Hi, It is the new year and I decided that I would start a blog about my stitching. You may not know me but I feel that I know many of you. I have been lurking on your blogs for years. I mainly read what Margie from Three Cool Pugs and Me follows. Margie and I work for the same company. I happened past her desk one day and saw a mesh project bag. I asked if she was a stitcher and of course she is so we have been friends ever since. We visit my house when stitching emergencies arise.

I love needlework and I spend much of my free time working on various projects. I started out in cross stitch but I have branched out into needlepoint as well. Actually, at this point I have more needlepoint projects going than cross stitch but my cross stitch project is a big one. I am probably 40% done with Beautie Spot from Long Dog. I have the center motif and the ones across the bottom done and I am currently working on the strawberries.

Another one of my crazy projects is by Teresa Layman. It is the knotted scissor fob, needlebook, and scissor case. People think a project of french knots and colonial knots would be in the end of their sanity but it is so addictive. I am already thinking about starting another project when this one is done. A friend of mine completed this project and she bought her second project by Teresa because she had so much fun.

If you attended ANG in Milwaukee or EGA in Louisville in 2008, you might remember Fred. Fred is a handpainted canvas by Leigh. This canvas should not be a starter project but why not jump in with both feet. Fred scares me but I keep plugging along when I get up my nerve. I did not think Fred should be alone so I bought his mate Ginger but I have not even began stitching on her.

When I was at ANG seminar last fall, I took studio time and my next project, Safari by Teri Dryden. I did spend a little time with this project on New Years weekend. I am a slow stitcher but I do finish my projects and usually within three years and work hard so things don't take decades.

My EGA group decided that we should all work on a Libby Sturdy project. Again, I did not start small and most likely beyond my ability. I picked Windy City Santa. I am not very far along but this should be a fun project. I had Santa's beard done at one point but I did the chain stitch hole by hole not more free form like the beard requires so slowed my progress. Not to be deterred, I did add Libby's Golfing Santa to my stash over the holiday break but that boy is just a canvas and a stitch guide no threads yet.

I have a couple of other projects going but we can discuss those at a later time. Once I get more into this blogging thing, I will discuss my trips and the books I read. You will have to be patient with me. I am not very good at taking pictures and I am lacking on technology skills. I will try to post at least once a week and hopefully I will have projects to show or at least something interesting to talk about. Cheers and happy stitching. Kelly