2016 in review ...

Dear all,

2016 is almost over ... and despite attempting I find myself failing again and again.

Out of my New Year resolutions for the year I managed 6 out of 10. Two of my significant fails include to blog more frequently and to qualify as a chartered accountant.

As you know the blogging has become more scarce ... and I have also recently failed my final exam. It has been a huge disappointment. 14 exams passed over the last few years and the last, 15th, that would bring me within reach of qualifying ... I panicked.

But lets concentrate on the positive and that is 2017 brings another chance at achieving the unachievable and 10 new goals to work towards. Lets say to qualify is on the list again, as well as to blog more frequently. So far I have 9 goals, and only need to come up with one more ... there is still time until the clock strikes midnight, right? If you have any ideas do let me know.

Onto the lack of stitching achievements. Out of 16 goals I sort of achieved 3 and a bit.

Harmony by Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe. 

My goal was to complete this. And I have. This was one of my earlier finishes (while still motivated by 2015 failures):

December 2015

January 2016

Alice and Dodo by Tanya Bond 

This was a new start and the Goal was to stitch 1 out of 25 pages. 

October 2016

Iris by John Clayton 

December 2015

December 2016

So now onto partial meeting of targets ...

Christmas Candle - HAED

Goal was to finish the top row, i.e a page and a partial. Unfortunately I decided to use this project to participate in a challenge and needed a new page. But this means 5/36 done.

December 2015

August 2016

August 2016

Peace (Little Sheep Virtue) by Little House Needleworks

Well completing all 12 sheep did not go down so well ... but the 6th one is now done.

August 2016

And a not related finish to my Wipocalypse goals ...

A finish of 'Take Shelter together!' - Rainy Day Kitty by Durene Jones the World of Cross Stitching magazine (issue 240).

March 2016

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.

Samuel Beckett

Until next year,

Lija

Oil painting of a robin and lack of cross stitch

Dear all,

I can't believe it has been so long since my last post.

It seems I have less and less time to do things that I love ... it must be what growing up feels like.

Some may remember me mentioning that apart from cross stitch that I am also a part-time artist. A scary thought occurred to me last New Years Eve... I haven't picked up my brush in so long that I was unsure I could paint any more.

Well one of my New Year's resolutions was to start painting again. I have managed four oil paintings so far this year. Including ...

But this may be it for 2016. With time ticking by ... and there being other demands on my time. Studies ... work ...

With light fading away as winter approaches, unfortunately I was unable to pick up my sheep. I am also unsure what is wrong with my eyes ... but my perfect vision seems less perfect as time goes on. I went to theatre recently, and I was in the first half of the hall and the actors were all blurry. And don't start me on any training sessions we have at work (I am unable to see what it says on the screen!) This is the same problem I am having with small count. I just can't seem to see the holes clearly enough.

Until soon (hopefully with some cross stitch),

Lija

#7.8 Sheep Sal - Peace complete

Dear all,

Sadly I haven't posted in some time (again). I have been attempting to catch up with Sarah in our Sheep SAL and am still failing. On a positive note here is my complete sheep 'Peace':

Complete - August 2016

Some great news is that I passed two more exams towards my Chartered Accountancy (Corporate Reporting and Strategic Business Management). Only one exam left until I am fully qualified! Study starts next week.

Until soon,

Lija

SALE, sheep #7.7 and Wipocalypse ...

Dear all,

I can't believe it has been almost a month since my last post.

It is also very hard to believe how much has changed since then. United Kingdom has voted to leave EU. Lets say since the result came out it has been a turbulent fall into the abyss for us.

Pound sterling is failing. The earrings I was planning on buying for £9 have magically increased overnight to £11! (and I am dreading to think how much other purchases I have planned cost). On a positive side for those of you outside of the UK you can now grab a bargain from our island. In addition (just to be a bit more tempting) we are having an up to 50% SALE over on our Etsy store (click).

