Happy New Year! & 2023 in Review

 

My blog has been neglected since I began graduate school in January of 2022. Even so, I decided to share a Year in Review post to reflect on past goals and create a few goals for 2024.

My five goals for 2022 were:

1. Continue working out and make healthier food choices. - This goal was not met. I did a LOT of sitting, reading books about teaching strategies, and working on my laptop.
2. Succeed at school. - I met this goal! Graduation was earlier this month and I now have a Master of Arts in Teaching with an ESOL endorsement. (ESOL = English Speakers of Other Languages.) 
3. Spend more time with family and friends. - This goal was not met. Homework and working kept me busy.
4. Make visible progress on Twilight Duel and Fractal White Tiger. - This goal was not met. 
5. Complete one crazy quilt project. - This goal was not met. 

My goals for 2024:

1. Spend more time with family and friends.
2. Get back into running.
3. Complete Christmas Ornament Snow Much in Love.
4. Make a crazy quilted Christmas stocking.
5. Complete the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2024, incorporating stitches from TAST.

The top 5 blog posts viewed in 2023:

1. 2013 Winter Challenge Results Posted at Evening Star Designs!
2. Twilight Duel: SAL Update 30
3. Eerie Nights Blog Hop Day 5
4. Grow Your Blog
5. Peek a Who? Blog Hop

The top 5 blog posts viewed since 2012: 

1. Peek a Who? Blog Hop
2. 2013 Winter Challenge Results Posted at Evening Star Designs!
3. Crazy Quilt ATC Tutorial Part 1 - Piecing
4. Under the Sea Block Step 4: Seahorse Motif
5. Eerie Nights Blog Hop Day 5

 

2024 Crazy Quilting and Hand Embroidery Opportunities

 

Snowman made with TAST Stitches in 2022

Do you want to learn hand embroidery in 2024?

If your answer is yes, I strongly encourage you to check out Sharon Boggon's Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST) challenges for 2024. 

This is a no pressure challenge with weekly stitches introduced that beginners can learn. There are Beyond TAST stitches shared with intermediate embroiderers in mind. And there is a TAST Design Challenge, if you are looking for something more advanced. 

The snowman in the photo above was created using the stitches introduced in the first two weeks of 2022. 

If you are interested, I encourage you to check out the TAST FAQ page at Pin Tangle. 

Crazy quilt snowman scene embroidered in 2013

Do you want to make a crazy quilt in 2024?

If your answer is yes, I encourage you to check out the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2024 (CQJP 2024).

 
This is a challenge to create one crazy quilt block a month (8-inches or larger) in 2024. The blocks may be pieced now, but stitching begins on January 1st.

The goal of CQJP is to share the art and techniques of crazy quilting. It is the organizers' hope that participants will submit their completed crazy quilts into their local display and contest venues - or possibly even national and international venues.

If you are interested, please read the 2024 Challenge Rules, Questions & Answers, and Use of Photos prior to the How To Register page.

My 2024 Goals

I have signed up to participate in CQJP 2024 this year. My goal is to make 3 small crazy quilted wall hangings featuring 4 blocks with snowman themes. The blocks will incorporate as many 2024 TAST stitches as possible. I also plan to fully complete one or two wall hangings to enter in the county or state fair this summer.

The first 4 blocks are being pieced today. 

For inspiration, I looked through some of the snowmen I have created in the past. 

You may click on a photo for a larger image. The captions link to the original blog posts.

Hand painted snowman created in 2013

Polymer clay snowman created in 2017

Beaded snowman scene created in 2017

I am wishing you a very crafty 2024!

Renee

Gnomes

Gnomes

On Christmas Eve, my youngest son, my husband, and I made gnomes for the first time. We used a tutorial that I found on YouTube called "8 Christmas Gnomes You Can Make Super Quick/Craft Fair Ideas" by Patti J. Good. 

These were made using the DIY One Sock Cone Gnome/Christmas Gnome pattern that may also be found on the Patti J. Good Designs website.

Have you ever made gnomes? 

Christmas Ornament Snow Much in Love Weeks 1 - 5

Christmas Ornament Snow Much in Love - 5 Weeks

It has been nearly two years since I last had time for crafting! If you follow me on Instagram, you know that changed recently.

In late November, I carved some time out of work and school to begin working on the Heaven and Earth Design (HAED) Christmas Ornament Snow Much in Love cross-stitch based on the wonderful artwork of Dona Gelsinger.

I love Dona Gelsinger's art and had a hard time deciding which chart to buy during a recent sale at Heaven and Earth Designs. My youngest son helped me select this one.

I *think* there are 40,022 stitches, but I already found one mistake on the spreadsheet I created. Let's just say that should be pretty close.

This was my first time starting a HAED in the center. It is stitched 2 over 2 (2 strands of floss over 2 squares on the fabric) on 28-count Aida.

Although the name of the chart begins with "Christmas Ornament", it be far too large to make an ornament with. I plan to have it framed when it is complete.

I am currently on track to meet my goal of adding at least 700 stitches each week to finish this beauty by December of 2024. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Renee