30 days of lists

I'm not really into scrapbooking. I don't do the "real" kind, or the digital variety. Because of that, I avoided the first round of 30 Days of Lists. It felt like a scrapbooking project, and I wasn't feeling it. At best, it was journaling, and I usually fail miserably at that too. This time around, I've realized that it can be whatever I want it to be, and that making a bunch of lists is something I can do!

Officially, the project started yesterday, but you can still join in. The cost is minimal, and you'll have access to lots of goodies. Plus, Justine, Amy and Kam are some of the sweetest ladies that you'll meet online.



I've decided to create all of my lists digitally, and then I'll print them out and bind them at the end. Here's my first list, which will also give you a look at what I've got planned this month (at least behind the scenes!)

This may be a little ambitious, and I may have gotten carried away by the excitement of the first day of a project, but we'll see. Some of these really, really need to happen, and some would just make me happy. So, I guess those things need to happen too, right?

forming a color palette

One of my goals for this year was to create a signature color palette. And I'm happy to say that I have my colors chosen! I started out with a few colors that I love, and added on, considering the types of things that I work on, and what types of hues I would need. This was my first grouping:

The brights are my favorites. I just love their springy-ness. I can see using these in a lot of ways. Essentially, it's a rainbow, but in specific tints. But there are still plenty of times when these wouldn't work. So I took this palette and made two more:


Now I've got three separate palettes to work with, and each has its own character and feel. I love that. But here's the best part. Because these additional palettes are based on the original, you can put them all together:

Yes! 23 colors and I can mix and match them as I need. I do almost all of my work in Adobe Illustrator, so I created the palettes there, and saved them so that I can pull up my new signature colors any time. Now my next step is to get an accurate print of these, and go find all of the DMC floss colors to match!

Oh, and I'm still keeping myself open. If something comes up that needs a different color, I can use it. Or if I find that I need to adjust some of these, I'll do it. But having this guide to work within is so wonderful.

What do you think? Did I choose the right colors for "me"?

the end of goal week

It's Saturday, and the week is done. I gotta tell you, I'm a little sad. Spending this whole week sharing my goals for 2011 has been so inspiring to me.

First of all, looking at each one and thinking about it enough to blog about it really helped me get my head around these goals. Instead of a list of things that I'd like to do, I have a thought out look at things for the year ahead. Sort of like planning to make a plan.

But then, just to help the whole thing along, you have all been so encouraging. I feel seriously supported, and I hope that I can do the same for you. If there's one extra goal that I wasn't planning on, it would be to do more to connect with and help other bloggers. Kind of like my collaboration goal, but it feels like it is becoming a much bigger and better thing that I could have dreamed up on my own.

So, I hope that you've enjoyed Goal Week as much as I have. If you missed any posts, they are all tagged goals for easy finding later. I'll be back Monday with regularly scheduled fun!

goal: learn and share puppet-making

I'm gonna warn you...if you don't like puppets, you won't like this post. If things that look somewhat clown-like creep you out, scroll down carefully.

This is a puppet that was given to our family by a missionary family. It was passed along through someone else, so unfortunately, I didn't get to find out any details. But I'll tell you what...I love it. It's not the sweet looking kind of puppets that you think of as being for kids and it came along at a time when I was really getting excited about puppets.

Actually, I have puppetry in my blood, or at least I would if I weren't adopted. My dad is an amazing puppet-maker, and I've watched many of them be constructed over the years. Also, at various points in my life, I've spent hours and hours behind a puppet stage (not performing, but observing), and interacting with puppets on stage (although this goes back a looooong time). My love of muppets is difficult to separate from this...it is all intertwined.

This could be a long story, but I'll shorten it and say, a bunch of ideas converged, and so this goal is to learn puppet-making methods and share them on my blog each month. As in, each story that I feature will have a puppet project.

My plan is to try different types of puppets, and even create some accessories for them. Puppets are a very fun way to tell stories, and since that's the theme for this year, it all fits. And hopefully we won't scare off the non-puppet people. Although, with these photos in this post, we've probably lost them already...

goal: get my passport and use it

Would you believe that I've never left the country? Most of the time I'm happy to not even leave the county...but this year, I think it will be different.

There are two locations that I really, really want to visit. I'm not so sure that both will happen, but we'll see.

