Thinking about what to do in 2008 --

Well, I have been thinking about what I want to stitch in 2008. Last year I spent a lot of time working on painting the house with a new color scheme in mind. I'm working with a light cocoa on most of my walls, and a pale yellow in my kitchen, which though it sounds strange actually works nicely with the other walls, as there are cream walls in the house as well. Anyway, this year I want to concentrate on finishing up some projects that I never got to last year. Thankfully there weren't but 3 maybe 4 items that I didn't get to, and that is not bad for a whole year for me. I generally start out with about 50 things on my list -- I know, it's pretty crazy, but I do get a lot done if I put it down on paper.

So what is my plan? I have been reviewing what I didn't get to last year in the house, and at the same time thinking about things I want to add to my walls as far as samplers.

This is what I have to do:

1. Finish making 3 roman shades, one for a back door in my living room leading to the back yard/porch. -- the other two roman shades flank my fire place and are kind of long and narrow. These ought to be easy to whip out now that I have done one of them for my kitchen (last year) and learned how to dismantle them and do all the measurements, add the little bone circles in the back, thread the cording through them, and add new velcro on the backs to get them stuck back where they belong .

2. Plans for the laundry room are to first paint the walls a pale soft yellow green, it is so subtle that it is almost not there, but enough to look good with the wood in that area. I've always wanted to decorate my walls in there with folk art, and I have decided to stitch up the "ladies" series by Carriage House Samplings. I also want to add Sarah Spurr to that room, and a few of the La D Da pieces. I have room for about 4 pieces under the cabinets, and 4 pieces on an end wall and 2 pieces on another end wall by the door way. That's all though because the rest of the room has a pantry in it and there is no place to put anything on that side .

3. My kitchen changed colors last year, as I mentioned before, and I want to stitch some nice bright things for that space. I have some pieces in there now, including a nice still life of fruit that is in a sort of antiqued pale yellow frame. Looks great with the new paint. I would like to add some pieces in red though, and some piece in green, things that kind of pop and grab your attention. I haven't picked the designs as yet, but that should be fun working on those this year. I haven't much wall space in there, lots of cabinets but not wall space. So the only areas I can decorate are under the cabinets by the sink, and one over the stove (if I dare), and two narrow spaces by the door way that will allow for something that is long and narrow, or two smaller pieces that are also narrow -- maybe 5-6 inches wide. I"m sure I can find some things to add in there. I love to use seasonal things in my kitchen, and traditional things like fruits and still life pieces. Right now I do not have a list of projects, but that is what I will concentrate on next and then I will post them here.

4. Pieces that I am going to finish in the next few weeks are the Marquoir Sampler -- I honestly hope to have that one done by March 15th, and to the framer after that. This one will be placed in my stash room most likely or in the guest room. It all depends on where it works out best. I have loved this samler for so long, it will almost be sad to finish it. It's been a joy to work on this one and make the little changes to make it my own along the way.

5. I have about 3 pieces to frame that I have the frames on hand for. They are Bless You by Bent Creek; Rise and Shine by Bent Creek; and a Watermelon design one of the Zippers (from way back ) by Bent Creek. These have been sitting a while, and I will be placing the Rise and Shine in my kitchen as I have a really nice soft red frame for it. The Watermel Design will probably go in my laundry room for the moment. I have others I want to stitch and finish for that area too. Maybe they will see a finish this year. The Bless You I am giving to my husband, and it may go in his dressing area in the master bath, or he may take it work. He is such a blessing to me, and I like stitching for him .

6. There are other pieces in process, and I hope to get them to a finish this year...they are:

-- Edcina Pieters -- a sampler from the SANQ magazine -- This one is for our
bedroom also
-- And They Sinned -- This will hang in the front entry way.
-- Vierlanden Sampler, an on line SAL -- This one will hang in the Stash room
-- my Quaker RR -- which is over due as far as finishing it goes. -- this will also hang in my bedroom.
-- Hannah Pepper -- this I would realy love to finish before the year ends. --
This I will hang in the dining room when it's finished.
-- When the Calling birds Sing -- this is for our bedroom.
-- The Workstation by Judy Odell -- I didn't finish this last year, so I plan
to get it completed this year.
-- Elizabeth by Carriage House Samplings -- I have plans to work on
Mary Margaret, Mollly and Suzanna as well as Sarah Spurr for my
Laundry room area.
-- Queen's Plums Accessories -- by Indigo Rose. I got the kit last year for
my Birthday, and I'd love to finish it before my birthday comes this year
which is in June.
-- House of Hawk Run Hollow -- I plan to work on this and finish it by
the year's end. Not sure how that will happen, but I hope I can make
it. I really would love to get it on the walls before Christmas.
-- Redwork & Withdrawn Work Sampler--This is my own creatoin. I
have already done the pulled thread portion, as far as getting the
threads removed, but I need to do the hemstitching around each block
and then fill in all the areas with red stitched designs. It will be a fun
project to work on this year.
-- Silk Sampler - I forget who designed this, but it has quaker motifs in it
and I would like to get it finished and framed for my stash room. I am
creating a wall of Quaker designs for that room. I presently have 9
black frames that are awaiting my stitching so that I can get them into
the frames and on the walls.
-- Permin Celle Sampler by Permin of Copenhagen-- this is another beauty and I do hope that it sees a finish this year. I have so many great pieces to work on.

I think those are all of my WIPs -- enough to keep me busy for a while. I don't have plans to start anything new as far as samplers go for a while. I want to work on these diligently until I am finished with a few. I will be working on some smalls and ornaments through the year, and that is about all I plan for new starts. I'm really wanting to focus on these pieces so I can start a whole bunch of new things and work in some smaller pieces as well. These huge ones are hard to finish very quickly. I do have a few quakers on the 'to do' pile, and a Spanish sampler or two, and a lot more folk art. It will be fun working on these and I hope to have some finished pics for you soon too.

Well, have to get on with the stitching or I won't have any new pictures for you
Hope your 2008 is a very productive one.

God bless,
Cathy