I have a cunning plan...

...Can you remember who used to say that?

I have decided that I need some kind of a goal to fail at this year. So the plan each month is...

Stitch the facebook JCS group monthly ornie. The reason for this is that I bought a twig/blossom tree last year for Christmas and despite how many ornies I have stitched/received over the years, it still looked bare-ish.  I'm sure that isn't a real word but I'm sure you know what I mean.  Another 12 would help with that!
Stitch the Mabel Figworthy 2015 SAL.. I started the last SAL in 2013 and have made it to April. These would be lovely stitched on one piece of fabric each and hung in the hallway. If I could get one stitched each month this year, then I could do the 2013 SAL next year and actually get them hung. I do enjoy learning all the new stitches for them.
Stitch 2 days of the 2015 istitch Advent SAL. Surely even I can manage two a month?  Then if I can REALLY over achieve and do 2 extra over the course of the year, it will be finished in time for Advent this year!
Each Sunday use the random generator to select one of my WIP/UFO list projects. This will then be my piece to work on for the week unless I am working on any of the above designs instead and then it can wait until the following week.

What do you think?  Is this manageable?  Can I do it?

January reveiw / February goals

January goals

• A new project every day...yikes!  Some of these will be WIP's...well more UFO's so they will seem like new projects anyway :)  FAIL - I got really fed up of keep getting a new project (or a different project) out every day and quit the challenge.  As one commenter told me, Debbie would have been the first to remind me that stitching is supposed to be fun.
• Stitch Holmsey Hare for January. FAIL - I want a nice piece of fabric for this one and as yet haven't found it.
• Make good progress on Honeysuckle Courtyard as Colin's parents 50th is in April (at least 4 bands).  WOOHOO - one that I actually managed to do! 
• Not spend any of my SfS budget. FAIL - but in fairness, if I had bought the JCS ornie issue last year when I thought I had, I wouldn't have spent a penny :)

February goals

• Make good progress on Honeysuckle Courtyard.  It would be nice to pretty much finish it off if possible so that I can send it off to be framed.
• Stitch an ornie from JCS.

I'm not going to have too many goals as I do want to focus Honeysuckle Courtyard.

Goals - yearly and for January

I am thinking that I might try to 'structure' my stitching a little more this coming year.  I am taking part in several of the SAL's and Challenges that are organised.

So far I have signed up for:

• Gifted Gorgeousness (organised by Jo)
• Turtle Trot (organised by Claudette)
• Debbie's Super Duper Ultimate January/February Challenge (organised by Linda)
• WIPocalypse 2015 (organised by Melissa)
• Stitch from Stash 2015 (organised by Mel)
• Holmsey Hare SAL (organised by Gaynor on facebook)

So with all this in mind, I am thinking about setting some goals for each one and perhaps seeing either more progress or more finishes than normal!

January goals

• A new project every day...yikes!  Some of these will be WIP's...well more UFO's so they will seem like new projects anyway :)
• Stitch Holmsey Hare for January.
• Make good progress on Honeysuckle Courtyard as Colin's parents 50th is in April (at least 4 bands).
• Not spend any of my SfS budget.

Round up of 2012, 2013 goals

Well WIPocalypse didn't happen, we didn't all die...what a relief!

Thanks to the wonderful WIPocalypse I actually finished 8 designs that may otherwise still be languishing in my WIP/UFO box.  The one I really wanted done, got done - Cut Thru Garden Shed so that was good news.

I didn't start too many new projects that didn't get finished - also good news.

So for 2013 I am taking part in the following:

• Turtle Trot SAL
• 6 Fat Men/Snow Belles SAL (haven't got the Snow Belles yet)
• TUSAL (and my glass is all ready to go)
• WIPocalypse
• Theme-a-licious

So between them all I should stay on track - fingers crossed.

