**tap tap tap** Is this thing still on?

Sorry for the long delay since my last update. During the five weeks that have passed, I’ve been out of town for a week, worked like a mad woman for a couple of weeks, and have been training for my upcoming half marathon. I can’t believe I’m already in week 6 of my training!! With everything that’s been going on, I just didn’t have the “oomph” to update my blogs, too.

I have definitely been on a bit of a stitching slump since the start of the year, but I’m gradually getting back into the swing of things. Of course, part of that is due to some new stash acquisition. Some of it I purchased myself thanks to the birthday discount from Drema at Needlecraft Corner, and some I received as birthday gifts from stitchy friends.

Given that I haven’t really updated my blog this year, this will be quite a list. As always, you can click any of the images to see a larger version. Here goes:

Left: Garden of Eerie by Plum Street Samplers
Right: A Quaker Halloween Sampler by Cherished Stitches

Snow Garden by Blackbird Designs
Fabric: 30-count Creme Brulee by R&R Reproductions
Fibers: GAST & WDW

I have one last picture that I’ve been meaning to share for a while, but since I haven’t updated my blog, it never happened. A while back I was the fortunate winner of a beautiful fob in a drawing on Anne’s blog. She sent me this beauty. Thank you so much, Anne!!

Well, that’s it for now. I’ll try not to go so long until the next updated. ;)

Oh, before I go though, I should give an update about the winner of my donation incentive drawing. The winner was Darla who graciously told me to take the $50 and apply it toward my fundraising in lieu of giving her a gift card. Thanks so much, Darla!!

I also want to thank all of you who have made donations. I really appreciate it so much! With your help, I’ve already raised nearly $1500!! If you haven’t donated yet and would like to, please visit my fundraising page.

Until next time …

The reality has finally arrived. It’s time to start training for the Rock ‘n Roll San Diego half marathon in which I’ll be participating on Sunday, June 6.

Today was the kickoff meeting for the local Team in Training (TNT) group with which I’ll be training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Even though the rest of Team Shrinking Jeans will be doing the VTNT (Virtual Team in Training) program, I’m actually training with the local group here in southern California since there is one available.

So, this week I’ll be doing three training walks. If this were a normal training week, I would be four training walks. However, since I’m participating in the Surf City 5k next Sunday, the coach recommended that I not participate in the group training on Saturday. I’ll still head down to meet up with the team and take part in the training clinic they will be presenting.

Now, you may be asking yourself, “What on earth is this woman thinking by signing up for a half marathon?!” Well, it’s actually a couple of things. As I mentioned earlier, I’m doing this event with several other ladies from the online community Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. I love the idea of us all training together for this event even though we are spread out all across the country. It’s going to be so great meeting all of them on race weekend!

The second reason, which is more important to me personally, is the fact that this past year marked the 20th anniversary of my dad being in remission from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL). I remember all too well the pain & struggles he went through during his courses of chemo. Not only would I never want him to have to go through that again, but I hope for the day when NO ONE has to hear their doctor utter the word “cancer” to them as a diagnosis.

How does LLS help in this cause? When LLS was founded in 1949, the survival rate of children diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) was less than 3%. But with today’s advancements funded through organizations like LLS, the survival rate (PDF) has increased to nearly 90%! But the battle is still not won. Every four minutes, another person is diagnosed with a blood cancer. Sadder still, every ten minutes, someone dies.

Since it’s inception, LLS has invested over $680 million in the fight against blood cancers, with more than $69 million of that being invested in fiscal year 2009 alone! I’m excited to work with TNT because 75% of the funds spent by LLS go directly to fund research, patient services, and education programs.

Now I know you may be thinking that I’ve lost my mind (which may very well be true ), but my challenge of walking 13.1 miles is NOTHING compared to the daily challenges of those dealing with leukemia or other types of cancer. Won’t you please join me in this fight by contributing to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society? If you would prefer to donate by check rather than online, just drop me an email and I can provide information on how to donate via snail mail. Also, please remember that all donations are tax-deductible, too.

Even though the race isn’t until June, my goal is to have as much of my fundraising as possible completed by March 1st. By doing that, I can then focus all of my attention on training to prepare for my half marathon rather than having to divide my attention between training and fundraising. I will be doing the physical part, but I ask for your generous financial support and encouragement for this endeavor. Every little bit counts, and together we can all make a big difference in the lives of so many.

