Happy New Year!

This is the same post I make almost every year. Sometimes I adjust it depending on my needs or life situation. So far it has worked for me.

A New Year is right around the corner! A brand new clean calendar! It is up to each one of us what we do with it. Each year I make the same basic goals with a possible extra or two tossed in for good measure. I prefer to use "goals" instead "resolutions" because I feel I am taking already important things in my life and putting my focus on strengthening them. 

1. To make an effort to learn something new every day. The joy of knowledge is indeed a blessing no matter what you choose to learn.

2. To make time for myself. It's amazing what 15 minutes sitting on the deck with a hop cup of coffee and watching the birds can do for my soul. A little time each day to refresh my spirit is all it takes.

3. To take time to appreciate each day. Too often we forget to see the beauty around us and take the simple things in life for granted. My continued goal is to look with my eyes but to see with my heart. To simply enjoy life and all that is part of it.

4. To enjoy my family and friends. I am lucky to have each and every one of them in my life.

5. Organize and Simplify! Two keys words I always yearn to make a part of my everyday routine but often lose focus on. Organize does not mean that I have to go on a cleaning rampage each day. It just means I need to get my life and things that are part of my life in some sort of manageable order so that I feel comfortable instead of constantly overwhelmed. Not putting things off until the last minute can contribute greatly to this cause. Simplify! Just what it means - plain and simple! Stop making a mountain out of a mole hill, do what I can and leave the rest, don't take on more than I can handle or feel will leave me stressed out!

6. To Remember. So many people have come and gone from my life over the past years and I want to keep their memory alive.

7.  To keep my faith alive and strong.

8. A Random Act of Kindness. Like so many others, I was raised to do them. Only back then they were called "manners" or just plain "consideration for others". So many people still do these and without even realizing it. For the New Year coming up, I challenge myself along with each and every one of you to make RAK's a regular part of your life and to become more aware of them. Whether it means opening a door for a person, buying a stranger a cup of coffee, taking the grocery cart back inside the store or something else. Let us all strive to bring back those values and in doing so we will give back and make someone's day a little brighter!

9. To Forgive. Things happen that cause hurt, anger and resentment but often the people who cause these emotions don't care. We are the ones left with bitter feelings that only mount up and make us more and more miserable. I will the let the past remain in the past and let go of these feelings so that I can move on with my life.

10. To use kind words and patience more often. I will try to live by the good old standard "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all".

And of course the New Year would not be complete without a few just plain fun goals!

1. Start taking more trips. Even day trips can be fun.

2. No pressure. Keep the fun and joy in stitching. This is why I started in the first place!

3. Take more pictures.

4. Continue to write in my gratitude journal daily.

5. To update my blog more often.

Have a safe New Year's Eve! Thanks for stopping by! Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart!

Keeping my Promise

I made a promise to myself at the first of 2015 that I would stitch more and blog more. Here it is still January and I am making my second blog post. I was so touched by all the comments left on my last post. Yes, it has been a really icky year and a half for me. It seemed like every time something started to get better, something else would flare up!

 I had an appointment with an orthopedic doctor last week. My hip has been giving me a lot of trouble. Trouble a lot worse than just arthritis. There were times I could not  walk and I almost always had to keep my walker near by. It turns out that I have Avasular Crosis which can be caused from long term dosages of prednisone as well as other things.. Luckily they caught it time that hip surgery may not be necessary.

I promised pictures and I am keeping my word. First is a SAL for Ann Tarbox. It  began on January 1st but things were busy around here so I did not begin until January 4th. I have loved this sampler for quite awhile so I was thrilled to find a SAL to give me that push I needed to do it! This is a year long SAL. No rush. 

Next, is a SAL for any pattern by With Thy Needle and Thread. I decided I wanted my first one to be Heap on the Wood. I fell in love with that design and it will be perfect for my Winter wall. Once again it began on January 1st but I have not had a chance to go by the LNS to pick up my chart and threads. I do plan to start on it this month. This is also a year long SAL so I am hoping to get 1 or 2 more WTN&T designs done. 

The Apostle's Creed by MBT is my infusion stitch so it only gets pulled out several times a year (for about a month each time). I have another infusion coming up this Spring so I am hoping to finish it off then. I already have my next infusion stitch kitted up and ready to start on when this one is complete.

While cleaning out my stitching basket which is something I have not done in over a year, I found a WIP of Mary's Sampler by Plum Street Samplers. So many of you finished this off in no time and they were all beautiful which is what made me decide to do it for myself. I have no time frame set up for this WIP but I do plan to finish it off sometime during this year!

Last for this show and tell post, is another WIP that I started last year then stopped working on because of my health. Wild Berries by Blackbird Designs. It's funny how taste changes as we see what others are stitching and how they are displaying it. This one will go on my future (that I hope to have a start on this year) Birds/Alphabet sampler wall. Another picture from the web since my camera is on loan.

Once again I missed the sign up deadline for Stitch From Stash so I will do it on my own like I did last year.. I did enjoy it enjoy it last year and I saved a lot by thinking twice before spending. I will give myself a spending limit of $25 a month which only includes charts and threads. My Grumpy ol' Gazer usually gets several a year framed for me as a gift. And I have a good stash of fabric so I seldom need to buy it unless it for a special piece.

I am sorry there are no pictures this time but either my computer or blogger is not co-operating today. I will show pictures of my last framing bunch on my next post. Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

STASH SALE

I have listed a number of charts I no longer need or will probably never get around to stitching on my Wishlist/Sale blog and the link is also in the column to the right.

I Am Back For a New Year

Remember me? It has been a long time since my last post and I wish I had some exciting reasons to give for my absence. I have been trying to keep up with the blogs I like to read. I have had several more stays in the hospital not to mention a handful of other things that have gone haywire in the health department for me.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that 2015 will be a much better year!

I noticed that I have a few new followers. Welcome! I just love the fact that people actually are interested in what I say and stitch.

I feel like my stitching has suffered horribly this summer with all the hospital trips and just feeling rotten in general. The Apostle's Creed by MBT had started out as my project to take to infusion treatments last year and it is making progress. The women there just love to ohhh and ahhh over my work. I even met one nurse there who told me about her cross stitch projects. It should be finished before the end of the year and I have already chosen Our Father by MBT as my next infusion project.

While sorting out my stash, I have posted some I no longer need or just don't see myself getting around to. They are listed on my Wishlist page (link in the side right column). 

I certainly did not get my 2014 stitching list completed. Well, there is always this year! I have made my tentative list which includes samplers, some winter themes and of course a Christmas stitch or two. I have joined several SAL groups. Maybe these will get my mojo fired back up. As for my 2014 SFS challenge, I did great!  I will post some pictures next post. My camera is in my closet for now and I don't really feel like entering no man's land just yet.

Thanks for stopping by and for not forgetting me! Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.