I also got the Santa's village series on autoship from The Patchwork Rabbit for Christmas so I want to keep up with that.  I have ordered a lovely piece of Chocolate Milk 28ct jobelan from Steph's Fabbys to stitch it on and am just waiting for that to arrive.  If you have never tried either company, I really would recommend them both.

The designs I am planning on focussing on for WIPocalypse and adding in to my Theme-a-licious months are the following.  3 of them a technically obligation stitches in so much as they will have a new home to go to when they are finished.  

1. Cinderella - Joan Elliott
2. Henry VIII and his 6 wives - DMC
3. Friends are like Angels - Lizzie Kate
4. Horse Racing - John Clayton
5. Garden Tools - Anchor
6. Around the World - Papillon Creations
7. Confetti of Hardanger - Abi Gurden
8. Maggie the Messmaker - Dimensions Gold Collection
9. Honeysuckle Court - Patricia Ann Designs
10. 6 Fat Men - Lizzie Kate
11. Football Cushion - Sheena Rogers
12. Tatty Teddy Bookmark - Anchor
13. She sells seashells - Country Cottage Needleworks

I would also like to be able to send birthday cards, maybe a small gift to people I have met through blogging.  Or maybe be able to RAK someone who is having a tough time of it during the year.  If you would be open to possibly receiving something from me (so far no one has said 'OMG, what did you send me that for?) then could you email me with your name, address, date of birth, any real likes/dislikes, and anything else you think is relevant.  I promise I am not some mad psycho who will stalk you and I will not sell your details to any third party organisations - or whatever it is companies always put when you sign up with them...lol.  My email is in my profile but just in case of any problems, it is sharonjstevens at msn dot com - with the usual changes of at and dot.

Arghh......it's over 2 months!!

Oh Crikey.........2 months!!!!

I haven't done hardly any stitching at all with doing my autism course. It is proving to be a bit more demanding that any of the other courses I have done. I suspect that is because I haven't got any previous knowledge of the subject to draw on. It is a very interesting course though and I would recommend it to anyone.

Lindsay sent me a gorgeous PIF a while ago. It is a cute little biscornu. Thank you Lindsay and sorry it took me so long to let you know. She also sent me some lovely threads to go with it. The batteries are flat in the camera so I will have to get some new ones to post a pic.

As for stitching goals this year, I really failed miserably with them! I have revised them for 2010. I kept the ones that I haven't managed to do and would like to stitch an ornament a month again (think I managed 6 this year in the end).

I WILL NOT START ANYTHING NEW UNTIL I HAVE FINISHED AT LEAST 6 THINGS.

Anything that is a WIP/UFO currently is fair game to be worked on during the year.

I will not buy any new stash other than magazines this year but I would like a piece of fabric for a halloween project so hopefully someone (Colin are you reading this?) will get me that for my birthday.

Not much has happened really in the 2 months I haven't posted.

• I started my new job which is challenging but enjoyable.
• Rachael became a junior playleader at school and helps at dinnertime to keep the younger children amused and happy.
• Rachael is training as a peer mediator at school so she can help children with minor counselling issues at playtimes etc.
• Luke was voted onto the school council to represent his class (25 votes to 7 as he keeps telling me!)
• I passed my last OU course which I was pleased about and was only a few marks off getting a distinction which would have been nice.
• Rachael performed in her first recorder concert which was brilliant and we all really enjoyed it.

If you have made it this far feel free to give yourself a pat on the back! I will try to post more regularly in 2010 - perhaps that should be one of my goals too!!

***** HAPPY NEW YEAR *****

2009 goals

I have been thinking about my goals for 2009 and getting my blog cleaned up and tidied in preparation for the new year.

