)
• At least 6 Christmas Ornaments for myself
• Seasonal Personal Cross Stitch Exchange piece

Knitting & Crochet:

• Hat (as above for gift)
• Scarf (as above for gift)
• a couple of scarves for me
• another scarf as a gift for my BFF
• other projects as they come up

Of course all of these projects will not be started at the same time or due at the same time, but I will work on them one at a time. I will be dedicated to crafting an hour a day, whether it be knitting in the car, or waking up half an hour earlier and crocheting during my lunch hour. Somehow, I will find the way to make the time to do something for me. That is my biggest goal.

Till tomorrow, stitch well.....

Following Directions

Do you read all the directions when starting a project? I bet everyone pretty much does. Now, following the directions is a different story altogether.

When I started the capelet (yes, another capelet story), I read all the directions, figured almost everything out and started on it. There was one item that didn't quite make sense, but I kept going row after row, until 14 rows from the end it strikes me.....like lightning, like the first electric spark pulsing through the fuse box into my fingers, the AHA moment which turns on the bulb in my brain.

I could defend myself and say I did not know or understand the instructions, but in all honesty, I have to admit I did not follow the directions. The part that escaped me was "knit unto smaller circular needles". My mistake was assuming they meant smaller-sized needles, which I did. Experience has now taught me that they meant LENGTHWISE, not diameter wise. How did I learn this....with 14 rows to the end, I can't knit anymore, the neck area is so stretched out along the circular needle cord, that the stitches don't make it to each end.

Now, I know. Experience has taught me not only to read the directions, but to follow them as well. Tomorrow I will go and pick up another set of shorter circular needles to finish my capelet.

Off I go to cross stitch. Later today I will share with you a much better plan of my goals for 2009.

Wishing you experienced stitches.....

Capelet Homestretch

My Christmas gift to myself was finding that I was further along on my capelet than I thought. WhooHooo....10 rows ahead, which has officially placed me in the homestretch with about 60 rows to go. Not to fear, I am on the decreasing portion, so every fourth row or so, I will decrease 36 stitches. At the end, I will only have about 70 stitches left on each row. That is not much for me especially since they are mostly knit stitches and cables.

Once I finish the capelet, I will most likely start a sweater for the pooch. Yes, that cream colored angel that protects all of my crafts. He is blowing his coat these days and there is white hair all over the place when he shakes. It's like a snowstorm.

Speaking of snowstorms, we got quite a few snowflakes in our area. My poochies first snowstorm. He loved it! What a riot when he trotted through the snow. He kept eating the snow that he thought was getting away. He is a hoot.

Other than that it seems that my projects are lining themselves up for 2009.

• Sweater for poochie
• Christmas Cross Stitch Stocking for a very special person
• Scarf for another very special person
• Disney Neighborhood R & R
• Personal Seasonal Cross Stitch Exchange

So far, so good. I am seriously thinking about stitching Lizzie*Kate's 2009 Double Flips. Next year it will be Halloween themed. I really think that they are soooooo cute. Should I start a SAL next year for it? Let's see....I think that it would be a great idea.

Another thing that is on my mind is making this blog better. I want to blog more next year and post more pictures of my projects. I love to see the day by day progress of projects. I think that it brings them to life. Not only that, but my foreign friends would be able to see pictures of my work and maybe identify with my blog a bit better.

My LNS is having an After Christmas Day Sale on leaflets, kits and selected fabrics. I expect to pass by and pick up some fabric. I am going to need to replace the Jobelan that I will use for the Christmas stocking. I don't expect that she will have the Lizzie*Kate 2009 Double Flips in yet. That would be great if she did. Maybe I could pick up a few of the 2008 Christmas Double Flips as well. There were a few that I really liked of that series and others that were not my cup of tea. So, let's see what happens.

Feeling a bit chatty today. Hopefully this state of mind will continue into 2009 so that my blogging become a bit more dependable.

Finally, and most importantly, I wish to thank everyone that passes by my blog. I see that a few international readers drop by and I do hope that in someway, they enjoy their stay even though I have not translated my site in another language. For my domestic readers, thanks for spending a bit of your time with me. Words cannot express my gratitude to all that take a bit of their day to read of my crafting adentures. Please feel free to leave a comment or two, knowing that I will answer them in the comments section as well.

Stitch one, stitch two.......

2009 Goals

Yup, it is that time again. Hmmmmmmm. I still have no idea what all of my goals will be. Here are just a few of them in no particular order:

• Disney Neighborhood RR
• One Christmas Ornament a month
• Finish at least 4 crochet or knit projects
• Personal Cross Stitch Exchange

That is the basic skeleton of next years body of craft work I wish to do. Of course there will be times that I do more and others that I will do less, but I have all confidence that everything will balance itself in the log run.

The most important item that I want to cultivate next year in my life and my crafting is a positive attitude. The "I can do it" approach. Lately, I must admit it has been working. I push myself, chanting silently, " I can do this!"

My capelet has continued to grow. In my next installment, I will add a few pictures of it. Two rows separate me from the second page of the pattern. I love that feeling! It is so empowering to see the progress I have made. Soon, I will be wearing the cape. If I focus intensely on it, by Christmas it will be part of my ensemble.

Supportive stitches.......