April Accomplishments and May Goals

My stitching goals for April and what I accomplished follows: 

• Finish Crazy Point Block pilot stitch project - Yes I completed this project.

• Write and submit my evaluation for Pilot Project - Yes I completed  my evaluation

• Work on Little House Needlework's Cappuccino - None at all

• Finish stitching Arizona Star by Laura Perin - I stitched on it but did not finish it.

• Work on Mardi Gras and get it half done - I did not work on this at all

• Work on Afternoon Nap - No work done on this 

• Work on a cancer heart an ANG chapter outreach project - Yes I completed this project. 

• Sew a polar fleece blanket for my son- No I did not.
• Items not on my plan which I did was to stitch about 70% of a golf bag tag for my DH and stitched about 20% of K. Schenkel 2nd Day of Christmas painted canvas

I have over estimated what I can accomplish in a month so this month I will attempt to set  more realistic goals

For May my stitching goals are  to: 

• Stitch on Mardi Gras and finish about 75% of it. 
• Work on the K. Shenkel 2nd Day of Christmas painted canvas 
• Finish Dad's Bag Tag

March Accomplishments - April Goals

As I suspected I did not meet as many of my stitching goals this month as I did last month.
What I planned to accomplish during March and what I accomplished are as follows:

• Start Little House Needlework's Cappuccino - I did start this project 
• Finish stitching Byzantine Ornament I - I did complete this project
• Finish Crazy Point Pilot stitching project I am almost done but I did not finish it.
• Finish stitching TW's 2nd Day Of Christmas Ornament - Not even close. I got distracted by another project called Arizona Star which wasn't even on my March goal list
• Mount and start Mardi Gras needlepoint class project - Yes I did!
• Stitch 12 stitches a day on my Princely rug canvas Not even close.
• Send my ANG badge to the finisher - Yes! Hooray I sent this to the finisher.
• Sew a polar fleece blanket for my son - it's all pinned but I have not stitched it yet.

So I met four out of eight goals for March. Not as strong a showing as I would have liked. 

Now what about April's Goals? My planned goals are:

• Finish Crazy Point pilot stitching project
• Write and submit my evaluation for the Crazy Point project 
• Work on Little House Needlework's Cappuccino
• Finish stitching Arizona Star by Laura Perin
• Work on Mardi Gras and get it half done
• Work on Afternoon Nap 
• Work on a cancer heart an ANG chapter outreach project
• Sew a polar fleece blanket for my son

This should keep me busy throughout the month.I love longer days because I stitch more. Yay!!

February Accomplishments and March Goals

February was so cold that I felt like hibernating- that is hiding under my covers until spring. I was not as motivated in my stitching either. I was having difficulty with neck and back pain so I looked for a small project I could stitch while lying down with heat on my neck and shoulders. I selected Teresa Wentzler's Byzantine Ornament I. I started it on February 1st and finished all but the beading by February 28th.

My original goals for February were to

• Stitch 5 sections of  Crazy Point: an ANG Pilot Stitch project
• I worked on one section
• Start and Finish one TW Byzantine Ornament
• finished except for the beading
• Work on Dragon Ride -  finish the border
• I did a little work on the border
• Start and Finish stitching one bell ornament
• yes I did this
• Work on Princely Rug during ANG meetings
• yes I did this
• Finishing treatment on my ANG  Name Tag
• I have mounted it onto padded board
• Stitch my son's fleece blanket
• not at all. 

Monthly Goals – March 2015

• Finish Byzantine Ornament I 
•  Done 3/1/15
• Finish Crazy Point
• Mount and start Mardi Gras 
• Mounted on 3/1/15; started stitching 3/4/15
• Finish 2^nd Day of Christmas
• Work on Princely Rug during ANG meeting
• Finishing treatment on Name Badge
• Stitch Eric’s blanket

My February Goals and January Accomplishments

I did well against my stated January goals and I look forward to doing as well or better in February. You can see my completed pieces in my 2015 finishes page.

