First Finish of 2017 and a Start

I hope 2017 is off to a good start for everyone!  Mine came in on a high note.  I tried really hard to finish this before the ball dropped but it wasn't meant to be so it became my first finish of 2017.  I like the sound of "first finish" better anyway.  Has a positive ring to it, doesn't it?!

Design:  Sew Advent 2013 SAL

Designer: iStitch Designs

Fabric: 40ct. Natural Brown

Floss: NPI  503, 644, & 991BB

Started:  12/9/13

Finished:  1/1/17

Completed: TBD

As you can tell from the start date, I didn't start this one on the first day of Advent back in 2013.  I did make it to the 8th day on the chart before I bagged it and it became a UFO.  I figured out why this one got bagged too.  The fabric had some threads that were thin as your hair sitting right next to some fat ones, it was a challenge but I was not deterred!  Nope!  So I decided to buckle down and just get on with it already.

I was really close to getting it done before midnight but it didn't happen. I got tired so I decided to finish it first thing on New Year's Day.  Glad to have it done!  I checked the iStitch website and you can still get this one if you want it.  So there you have it, my first finish of 2017!

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So speaking of New Year's Day, as is the tradition with many stitchers I decided to have a new start.  So what did I pick, you ask?  Well, lets just say it picked me.  I've had this one in the stash for years.  Each year around Valentine's day I go rooting through the stash, pick this one up, and promptly get distracted by something else.  Well, this year I ran across it again at the right time!

It is Little House Needleworks' "Chocolate Box!"  Sorry for the glare in the picture.  I've actually gotten that piece of chocolate done and started the one to the left of it.  I saw this one finished when it first came out as a cube and couldn't shake if from my mind.  I dearly love the pink fabric.  I think it's going to be a fun stitch.  I plan to finish it as a cube too.  My buddy Maggee says cubes aren't hard and she would know!  I'm fortunate enough to have one of her beautiful cubes.

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So there you are a finish and a start for the New Year.  I have a really optimistic feeling about this year.  I can't put into words yet really why that is but I'm going with it.  I'm planning to finish up some WIPs and I may even drag out a UFO or two before the year is over.  We'll have to see how the spirit moves me.

Next time we visit I plan to show you some things I got for my birthday and my latest sewing projects!  Yes, I went on a sewing spree like nobody's business last week.  I turned my dining room into Santa's workshop.  It was awesome!

I also took a knitting class as a birthday present to myself.  I've been drooling over Margaret and Carol's knitting for a while now and decided I wanted to join in the fun too!  Now don't get me wrong, those two are knitting rock stars and I'm just a groupie at this point.  But hey, we all started somewhere, right?!  So I may share a knitting finish now and then this year.  Fingers crossed!

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Well, folks I hope you are having a great week!  The peeps and I are getting together to do the Peep's Christmas on Saturday.  I have more to share but it will have to wait until after the party.  Don't want to spoil the surprises dontcha know!  Thanks for visiting today.

More next time,

The Inspired Stitcher