#1yearofstitches...week one

A big hoop makes it look like little progress, but progress it is!

Day One

Day 7

It's actually a 14" quilting hoop. I thought I needed the room for 365 days of some kind of stitching. I am pretty sure in 6 months I will wish I had a bigger hoop, but then I can start something else...many something monochromatic or themed. This is just freestyle. 

Of course my first emblem would have to do with star trek...heeellooooooo

I may take a break from Our Lady and do some bubbles and puzzle pieces. My Granddot was here and that's what we played with. Yes, I am making the grammy face.😊😊😊 (oooooo new feature...insert special characters)

It's a New Year!

2017....can you believe it? 
This year will mark 55 revolutions around the sun and 29 years of wedded bliss.
Wow! Just wow! 
A new year always sparks the urge to do new things for me. I am embarking on several creative journeys this year and trying to finish up some that I started last year...maybe even the year before.

Let's see, where to begin?

I started a Jewels of the Sea crystal challenge. It's due in 2 weeks. I have so many ideas that I just can't start, but start I will....tonight!!!

The next challenge is a year long one. So fun. Each day you take a stitch and a pic of your progress and post it on some social media forum.
#1yearinstitches2017   is being hosted, if you will, by Brown Paper Bag.
I will be posting my daily progress on instagram if you want to follow along. 
https://www.instagram.com/the_daily_stitcher/

A little peek at what I've done so far. It's a 14" hoop (35cm)

 

Finished up what feels like a million french knots. It could be better, free form ain't my thing, but I am trying to grow.

Used an antique spring hoop to mount it.

Cleaned out my ORT jar so it can progress with my projects too.

Yes, my office supplies addiction has yet to be quelled. Zebra Mildliners. 

So. Much. Fun.

Last but not least, our Christmas card. Just me and the hubs. The Dot was not thrilled.

Hope the new year brings you joy, love, laughter, creative sparks and the inner peace that only God can provide, if things get tough.

What's your new year going to look like? I am always for looking for fun, new things to try that don't involve my jumping out of perfectly good airplanes or touching spiders.

Day 10...a little more Christmas

Just getting my post in under the wire.  The 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge  is just that, a big ol' challenge. I am going to stick with it....no matter how short the post. LOL

Today, I've done a little more Christmas decorating. I had to clean and put up a whole lot just so the decor could be completely seasonal. I really needed to dust..you have no idea.

This area was a complete disaster

Now, it's neat, tidy, lit and christmassy.

The mini tree with its mini ornaments

Added some mini LED lights and my cross-stitched Trek ornaments (made by my friend Karen.) She says she isn't a trekkie, but I think she's in denial, just sayin.

It's been a long time since I decorated more than just one lonely little tree. It seemed like our remodel would never end and that I would be living with the plywood sub-floor for ev er. 
It ended just after Christmas last year and it started just before the Christmas before that. Yep, a camp stove Christmas was some fun.

Day 9, the final frontier....

It's officially Christmas....the universe is up and running. Ahhhhhhhh
Complete with a new tree my hubs made to house my collection of Star Trek Hallmark Ornaments.
It would seem we made it a tad too small. LOL  I guess we will have to make the branches longer next year. hahahahahha

Succulent Space

Star Trek and Christmas are synonymous in my house. From 1991 to now, I have all the ornaments good ol' Hallmark makes.

This year, my friend Becky has a succulent obsession. I keep meaning to attend one of these make and take events, but they always seem to land on days where I am all planned up. Darn and it!!

She took pity on me and made this ornament. Is it not thee utmostest???

I just love it!
hope I don't kill it. LOL

Catching up

Oy, I had this all written, decided to add one more little thing then poof! it was gone.

Let's try this again. 

I am taking a break from life and blogging about it. This is such a fun way to remember some of the lighter moments in life. You used to be able to have yearly books printed of your blog......I wonder if you still can???

Finished a table runner for a friend that moved. A whole bunch of us signed it.

It's quilty and modern. I want one for my table.

I may go opposite with the light in the middle and the dark on the ends. 

This one is 90", I need one that is 107".

A rather large Katydid scared the *bleep* outta me when I walked out on the porch to see what was so loud. Yes, I let nature alone.

Mr. Messy has never met an open book that wasn't nap worthy.

He managed to get comfy after I got up for a drink....30 seconds max.

Even though my kiddos are all grown up, my "new year" still begins in September. 

Takes a lot of pressure off January..seriously.

Went to a family reunion with my sister in the OC. 

Man, we got old. hahaha

This is my Aunt Pat.

