The Twisted Stitcher, year in review...

~ Greetings Dear Friends ~ Its the very last day of the year, it hardly seems possible to me. I created a collage with some random things from our year. There was a lot of creating, a lot of good times, some celebrations, some vacations and a whole bunch of blessings. God has so richly and generously blessed us (and particularly me) that its hard to look back over the year and not see Him in every step along the way. Of course there is always struggle, always strife, always heartache, always disappointments but I strive to keep in perspective that each of those things that I encounter on my path in life only does one thing. It makes me stronger, makes me better than what I was before.
So may I present my 2013:

The Christmas was put away... and it is always a bittersweet time for me. I can't wait to get it up, and in most years I can't wait to get it down ~ the old double edged sword. :)
But we took down and I'd like to share with you my ornaments I have stitched through the years (not including those stitched in 2013)

Here are the ornaments I have received through the years from friends and exchanges I've participated in:

These are the ornaments I stitched this year alone (minus 6 that were presents):

I told you I was going to count my ornaments... and I did, even wrote it down, but guess what? I lost the paper! Scatter brain... Anyway, the number was way less than I thought. I do know I stitched 29 ornaments this year for our tree. I had around 39 from friends. And the overall total number was around 150 ornaments. I thought I had 200, I must have been drinking when I was putting up the tree ;) (Ha! I always put the tree up with a bottle of wine. Less stress!)
With the Christmas decorations... taken down, I like clean and simple to start off the new year. I decorate our outside as well as the inside with the seasons too. Since at Christmas I had ornaments hanging from our eaves at the front door, I thought it looked so cute, I had purchased some silver snowflakes and never used them at Christmas, so....I hung them for winter!
Here is our Winter Door:

My favorite detail... is the vintage skates and sled. I am in love with this little sled, that belonged to my husband when he was a child. His Mom brought it up for us last summer and I knew exactly what I would do with it! The skates were my aunt's when she was a little girl that I rescued from the get rid of it pile a few years ago.

So... with the recap and the fresh, clean start in the house that leads my mind to resolutions for the new year... However like a perfectly reasonable young man pointed out yesterday, whilst I read away on my blogroll..."resolutions beg to be broken". Amen!
In my 42 years of life... I have found that I stink at resolutions, but when it comes to life plans, or schedules, or organizing or planning...I'm pretty good! So what am I going to do? I'm going to have a plan! And I'm going to execute that plan as meticulously as I can.
What does my plan entail... well, who knows for sure. I have vague plans for my big plan but for the most part I think they are pretty firmly set: I am going to continue my daily exercise regiment. I exercise every day. Period. And have for the past three years. I don't think of it as I have to or else. I think of it like: I do it. AND although I may hate it before I do it and hate it for a good part while I'm doing it, AFTERWARD...I feel great. My mood is enhanced, my spirits are up and I move through my day a better person because I rolled my arse out of bed at 4:40 a.m. and got to it! If I don't do it like that, it won't get done. I've learned that. So I do it and I will continue to do it because when I don't do it...I feel like crap. all. day.

Of course I want to try to lose weight, that is a constant battle. I've got the exercise down great! I need to get the eating down.
I want to continue to try to become a better person, Lord knows I'm not perfect, I have many flaws. But I try really hard to live a life that is good. That is in service to others. I have a spiritual adviser that has helped me to make decisions about my life this year, that has made me better. My goal is to continue that in 2014 and beyond. There are always bumps and bleeps and valleys and mountains to be forged along anyone's life path. But one of the things I learned in 2013 is that I need to quit beating myself up, focus on me and focus on those that care for me and forget the rest. I can't be everything to every person. But I can sure as heck be as much as ever to people who love me, respect me and want me in their life. That is freedom. That is living. And it only took me 42 years to realize it.
And finally...you all know I'm not me if I'm not dabbling in crafting. I have really only one goal in my plan for stitching. I've said it before and never got it done. I'm saying it again. I want a Prairie Schooler Santa Tree. And you want to know what I did? I bought a 4 1/2 foot tree on clearance and I am going to set about stitching my Santas. I can do it. I will do it! Got the first one kitted, in my project envelope, ready to roll! I'm not going to make schedules and say one per month, or any of that garbage. I'm just saying I'll have a Santa tree, if that means one Santa hanging on the tree....well that means one Santa. We shall see, right? I also would like to do another 25 days with The Twisted Stitcher. We shall see. I put a lot of pressure on myself to pull that together this year. But I totally enjoyed it, we'll see. ;)
With all the blabbering going on above... I'd like to end with something that you all came here to see anyway. Here is another Tim Holtz Pocket Watch Necklace, that I have made for a very special someone. I just got it done last night. It is in the mail and zipping to the person as we speak. I hope they love it as much as I do, because I love it a lot and it was hard to package and send away. May I present:
"Snow Bird Pocket Watch"

I stitched this using: "Snow Bird Pinkeep" pattern by Brenda Gervais ~ With Thy Needle and Thread 1 over 1 on 32 ct. French Blue linen Using called for colors
And with that folks... that is my 2013 in review with 2014 in my headlights. It is my wish that each of you who visit with me have a healthy, happy, blessed 2014 with a heavy emphasis on abundant blessings.
Take time to slow down, to view the colors around you, to give thanks to all that has been given, to enjoy the moment because you just never know how many more moments you will enjoy. Savor. Relish. Live. And Give Thanks. That's what its all about!
Until next time my dear friends... Thank you for your words, thank you for your visits, I don't just gather them to be forgotten, I gather them and hold them close and savor each and every word. You all make a difference in my life! Thank you for your friendship!
Vonna xxxx