Looking Towards 2008 & January Goals

Well since I know we'll be busy on New Year's Eve I figured it was best to get this done and put out there for the world to see today.

I've scrolled back to my last entry in December of 2006 to see what goals I had set myself for 2007 and here they are :

• Finish Noah's Submarine (yes!)
• Finish Tour Des Marques (not even 1/2 done)
• Finish The Castle (yes!)
• Stitch Todd's Stocking (nope)

2008 Stitching Goals

• Finish Tour Des Marques
• Finish Paradigm Lost
• Stitch Todd's Stocking
• Stitch Enchantment of Winter for Dad
• Start Arabian Woman
• Start Scottish Castle Sampler
• Stitch Moonlight Guardian

I think I'm being a little ambitious for the upcoming year... but there's a lot of large projects out there I really want to stitch. Some of these have been on my want to start list for years so this year it'll be one of my goals to get them started so I have to work on them!

Now its time to review my December goals and set goals for January (yes these are beyond my main goals for 2008).

December 2007

• Finish The Castle (Yes!)
• Work on Paradigm Lost (Yes)
• Work on next RR that shows up (didn't show up until just before x-mas)
• Stitch Fair&Square rd.4 (done & mailed)
• Stitch Ornaments (did 3)
• Work on Pomegranate Needlebook (yes & finished)

January 2008

• Start Moonlight Guardian
• Work on Paradigm Lost
• Work on Tour
• Stitch RR
• Stitch one ornament
• Stitch two models (when the supplies get here)

Needless to say not a lot of stitching got done yesterday with my new toy to play with, I did put in a little time on Mini Cottages 5. Today I plan to start that RR so it'll be done and out of the way ASAP!

Todd Finally Got Me My Pressie

Well this morning we were sitting around, Todd playing on the PS2, me stitching away. When he says to me, I want to get you a new laptop for Christmas.

Ummmm okay!

So surfed online at all the local electronics shops and found myself a good deal on a Toshiba Satellite with a Duo Centrino Processor. Yay a fast computer that doesn't start to lag when I have multiple programs open or running Photoshop Elements.

I've been playing all day setting things up, moving files and so on.

So shall we consider Todd redeemed?

Photo Hunt #85 "Hot"

This is the Eternal Flame (or Centennial Flame as it is less commonly known as), its at the very top center of the walkway that leads to the entrance to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada. It was lit just past midnight on Canada's Centennial it is surronded by water and the shields of each of Canada's Provinces. It represents our unity from sea to sea.

Paradigm Lost SAL Week 8

Here you go folks, my 8th week of working on Paradigm Lost! Its coming right along but I think the medallion I'm working on right now is one of the bigger ones and will take awhile to complete. So tonight's progress was the dragonfly (which I've been dying to stitch forever!) and two arms of the large medallion.

Tomorrow I'll settle in here at home while the snow flies (yet again) and I think I'll pull out Mini Cottages 5!

Answering An Old SBQ

Gosh I've been just horrible, not answering SBQ's at all for ages. I keep "saving" them for days I have nothing to blog about... but I always seem to find something to prattle on about.

Here's the one from December 19th

Q : Have you ever helped anyone else learn to stitch? Have you ever helped anyone learn a new stitch or technique?

A : Oh yes! Its a requirement to be one of my friends! LOL! Just kidding, however if you're a friend of mine I'll certainly try to teach you how to stitch. I've even been successful with my two best friends, Claire and Christin, I've even taught Christin's aunt Sue! I often see/think about how fast these people have progressed in their stitching knowledge/abilities. I spent YEARS afraid of linen and evenweave fabrics, I had these girls on them ASAP! They have really gotten to benefit from all of my trials and errors.

I've often helped other stitchers with new techniques and stitches! From sitting down with someone whose frustrated with french knots, teaching the colonial knot instead to teaching other stitchers finishing techniques. I like to help other stitchers, teach them tricks, and tips that make stitching so much easier and enjoyable!

I think deep down at heart I am a teacher... I like to help!

Today I've done my best to keep myself busy so I'm not sitting here sulking over the present thing that I mentioned yesterday. I started yesterday and finished today my gift for the Stitching Blogger's Birthday Exchange. I spent a few hours this afternoon on the finishing, and I got to try a new technique! Yay! I'm very impressed with how it turned out and I hope my recipient (who I don't know at all and her blog isn't in English so its hard to figure out her likes and dislikes... Babelfish didn't do a good job with translating either so I gave up) likes it.

When I'm done online I'm going to pull Paradigm Lost out for the first time in a few weeks.

50th Happy Dance of 2007!

As I sit here typing this entry on my laptop, big, fluffy, white snowflakes are falling from the sky (again). We had a bit of a melt over the weekend which left my driveway a dangerous skating rink! I think when this snow is all said and done sometime tomorrow we should have another 13cm.


Sorry I haven't blogged in days, I had fully intended to blog the last few days but first I got wrapped up in Christmas. I had family over for Christmas Eve, and went to my parents for Christmas dinner. In between the celebrations I worked on Christmas Elf Fairy as much as I could, but still it wasn't enough for a Christmas Day finish, nor a boxing day finish. I put the last beads in her just 30 minutes ago! Without further ado...

Christmas Elf Fairy (kit)

c2005 Mirabilia Designs

Stitched on : 32ct Precous Metals Opalescent Lugana (Silkweavers)

Stitched with : Crescent Colours, Whisper, Kreinik #4 Braid & Mill Hill Beads

I have to say my new Tacky Bob made beading sooo much more manageable, beads weren't rolling all over the place, nor getting lost in my lap! Definitely worth the money if you don't have one! Oh yes, my chart if up for trade (see wish list on sidebar) or sale if anyone is interested its unmarked and in good shape! Just e-mail me (tkd underscore chick at hotmail dot com)!


Next up in the stitching roster is something for the Stitching Blogger's Birthday Exchange. My partner's birthday is next month and I've got to get something in the mail ASAP! Ack! I've picked out what I'm going to stitch, and its all kitted up ready to start after I'm done online.


I hope everyone had a great Christmas full of family and friends... and hopefully some great gifts (of course we all prefer stitchy gifts!). I have to say Todd totally failed this year. Needless to say he felt I didn't need any of the big items I put on my list so all I got from him was two DVD's... not wrapped nor the prices taken off just shoved in my stocking the morning of. I have to say that made me feel like crap, and it still does. After 15 years you'd think he'd know me and my likes and manage to pick up SOMETHING for me. This is twice this year he's managed to seriously disappoint me on special days (the last one was my d-day when I sat at home by myself until 11:30pm didn't even come home with a card). He used to be very good that this sort of thing and I feel at times in his eyes I'm not worth the effort anymore, or I'm just being taken for granted that I'm still here, and I still love him.


Here are my two favorite gifts this year, both from my Mum, who managed to totally surprise me! I had no idea she was making either one (yes both hand made)!

Tiger Quilt

Beaded Tiger

The Tree Is Finally Up!

Yup! I finally had Todd drag the tree and the box of decorations upstairs. I've spent the afternoon putting up, fluffing, and decorating the tree. Like many of us my tree is an eclectic one. I don't actually put up a lot of glass ornaments.

Why? Do you ask? I'm sure this picture will tell all!

Yesterday between being in bed with yet another migraine I did get in a few hours on Christmas Elf Fairy. I'm getting ready to settle down and work on her some more.