Happy New Year to all! And the HAED challenge

It is New Year's Eve day here in the states. I can't believe another year has gone by. I know it's a time to be reflective and look ahead and make resolutions. I always make the same ones. Loose weight, more of this and less of that. I'm not going to look at resolutions, I'm going to look at it as living a better life. Healthier, happier and of course....stitchier.

I have to say I feel like I have made so many new friends this year, throught the BB's. I started on the Mirabilia BB and HAEDED over to HAED. I visit both and enjoy the time I spend on both. I kind of feel that while I love Mirabilia designs and will continue to stitch them, my heart is with HAED. Don't know what it is, it just IS. Michele and Bob are wonderful to deal with and Fudgey makes the board a home. As well as the other moderators and posters. A day can't go by without visiting the board several times a day. I love you all and appreciate the support and motivation you all give to me and each other. Unless you visit that board and see what goes on there, you simply can't understand. I'm not bashing other boards, I am just complimenting the HAED BB. (((((hugs to you all)))))

Now, Fudgey has issued what I consider a "challenge". She has asked every one to state one goal that they would like to achieve by December 31, 2006. If you achieve the goal, your name will be put in a hat with others who have achieved goals, whoever is picked gets a chart(s). Well, I want to achieve a goal. The problem is to pick one. I know I want to finish my Dragon Fae QS and I will, but I don't think it's fair to use that, seeing how I am close to halfway there. I need to look through my HAEDs and pick my goal. We have until January 8th and I want to give this lots of thought before I make up my mind. There are so many wonderful designs! I thought about Sea of Roses as I only have 1000 or so stitches in her, I think, but I want to make sure first. I will keep you updated on my decisions!

I am still having fun with our camera and want to put a pic. in here that is special to me. Of course, you have seen pics of my kids up on the BB and what is more special than the kids. But, I have known my husband, Bill, since I was 16 and he was my first boyfriend, my first kiss, etc. We have been through a lot as most couples have and will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary in July. So I was going to put a picture up of him. But then I thought I would put a pic up of both of us. Even though, I don't like pictures of myself, this picture means a lot. Our oldest daughter took it of us on Christmas Eve. My husband insisted. The younger kids were all tucked in bed and we had just finished putting the gifts out. So that is the picture I have included for today.

I hope everyone has a happy and most of all healthy New Year!

Camera fun

I have been playing with our camera all day! I have figured out how to get pictures posted to the BB's and hope to start work on some albums for photobucket. I have to say, I probably should have been stitching! I did stitch for a bit this morning and knit (a scarf for Billy) a bit, but I have become addicted to taking pictures! Bath time became photo time for our two youngest. They kind of had no choice, but they didn't care. I need to figure out how to post a pic here. I'm going to take some pictures of stitchy stuff and update my album over the course of the next week or so! Figured out the picture thing and here are our three youngest on Christmas morning! Krista on the left, Tara in the middle and Billy on the right!

I have officially started a lay-a-way for Labyrinth (HAED original) and I can hardly wait! This means that I need to stay away from sales and new releases! It will be touch, but I will just keep looking at Fudgey's wonderful WIP. She is really cookin'! I can see the smoke all the way in the USA!

HAED dreams

Well, I have a bee in my bonnet about Labyrinth (HAED original), whenever I see something I love I think about it constantly. Because of Fudgey (gotta blame someone) I am obsessed with this design. I put a message on the BB about a lay-a-way, if they don't do that I will just stick to my original plan of purchasing gift certificates until I have enough to buy it. I was so close to buying two of the "reduced inventory" patterns yesterday! I had the e-mail typed and ready to go, but then I thought it could be $$ for Labyrinth! I have never "done" silks and am too excited. Plus I think it would be a nice break from stitching pictures. I have done many samplers before but this looks so different. If it was a little cheaper I would consider getting it for my MIL, she would love it! I do think it's a good price for the kit though!

