2019 A Year in Review

2019 Stitching Review 

Not a great year for stitching, I only completed 4 projects.

1.  Just Nan’s Cardinal Tweet (replacement).  The first cardinal I gave to an ex coworker because she liked cardinals.

2.  Blue Jay (Just Nan’s Cardinal pattern but using blues).  This one I made because my Mom loved feeding the Blue Jays.  She passed away December 2015.

3.  Lesley Teare’s Anemone Blackwork SAL - 12 parts (12 weeks).  I LOVED working on this one because it is purple and that is my favourite colour.

4.  Lesley Teare’s Floral SAL 2019 - 12 parts (one per month).  I’m so happy I got this finished before the end of the year.

2019 Card Making Review

January - 1 birthday

February - 1 birthday

March - 1 birthday

April - 1 birthday 

May - 2 birthdays, 1 Mother’s Day

June - 4 birthdays

July - 3 friendship Day, 1 birthday

August - 1 birthday

September - 

October - 1 Mother-in-Law Day

November - 

December - 1 birthday, 20 Christmas 

I made 38 cards in total.

Other Hobbies in Review

Zentangle - I’m glad I tried it, but decided I don’t want to dedicate time to this hobby when it will take away from my other interests.

Gardening - we added several more shrubs, hostas and flowers throughout the summer. 

Jigsaw Puzzles - Dave & I assembled 10 puzzles (1000 pcs) over the winter months (January-April & December)

Colouring - I only used my colouring books a few times, but I did colour a lot when making my cards.

Video Games - I continued playing Animal Crossing on my Nintendo 3DS.  I’m trying to complete as many goals as I can in this game before the new Animal Crossing comes out on the Switch March 20, 2020.

My oldest son Jaspar talked me into playing some Nintendo Switch games with him.  We played Luigi’s Mansion 3 where I controlled Gooigi throughout the game.  It was very challenging for me, but I absolutely LOVED it!!  I also tried Pokemon Shield.  It is ok, but I got bored very quickly.  Then he had me playing some Goose game, that was kind of fun solving puzzles around a town.  I also tried playing Star Dew Valley, but I didn’t like it because it uses a clock/timer to make the days go fast.  You only have about 20 minutes per day.  I can’t play with a timer.  I like to play games at my leisure.

Happy Dance - Floral SAL 2019 is complete!!

I was so happy when I finished the project last night just before midnight.  I didn’t want to start the new year with another WIP because usually I’m a one at a time stitcher.  I’m still deciding what to work on in 2020.

Here is Lesley Teare’s sample image.  I love all the colours she used.  It was a very cheerful project to work on.

Here is mine completed on 32ct grey/green evenweave.  I will frame it sometime next year.

I won’t start anything new until tomorrow for the New Year, but if I feel like stitching today I can work on my Spring Mouse in a House which I still haven’t finished (since 2017).

Floral SAL - November & December update #3

I’m getting so close to finishing the big light pink flower.  Just the center part to complete and backstitch.  Then a small butterfly in the bottom right hand corner.  I hope to find time tomorrow to finish the flower, but I have to go to Costco and go to a birthday party for a close friend.

Floral SAL - November & December update #2

This is what I stitched  last night.  I stitched until around 1:00 am this morning, but I was too tired to post photos on my blog.

This is what the whole project will look like when it is done.

Here is mine so far.

Floral SAL - November & December blocks

I stitched for a few hours tonight (after finishing our puzzle).  I continued working on the light pink flower.

Here is the complete project so far.  

Floral SAL - November update #1

I finally started the big light pink flower.  I didn’t stitch as much today, because I we started a 1000 pc puzzle last night and we were working on that again.

 

Happy Dance - October Floral Block

I finished the October block today and continued on the November block.

November block

As you can see above, I only have the big light pink flower and a small butterfly in the bottom right hand corner to do and it will all be complete.  I should have it done before the end of the year.

Floral SAL - October update #2

This is all I got done for today.  

This is what it will look like when it is all done.  

Here is my progress so far.

We are off to visit our youngest son Jordyn and his fiancé Sarah for Christmas Eve.  We are bringing Chinese Food for supper.  It has been our tradition for at least 10 years now.  Usually they come to our house on Christmas Eve, but since Jordyn had to work today, we decided to visit them instead. 

Happy Dance - September Floral Block

I finished the September block and am working on the October one.

Here is the whole project so far.  As you can see above in October I just have to finish the red flower bud, the butterfly on the top left and the flowers on the right side.  Not sure if I will have time tomorrow to finish it.

Floral 2019 SAL - September & October blocks update #1

I started the September block and continued on the October because the leaf was in both blocks.  I have only been cross stitching, no back stitching yet on these two blocks.

Happy Dance - August Floral Block

I’m so happy I was able to complete all of the August block.

Here is the whole project.

Floral SAL 2019 - August update #1

Here is my start on the August floral block.  I will try to finish it today after I do some last minute Christmas shopping.

Happy Dance - July Floral Block

I just completed the July block.  Yes, I still have to put the last bead on the butterfly antenna, but I say this is completed for now.

Here is the whole project so far.  I’m not expecting to get the whole thing done by the end of the year, but I will stitch as much as I can.

July Floral block - update #2

Here is what I stitched on today.  One butterfly down many more to go.

Pink Flower completed

I’m a little tired, but so happy I stayed up and finished the pink flower.  Not sure what I’ll stitch next, maybe some butterflies.

Pink Flower (June/July/October/November) miss counted

I spent all Sunday afternoon stitching on the pink flower.  It was slow going since I’m still sick with the flu.  I realized tonight that I missed counting, so I pulled out some stitches and will continue.

Floral 2019 SAL - July update #1

I tried to stitch yesterday, but I had the flu/head cold.  Ddin’t make as much progress as I had hoped.  I’m going to continue working on the pink flower in the middle (July, October & November) until it is completed.

Happy Dance - June Floral Block

I finally got around to finishing the June Floral Block.

I definitely won’t make my deadline of finishing this project by the end of the year.  This has not been a good year for cross stitching.  I retired this year in March and had such big plans for all of my hobbies, but I found that card making has taken more of my time because it is new to me.  In 2020, I need to learn to.balance all of my hobbies.  I realized when I was stitching today how much I miss it.  I just find it harder to see.  I need to use my magnifying glass/lamp all the time now, it doesn’t help that I prefer 28ct evenweave instead of 14ct aida. 

Floral 2019 SAL - June update #5

Here is my progress from yesterday.  I worked on the big pink flower.

Floral 2019 SAL - June update #4

I found time tonight to stitch, so I started the big pink flower on the June block.  I’m so far behind in this SAL, I need to catch up if I want to finish it by the end of the year.

Floral 2019 SAL - June update #3

I finally got back to my stitching.  Tonight I finished backstitching the purple flower, green stem and leaf on the right side.  I just have the big pink flower in the bottom right corner to do and this block will be complete.