I know most of you who read this blog are friends of mine from the online stitching community. We all know that we have far more stash than we’ll ever know what do to with in a lifetime. I want to challenge each of you to please donate (at least) an amount equal to the cost of a chart & fibers. Stitch from your stash this month, and instead put that money toward a good cause in helping find a cure for people with these cancers, especially the young children battling leukemia.

I’ve also been blessed over the past several years of blogging to have received many wonderful birthday presents from my fellow stitchers. As you may be aware, my birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks (Feb. 17). This year, I want to ask all of you to instead make a donation as a birthday gift to me.

So, now that I’ve thrown out these challenges to you, here’s a little added incentive. For all donations received between January 31 and February 17 of at least $25, I will draw the name of one (1) winner to receive a $50 gift card/gift certificate to either Amazon, the online stitching shop of their choice, or, if they prefer, I will donate the $50 back to TNT to go toward the cause. The winner will be announced on Thursday, February 18.

Until next time …

As you can tell, the new year has also brought a new theme for my blog. After years of blogging, I finally found what I believe to be the perfect theme for my blog. This is so “me” that it’s unbelievable. What you think?

As I’ve been reading everyone’s blogs over the past couple of days, I’ve been seeing lots of people posting a recap of their 2009 goals and setting new goals for 2010. This left me wondering if I actually set any goals for 2009. It’s probably not a good sign that I didn’t even actually remember, eh?

As it turns out, it looks like I only set one stitching-related goal for 2009 which is a little surprising. Unfortunately, I didn’t even meet the one. Oops! The goal was to keep my WIP list down to 15 or less, but it’s currently sitting at 19. Maybe this year.

2009 Recap:

*As far as projects moved to UFO, I borrowed a concept from Annette. If I haven’t worked on a project in the preceding 12 months, I’m no longer considering it a WIP (work in progress), and will move it to UFO (unfinished object) status instead. This doesn’t mean that I won’t eventually finish it, but if I haven’t worked on it in over a year, I just can’t justify in my head calling it a WIP any longer.

Here is a list of all the finishes I had during 2009:

1. Snowman’s Quaker Christmas (Midnight Stitching) – Completed 1 Feb 2009
2. NEEDLE heART (Margaret Bendig) – Stitching cruise piece – Completed 8 Feb 2009
3. Christmas Joy (Little by Little Design Co.) – Completed 25 April 2009
4. Rosemarkie (Long Dog Samplers) – Completed 29 April 2009
5. Rudolph (The Stitcherhood) – Completed 2 May 2009
6. Boo (The Stitcherhood) – Completed 3 May 2009
7. Letters from Nora – Madeline Melissa (Nora Corbett) – Completed 27 May 2009
8. Ink Circles May 2007 freebie – Completed 7 June 2009
9. Spooky Treats (Part 1 of 6 of Lizzie Kate’s Boo Club) – Completed 11 June 2009
10. Anonymous RAK – Completed 25 June 2009
11. Patriotic Quaker Heart – Completed 27 July 2009
12. Multiplicity – Completed 14 August 2009
13. Hagatha’s Slipper (part 1) – Completed 11 September 2009
14. Boo to You House (Fair & Square exchange) – Completed 10 October 2009
15. West Coast (Sea to Shining Sea series) – Completed 19 October 2009
16. Moon Witch – Completed 4 November 2009
17. Noel Naturally – Completed 5 November 2009
18. Joyful Night- Completed 14 November 2009
19. Indian Summer – Completed 25 November 2009

2010 Goals:

1. StRIP (Stash Reduction Implementation Plan)

This is the year that I really want to get my WIP list under some semblance of control. I know that I give this goal a bit of lip service every year, but I’ve never really followed through on it. This year is going to be different!

How am I going to accomplish this task you ask? My rule for 2010 is that I can’t start a new project until I complete at least three existing projects. I do have a few exceptions to this rule:

1. Little House Needleworks ornament of the month series
2. Exchanges
3. Class projects (probably only the Shepherd’s Bush retreat this year)
4. Guilt-free January (GFJ)

For those who aren’t active on stitching message boards, the concept of GFJ is that one is allowed to start as many new projects as they like, free of any guilt about existing WIPs or UFOs, during the month of January. I have decided to slightly modify GFJ and only allow myself this caveat during this first weekend of the new year. If it’s not started by 11:59pm on Sunday, January 3, then I can’t start it until after I have completed three other finishes.

