Starting SBQ

Now to something new...SBQ

This week's question ~ What was your favorite finish of 2007?
Well, I'm not sure I finished more than one thing - it's hard to remember at the moment, but I have to say the wedding sampler for my sister is my favorite. It's also my biggest finish, and my first framed finish.


Here is the answer to last week's as well - Are you starting something new to celebrate the New Year or participating in “Guilt Free January?” If so, what are you planning on starting?
I am working on the historic countries mystery sampler, featured monthly in The Gift of Stitching. It started in September and I was really excited, but the wedding sampler had to get finished before I could really get going on this big challenge. Now I hope to work on this as my main project. Maybe by the end of January I'll finish the September piece? I doubt it, but it'll be fun trying.

The flu is no fun

Today is the first day in a week that I have:
-checked my email,
-put on clothes that are not pajamas
-done any work
-stayed awake for more than 4 hours at a stretch
-worked on my cross stitch

I've been stuck at home with a really bad case of the flu since last Friday. I went to work Friday morning feeling really tired, and by noon I was sick. My coworkers told me to go home. I was sure I could manage until 3 though, and that was a BAD idea! Monday I went to the doctor and managed to throw up and almost pass out during my vsit. Yay! I've now sort of recovered, but my plumbinng is broken and my landlord is here right now snaking the drain. I'm planning on going to work tomorrow even if I don't feel any better because I'm so sick of being home!

I do feel better. I'm sitting up, checking my work email and chipping away at the easy questions. I've only taken ibuprophen today, no Dayquil. I'm still coughing a lot, and tired, and a little dizzy, so I guess it's good that I didn't go in today. That was the plan, to go to work, but when my shower and toilet backed up with water and soapsuds last night at 7pm, I knew I wasn't going anywhere today. This same problem with the drain has happened at least two other times, the last time being in October. Enough already! Time to move out. As soon as possible.

At last, it's finished

This is a picture of my sister Kristin and her husband Doug. I stitched this wedding sampler for them originally as a wedding present for their wedding on October 20, 2007. When I realized that I wasn't going to finish in time, I got them somemthing else for the wedding, and instead I gave this to them for Christmas. As you can see in the picture, I'm not very good at framing. This is the first time I've framed anything, and I used the sticky mounting board. There must be a technique to it, because it still doesn't look straight within the mat. I hope they like it. I enjoyed stitching it, but there was so much tiny detail it took forever! I think I worked on it every night for a month, but then I would need a break and avoid it for two weeks. I started it in April I think, so it took me 9 months.

January Goals

I am so tempted to post here a super long list of resolutions, such as getting up earlier or learning to knit socks, and participating in the SBQ posting and blogging on a regular basis, but a long list of resolutions tends to intimidate me and I just think about all the things I haven't done. I hope to create a list of things that I'd like to try instead.
Okay, forget it, here's the start of my list. I'll add to it as I go...

- Take medications regularly
- finish three scarves for donation to Rosie's Place (with my knitting group)
- cross stitch some easter cards
- Go to the gym
- Go through my apartment and clear out stuff for donation
- Take donations to Goodwill
- Knit a pair of socks
- Backup all music on computer
- Visit my friend Amy
- Visit my sister Gretchen
- Complete Historic Countries Sampler
Funny, now that I'm writing the list down, I'm blanking. Well, I'll fill this in as I think of things.


Here is how far I've gotten on the Historic Countries Mystery Sampler featured in
The Gift of Stitching Magazine. It's a massive twelve part sampler that started back in September. The January issue just came out with parts four and five and now I am WAY behind. The main reason I haven't made any progress is that I was working on a gift for my sister, which I'll post more on later. I also chose to order natural linen, which is coarse and darker than I had wanted. I was so eager to begin that I cut the fabric, ran the edges through the sewing machine, and got started. I would start over with a new piece of fabric, but the fabric was really expensive. I've never spent $50 on fabric before. I'm hoping that the darker fabric will look nice in the end, but right now I'm wondering if I should just give up. Ugh.