England: I've been invited to go see Katie. London and surrounding areas have been somewhere that I've always wanted to go. Not only would this be a lovely sightseeing trip, but it would also be illustrative and crafty!

Czech Republic: My friend Autumn is a missionary. This is not one of those locations that springs to mind when I think of a good place to just visit, but a trip here would have many components. See a friend, visit a beautiful country, and most importantly, serve God.

I am determined that this is the year for the passport and a bit of travel. Whoa. This feels big...

goal: explore new embroidery techniques

1. Wedding Quilt Block, 2. Nowaki - Autumn Wind Blasted Grasses, 3. Sashiko1b, 4. sashiko , 5. Sashiko coasters, 6. modern sashiko kit complete, 7. Sashiko embroidery roll, 8. holiday sashiko, 9. Sashiko stitched handle tote bag

I've already shared at other times that I'm drawn to sashiko. The Japanese style of embroidery is both simple and complex at the same time, and I love its beauty. I've only done a tiny bit of this type of stitching, not using official supplies, and only some straight lines, but I think this is the year to try more.

1. It's a Crewel, Crewel World (068/365), 2. Vintage Crewel Flowers, 3. LDA - Week Two - Orange, 4. crewel embroidery, 5. God Bless Our Pad, 6. Wool crewel-worked Owl with heart on his/her pocket, 7. inspiration for the big girl room, 8. crewel butterfly, 9. hand embroidered crewel

And then there's crewel. So much of what you see of this type of embroidery is from the 60s and 70s, and the rest is from The New Crewel or Wooly Embroidery. I've never really tried any of it, but I need to.

Both of these are new techniques to me, so there will be some learning up front, but I also see further potential. I have this feeling that there are some great possibilities for using these and other embroidery methods for new things. I plan on exploring...and trust me, this is different from my other embroidery goal. (It's also my last official stitchy item from my goal list!)

goal: host a tea party

When I was at Disney World in November, we rode the teacups. After we got off, I was not feeling so well, which is what I get for taking pictures while spinning. I know, I know. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

But before I got on the ride, I was caught up in the lovely colors and designs and shapes that are a part of the ride. I took a bunch of photos of the lanterns and the cups themselves, and when the day was over, I started drawing some tea things.

The idea grew from a few drawings to the idea of hosting a tea party. But not a regular one...an online one. That way everyone can come! I still don't know the details, but my goal is to have a really big tea party with lots of blogs involved. I'm thinking part blog party, part blog hop, and part challenge for all.

When's a good time for a tea party? Sometime around Mother's Day, perhaps?

(Don't you just love this little tea set? It's my mom's and I think it's the cutest!)

goal: collaborate with at least 3 artists or crafters

Last fall I had a wonderful, wonderful time working with Tara on our Make a Memory Game. It was a great mix of skills, and I'm so glad we did that. And I could definitely see us working together again. (Not that I've discussed that with Tara!) I also had the pleasure of working with Katie on her zine, the Green Bean. This was a good stretch for me!

Both of these ladies made collaboration so enjoyable that I'd like to try it with some other artists or crafters too. I'm aiming for at least three, but there is a growing list of people that I have my eye on for this sort of thing. A few of them won't be too surprised, because we've talked about it at some point. And a few others might go, "what? I don't even know you!"

1. Alice in Wonderland, 2. how i spent this weekend, 3. Red...., 4. christmas presents

The point is, working with others, even if you're on opposite sides of the country or world, can bring you together. It can build great new things, and more importantly, new relationships. I like this goal because it affects many parts of life!

goal: blog an embroidery basics series

This may very well be my favorite goal for this year. (Have I said that yet? I may still say it again!) I often get asked about how to transfer my patterns, or how to work certain stitches. Usually, I direct folks to one of the excellent sets of instructions that are already out there. I mean, there are some really talented stitchers that are sharing their knowledge, and doing a great job of it.

But, just because there are good things out there doesn't mean that I shouldn't have my own set of instructions, right?


The goal is not just to do a whole series of posts about the basics of embroidery, but to also make it super cute, and with some things that especially pertain to stitching the patterns that I make. You know, like what's the best way to get those faces looking oh so sweet!