We are trying to clear out some of our older stock ... so how about a birdhouse that you can stick your needles in while you stitch ...

50% Sale - now £6

or a linen bag to stash bits and bobs ...

50% Sale - now £6.50

and another idea for your needles, pins, buttons  ...

50% Sale - now £5

Talking about all the various changes in my life... I am finally no longer a trainee ... as of 1 July I have been promoted to a Tax Semi Senior. So after a week long depression following the referendum something good finally happened.

And now onto the stitching ...

Sheep SAL # 7.7

The next 100 stitches ...

700 stitches

Wipocalypse update ...

I haven't done one of these updates in a while, so in addition to Alice and Dodo by Tanya Bond (that you seen in the last post).

June 2016

Since then I have done some late night stitching on Christmas Candle.

July 2016

I am yet to finish page 5 and 6 ... and now page 7 it seems. I have started the additional page for a challenge I was participating in on Heaven and Earth Designs forum. Unfortunately I have not met it. The challenge was to stitch a full page in cross country method.

Half a year has gone by and I only met one out of my sixteen goals. Not a very inspiring progress, but on the other hand a few of the goals are getting quite close to being met.

Until soon,

Lija

Alice and Dodo #1 and Sheep SAL #7.6

Dear all,

I realise I haven't update you in a while, so a post is long overdue. I have a new start and the next 100 stitches on my sheep.

The new start is 'Alice and Dodo' by Tanya Bond (Gecko Rouge kit).

One of the 2016 goals is to stitch one page, and I have started from the centre (mainly for ease of starting). 

And of course my next 100 stitches ...

600 stitches

I am beginning to really dislike this count as the only time I can stitch is with daylight ... or I can't see the holes! And as I stitch mostly in the evenings this is slightly difficult to progress with.

Until next time,

Sheep SAL #7.5

Dear all,

The next 100 stitches on the sheep:

500 stitches

Until next time,

Sheep SAL #7.4

Dear all,

A quick update on the next 100 stitches:

400 stitches

Until next time,

A finish and Sheep Sal # 7.3 update ...

Dear all,

Remember I promised to show what we gifted mum ... this was a joint project for my mum's 50th birthday with my sister of Cross Stitch Mania.

Complete - March 2016

I was hoping I could show you it framed ... but framing is getting delayed due to mum's indecision on what colour to paint the frame.

'Take Shelter together!' This Rainy Day Kitty by Durene Jones is from the World of Cross Stitching magazine issue 240.

Also incidentally here are my next 100 stitches on the sheep ...

300 stitches

I am slightly scared to check out Sarah's progress ... I have a feeling I am very very behind.

Until soon,

Sheep SAL - #7.2

Dear all,

I have now managed to stitch a further 100 stitches and am attempting to post via my phone app ... How technologically advanced of me.

Bare with me while I work out the kinks. I have a vague idea that if this is at all possible I could in future take photos on my way to work and do a post during the lunch hour. But we will see if this works first. [edited on computer to resize photo, add caption and signature].

200 stitches

Here is the sheep ... At 200 stitches it is beginning to form. It is so much nicer to stitch during the day light hours. 

Until soon (with the next 100 stitches),

Sheep Sal - sheep #7.1

Dear all,

It seems that that poem about mice and men is quite appropriate as is probably always the case.

Sarah of Sarah in Stitches and I have agreed to resume our Sheep SAL at a moderate pace of 100 stitches per week (ehm a few weeks ago). I am off this week on annual leave so it is my full intention to catch up.

So here are my first 100 stitched of 'Peace':

100 stitches

I have found that recently most of my stitching time has been devoted to a joint project between my sister and me. My mum who has just turned 50, requested a cross stitched picture that took her fancy from a magazine for her birthday. We have been very busy stitching it, but unfortunately did not quite made it on time and I am still trying to complete it (now on my own as my sister after staying for a week with us has departed back home).

Hopefully I will finish it soon and will be able to share! 