I have sorted my goals into 3 different categories and have tried to keep them simple as I have to finish my Open University course and I hope to start a Foundation Degree in September. I imagine there will be a lot of home study for this so I don't want to commit to too many goals and end up disappointed with myself. These are not in any particular order.

projects that I want to complete which are already started at the moment are:

• How Does your Garden Grow? - Papillon Creations
• January Snapper - Bent Creek
• March Snapper - Bent Creek
• June Snapper - Bent Creek
• Bear and Flower card - free kit from a cross stitch mag
• Cut Thru Garden Shed - Bothy Threads
• Christmas Tree Sampler - Cross Stitch Collection magazine

projects I want to make substantial progress on but realistically won't finish are:

• Maggie the Messmaker - Dimensions?
• What's up Doc? - ???
• Cotswold design - Cross Stitch Collection

New starts that I want to finish in 2009 are:

• Unicorn design for Debbie - Cross Stitcher magazine? (by November 30th)
• Unicorn card - Mouseloft (by November 30th)
• Summer in Sussex - The Nutmeg Company
• PIF for Robin Titan (before October)
• One Christmas ornament each month including finishing off.

I think I will put a gadget in the sidebar with a list of these to help to keep me focused on what I need to be doing when I am not studying!!
Whatever your plans for 2009, I hope it brings you everything you need for the year ahead and that you and yours stay safe and well. Thank you all for reading my blog over 2008 and I hope to get to know you all better during 2009. One of my New Year resolutions is to leave more comments on blogs that I read as I know how much I love to receive comments on mine. I am also going to make sure that I reply more often to the comments I receive so that people know I am reading them!!

October review and November goals

October's goals were........

• to complete TOT in time for Halloween. (well a couple of days late but done!)
• complete fancy fiber exchange (done)
• complete autumn/halloween exchange (done - lady didn't bother to let me know if it arrived or not)
• stitch unicorn card in time for Debbie's birthday (not yet)
• at least one Snapper (half done)
• some of Cut Thru Garden Shed (not touched it)

November's goals are.......

• complete 2 snappers
• complete 2 Christmas ornaments (1 for exchange and 1 for my mum)
• stitch unicorn card
• start Historical Sampler design from CS Collection
• catch up with How does your garden Grow?

September review and October goals

September review first, she says hanging her head in shame.

• complete and make up the biscornu if the threads turn up. DONE!
• work on Madonna of the Garden as much as possible until the end of September. No
• Stitch part 9 of How does your Garden Grow? when it is released middle of September. Started but miscounted and all needs to be unpicked and restitched.
• Complete another Snapper month. No

Umm not very successful. In my defence though all the supplies turned up for trick or treat fairy and it just has to be stitched before Halloween.
October's goals are........

• to complete TOT in time for Halloween.
• complete fancy fiber exchange
• complete autumn/halloween exchange
• stitch unicorn card in time for Debbie's birthday
• at least one Snapper
• some of Cut Thru Garden Shed

As it is a month long SAT with crossstitchcrazy, I hope to get loads of stitching done.

August's update/September's goals

This is being posted a bit early as Rachael goes into hospital tomorrow to have her teeth out and I don't know if I will be blogging for a few days. Rachael has something called enamel hypoplasia which basically means that some of her teeth have no enamel on at all. These are the 4 back molars that come through as adult teeth at around the age of 5 or 6. She is also due to have 2 of her front baby teeth out because of overcrowding but one of these has fallen out and the other is loose so I will ask if they can leave that to fall out naturally. The poor girl is going to have nowhere to eat in her mouth for a few days until it heals a bit. Unfortunately as she has diabetes to throw into the mix with a general anaesthetic, I am worrying more than I should be about it. Her diabetes nurse is unfortunately on her holidays too so she won't be there to hold my hand!
September's goals are to.........

• complete and make up the biscornu if the threads turn up.
• work on Madonna of the Garden as much as possible until the end of September.
• Stitch part 9 of How does your Garden Grow? when it is released middle of September.
• Complete another Snapper month.

August's goals were to......

• finish stitching on the biscornu. (waiting for thread to arrive.)
• make up the biscornu. (as above.)
• stitch part 7 and 8 of "How does your garden grow?" (done)
• complete another month of the Snappers. (completed May and stitched a bit of Jan, Feb and Sept)
• stitch 1000 stitches in the crossstitchcrzy SAT. (completely and utterly smashed this one! 4220 stitches in total! Obviously the school holidays have helped!!

