Setting goals...the cross stitch edition.

I originally thought I could compile this post about both quilting and cross stitch but that got way too complicated.

Like I mentioned in my last post...I rarely set any goals outside of the usual ones.  You know, stitch more, finish more, blah blah blah.  With the exception of the year of the Crazy January Challenge (see the tab at the top) I never plan very far into the future.  I don't think I've ever said that I'll only stitch from stash either.  While there IS always something in my stash to pull out and work on I seem to replenish my inventory on a regular basis.

In 2015 I only really had one goal and that was to finish an old WIP.  Old in two ways.  It had been in my stash for years and then languished as a WIP for a few more years.

Debbie Mumm's Keeping the Spirit.  You will notice a reoccurring theme with my WIP's:  stitching on dark fabric causes me fits.  Now that I need to use a magnifying lamp I was able to stick with this piece until it was done.

Success with that piece leads me to believe I can pull this bad boy back out and make some headway this winter. These two pieces were my only honest-to-goodness abandoned pieces.  I wouldn't admit it, but they really were left for dead.

It's probably been close to 10 years since I worked on Murky Manor by Glendon Place.  It was before Keep the Spirit was started. The fabric really was too much for me.  I was using a magnifier but not the type with a built in light. Hopefully that will make the difference.  Knock on wood and cross my fingers.  If I can't make it work this time I really will have to abandon it or pass it along to someone who can work on darker fabric.

As for other goals...I was mentioning to a friend that I thought I'd try stitching an ornament a month.  However, I plan to modify that to say that I'll stitch something small each month.  Sometimes the pieces meant as ornaments are too large for my taste.  Although, with my new-found magnified stitching field, maybe I'll even try something one-over-one.  We'll see.  I don't need to get all crazy here.  There is still quilting to work into the equation.

Another thing I really MUST do is some finishing.  You know...the type of finishing where I take a finished piece and actually make it into something.  I have piles.  I have done some finishing that is just lovely and some that I wouldn't show you for love or money.  So, that has lead me to be fearful of messing up one of my lovely little pieces.  I need to explore some options and make some decisions.  I will either send things out or just try on my own. Or, maybe, a combination.  One factor that makes it hard is that I used someone a few years ago who was amazing with regard to how perfect her work turned out.  I understand she is not finishing anymore so there goes that option. Drat.

Sound obtainable?  Probably.  Depends on that purple piece of fabric.

Pam