I hope our camera comes in today. Our brand new camera broke on Christmas day, I was so upset. I called HP and they are sending a new one out. No charge of course, and it should have been here yesterday but hopefully will be here today. After it comes I need to figure out how to upload pictures to the PC, then I can start posting some pics. I worked on Blossom Harvest yesterday and was pleased with my progress. I'm itching to get her done, she is so pretty and I love the SW fabric she is on...Blueberry Delight.

Now, to change the subject completely! I love our Christmas tree, we get a real tree and it is the best one we have ever had. Perfect shape, perfect size, etc. But it's been up since December 4th, has lost nothing in needles, and I had planned on keeping it up through New Years. The problem...I'm itching to get my house back to normal. Our living room (that's where the tree is) is not very large so the tree does take up much needed space, so that's why I want to take it down. I know our son (he just turned 3 ) will be sad, he loves the tree...but it has to come down sometime. It won't be any less hard in a few days. I will have to ponder this for a bit.

Well, off to check the HAED BB, again, lol....

Well, I think I got it!

I was posting on the HAED BB and all of a sudden it came to me! I will stitch solely on Blossom Harvest until she is done. If I get bored, I will add in my HAED QS. I will only do those two until they are finished! That will at least get me through January if not a bit longer. After they are complete, I will probably have a better idea of the "What's next in a rotation". There I feel much better!

Oh and because of Fudgey, I have now added a few HAED originals to my Wishlist! Labyrinth is gorgeous, and I think it would be a nice change of pace. The kit is $72.00 which is not that bad. I'm tinkering with the idea of buying myself a gift certificate to HAED weekly or bi-weekly in a very small amount like $5.00 or $10.00 then cash them all in when I have enough. It would almost be like a "lay-a-way". Hmm...I wonder if you can purchase them in small amounts like that. I will have to check into it!

If you read this Fudgey, you have enabled me once again!

The Party was a success! AND Pt 2 Still thinking...

I'm so happy! We had my side of the family over last night was a Christmas celebration and all went well. There was good food (even if I do say so myself!), and laughter. My side doesn't get together often, even though the family is very small so it was nice. My brother didn't come with his wife and two daughters, but I knew they wouldn't anyway. He has kind of disowned me and my sister, but at least he has contact with our parents. Anyway, it was an early night but a good time just as well!

Part 2 of this entry, Still thinking...
I am still trying to get my thoughts organized for some sort of stitching rotation, even though I have been unsuccessful so many times. I know the screaming method works best for me, but I am for the most part, an organized person. So the screaming method seems too unorganized. I think the key for me is to start off small. I have two wips that I desperately want to finish. They are the HAED QS Dragon Fae 1, and Mirabilia's Blossom Harvest. I am three quarters finished on Blossom and I think the halfway mark with my QS. I am also desperate for a new start, and I have two other WIPs, Sea of Roses and Arthur and Guenievere. Hmmmm....I will have to ponder this some more, it helps me to put it all in writing.

I didn't have this problem before I was addicted to HAED!

Back to blog

It has been forever since I "blogged". With the new year approaching, I thought it might be a good time to try to get back to it on a regular basis. I need to be in a routine so that I can continue to blog. I enjoy reading many blogs and get mad at myself when I neglect my blog.

I will be thinking up some New Year's Resolutions and try to organize my stitching. I have more WIPs than I have ever had and this is beginning to bug me. I'm so close to finishing Mirabilia's Blossom Harvest that I have decided to work soley on her until I finish. I use to be an OATTer until the wonderful world of HAED. I have three HAEDs started. Arthur & Guenievere, Dragon Fae 1 QS, and Sea of Roses. There are many more I want to start and I need to get all of this organized. I also have some Mirabilia's I would like to start, mainly Fairy Moon. So I need to discover a rotation that works for me. I tried rotating with Jenifer on the HAED BB, but I just couldn't do it. (Sorry, Jenifer :0( ) I think the "screaming rotation" works best for me and it's best if I stick to one for a longer period of time. So when this is sorted I will post it.

I guess that's it for now. I will "blog" more either later today or tomorrow. I have my side of the family coming over and am making a buffet so it will eat up much of my time. I'll try to link this blog to my ez board account for people to view.

~Terry