Love at First Sight is almost done ...

Dear all

I was hoping I would get to finish this project over the last weekend. I even had a good excuse (fighting a cold) for avoiding life admin. But I am not quite there.

WIP - 10 February 2020

The stitching itself is done. Only the backstitching remains. 

I do try stitching every morning together with one podcast and a cup of coffee. So perhaps I can make it for the Valentine's day. I am unsure about your plans but mine involve romantic films, hot chocolate, and maybe more stitching! Who said you need a man to celebrate loving yourself. 

Until soon,

Lija

Welcome February and Love at First Sight

Dear all

I am finally here ... on the other side of January! I have survived January and the tax returns deadline. In a way February is the new 2020 start for me and I am super excited for it. I have picked up embroidery again. And the project of choice is 'Love at First Sight' by Judy Rossouw.

Two frogs kissing ...

WIP - 2 February 2020

Do you think it can be completed ahead of Valentine's?

Anyhow I better go and start sorting my life admin, something that was somewhat rejected amidst the stress and pressures of work... and get excited for new projects and dreams.  

As of 10.06 pm of 1 February 2020 I am an aunt (for the first time) to a most beautiful boy. I am super excited to meet him someday soon ... and do need to start knitting again (the cardigan I have made him already will be to small for him)! 

Until soon (with lots of love)

Lija

First finish of 2020 - 'Picture of Elegance' (Sara Moon)

Dear all

My first finish of 2020! It is 'Picture of Elegance' (Sara Moon). This was meant to be a birthday present for my mother about 7 years ago or so ...

My mum's birthday is coming up in March ... however she no longer likes this embroidery piece (her style / decor has moved on from what she loved 7 years ago). So not entirely sure what I would do with this finish.

19 January 2020

One project down 40 more to go before the end of the year if I am to meet my minimising goal of 50 projects. 

Until soon,

Lija

Welcoming the New Year, Goals/Resolutions and Picture of Elegance

Dear all

I am super excited for 2020! I am hoping it will bring me a great deal of self development and productivity. I am intending on devoting this year to finding the new me... or rediscovering the girl that got lost amidst all the busyness of modern life.

Every year I set myself resolutions/goals and year on year I am becoming better at keeping (or maybe setting) them. In 2019 I met 8 out of 12 and the ones I have not met I was very close.

The 13 goals for 2020 are:

1) Complete BS3 / Fully Funded Emergency Fund (Finance ... aka Dave Ramsey plan)
2) Complete BS3b / get ready to purchase a property (Finance)
3) Finish 40 books (Growth)
4) Attend a seminar (Growth)
5) Healthy living - lose weight, regular exercise, 7-8 hours of sleep (Wellbeing)
6) 2020 in 2020 challenge (Minimalism)
7) Build a capsule wardrobe (Minimalism)
8) Volunteer in 3 ventures (Contribution)
9) Write 40 blog posts  (Contribution / Relationships)
10) Design 5 knitting patterns (Creativity / Business)
11) Paint 18 new paintings (Creativity)
12) Earn £1,000 from side hustles (Finance / Business)
13) Give up alcohol for 2020 (Finance / Wellbeing)

Now that I have wrote them down ... that makes me accountable.

I have been making steady progress on some for a while ... I started the Dave Ramsey plan last February and have been on a minimalism journey for about two years. It is interesting how everything is linked. The less I buy the more money I have left at the end of the month, the more I save the less things I bring in and lead a healthier life style (less takeouts etc), the more intentional I become the more every area of my life improves.

I know losing weight is probably one that many add to their list ... I became intentional at the start of the December ... with Christmas work party fast approaching and unwillingness to spend money on a new dress meant I needed to fit into one of the existing ones. So far I lost 3kg. I am hoping for another 14kg by the end of the year. I am not going on a diet but choosing intermittent fasting (in plain english only having two meals per day), daily yoga, and no alcohol to progress.

I am co-hosting a Self-development reading group on Facebook so extra motivation to pursue the reading. If anyone interested in joining do let me know. We all read books of our own choice in a topic of our own choice, with some challenges along the way and accountability. Encouraging each other on. My choice of books will cover finance, minimalism, business, motivation and wellbeing.

Has anyone else set goals? Anything stitchy related? I am intending on downsizing stash to 50 projects (however it did not quite make the above list ... unless it counts towards minimalism).

And onto the stitchy news ...

I have picked up 'Picture of Elegance' (Sara Moon) and made a lot of progress with only backstitching left. Perhaps this can be a finish this month.

WIP - 12 January 2020

 

Until soon ... I better go do some extra stitching.

Lija

Blackman Street in London progress and the final post of 2019

Dear all

First up is the progress on the Blackman Street by Yiota's Xstitch ...

WIP 28/12/2019

I have made it to the top left corner of the picture. As a work in progress I am a little disappointed in the colour ... however I am hopeful that once it is stitched the colours would blend into each other a little better.

The other very small disappointment is how slow the project is coming along. Generally speaking my progress on the cross stitch has slowed down in the recent month or so. I have instead picked up knitting and daily yoga (or almost daily) in addition to reading, on top of a busy season at work.

As regards to 2019 ... I am grateful for restarting blogging in earnest and hopeful for an even better 2020. In addition, as I progress on my minimalist journey, I have also started with a huge endeavour - decluttering my hobbies, something I did not think was possible. In turn this made me stitch and knit more.

In 2019 I have managed to decrease my stash from 130 to 88 kits/charts by stitching/selling/donating. I may need to take stock to ensure that it is 88 as I think a few projects may have got missed from the initial list. (I will update the stash tab as it is a little messy).

By the end of 2020 I would like to decrease the stash to 50 projects! Anyone else in on such a stitching challenge? To decrease the stash dramatically and to stitch more in the process.

Anyhow until next year,

Lija  

A finish and a new start

Dear all

I can't believe I have not posted since November. Well, I have started the blog post ... but ultimately got sidetracked by other things and never finished. So her is to attempt number 3. As they say third time lucky.

This is an awful picture but here is 'Cardinal Winter' by Little House Needleworks complete. It was part of the Ornament of the Month 2011 series, No 1.

Complete - November 2019

In addition back in November I was visiting my sister ... who has awful lighting ... by which it is impossible to see even weave fabric, so I needed a project that used larger squares. So I started 'Blackman Street in London' (very appropriate as my sister lives in London) by Yiota's Xstitch.

WIP - November 2019

I am not sure I am a huge fan of the colour of the sky and not sure it does the image justice, but perhaps once it is all done it will make complete sense ... and I just need to have a little faith in the process.

So I am now down to 88 projects (from 130) and still many to go.

Until soon
Lija

A belated Halloween finish ...

Dear all

A finish ...'Scaredy Cat' by Love thy Thread.

I was trying to stitch it as fast as I could for the Halloween, however ended up a bit late on the finish. But here it is...

Complete - November 2019

It was stitched on hand dyed fabric (by us at ILiNi designs ...click HERE ). 

I believe I am now down to 88 projects ... and am slightly behind in my downsizing of stash. I am also at present visiting my sister, who has downsized her cross stitch chart and has returned a bunch of charts and kits I shared with her at some stage in the past. I think I will need to reassess my stash on my return home.

Until soon

Lija