I had another little finish, 4 in one week - must be a record!

July update/August goals

July's goals were as follows:

• Complete parts 5 and 6 of How does your garden grow - done
• participate in the crossstitchcrazy SAT and do at least 1000 stitches - didn't participate in the end.
• stitch on the Bent Creek Snappers - completed December and made a start on February.

August's goals are to......

• finish stitching on the biscornu.
• make up the biscornu.
• stitch part 7 and 8 of "How does your garden grow?"
• complete another month of the Snappers.
• stitch 1000 stitches in the crossstitchcrzy SAT.

July goals and June's final update

1. Complete parts 4 and 5 of "How does your Garden Grow?"
2. Take part in the crossstitchcrazy SAT and get somewhere near last month's totals. I won't be able to stitch as much so I can't beat it!
3. Stitch some on the Bent Creek Snappers designs.
4. Complete the blackwork butterfly that is currently around 50% done.
5. Put 5 hours into another (don't mind which!) UFO/WISP.

Well that was my goals for June.........ha ha ha
I had no time to stitch hardly, not one of the targets were met. I did manage to complete part 4 of How does your garden grow but that was the only stitching I did all month.
My goals for July are going to remain pretty much the same I think.

1. Complete parts 5 and 6 of How does your garden grow
2. participate in the crossstitchcrazy SAT and do at least 1000 stitches
3. stitch on the Bent Creek Snappers

I think that will do for the month as I also have my Open University course to work on.

June goals

A few days early but it will be really busy for the next couple of days!

1. Complete parts 4 and 5 of "How does your Garden Grow?"
2. Take part in the crossstitchcrazy SAT and get somewhere near last month's totals. I won't be able to stitch as much so I can't beat it!
3. Stitch some on the Bent Creek Snappers designs.
4. Complete the blackwork butterfly that is currently around 50% done.
5. Put 5 hours into another (don't mind which!) UFO/WISP.

Hopefully these should be fairly reasonable but with a week away, school fun day, birthday parties and whatever else crops up, it could be a completely disastrous month!! Watch this space..........

Goals for May

Well let's hope it's better than April's feeble attempt at completing my goals.

This month I want to:

1. Complete Sunday Cricket and find a suitable mount for it. (Found frame)
2. Start "How does your garden grow" which is a mystery stitch from Papillon Creations. I would like to complete first 2 parts of this.
3. Continue with Bothy Threads Cut Thru Garden Shed for the Crossstitchcrazy SAT in May and try to beat my total from last month.
4. Stitch one cat from Cat's Alphabet which is my oldest WIP/UFO.

I estimate that Sunday Cricket is now about 85% complete so that should be easily achievable!

Just realised that I haven't updated my April goals this month so I had better do it now.

1. Sunday Cricket - get this 3/4 finished. 80% finished now.

2. Nottingham Forest - unpick, restitch, finish and frame. following a discussion at school about what a load of tat teachers are given I decided not to stitch gifts for them and spend the money on something nice for the children instead.

3. Friendship - frame. Nope, not even thought about it!

4. Bent Creek Snappers - finish one of the remaining designs (don't mind which!) Made a start but not got very far.

5. Sweetpea coaster - complete border. I have run out of thread and so far haven't found a good match for it so this one hasn't been done either!

So all in all a bit of a disastrous month with reaching my goals although they should have all been achievable. Never mind, there's always next month!

April goals

I know it's a few days early but I thought that I would get my April goals down whilst I think about them.

1. Sunday Cricket - get this 3/4 finished.
2. Nottingham Forest - unpick, restitch, finish and frame.
3. Friendship - frame.
4. Bent Creek Snappers - finish one of the remaining designs (don't mind which!)
5. Sweetpea coaster - complete border.

I will post an update to these throughout the month.