The downside to this StRIP plan is that most of my current WIPs are BAPs (big ass projects), including several samplers. The upside is that now I’ll probably get some of them actually finished.

Once I have my WIPs under control, then I’ll work on coming up with a plan for the UFOs. I’m not even going to worry about them until I have my WIPs down to single digits.

2. Little House Needleworks Ornament of the Month series

I signed up with Drema for the automatics on this series a couple of months ago when Diane first announced it on the Little House Needleworks website. Since these are ornaments, they should be pretty quick stitches. My goal is to stay caught up on stitching this series throughout the year as they are released.

3. Stash Stitching

Along with trying to get my WIPs under control, I definitely want to get back to stitching from my stash again for my new starts. I have so many gorgeous pieces already, with probably about 40 already kitted even. I am always so tempted by the new pretties that come out that I end up buying more and more and then never get around to stitching them.

My goal for this year is that 80% of my new starts, excluding the LHN series and any class pieces, will come from my existing stash. Given my first goal, it’s unlikely that I’ll be able to have more than 5 or 6 new starts this year. By making the goal 80%, it does give me a little wiggle room for something that might be released that just screams at me to stitch it right away. ;)

As you can see, I have my work cut out for me this year with my goals. Wish me luck because I know I’ll definitely need it. I’m weak!

Until next time …

Here we go …. The Final Week of 2009 Meme:

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

Took a driving tour of the lower peninsula of Michigan. Highlights of the trip included a surprise (to me!) dinner with friends from Indiana in South Haven, Holland, Traverse City, climbed the dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, went on a tapas tour of the Chateau Chantal winery, ate some wonderful German food and drove by Bronner’s (they were closed ) in Frankenmuth, and then back to Detroit.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don’t make “resolutions,” but I did set a few goals. I met some of them, others … not so much.

3. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?

At home, stitching

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My cousin’s husband accidentally ran over and killed their toddler son.

5. What countries did you visit?

Mexico

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Not that I lacked it in 2009, but I would love to spend more time with friends in 2010.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

January 20 – the day President Obama was inaugurated!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Earning another professional certification for work

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not losing weight

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Yes, I tore the meniscus in my knee.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

An Olympus E-600 D-SLR camera followed closely by my Wii

12. Where did most of your money go?

I live in California, so where do you think? RENT!

13. What song will always remind you of 2009?

“Single Ladies” by Beyoncé, but only because of the scene in Glee of Kurt & the girls performing it in his basement.

14. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Exercising & losing weight

15. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Commuting & working long hours

16. What was your favorite TV program?

Glee!

17. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No

18. What was the best book you read?

I can’t pick just one in the series, so I’ll go with the entire Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J. R. Ward.

19. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Straight No Chaser, an amazing a cappella group from Indiana.

20. What was your favorite film of this year?

Sadly, I think I only made it to the movies three times this year. I enjoyed all of them, so since it’s such a short list, I’ll provide them all: The Proposal, Public Enemies, & New Moon

21. What did you do on your birthday?

Went to Disneyland

22. What kept you sane?

Stitching!

23. Who did you miss?

As always since she passed away, my Gran

24. Who was the best new person you met?

While not technically new since I’ve known “of” her for about 10 years, but I finally got to meet Tracy’s mom, Anita, in person this year.

25. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:

That 26-hour road trips to Vegas are much more difficult to recover from at 45 than they were 25.

Until next time …

PhotoHunt | PhotoHunt

This is a chiming clock tower at the gas station where I normally fill up my tank. Yeah, it always strikes me as odd as well. I can think of no reasonable explanation why a gas station would need a clock tower that chimes on the hour and half hour.

Until next time …

PhotoHunt | PhotoHunt

This is a photo at the finish line of the 2008 Ironman 70.3 California. The race is comprised of a 1.2 mile swim, followed by a 56 mile bike ride, then finished off with a half marathon (13.1 mile) run. After nearly 4 hours on the course, it came down to a virtual photo finish for the men. American Andy Potts (on the right) managed to beat Australian Craig Alexander by a mere 3 seconds! If you look closely, you’ll notice that Andy is completely airborne in this shot.

