I have really looked forward to 2011, bc I've been feeling completely overwhelmed with inspiration and lots of creative energy. One wouldn't know this, judging from the state of my house, but 'tis true: I am feeling fabulous!
Earlier today I tweeted that I want to experience the feeling of actually finishing something I started. So I gathered together all the lists I made (don't you just love lists?) on New Year's Eve and decided that if I read them enough throughout the year, surely everything on them will happen. 🙂
1. I will learn to knit dishrags.
Yes, dishrags. I love them. And after that, I shall knit baby hats. I want a whole collection of baby hats, and no one can talk me out of it.
2. I want to be nicer to the Yorkie.
I've been working on that lately, but no one around here seems to appreciate it. I heard Mike recently tell Sophie, "Don't tell Mom that there's pee on the carpet. It's better for everyone that way." So I got to thinking that maybe I shouldn't behave like Genghis Khan on crack every time it happens. Instead, I decided to sweet-talk her throughout the day, which prompted Sabrina to tell me that it's ridiculous when I talk to her like a baby. Go figure.
3. I will finish 3 of my cross stitch projects.
I came to the number 3 bc I have 6 total unfinished projects. I cut that number in half, bc if you could see the size of the things I have to finish… well, let's just say they're not ornaments.
Here's one of them… Frances Eden. It was started by my dear friend Kim before she passed it on to me, and I worked on it only a little. I'm very excited to see this finished!
The second one is Ruth Bacheler. I started this with Samplermaker-Extraordinaire-Margaret, but we both grew sidetracked with other projects, and it never got finished. I find these colors to be extremely relaxing, and it's one of my favorite projects I have going.
Finally, there is Dutch Beauty. I've completed 13 of 21 pages so far, and desperately want this hanging over the back of the couch in my family room!
Did you know that the Yorkie and the Chen are stitched on it?
Oh, and look. The Yorkie is doing what she does best…
I still can't quite figure out why the original stitcher included that naughty dog in her masterpiece, unless she wanted to give her mother fits.
I do have a few other things on my list of resolutions, but none with accompanying pictures. For example, I'd love to live a healthier lifestyle; this is not defined by one thing like "I'd like to lose weight" or "I will go to the gym every day," but rather just learning to do what I can and be happy with that for the day. I learned some time last year to stop picking fights with myself over what I did or didn't get accomplished, bc it would leave me feeling very dissatisfied at the end of the day. And who wants to wake up the next morning with leftover dissatisfactions? It leads to an awful lot of negative thinking, and that's something that definitely prohibits creative energy!
One last thing I'm doing this year.. a 365-day blog. In case you've never heard of one, it's a way for people to document a year, one photo per day for each of the 365 days. If you enjoy taking photos, join in! Here's where my pictures will be posted: focus on today.
Thank you for always taking the time to visit me. I hope this new year brings you all the joys that you deserve!
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BEFORE YOU LEAVE…
1. Heike, I've been trying to email you, but my emails keep getting bounced back to me! I'm not sure why this is happenening, so do you have an alternate email address I can send to?
2. Constantina, I still have your Christmas issue of Just Cross Stitch to send to you! I've tried emailing you, but the address doesn't appear to be valid. Can you email me your mailing address? I'd love for you to have your magazine – at least by next Christmas! 🙂
3. I want a huge collection of baby hats despite the fact that I am not pregnant, nor plan to be. Just in case you were wondering.
23 Comments
DJ
I love your resolutions!! And I love your samplers, I just know this will be the year you have that particular one hanging exactly where you envisioned it! (Positive thinking!!) As for the baby hats, go for it girlfriend! Sounds like a fun collection to me!! Your blog with the pictures is going to be amazing…you take fabulous pictures (and besides, you HAVE to use the new camera you got for Christmas…isn’t it a law or something?) *wink*
Gabi
Whats with the baby hats? Dishrags I can understand…but baby hats? Unless you’re planning to get preggers or want to use them as dishrags…this has me deeply puzzled.
Love your plans and admire your stitching. Especially the Dutch sampler.
Catherine
Still cracking up about the naughty dog on the sampler!!
It will be fun to see your pictures each day!
Katrina
Great projects!!!! I just started Frances Eden, she’s going to be my weekend project :-). Ahem, kind of like Ruthie was…
Poor little dog, LOL. I am telling you, obedience school ;-).
Love the new blog header, is it a hint of something to come?