Until soon with more sheep updates,

Harmony now finished ... or the first Wipocalypse check in ...

Dear all

I cannot believe that January is now over ... and that I have survived it.

During the month I had little time for stitching, so I picked a project with one colour to concentrate on ... one that had not much left to do. Guess what ... with how tired I was I had to unpick twice!

And here is the finish:

Harmony by Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe:

Complete - January 2016

Stitched in 1840 Red Violet as dyed by Nancy of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.

I think in January we were meant to introduce ourselves and our projects. I think I have done the latter in December or rather early January and my projects can be found on my Wipocalypse tab.

And I have some exciting news on the personal front ... some of you might remember I was sitting some exams in December ... well I passed them. And I think this means I am now a semi-qualified chartered accountant! There are still 3 more to go, plus some e-assessments before I become fully qualified, so maybe I should not yet get overexcited.

Until soon,

Welcome to 2016 ...

Hello all and welcome to 2016 ...

... I can't believe I haven't posted since October. I do need to be better this year (blogging is one of my 10 New Year resolutions), so here we go off to a flying start with a sum up of a year and setting up goals for the year ahead.

I have only completed 3 of my goals in 2015 ... so hopefully 2016 will be better.

1) Christmas Candle - HAED

Before:

December 2014

After:

December 2015

The goal was to complete the last two pages of the top row, which as you can see I have not managed.

The plan for 2016 is therefore the same goal as last time ... complete the two top pages. 

2) Ember II by Maia. Complete this project ... COMPLETE!!!

Before:

May 2014

After:

April 2015

3) Yiota's Xstitch: Fields of Poppies. Complete one page ... COMPLETE!!!

Before:

January 2014

After:

April 2015

Seven more pages to go ... so I think I will set myself a target to stitch another one.

4) Literate Dragon HAED. Complete the bottom left page... COMPLETE!!!

Before:

April 2014

After:

December 2015

Guess what I think I will go for the top right this year ... that way we might finish this by 2017!

5) QS Poisonous Beauties (complete page 1) - not stitched. Ditto for 2016.

6) Harmony by Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe (goal complete) ... some progress made here, but not quite enough.

Before:

November 2014

After:

December 2015

Lets get this one complete in 2016!!!

7) Venice by Michael Powell (goal: complete the first triptych) ... again progress was made

Before:

December 2014

After:

December 2015

Ditto for 2016.

8) Spring bouquet by Margaret Sherry (goal: complete). Very small progress:

Before:

After:

Ditto for 2016.

9) I feel a bit light headed by Judy Rossouw (goal complete)... no stitching

10) unassigned as Xmas chums was scrapped.

11)  'Tending the Flock' (goal: complete 2 colours) ... no joy ...

12) Making Lickle Wishes (goal: 1 colour) ... ditto ...

13) Cabin Fever by Dimensions (goal complete the cabin) ... I think I stitched about 2 crosses before giving up.

14) John Clayton - Venice (goal complete) ... this is becoming slightly monotonous.

15) 'Picture of elegance' (goal complete) ... ditto

16) Good Heavens by Margaret Sherry (goal complete) ... finally I have some progress to share (and see how good my new camera is ... the fabric actually appears blue):

Before:

December 2013

After:

December 2015

I then scheduled some starts ... but what I started and what were schedule are slightly different.

Starts:

17) Iris by John Clayton (Connections)

December 2015

18) Autumn Glory by Snowflower Diaries

December 2015

19) Twilight & Magic by Suzanne Gyseman HAED 

December 2015

20) Sheep SAL (LHN designs) So far in this SAL I should have had 6 sheep ... instead I am slightly shy of 6 ...

But I have Gratitude complete!!!

December 2015

I will try to get Faith done shortly so that I am officially caught up...

December 2015

Now I feel fully ready for 2016! With 10 New Year resolutions set and stitching plans made I just now need extra hours in a day. (To see my 2016 stitchy goals check out the wipocalypse tab)

Till soon,