From The Mouth Of The Horse

After much speculation around my office, it has been confirmed. My co-worker is leaving. Her and I had a chance to talk today and she told me she is officially finished July 31. It was a sad moment for the two of us. She is happy and scared all at the same time, and as happy as I am for her to move on to this new and different chapter in her life, I'm really going to miss her.

My office is staffed by 11 women and as much as we are co-workers we are more like family. The things we have gone through together is the type of live experiences you share with your family. We have celebrated together and mourned together. In the almost 9 years since I've worked in my office, we have seen a separation, a daughter with breast cancer, a mother admitted to hospital with many ailments, weddings, numerous grandchildren being born, grandfathers passing away, grade school graduations, university graduations, housewarming parties, new houses, renovations, trips to Costa Rica, Ireland, Florida, the East Coast and beyond. The life experiences we've shared are the things that make me realize the people I share my office with, I very much share my life with as well. As much as we will struggle as a group at times, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Our job is one that can be very relaxed and in an instant be something of a war zone. It is with teamwork that the office runs smoothly and without the trust and support of one another, the job, or each individual in that team would not be near as successful as they are as a single unit, working towards the common goal of doing our job and holding up our own part of the team.

I guess as much as I describe a team work effort, it could very well be paralleled to that of a family. A family is only as strong as it's weakest link as is my office. I sadly, as much as I love the girls I work with, spend more time with them than I do my own family. When life is exciting it is them I share, the same with the sad. Some of the most support I've received been has been in the hugs of my co-workers. I like to think in my own small way I've given the same love and support to them.

My dearest girl, I shall not name you, since it's not been made official through appropriate channels that you are leaving. Know, with sadness I prepare for your leaving and with joy in my heart, I also get ready to bid you 'comfortably numb' in this new and exciting chapter in your life. Love you!

Job's Tears 80 hours

I've been working away on Job's Tears, not with as much progress I would have hoped this month. I was really hoping to finish this piece this month, although I know now as the month is quickly coming to a close I'm not going to get it done. I'll keep plugging away in hopes of finishing it up in the early part of May. I got caught up in obligation stitching this month which really slowed me down. May shouldn't bring many interruptions of the stitching kind, as much as I can't say the same in regards to my everyday life.

I know there are possible changes surrounding the intended recipient of this piece, so I know I made a good decision when choosing to focus on this piece until it is completed.

Thanks so much looking and all encouragement you offer on each and every piece.

Happy stitching days to you!

January Comes To A Close

January saw a month of many changes. It is hard to imagine the first month of this new has drawn to a close. Time flies and I know this to be true more now than ever.

January started off with a bang. I did my Resolution Run, which seems like ages ago. I started out strong at the gym, that has since faltered. I didn't start off because of New Year's Resolution, but because I want to slim down again, but more importantly I want muscle definition back and to feel healthy! Krista is a great support, but I've rebuffed her invites to the gym that a few days ago, she didn't even ask me along. Poor thing! Hugs, hon!

Todd and I looked at a house, loved it, looked at it again, bid on it and lost it! Damn it! It was THE house. Now we're in the process of figuring out what to do next. Do we buy, do we build? Oh, the decisions of a woman on the go! Since the whole house thing has begun, I've barely slept which is part and parcel why I'm struggling at the gym. No excuses, just what I see to be a cause for my lackluster drive for life right now.

This first month of the new year has seen the start of renovations on my house. I ALMOST have a completely renovated bathroom. It won't be too much longer and it will be finished. I have new doors on all the rooms with new knobs. Looking very spiffy, if I do say so myself. The basement now has a drywall ceiling.

January stitching progress was amazing considering how much I worked and how much work has been done around my house. I was able to stitch 41 hours 40 minutes on 3 pieces. I worked on Job's Tears, Love with a Capital L and Halloween Fairy. I eliminated 3 pieces from my list of current WIP. I just don't think the one gift will be well received, and the other 2, I don't see the person/people enough to commit this kind of time into a gift for them. I feel a little bad for that, but maybe in the future if the relationship changes with the last 2 pieces, I can pick them back up. All three pieces, I love they are, Paula Vaughan's Here Comes the Bride, Hydrangea Harvest, and Mirabilia's Middy. It made me a bit sad to scratch them from my list, but the flip side is I also felt a tremendous weight lift off my shoulders.

February is going to be another busy month. I'm hoping to have the renovations completed on my house and have it on the market by mid February. Todd and I will then have no choice but to make a decision about what we're gonig to do.

February stitching is going to be a good month too, I can tell already. I have 3 pieces that are so close to finished. I should see 2, if not 3 pieces finished. It will be the 3 of the 4 pieces I worked on in January. I think the closest to finished would be Love with a Capital L, followed by Halloween Fairy, then Job's Tears. To say I'm excited is an understatement!

Happy stitching days to you all.

Job's Tears 70 hours

Look at this! An update on a day, when things all around me was in shambles. I don't like the idea of paying for renovations, but the freedom of not having to do them myself shows some promise.

I've been able to get quite a bit done in the last couple days. I didn't realize I was so close to a 10 hour block. 10 hour blocks are fun for me, I love sharing my WIP with ya'll. I thought I had some mistakes in the sewing machine, but I was able to figure out what was going on without too much trouble.

I'm really loving how this piece is coming to life. I might be able to find some time to stitch tomorrow. I would like to be able to stitch some tomorrow and then again at work on Saturday, so I can stitch on Halloween Fairy on Sunday.

Thanks, as always for looking.

Happy stitching days to you!

August Stitching Totals

\

These are the pieces, minus 1 that I worked during the month of August. I logged a total 49 hours 5 minutes. I'm so happy with the amount of time I was able to dedicate to my stitching. I think it all comes back to the fact I'm back working weekends. I don't find as much time to stitch at home anymore, so it's all about the amount of weekend hours I work.

I've changed up my rotation AGAIN! I have decided to work Love With a Capital L as my focus piece - 10 hours on it and then 5 hours on the other pieces listed above. I will be starting a new piece in a couple days. I'm really looking forward to starting this new piece, as much as I'm not suppose to be starting anything new until I complete my Finish Challenge. Now that is hilarious, don't ya think???

Job's Tears 60 hours

Here is Job's Tears at 60 hours. I started out planning only working on this for 5 hours, but went over the 5 hour block while I was at work one night, so I proceeded on a full 10 hours. Everything needs to be finished eventually, so why not just keep moving forward on whatever happens to be in my stitching bag.

When I first started this piece I was so excited about it. I'm still loving it, don't get me wrong. I do have a wee bit of a confession though,. This probably the most mistake ridden piece I've ever worked. I think it is glaringly obvious since I'm bouncing all over the place with the pattern so I can hopefully get some things lined up properly since I'm not frogging (gasp) since I have no worldly clue where the mistake originates.

Job's Tears 50 hours

I've been inspired to work on my stitching again. I've a photo of Love with a Capital L, but my camera is on the blitz. Photo will come later.

I've decided to work a rotation again after many months away. I'm going to work on Job's Tears for 5 hours then back to Love with a Capital L for 10 hours. I want to finish Love, as much as I've just begun it. I want to hang it in my bedroom. I think it is the perfect piece for my room to add to the softness and the overall mood of love I want to feel when in my room.

Off to put some much needed time to this piece.