Cathryn
Paulette, you’re so cute! Either congratulations or condolences on not being pregnant, whichever you prefer. 😉 I Love, love, love your daily blog. It’s going to be really precious to you, I know. Your pictures are great and I know (or I delude myself into knowing) how much they mean to you. I just appreciate that you are sharing them because I love them too. Good luck on completing your 3 stitchy projects (AND the baby hats too). They are worthy goals. Healthy lifestyle? What’s that? It changes from day to day according to what scientific research is completed. I agree that positive thinking does more for one’s health than anything. Here’s to the new year! Again, thank you for all you share with us. Cathryn
Sherre
Paulette, as usual your blog entry brought smiles to my morning! I understand your love of dishrags–I’ve knitted many of them over the years and find it very enjoyable! If you find a favorite pattern for the baby hats, I’d be interested. I love your goals–very realistic ones.
Tanya
Paulette – I love your posts as they always make me smile. Those dog captions are hilarious – good luck with the resolves or whatever they are. lol I love to knit and wish I had more time and yes, dishrags are top on my list too of wanna makes. They look so quick but alas, I need time!!! lol
Happy new year chickie!
Tanya
Margaret
Great resolutions! As for your WIPs, ok, is it time to get back to Ruthie? lol! I have to see if I’m in the mood or if I can find her. Hmmmmm. I’m working on Frances Eden though. You have a head start on that one. Hope you can meet your goals. I want a collection of baby socks. 😀
nicole
Great resolutions Paulette! Love the samplers – you can do it!! I really want to get back to poor Ruthie too. 🙂
Kim
LOVE all the samplers you’re going to finish this year! ;o) LOVE them all. I have no doubt you’ll triumph this year! :o)
Siobhan
YGG on your goals! You have such beautiful sampler WIPs–it’ll be great to see them finished up this year. 🙂 I told Duffy that I’d stitch DB in his honor–I mean, seriously, a pooping dog?!–but haven’t started it yet.
Happy new year to you & yours!
Jan
You Go Girl! I know you can do it…and count me as one of the ones that want to learn to knit dishcloths too…and make mine scarves for the secon! 🙂
Anna
You and Nicole are both resolving to stitch more on Ruth Bacheler and I for one am happy. I love the colors in that design, but would probably never stitch it for myself. So thanks! 🙂
ConstantinaH
Happy New Year Paulette, I hope this will be a wonderful year for you and your family. I sent you an email ages ago, I will re-send it and hope it doesn’t get lost over the Med again!!
Danielle
Paulette, if Constantina does not respond, can you let me know? If the issue you’re talking about is the JCS ornament preview issue for this year, I would love to have it, or even do a trade with you for it. I have been looking for that issue everywhere and NO ONE has it!!!!!
Linda Huson
I don’t care for using the dishcloths for my own use, however, I do enjoy knitting them. Luckily, my sister in Ohio loves dishcloths – so it is a win win situation. I knitted 3 of them for her for Xmas gifts for 2010, and have already started on another one for this coming year. I have knitted a couple for me – I use them in the shower! They make nice washcloths – especially for your face if they have a “nubby” pattern to them.
Happy New Year Paulette!!
Linda in VA
Lynn
I loved this post! Your commentary always gives me a smile. Love those samplers too.
Sharmila
Love your samplers, every one of the three you have showed… They are yummy and rich-looking.
I am also keen to see what the other 3 projects are, LOL.
Happy New Year to you and your gals and your husband and to Yorkie. Be nice to him:)
michele
I am excited to see your Ruth Batchelor again! I bought the pattern and need some motivation to actually start it! 😉 Happy New Year!
rockle
I haven’t cross-stitched in a LONG time. Now is a good time to get back into it — if I start now, I might actually finish one or two things before next Christmas, and have some lovely little hand-made gifts to give, like I keep threatening. Thanks for the reminder / inspiration!
Julie T.
Wonderful samplers, Paulette. As for knitting baby hats, when your girls start having babies you’ll be glad you have a few on hand. I started weaving blankets for my future grandchildren probably 10 years ago. So I was ready when my first grandchild was born in May. And glad I’d woven it (them) while I still could. I still have enough for 2 more grandchildren (at 2 each) 🙂 BTW, I only have 1 child of my own, so 3 grandchildren might be pushing it. I can hope, though.
Tracey
Catching up on my blog reading! I was inspired by your 365 day blog- I am going to do it. http://traceysyearinthelife.blogspot.com. I think that’s right.lol I love knitted dishrags, my grandma makes them for me and I LOVE them. They don’t get all nasty and stinky like storebought ones. 🙂
Tracey
ugh, that link doesn’t work! Trying again-
http://traceysyearinthelife.blogspot.com/ looks the same to me. You may have to type it in manually.