It's a Shell Game

I seem to have run out of steam this weekend and literally had a do nothing day yesterday.  Well do nothing to me means I still got some things done.    Mr. W. got a new computer which meant we (?) had to clean his desk.   This lead to a bunch of stuff that was pushed to me to put where it belonged.

I did to sort through my baskets of PHDs (Projects Half Done) and am embarrassed to say there are 20 29 projects.  Ugh!   One for sure I can date to 2003.     At the same time I made a list of my current  WIPs.  Ugh again!  There are eight.  And let’s forgot the ones I want to add to my stitch rotation.  UGH!!  

 Look at these cute key tags that my friend Pat got and shared with me.    Makes it easy to know what is in it bag without removing it from the basket, opening it up, returning to the basket.    You know that could easily lead to a side trip.

I laid out all the pieces that need something done to
them  to be able to mark them as completed

On a good note, I do have two WIPs close to being finished.  And some of the smaller PHDs are just a few stitches away from completion too.  I need to launch some sort of plan to chip away at this backlog.        I wish I was the kind of stitcher that worked on only one project at a time not starting a new one until finishing the current one.     I don’t have that sort of discipline.     Oh well,   I guess it is nice to have stitching options to suit the moods.  And to add insult to injury and upset any plan I had formulated,  my prestitch for Prim Stitchers Retreat arrived yesterday and my stitching plans need to be all re-thought.


As for finishing, I have a stitching friend that devotes January, February and March to  finishing.   Therefore,  I pulled out  my UFOs (Un-Finished Objects) and have a plan in mind to set April as my month to do finishing.

These are the two pieces I am concentrating on this week.  Both are close to crossing the finish line.  The Curious Needlebook is an EGA project.   Not one to work on canvas much, I've had a little bit of an issue with the outer border which is stitched in part on the diagonal.

The circular Jessica's were not as hard as I thought they would be.   Although not perfect, they will look just fine from the top of the bridge.

Next up is Pioneer School Girl from Betsy Morgan.   The stitching is almost done, the finishing, April?    I am making it my mission to move these two off the WIP list and to pick up a small PHD to get finished once these two are done.   I will have to create some sort of algebraic formula if X equals started projects and Y equals stitched but not finished, what is the answer to how to get caught up!


Hopefully I can move these two from WIP to UFO this week!  It’s a shell game for sure.

And what do I do but start a new quilting project.   Baby girl Thompson is due in February and I think I should get moving on her quilt.  It is easy to justify this new start.  I managed to cut it out Friday and hope to get some machine time this afternoon.

Well it seems I justify all my new starts.  Omgosh!  I am out of control.    Already I don’t know how I had time to work and it hasn’t been a month yet.

Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching!

Let me try the Reader's Digest Version of January

OMG!  What a year already.

I retired on January 10th and on January 15th there was a big party for me at the Hilton.   Not one to like the limelight I do have to say it was one of my best days ever.   In addition to the nice things said, (a Resolution from the Board of Directors!),  the great food, the open bar and the tear in the eye of my boss who had to turn and walk away with a raised hand - awww - my three kids were there.   Their attendance was a well kept secret and was an ultimate high.   I was so proud as a mom that they came and so proud they got to hear all the nice things said.   Coming was no small feat - one flew in landing at 2 pm with a return flight at 9:15 pm back to Boston.   Another drove four hours, enjoyed the evening and drove four hours home.   So proud I was.

To end the week I went to Camp Wannastitch in OCMD.  Another great time.   Camp Wannastitch is a MidAtlantic Region EGA event.   There were 204 of us at the Clarion.  Much stitching, much fellowship, a few drinks and some great meals.   Win/win/win/win.

At Camp Wannastitch, I started the cover of Betsy Morgan's Pioneer School Girl etui by pulling threads and replacing them with blue silks to create the 'teaching linen'.

I also finished this cross stitched tote bag at Camp Wannastitch.  On day two of January,  I broke my pact to work on WIPs and not start anything new.......this is a pattern from Janis Note of Noteworthy Needle.   The kit was complete with perle cotton, pattern and bag.

I joined the Sassy Jack's SAL of the Jeannette Douglas Learning Stitches Sampler.   Jeannette Douglas is a favorite of mine and I am looking forward to starting this one.  This is designed to stitch as pictured but Sassy Jacks is offering a way to stitch it on banding.  I am not sure which way I will stitch it.

I also want to share information about a pattern from Hands Across the Sea.  The Jane Marshall 1857 Sampler.

It is a sweet sampler that you can stitch from stash.  The sampler is being offered as a PDF download for 10 pounds ($12 US), with the proceeds going to help two fire brigades in Australia.  I am told their original goal was $3,000 and to date they have raised almost $40,000!   The power of stitchers!   Please click on the link above to read more about the fundraiser and consider stitching this sampler.

Ok there is more but.....only ten days into retirement I have no free time!   I am sure it will calm down and I will get into a routine, for now, busy busy busy, long to-do lists but I am making sure I am allowing for  time-outs to stitch.

Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching!

The End!

 Trust me, the tiara only was on long enough for a photo op.

 Lots of well wishes, cards and gift cards for me to start my journey.

I have one last work function to attend - my retirement party this week - had to wait until the CEO was back in town from Florida and then, let the new chapter begin.   My friends tell me it will take a couple of weeks to realize that I am not just on vacation.  I have a mental list the length of two arms of things I want to accomplish and things I want to do.....if, IF, I ever put it to paper it will be funny to look back in one year to see what I have actually done.    For now a well deserved respite before I jump in!