Finished a Page and Moving On

I took it pretty easy this weekend, after I took care of my one commitment on Saturday morning. The rest of my weekend was spent stitching and napping, and I really needed it!

Saturday I finished up page 4 of Tour des Marques and started page 5, its moving along nicely and all I want to do is work on this piece.

I have managed to keep taking a picture a day... 11 days strong and still going!

Friday January 8 -Public transport, I'm so glad I don't have to take the bus anymore!

Saturday January 9 - Tracks in the snow

Sunday January 10 - Keeping warm, Hunter waiting for the heat to kick in

Monday January 11 - Happy Birthday Mum! Mum's birthday flowers.

Almost Finished A Page

Thanks to all of you for your tips about my tired eyes. They are still bothering me, burning a little, I've picked up some drops so hopefully that will help. I must not be looking too great lately, today two co-workers asked me if I was feeling well, one said she could tell my eyes were really bothering me. Guess I looked like crap when I left the house this morning! But on the up side a fellow asked me when he had to see some paperwork with my date of birth on it if I was often told I looked much younger than my age. That was a good boost to the ole' morale!

The first week back to work is always a long and tiring one! What stitching time I've managed to get in so far this week (1-2 hours an evening) I've spent working on Tour des Marques. Tonight I finished all the over one on page 4 and have gotten a start on the backstitching and with luck I'll have time to wrap it up tomorrow evening.

I have been faithful at taking a picture a day ... so far. Here's Monday-Thursday in pictures.

Monday January 4th - In honour of my first day back at work, the view from my workstation!

Tuesday January 5th - The woodpile at my parents place with a fresh dusting of snow

Wednesday January 6th - Picking up the mail

Thursday January 7th - Downtown Ottawa, pigeons cuddled up against the cold on a grate. I had to drop some paper work downtown today, and I had planned to walk up to Parliament Hill, which I've photographed several times now, and thought these guys were more interesting... and they were just outside the door of the building I had to visit. Much more convenient!

Here's a bonus for you, a PhotoHunt! The theme is "Flags"

This is form my trip to Montreal with my Mum this summer, international flags on the grounds of the "Big O" in Montreal where the 1976 Olympics were held.

Urgh, My Eyes Hurt!

I think I've been stitching wayyy too much since Tuesday! Today my eyes hurt! Not my hands or wrists but eyes! I tried to work on Tour but my eyes wouldn't let me, then I tried to work on Art Deco Spirits and had to give up. I spent a few hours on the computer visiting blogs, and tagging my pictures in Photoshop Elements.

This evening I was able to pull Art Deco Spirits back out and I've got all the white done on the Earth block and moved onto some more purple/blue.

Seeing as this is the start of a new month, I suppose I should set out my goals for January!

January Goals

Stitch 1 ornament

Finish Lettres A Mon Chat

Work on Tour des Marques

Work on Art Deco Spirits

Blogiversary Gift (very overdue!)

I've gotten a few PhotoHunts (still haven't completed last year's list) ready so here's the next one "Creamy"

These were dessert and one of the retreats I went to a few years ago, yummy and creamy!

I also took my daily picture, since it was cold, windy, and snowy today we didn't go anywhere so here's a Hunter shot!

Ends and New Beginnings

Happy New Year to all my friends and family!

I'm looking to at 2010 with lots of optimism, I think there is a good year ahead of me, but then a year can only be as good as we make it. I intend to have a great year! I've already got a few things lined up that I'm looking forward to this year. First is my trip to the Dominican Republic at the beginning of March. I won't be staying at a resort, but going with students from work, where we'll be participating in the Dominican Experience, billeted with families and seeing the 3rd world country side of the D.R. About a week after my return from the D.R. is the March Timberhouse retreat. Followed by the Billy Talent concert near the end of March and Nicleback in April. Much to look forward to already!

I've started off the New Year the same way as many other years... here was the ort jar at the end of 2009....

Here it is at the start of 2010... the ceremonial emptying of the ort jar!

I'd like to do a quick review of my highlights of 2009, from this standpoint I know I had a good year.

- Right Foot is now pain free

- Saw Claire 3 times

- Saw my first Space Shuttle launch

- Stitching Get Togehters and Retreats

- Great Concerts

- Lifetime at Weight Watchers achieved

- Raised over $900 for Breast Cancer Research

- Completed Run For The Cure 5K in under 30min.

