January 2011 Challenge....

It's official. I'm one of the crazy stitchers that have signed up for the challenge. 15 new projects to stitch..what could be better....or crazier?!?! I've been making a list of which 15 projects will make the cut. I've decided on the one big project that I will start on January 1st. It's one that I've had for years, and have loved since the first (and only) time that I saw it stitched up. There are only about 257 projects vying for the other 14 project spots.

I'll be back with pictures of my two latest finishes tomorrow.

Happy Stitching!!!

October Check-In

Since the month is almost over, I figured it was a good time to post an update to the list of books on my challenge list. I've been doing much more cross stitching this month than reading, so my list of finished books is rather small.

Books read:

A Toast to Murder by Michele Scott
The Quick and the Thread by Amanda Lee
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

I've been reading Dirty Rotten Tendrils by Kate Collins while my daughter is in dance class, so even though I love the book it's taking longer than normal to finish. I think I'm going to make a push to finish it in the next couple of days, just so I can cross it off my list.

Fall Into Reading 2010

Crisp air, apple cider, hayrides, pumpkins, scarecrows, and reading. All things that mean fall to me! I've joined Fall Into Reading 2010 hosted by Callapidder Days. I'm so excited! I'm always up to a challenge, and one that involves books is even better. I love the adult summer reading program my library offers each year, and this seems like the perfect way to spend the fall. My fall challenge lists consists of the books that I didn't get to this summer and books that have just been published or will be soon.

My list of books for the challenge:

Cozy Mysteries:

A Toast to Murder - Michele Scott
Stirring Up Strife - Jennifer Stanley
Maid of Murder - Amanda Flower
The Quick and the Thread - Amanda Lee
Candy Apple Dead - Sammi Carter
Tressed to Kill - Lila Dare
A Killer Plot - Ellery Adams
Dead Air - Mary Kennedy
I Scream, You Scream - Wendy Lyn Watson
Murder with All the Trimmings - Elaine Viets
The Fashion Hounds Murder - Elaine Viets
The Diva Cooks a Goose - Krista Davis (pre-ordered)
Dirty Rotten Tendrils - Kate Collins (pre-ordered)

Other:

Here Today, Gone to Maui - Carol Snow
Wicked Appetite - Janet Evanovich
The Quilter's Legacy - Jennifer Chiaverini
Safe Haven - Nicholas Sparks
Naked Heat - Richard Castle (pre-ordered, comes out next week)
Every Last One - Anna Quindlen

My Kindle is ready to go!!

The only other challenge that I'm going to make is to not purchase any more books until I've read five off this list. My book buying has been quite rampant the last few months, and I really need to cross a few off my TBR pile before I add more to it. That will probably be the hardest part of the challenge for me.

The End Of Summer....

Labor Day weekend...the end of summer. Major changes will be happening at our house this week. My darling daughter will be starting school on Tuesday. I'm use to having a little shadow all day long. I'm sure it will take longer for me to adjust to school than it does for her.

I'm choosing to look on the bright side. My day will start earlier and since it will be just me around the house, I'll have much more time to stitch and read. I'm really hoping to get my stitching mojo back - big time. I use to stitch 10-12 projects every month, and that hasn't happened since my daughter was born.

I'm going to be taking a look at the projects that I have listed on my sidebar. I'm thinking that there will be some changes. Even though I haven't been stitching a lot the last few years, I've still been making purchases as though I was. My stitching room is overflowing with projects just waiting to be next in line.

My first project(s) will be a few Christmas ornaments. I picked up the latest JCS ornament issue on Friday. Not much jumped out at me, but there are a few that have been added to my stitching list.

Here's to a busy, fun filled fall season!!!

March Finish/April Goals/Major Catching Up

March Finish:

Life's A Picnic - Lizzie Kate

Goals for April:

Finish Green Eggs - Lizzie Kate
Continue working on The Library - LHN
Stitch a Christmas ornament
Read 4 books

I joined a reading challenge of reading at least 6 cozy mysteries between April 1 and September 30. I shouldn't have any problem at all with finishing the challenge. I'm already thinking of the list of books that I want to read during the summer already. I'm hoping that our district library offers the adult summer reading program again. I was thrilled with the number of books that I read last summer, and I'm hoping for another summer just like that.

February Progress

I'm continuing my new year start of Little House Needleworks' The Library. This is one of my favorite pieces to work on. I just wish that I was able to work on it for longer periods of time. 2010 is also the year that I get back to finishing 12 ornaments in time to hang on the Christmas tree. So far, so good!

Next post, I'm planning on it being much sooner than the last, and with an update of The Library.