Good bye 2014 and Hello 2015!

Hello 2015!  I have been missing in action for a few months in blogger land.  I have been busy with school.  Yes, I am going to school and being trained to work in a doctor's or hospital office.  I am liking the classes but a lot of work.  I am keeping up and my grades are high.  The only thing is my stitching is suffering big time.  2014 was a year of change for me.   I had my gastric sleeve surgery in January 2014 and my life changed so much!

I had signed up for ‎Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge 2015 (DUCJC2015 on Facebook.  I did not make a list.  I have so much stash I want to do, I am just taking a pattern or an WIP or UFO a day from my stash and working on it.  I hope I can do it.  With schoolwork and final exams coming in a couple weeks, my stitching will be very minimal, until Jan 16.  The idea is to stitch on something different every day in January, whether it will be a new pattern or a wip or ufo.

I joined Mel's Stitching from Stash again.  I was doing good on it the first 6 months or so last year and then I went berserk and went off the budget.   I am back on it and with school, it should be easier.  My mind will be on school until I graduate in July.  However, I did spend this month but less than $10.

I joined Angie's SAL for $5.00.  Since I joined today (Jan 2), the price will be coming out of my budget.  However I do have a piece big enough to start it on Jan 10.  It is very pretty.  I am going to try my best to get part 1 done in 2 months.  Even if I have to bring  it  to school and work on it on my lunch.  A few stitches here and there will bring it closer to the finish.

I joined the YOTA SAL too from Pull the Other Thread.   You work on a UFO and mention it on the first Saturday of the month, except for this month, it is on the 10th.  So I will be back on next week.  I do have  a few UFOs I want to work on, and I am sure I will find one before Saturday to work on one.

For Day 1 on DUCJC2015, I worked on Nora Corbett's Azure.  Last month I got her partner, Verde and the matching fabric.  Still waiting for the fabric but it will be here shortly.  I worked on Azure's arms and will be going back and finish her this year.

On Day 2, I worked on Lizzie Kate's ABCs Lessons.   I am going to finish this one this year too.  It has been an UFO far too long.  I finish stitching the last line and some letters.  Today I am starting something new which I will post by the end of the week.

On the week before Christmas, I got the most wonderful gift from a Secret Santa.   I saw this being sold on Facebook and asked the seller I will buy the kit after the New Year if no one buys it.  I was so surprised when I opened the envelope.   Shelley from California send it to me as a surprise.  I will be starting it this month.  Thank you so much Shelley!  It will have a special place on my wall.

Here is few pictures of me at Christmas or around Christmas.

 This is my sister Dawne and me on Christmas Day at her house.

 This is me a week before Christmas.  I had lost about 75 pounds this year and have so much energy.  I am faster than my Dad these days, lol. I do have a lot more work to do to get more healthier.

My father turned 70 on December 17, as well as his twin sister.  We threw a party for them and tried to surprised them.  My aunt's ex found out about it and told her about the party.  And than he had the galled to asked for an invitation!   She knew about the party for a couple weeks but didn't tell my Dad.  He knew something was up but couldn't figure it out.   This picture above is the family with my Mom's best friend, Marie. Starting at left, me, Dad, Marie, Amy, DJ and Dawne.

Thank you for visiting me and I am sorry for the long absence.  I will try to post more after January.  I will be my January Stitching at least once a week, and maybe more if I find time in the week.

Until next week my friends,
Vicky

Autumn, Stitching and Stash

It is November and in two months it will be a new year.  Anyone started their Christmas shopping? Not me. I am one of the weird people who likes the crowds and shopping in decorated stores.  One of my favorite things for Christmas.  Funny thing is I will be stitching Halloween for the next few months.

I did finish page 4 on the Fright Night Friends and on page 5.  I just finish the sign last night, all Kreinik thread.  Kreinik and I are just barely getting along, and as soon as I am done, the next time using the Kreinik again will be too soon.  I hate DMC Light effects more than Kreinik.  I have another sign to put on under the shoes and the E will stitched next week. I know I will finish it this year.  I want to do the Christmas banner too, but I think I will wait a couple months before starting that one.

I am doing this lovely sampler from a French designer, Jardin Prive.  I didn't show the first part so the above picture is part 1.  I am stitching it on a  6 inch stitch band.  It is a little tricky  to stitch on it by the edges.  I love the color of it but I notice under the lights in my kitchen, where I sometimes stitch, parts of the band gives a "dirty" look, like car grease was spilled on it through out the band. I know it is the lightening.

Last night, I finished part 2, just in time, since part 3 came out this morning.  I have decided to redo the hearts and flowers. The pinks are very light and almost whitish color.  I had order the threads this morning and when they come in, I will frog and restitch them.  There are mistakes on this section too, but they are spacing mistakes and I can't tell the difference.

 I got some lovely new stash this past month.  My friend, Karin, rak'd me these lovely gifts, Christmas mittens ornaments, a Christmas card magazine and some variegated threads.  I love the  gifts and I know I will be stitching from a couple patterns soon. Thank you Karin!

 I had signed up for the Kustom Krafts Stitch A Long and I am stitching Autumn Encounter.  I admit I haven't touch it in a couple weeks (no update) but will be working on it this weekend.  I was one of the winners in last months raffle and I was allow to pick a pattern from their site.  I fell in love with this tiger, called Blue Eyes. I am not sure when I will get to it, but it will be gorgeous when I do finish him.

Last June, I had participated a online retreat with one of my Yahoo groups.  I had won a prize was told I could pick 2 patterns from the X'x & Oh's site.  I picked Big Trouble and Shall We Dance.  It was the perfect treat for this stitcher on Halloween.  Thank you Vickie!

On the 15th every month, Nora Corbett releases at least one new pattern . The Mirabilia Minions (which they like to be called), stay up late to 1 am to see the new pattern.  Then the next few days, the talk is about what is the perfect fabric and who can get the pattern first, etc.  If I am awake around 1 am, I will check out the new patterns, but I usually don't go out right away to buy it.  When this mermaid, named Azure, came out, I said it was pretty but I can wait. so I thought,and when a friend, who model stitched Azure, showed some close ups of the model.  What I saw were beads and bling which I didn't see when seeing the whole picture.  My heart literally fell in love with her.  I actually had a physical feeling of my heart falling.  Needless to say, I brought the pattern and beads but will be getting the threads and fabric in a couple weeks.  I know when the rest of the stuff comes in, I will be stopping the rest of my stitching, because I want her on my wall.
 I will leave it here for now and leave you with some more Autumn scenes in Southeast Connecticut.

 This one was taken from the highway we were driving on.  My aunt stopped on the side for a minute and I snapped a few pictures.  We actually felt the bridge sway as the cars were whizzing by.

 This one is when the sun was blazing on the trees at sunset.

Love the blue sky!

Have a great week!
Until next time,
Vicky