Monthly Goals – January 2015

• Finish Take Time for Friends -  Done 1/17/15
• Finish Christmas Tree Forest - Done 1/13/15
• Work on Dragon Ride - Worked on border and shadows around tail
• Start Pilot Project  - Did sections 1 and 2. 
• Work on Princely Rug during ANG meetings - Worked on this during both meetings in January
• Finishing treatment on Name Badge - Did not do.
• Stitch Eric’s blanket - Did not do. 

Monthly Goals – February 2015

• Stitch 5 sections of  Crazy Point: an ANG Pilot Stitch project
• Start and Finish one TW Byzantine Ornament
• Work on Dragon Ride -  finish the border
• Start and Finish stitching one bell ornament
• Work on Princely Rug during ANG meetings
• Finishing treatment on my ANG  Name Tag
• Stitch my son's fleece blanket

May Stitching Goals and April Accomplishments

My April Goals were to: 

• Finish  "The Kiss" panel on my Mirabilia RR  Made progress but I am not done
• Finish the heading and frames on the Mirabilia RR  didn't even start
• Finish the Mirabilia RR as a bell pull  didn't do since stitching isn't done
• Start  "Taj Mahal" by Chatelaine I didn't get the kit in time to start it in April
• Do 15 stitches a day on  Autumn Woods  I got this one. This strategy is working well with this piece.
• Do the finishing treatment on Morning Glories 
• Do the finishing treatment my Lizzie Kate RR  

My goals for May are a repeat :

• Finish  "The Kiss" panel on my Mirabilia RR
• Finish the heading and frames on the Mirabilia RR
• Finish the Mirabilia RR as a bell pull
• Start  "Taj Mahal" by Chatelaine
• Do 15 stitches a day on  Autumn Woods
• Do the finishing treatment on Morning Glories
• Do the finishing treatment my Lizzie Kate RR

April Stitching Goals and March Accomplishments

I created my goals and noted my March accomplishments at he beginning of the month on the Yuku Rotation BB but did not post them here.

My March goals were to: 

• Personalize and do the finishing work on my exchange piece  I absolutely got this one done
• Ship my exchange piece  This was sent and received.
• Complete 5 sections on my pilot stitching project  I only stitched two more sections of this piece
• Stitch on "Morning Glories"  I not only stitched on this but finished it on March 30th.
• Finish  "the kiss" panel on my Mirabilia RR  I stitched on this but  only completed about a third.
• Start  "A Good Marriage" by Lizzie Kate  I didn't get to this one

My April Goals are: 

• Finish  "The Kiss" panel on my Mirabilia RR
• Finish the heading and frames on the Mirabilia RR
• Finish the Mirabilia RR as a bell pull
• Start  "Taj Mahal" by Chatelaine
• Do 15 stitches a day on  Autumn Woods
• Do the finishing treatment on Morning Glories
• Do the finishing treatment my Lizzie Kate RR

March Stitching Goals

My February goals were: 

• Finish 16 sections of my pilot stitching project I  only finished  6 more sections but at least some progress was made.
• Finish smalls exchange project  I did finish the stitching on my exchange piece
• Stitch on Morning Glories  I did do a little stitching on Morning Glories 
• Stitch on my Mirabilia RR panel-The Kiss  I actually got about 20% of this panel done. I am really enjoying it.

My March goals are: 

• Personalize and do the finishing work on my exchange piece
• Ship my exchange piece
• Complete 5 sections on my pilot stitching project
• Stitch on "Morning Glories"
• Finish  "the kiss" panel on my Mirabilia RR
• Start  "A Good Marriage" by Lizzie Kate

New Years Goals and Year End Stitching

I spent time today planning my needlework goals for 2012. My goals for 2012 are

• Finish Teresa Wentzler's Story Teller
• Finish Teresa Wentzler's Wedding Sampler
• Stitch Master Craftsman piece and submit in April
• Finish Cleopatra's Cat - EGA BEE
• Participate in monthly WIP SAL
• End year with seven or less WIPs
• Stitch a ring bearer's pillow
• Keep Stash Organized

On this the last day of the year I stitched on The Buzz, a needle book on my WIP list. 