I was at the race that day because 1) I’m a bit of a triathlon buff and hope to enter a sprint distance race myself some day, and 2) I actually worked the event as a volunteer. Here are a couple of other photos I snapped that day as well.

Australian Michellie Jones on the run course. She finished 4th for the women.

Unknown athletes starting the bike course

Until next time …

Click to biggify

The design is by Shepherd’s Bush and is called “Joyful Night”. It’s from the 1998 edition of the Just Cross Stitch magazine annual ornament issue, but also appears in their 10th anniversary collection book.

Even though finishing is not included in a typical Fair & Square exchange, Corinna and I agreed between ourselves to do the finishing for this round. It worked out wonderfully because this way we were able to enjoy our ornaments this year. Otherwise, we would have needed to finish them ourselves after receiving the squares and then wait for next Christmas to roll around to enjoy them.

I did the finishing for the ornament while I was on vacation up in San Francisco with my friend Tracy. Even though she’s a scrapper at heart, she also stitches. She recently asked me to teach her how to do ornament finishing, so I took the opportunity of finishing this one to show her.

This was my first time making a two-color twisted cord. I was pleased with how it turned out. It’s not very easy to tell from the photo, but I used the same two colors for the cord what were the stripe colors in the hat in the design.

That’s it for now. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas yesterday. Until next time …

I just wanted to take a few minutes today to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I can’t believe another year has come and gone already! I hope everyone has/had a wonderful day filled with joy and peace.

In closing, I thought I would play along on a Christmas meme that I saw on Valerie’s blog.

Eggnog or hot chocolate? Definitely hot chocolate. I can’t stand egg nog. Actually, growing up in the South, we usually had boiled custard instead of egg not, but I don’t like it either.

Does Santa wrap the presents or leave them open under the tree? I always wrap the gifts.

Colored lights on a tree or white? White, but I still like them to twinkle.

Do you hang mistletoe? No. I live alone, so what’s the point?

When do you put your decorations up? I haven’t actually decorated for the past two or three years. I do still hang a wreath or some sort of decoration on my front door. That goes up the weekend after Thanksgiving and comes down the weekend after the New Year.

What is your favorite holiday dish? Another Southern thing, cornbread dressing.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? When I was a kid, we did because Christmas Eve was always spent with my extended paternal family. When I open presents now varies with whenever I’m able to get together with my friends with whom I exchange presents. Living alone and not having children, Christmas isn’t probably the same for me as for most people.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? When I put one up, it’s got white twinkling lights, a set of coordinated matte finish Victorian ornaments (burgundy, navy blue, and hunter green), a mish-mash of other ornaments (mostly stitched), and a bunch of burgundy velvet bows.

Snow: love it or hate it? I live in the Los Angeles, so we don’t get snow here. The closest snow to me is a couple of hours away at the mountains. I enjoy going to visit snow, but I wouldn’t want to live with it. ;)

Can you ice skate? I used to occasionally go ice skating when I was a kid, but I haven’t been in years. So, I’ll go with no.

What is your favorite holiday dessert? My grandmother’s coconut cake, followed closely by her coconut candy that she made using the leftover coconut from the cake.

What is your favorite holiday tradition? I don’t really have any. When I was a kid, it was walking to my paternal grandparent’s house after we had opened all the presents to show/tell them what I got.

Candy canes: yum or yuck? Yuck! I don’t like peppermint.

Favorite Christmas show? Favorite TV show is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Favorite movie is It’s a Wonderful Life.

I’ll sign off with one of my new favorite Christmas songs. I especially love the homage to Toto near the end. If you aren’t familiar with Straight No Chaser, I highly recommend them! It’s hard to beat good a cappella harmony.

Until next time … Merry Christmas!

We made it over to Alameda today for a visit to Needle in a Haystack. Of course, you know it’s not a vacation without a bit of stash enhancement. ;) Here are the goodies I picked up today:

I’ll close out with a few random vacation shots. I’ll try and post more pics when I get home. You can click all images to biggify.

The Tejon Pass (black & white filter)

Hyde Street – we hike up & down this hill whenever we go anywhere

Hanging out at Pier 45 with Alcatraz in the background

The Fishermans Wharf Sign

Pier 39 Christmas Tree

Union Square Christmas Tree (iPhone photo)

Union Square Macy’s (iPhone photo)

Cable Car stop outside our condo

Until next time …