Tuesday, February 03, 2015

New Year, No Resolutions

Happy New Year folks!

One month and a few days into 2015. Crazy! Life hasn't slowed down for me and I am keeping very busy. Sadly, I've been sidelined by a cold in December and then the flu in January which has knocked the wind out of my sails a bit but I have been Netflix bingeing with the best of them.

I've been hesitant to write a post. It's hard to know where to start after a good amount of time away. How do I catch you all up? I always feel like I need to apologize and I miss visiting this space but life is what it is. It's busy and hectic and stressful and fun and social and frustrating and happy. I anticipate this year to be my Year of Change. The first change may happen as soon as next month but I'll hold off on sharing it until it's official. It's exciting but scary especially for a person who has always hated change. But sometimes change is necessary and good. Right?

Even though I don't blog much, I do visit blogs just to try and stay connected with everyone. One of the major themes recently is how blogging has died down in lieu of Facebook and Instagram because it's faster and offers more immediate satisfaction than blogging. I think that's pretty valid altho I rarely share my stitching on Facebook and don't even have an Instagram account. I still like the journaling aspect of blogs plus it's how I met so many wonderful and supportive stitchers. Call me old school but I still plan on blogging even though it will be on a more sporadic basis.

Following is the stitching I managed from the last half of the year to now. There's a major Lizzie*Kate theme going on. I find her designs fun yet comforting. The colors are bright and the pattern is not difficult which is just what my poor brain needs if I manage to find some time to stitch. I usually only decorate for Halloween and Christmas and I love stitching those types of designs.


Lizzie Kate - Hats Off to Halloween 2
32 count Amber Linen


Lizzie Kate - Snowman '10
Either 28 or 32 count Dirty Linen



Lizzie Kate - Tiny Tidings
32 count Amber Linen


Lizzie Kate - Holly and Hearts Mystery Sampler (Part 3)
32 count PTP Doubloon Linen

Looks like I am going to  have to figure out when to try and schedule a finishing day! Well, that's all I have to share for now. I'll be back soon to share more.

Until next time...
Valerie

29 comments:

Meari said...

Year of Change, eh? Let's see... What could it be? Engagement? Moving in with a SO? New Job?

Your LK's looks great... They're all very cute.

I like blogging better than FB, too.

Robin in Virginia said...

Your LK finishes look great as does your WIP. They are fun to stitch. Best wishes on your Year of Change!

Robin in Virginia

Katrina said...

Pretty finishes!!!!! I am so with you on the blogging thing. I am in the process of reviving my blog, LOL. Can't wait to hear about your changes.

Margaret said...

Love your Lizzie Kate binge! They are all so colorful and fun! I am looking forward to hearing about your change. I hope it's wonderful and exciting and great for you! I'm the kind who doesn't like change either, but sometimes it's a good thing. I don't think you need to apologize for being away from the blog. To me, you blog when you feel like it. Blogging is for fun, for you, not an obligation. But I love to see posts from you!

Kimmie said...

Awwwwww....I LOVE Lizzie Kate!!!!

Natasha said...

So happy to see a post from you. I am curious now as to what this change could be?? :) Now you'll have me wondering till you tell Haha.

Love the stitching you have gotten done. I hope the flu bug has left you now and you are back to your normal self.

Miss ya girl!!

Barbi said...

My year of change was last year. It was a scary thing, but it's working out FANTASTIC!!!! Great stitching, and hopefully all the colds and flus are behind you now. Looking forward to hearing about your news!!

Melissa said...

All that Lizzie Kate, so cute so cute! Believe it or not I've never stitched one! ha ha. True. I was telling someone else and she couldn't believe it. I always admire though and these are some good ones!

I agree with you about what's happening to the blogs and that I still feel the need for it. I've been thinking of starting IG though. I'm glad you'll keep on blogging.

Ahhh, CHANGE, it's just part of Life. I wish you the best for things to come!

Loraine said...

So great to see a post from you Valerie! I concure with what you said too. Stitching is for my blog not FB. Mine is woefully lacking too, but I'm glad I have a place to share things I've finished.
Your Lizzie Kate pieces are so fun. So many of them too. Good luck finishing them!
I wish you the best with your changes this year. A change is as good as a rest! Enjoy it! Take care.

Margaret said...

Lovely to see you again! I don't have Instagram and rarely upload anything to Facebook. My blog is the only stitching record I keep .

Ann at Beadlework. said...