My Stitching Accomplishments for 2011

My goals for 2011 were to:

1. End 2011 with 5 WIPs -  I started the year with 16 WIPs and ended with 14. However, I completed 14 projects which means I added 12 new projects during the year. Even though I am happy with how many projects I competed I did not meet this goal.
2. Finish Needle Guardian  a WIP) - YAY!! Completed 6/4/11
   
3. Finish TW Story Teller (a WIP) - I worked on it a bit but not even close.
4. Complete ANG color theory course. - Only completed 1 lesson
5. Complete EGA shading stitches course. -YAY!! Completed 3/27/11
6. Coordinate Cleopatra's Cat - EGA BEE. YAY!! I have set up our Blog and initial lessons.
7. Create stitch guide  for Master Craftsman step 1 -  YAY!! I completed this 9/30/11.
8. Stitch Master Craftsman piece and submit for assessment in October - Have not yet started

In addition to finishing 14 projects I submitted 4 projects to the Monroe County Fair this year and all of them earned a ribbon in their division. One even earned Best of Section which was a real honor.  Overall I had a very successful year with my needlework.  In addition, I did a little bit of finishing and sewing. I look forward to learning more stitches and to stitching and finishing many more projects in  2012. I may even learn how to knit socks.

New 101 Task List

I realized today that I forgot all about my 101 task list that I started in 2006 and which ended in April of 2009. I went back to that post and updated it so it reflects what I did get accomplished. Unfortunately I did not get as much done as I had hoped. This week I will update and post my new 101 task list to reflect what I want to accomplish in the next 1001 days.

Why is this so hard for me?

As you can see I have not posted since January. I had every good intention of posting to my blog but fail to do so because I think my posts will not interest other readers. I have continued to visit the cross stitch BBs that I frequent. Unfortunately the traffic on those BBs is quite low compared to what it was 2 or 3 years ago. We all have only a certain amount of time and I suspect as more of us blog we spend less time on the BBs.

I like the BBs because they are like a multiperson conversations. Blogs feel very one way to me. I know that people who read your blog can comment but I rarely get a comment so I feel like I am talking to myself. On the BB if I post a progress pic or a happy dance you usually get at least a few people who comment. Or if you have a question you can usually get an answer. The blog is a great way for me to express my opinions about something or dispay pictures or updates on my work but is not necessarily the best way to have a conversation.

I 've decide to try again beacause there was a thread on one of the BBs asking for our blog URL and because some said she had gone out and read my blog. I felt bad because it was so out of date. So I added my blog address to the list and said I would start to blog again.

My cross stitch goal for this year was to finish 10 projects. In previous years I have had more specific goals and have not succeeded. This felt comfortable. I am on track to complete 10 projects this year. So far I have completed 6. The last two were Deco Spirits- Fire panel by Mirabilia and Christmas is Forever by Lizzie Kate. Pictures of those two are posted above.

Reflection 2009

I reread my post of January 1, 2008 and I will repeat some of it here in order to remind myself of the importance of reflection in my life. As this is the first day of the year what better time to recommit myself to the practice of internal reflection than today. Many of us spend a great deal of time looking at our external reflection so we can evaluate our physical appearance. But how much more important it is to look inside yourself and reflect on what you have done with your life so far; to decide whether you are happy with what you have done or need to do some things differently. Today is a good day to look at your actions and accomplishments for the past year and determine what you would have done differently and then make your plans for the new year.

Although I reflect often on my life I am not good at recording my reflections or the events of my life. Therefore it is sometimes difficult to evaluate my growth and progress. So here I am at the beginning of another year pledging once again to use this blog on a regular basis. Hard-copy journals don't work for me but I would love to leave my children something of my inner self for their future reading. Also my husband thinks I am a mystery because he doesn't often understand my motivations. I think they are perfectly clear and my children understand better than DH because each of them is like me in some way. DH and I are opposite in personality but we share the same family and moral values. We love each other deeply and I believe we balance each other giving us a rich and happy marriage but my reflections here might help my DH to understand me better.

During 2009 I will work on my fitness so I can stay healthy and therefore continue to live life to the fullest; enjoying my family, my work, and my hobbies.


Happy New Year to all my online friends and may 2009 bring you peace, health, happiness and prosperity.