Wait! The Year is Almost Over?

Hi Everyone,

Oh my goodness!  It was so sweet to hear from so many of you that you missed me and are glad that I am back--it really warmed my heart and makes me wish I had gotten back to this much sooner.  I've missed all of you, too!

I simply cannot believe that there is only two weeks left in this year!  The time since our move seems to have flown by.  Looking back, we had our stuff packed up in July, so I feel as though I've lost 6 months--just "poof!"  Anyway, I'm not going to waste any more time dwelling on that fact.  I want to see what I can do with the rest of the time.

What with Christmas thrown in the mix, I'm not sure I will have time to get much done in the way of projects, so I want to spend my time planning a bit.  Usually at this time, I am looking back at the projects that I did this year.  I think I will see if I have enough to share in a post for later.

I say that I haven't done much, but in fact, I have started and completed two Christmas projects!  The thing about moving is that you find thing that you forget you have.

Last year, my good friend in Virginia, Linda, was making this candle mat from a kit.  I said I liked it, so she gave me the pattern and the leftover bits of wool.  I found it and decided I should actually make it.

I'm almost embarrassed to admit how much wool I have, and yet this is only the second project that I've made with it!  I loved this project as you just whip stitch the wool--no need to do the blanket stitch, which isn't my favorite.

In other stuff I came across another pattern that I'd bought a few years ago.  I decided to work on it next.  (The key to both of these projects is that it involves lots of hand work, and that is about all I've been doing lately--at my bee days.)

It took two Bee meetings to get the embroidery done.

(Ugh!  Sorry for the sideways picture!)

There are two snowflakes.

Then last Friday, I pieced it all together.  My husband was flying home from a trip to Canada and was delayed in Toronoto, which made him miss his flight from Detriot, so while I was waiting for his new flight to land, I got this together.  Monday I did some minimal machine quilting and added the binding so that I could take it on Tuesday and do the hand finishing on the binding at that Bee, so it took three weeks to do. 

I have no idea what I'll be taking to the next meeting:  If nothing else, my Sarah's Revival applique blocks.  Remember how I wanted to get a few blocks done while on hiatus?  Well, it didn't happen!

So I'm thinking forward to next year and considering the projects that I want to tackle.  I am in the mood to do a "major project." I know what it is and actually started cutting it before we moved.  How about you?  Do you have plans for next year?  I'd love to hear them.

Have a great day!

JoAnne