Lovely to see a post from you Valerie, I enjoy catching up with what you've been up to. I like what you've been stitching, LK designs are very neat - one of her upcoming ones is very appealing. Look forward to reading about your changes next month.

mbroider said...

Val!!

That makes two of us:) I am hardly there in blogland these days.

Although our reasons are different! I am not blogging because neither am i stitching enough nor am i getting enough time to visit the blogs.

Fingers crossed for you, to have a wonderful Year of Change:)

Have a great day
Sharmila

Laura said...

Love, love, love all of your LK finishes!! They are so happy! Sending good thoughts to you as you anticipate a change.

Anna van Schurman said...

It's always nice to hear from you whenever you get a moment. Love your finishes and can't wait to find out what is next for you! Such a tease.

Lisa said...

Your feelings about blogland are spot-on. We have been living with it for many years it seems, but over the last few there just doesn't seem to be as much keeping up with it. It can be time consuming to keep it up - it isn't as quick as a facebook or instagram post, but once you log in and hit that "new post" button, it feels good to do a brain dump or journal post. I do get some sort of stress-relieve putting my thoughts out there and sharing. I still love visiting everyone's blog, reading about whats going on in their life or what they are stitching. It is like catching up with old friends. I look forward to hearing about your life change (if it happens). I love looking at the L*K you have been working on. The simple, colorful designs are perfect for relaxation and happiness! Take care my ol' blog friend. One of these days it would be fun to meet up at Needles!

Julie said...

Good luck with your plans for this year, I hope it's a wonderful year with lots of fun and happy times.
Pretty LK's you've been working on.

Anonymous said...

Great to see you blogging, Valerie! I love your finishes - they are so colorful. Everything here in Maine is white. I have never seen so much snow.

Anonymous said...

Your Lizzie Kate's are adorable. I love the snowman with the blue buttons! Of course, I really love ALL snowmen, but this one is special cute!

Jackie's Stitches said...

You definitely have a lot of finishes! I'm looking forward to seeing how you do the final finish on them. One thing I love about LK is the bright and happy colors. They look so fresh too.

Looking forward to hearing your news! It sounds exciting and outside your comfort zone. It's good to do that!

Thank you so much for your faithful visits to my blog!

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Change is always good! Out with the old and in with the new! :)
all of your L*K finishes are cute as a button! Interested in what's new in your world! Can't wait until you blog again :)

Dani - tkdchick said...

Glad to see you back and blogging! That first entry and where to start is a tough one after being "away" for awhile. Great LK's I've stitched a few of them myself!

Melanie said...

UGH. The flu! I'm on the tail end of it and it has not been fun. I sympathize. :(

I love the finished pieces. L*K really is great for when you want some fun, bright, fuss-free stitching that doesn't take ages to complete. She's one of my favs, too.

Good luck with all the new changes!! :)

Christina said...

It's great to see a post from you, Valerie!
Your Lizzie Kate finishes are so cute. I just don't stitch enough of their designs nowadays. I used to stitch the Santa of the year, every Christmas, but I've fallen out of the habit.
I too, look forward to finding out about your changes. I'm not good with change, but change for the good, well that's...er, good! ;0) My parents just moved from our family home of 30 years and I'm heartbroken. I cry every time I pull up outside their new house. Perhaps if I thought their new house was better for them, I'd think differently. Anyway, that's a whole different story! Good luck with your changes, Valerie. Christina x

Carol said...

No matter how often you post, Valerie, I always get a smile when I see a new one from you :)

Your year of change sounds very intriguing... hmmmm!!! I may know, but will be very excited to hear it from you when it happens!

I'm so happy you've been stitching and these bright, happy LK finishes are all adorable--perfect for dull January! I hope you stay healthy now--take extra good care of yourself, my friend!

Parsley said...

I agree with you about how facebook and blogging are different. I think people like the 'instant' feedback.

Sally said...

Lovely to see you posting Valerie. Lots of lovely stitching :)

I much prefer blogging to Facebook and Instagram. I have both but don't like them as much. In fact I'm not even sure when the last time I posted to something to Instagram was!

Momma to Luigi said...

It's Debra from NY! I visited you years ago! I logged into my blogger account for the first time in like a 100 years and came across your blog! We lost contact so long ago but I would love to catch up with you! Email me or find me on Facebook. Dfino555@gmail.com or Debra Ferrara on Facebook

Linda K's Stitching Corner said...

Your Stitching is just beautiful....I dearly love the colors on each and everyone of these. Can't wait til I see the Finish on these.

Happy Stitching
Linda K, Railroad

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