- Ran 10K

- Helicopter ride

- Received 3rd Degree Black Belt in Taekwon-Do

My favourite stitched project of 2009 was Blackstone Fantasy Garden by Ink Circles

My last project for 2009 was not Lettres A Mon Chat as I had hoped, but an ornament instead.

Pointsettia Freebie

c2009 Alchemy Stitchcraft

Stitched on : 32ct Natural linen

Stitched with : GAST and Mill Hill Beads

My first finish for 2010 is Lettres A Mon Chat

Lettres A Mon Chat (clickable)

c2006 Isabelle Vauthier

Stitched on : 28ct Vintage Red Linen

Stitched with : DMC & Silk n' Colors

My second (yes you read it right!) finish and first ornament for 2010 is

Celtic Ice (kit)

c2008 Ink Circles

Stitched on : 28ct Windowpane Linen

Stithced with : Carrie's Threads

You could almost count the above project as my new start for 2010, I started it this morning before Todd and I left Rebbecca's after I finished Lettres a Mon Chat. We rung in the New Year the same way for the last three years, with a visit to Rebbecca and her family's home. Its a low key New Year, with a great meal, stitching, and movies! This year we were having such an enjoyable time we stayed two days!

This year instead of starting a new big project on New Year's Day, I have decided to finish what I've got on the go in my stitching basket (but I reserve the right to change my mind and start a new project at any time). I've even taken pictures... admitting to everything that's lurking in there! I dare you to admit to your started and yet not finished projects!

Tour Des Marques by The Silver Lining

Art Deco Spirits by Mirabilia

Celestial Dragon by Teresa Wentzler

The Accolade by Gitta's

Various class pieces from past Creativ Festivals and odd small projects

Something I'm going to try this year which appealed to me is to take a photo a day. Heidi mentioned this on her blog and the idea sounds cool. I don't know if I'm going to actually be able to do this but I'd like to. Above is my photo for January 1st, Rebecca's boys being silly (a little young for gang signs don't you think) for the camera. My picture for January 2nd could be any of the above stitching pictures or my ort jar!

In my mind I had originally planned a deeper and more eloquent New Year post, but its late and I wanted to get something up here before another day went by, so this will have to do!

New Year's Eve

I hope everyone is looking ahead and forward to the New Year, if you're setting resolutions let them be realistic and obtainable! I'll talk about 2009 and beyond in my New Year's Day post (already mentally putting it together). I've got another day/evening of stitching ahead of me and looking forward to it.

I don't know, a happy dance on this one is looking like a long shot.

Here's another Photo Hunt, not as entertaining as the last this theme is "Lock"

I came across this barn door on one of my walks in the Brighton area. I just love the green paint, and if you look off to the left there's a nice rusty lock from Canadian Tire.

Progress, Purse and PhotoHunt

I had a great afternoon and evening yesterday just hanging out here at the house with Claire and Patrick... and it was FREEZING out yesterday so who would want to go anywhere? We watched movies and us girls stitched! I feel sorry for Claire, she's got this 101 Dalmatians project and you can just imagine how much white on white there is! She's a trooper though she stuck with it for longer than I thought she would!

Here's yesterday's progress on Lettres A Mon Chat, those cats take quite awhile to stitch up! I am now at the half way point with this project with only two days to work on it... will I make it?? Its pretty cold out again today and since I don't have to... I won't be going out!

Hunter was kind enough to model my new purse for us! I quite like it! I haven't had a chance to "try it out" yet but it does have all my stuff in it. Not a lot of room for extras though.

Today's PhotoHunt "Advertisement"

I saw this sign back in the summer of 2008 driving around Ottawa. Thought hmmmm am I the only one who immediately thinks of potty humour when reading this?

Lettres Progress

Yesterday Todd and I went out and did a little shopping, I got my new purse (thanks Todd!) a nice leather one from Danier like I had hoped. I'll save a picture of that for another post. We also picked up a tonne of DVD's. The collection was getting a little stale, I had put a whole bunch on my wish list and I didn't get one single DVD for Christmas! So we fixed that problem yesterday.





So while we watched DVD's in the afternoon and evening I stitched! I didn't make as much progress as I would of liked because a late afternoon nap became necessary. Then in the evening I did my run.

Today Claire (my BF from Florida) and her husband Patrick are in the area visiting family and are coming to spend the afternoon/evening with us!