I was recently in a kitchen that wasn't mine, got to use this puppy. Buttah. Saving my pennies since it's way more than I have ever paid for a knife.  

Even with a discount, it's over $100.00 bucks. It is heavenly, just sayin'.

 Gratuitous granddot shots

Earned a new fitbit badge...boo and ya!

Decided it was time to lose the ziplock bag

Funnest pencil pouches ever!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFai-385C3c

Yes, Saw the new Star Trek.
Yes, it was awesome once you got past the first 20 minutes of the JJ Abrams special effects hoopla.
Good chatter, good interaction, made you love the characters all over again.
A little bittersweet...RIP Anton Yelchin

It's that time of year again....             Tattuesdays
I have no tatts.
I want no tatts.
But I love this show...l o v e
I miss 'Best Ink' too. It had chick judges.




Lots of sewing and embroidery planned. I need to learn to put art time on my schedule, not just try to fit it in. I cannot live by chores alone, just sayin'.

How do you fit in your art time??

I'm Golden

One more cross-eyed stitch complete. There is another set of three and then I can retire. I wasn't going to do another, but I just can't leave the grouping incomplete, ya know?

Next Gen Gold

All three together

Next up on the agenda, a sashiko table runner (going all modern..ooOOooooo), quilting a signature quilt and a ringmaster costume for colorguard and helping a friend alter a Hogwart's cloak.

Somewhere in there I shall celebrate a birthday, spend 3 days a week at physical therapy with the mil, prep the taxes and do a Klingon 5K.

Let the games begin..............................

MERRY CHRISTMAS

FRAMED

They actually lined up.......I am thrilled beyond belief.

Got one more set of three and I am d o n e with cross-eyed stitch.

Gratuitous granddot shot

Seriously...... thee cutest thing ev er!

Another Finish

Part two of my cross-eyed stitch adventure....

Next Gen....

It's a finish

Well, my first, and possibly my last, cross-eyed stitch project is done.
I'm glad I did it, but I prefer surface embroidery and lines I can follow....counting, not so much. 

I can't wait to frame it and get a cross stitching champion to finish the 6 other uniforms that I want.....are you reading this Karen????? 

The stitching sure needs some work, but it looks better in person and not in macro camera mode. LOL

That is two finishes for me..... this month....I rarely seem to sew for me and it felt good...real good.

Now, onto Christmas sewing with my eyes on sewing more than a couple of things for me in 2016.  

Enjoy the last 'Ber of the year......December!

Happy almost Christmas!!

It's a start

Started the cross stitch. Hated the first 30 minutes and 5 rows.
The next 30 minutes and next 5 rows......not so bad.

Progress......

The first few rows......hooped and hated it.

Tonight...not hooped and not hating it.

Yep, I got this.

NEW OBSESSION(S)

Not sure if they count as one or two. Let's say two, but they are symbiotic.
If you have been one of the few, the proud, the long time followers...you know I have been on a "get my booty healthy" journey. 

Its beginning was two-fold.
I saw a workout outfit I sooooo wanted; but like most workout gear, it was sized toward the already fit. I was not all that fit. Fab, sure, fit, naw.

A nuu-muu. An outfit that would cover my booty and not show a bunch of cleavage and red. I was hooked. Only one tiny little problem....their largest size was not gonna fit me....so I passed.

The second part of the equation....doc said you need to be healthy for your heart. Stupid genetics...I couldn't do anything about my genes, but I could do something about the rest of me. 

Sooooooo I dropped a few pounds and inches and got small enough to squeeeeeeze into the largest one. Sadness....they no longer had the pattern that I drooled over but they did have bunches more that I like. 

Sidebar......I found a fruit punch in my size....should be here this week. AANNDDD  it's not their largest size woooo hooooo. I may even be down to a plain ol' large by the end of the year!!!

I will own 5 and number 6 will be the next size down as a dangling carrot to keep me motivated....water lily....soooo pretty

me in my muus and ruus

chai

                      poppy                                          fleurty                                               skye

Which leads me to my next growing obsession.....the 5k....the virtual 5k
Your own speed, your own course...a medal when you send in your miles...screen shot like.
This started with a real 5K that a friend and I are walking,  Runlikeadiva, in May.
I have since discovered a whole world of virtual runs to keep me excited about walking.
I just did one the other day... See the bib above.....A memorial mile for Leonard Nimoy benefiting COPD...win win.

Here is the bling in my future....I will earn them alllllllll....mwah ha ha

What's your current obsession?


As for my other obsession....I just joined an apron sewalong at the apronista.
C'mon apron 27!!!