I am really excited about this one, and have been thinking about it for a while. There will be photos and illustrations and maybe even some video. It will unfold over time, but I'm hoping to get the series started by March. Spring is a good time to learn some new things, especially when I might just have other fun planned for summer. We'll see...

goal: read a big classic book

I love to read, but I don't do it nearly enough. Actually, sometimes I get into a kick where I read three books in a flash, but then other times months go by without barely reading a page. Crazy.

With any luck, I'll read through several books in 2011, but a goal is that at least one of them be a big classic. I've had my eye on Uncle Tom's Cabin for some time. I've also wanted to read Common Sense by Thomas Paine.

Now, book reading is not just about the words. For someone who loves books, it's about the feel of the book, the touch of the paper, the smell of the ink. It's a whole experience, and I was thinking that reading an older edition of my classic of choice would be a good way to go.

But guess what? Both of these titles are free for Kindle, and I have that on my iPod. So I downloaded Uncle Tom, and have started reading. Slowly, but I've started. Perhaps I'll switch to a hard copy along the way, but having it with me at all times is a help in making this goal happen!

So, thoughts on real books verses readers? (We've been talking about getting one around here to share...something with e-ink...what do you think?)

goal: create a signature color palette

Choosing colors for a new project is always so much fun, and I love coming up with new combinations that give things just the right feel. The downside to always having a different set of colors is that I sometimes think it makes things look a little all over the place. To keep things looking a little more cohesive, I want to create a signature color palette.

I don't anticipate that this will be an easy task, because a) there are so many lovely colors out there, and b) I'm not big on keeping things the same. But I do know that there a some colors that I go back to time and time again. These will most likely be the starting point.

These colors are ones that I've chosen for the blog for the year, and some will probably become part of the signature palette.

Here are a few of the parameters that I'm thinking about for the selection process:

-Enough colors to work for many themes. (At least 15)
-Not so many colors that it is overwhelming (No more than 30?)
-Colors should compliment each other well.
-Colors need to be available in DMC floss.

This isn't to say that I would only ever work with these colors, but I like the idea of working within some limits. And I think that when it comes to embroidery, knowing that there are specific floss colors that will work for most of my patterns is really helpful.

Can I achieve this goal? I'll certainly try. Now, do tell...what are your favorite colors or DMC floss shades?

goal: learn a musical instrument

Some years back, I took piano lessons, and I still know enough to peck out a tune. I've also learned some guitar, but playing in front of others makes me very nervous. I try not to let these get too far out of my reach, but there's something else tempting me.

It's small, red and cute. That's right, an ukulele is my first choice for an instrument that I would like to learn. And from what I've been told by several folks, it should be simple enough for me to pick it up in a year or less.

I love the sweet sound of it, and fact that it is nice and portable. Even more than a guitar, and that's easy to carry around. The ultimate goal with this is for me to be able to bring it in and play songs for the preschool kids that I do music with on Sundays at church. They would love it!

And if the ukulele doesn't work out, other top instrument contenders are the autoharp (we have one, and talk about simple!), dulcimer (I have no idea of the skill level, but again, we have one already), or the harmonica. Yes, the harmonica. It may sound silly, but I've heard some amazing tunes played on that little instrument, and I rather like the idea of surprising people by pulling it out of my bag and creating a moving tune!

goal: stitch for art and fun

This is some embroidery that I started in November. It's not following a pattern, and I don't have anything in mind for it other than that it is for me.

So often, I get caught up in the patterns that I'm stitching for my shop and projects specifically for the blog, and even for gifts. I forget to embroider for the sake of the art.

Last year, I was invited to create a self-portrait for a show, and I loved stitching it. It was purely for personal expression. (The piece was for sale, but I was so relieved that it got to come home to me!)

I don't want to stitch less for practical things, but I want to stitch more for art and just for fun. The "for fun" part means playing with embroidery more, even if I end up with a lot of scraps of nothing. Who knows? Maybe all of that nothing could work together to become a piece of art?

How about you? Is most of your creating (embroidery or otherwise) for yourself or for others?

goal: organize the blog

I wanted to show a photo of something in my life that is organized, but I came up with nothing. As in, nothing in my life is organized. Some things are close, but I realize that keeping things in order just isn't my thing.

That said, I wanted my blog to be more organized, and I want you to be able to find things easier. Specifically, I felt that the patterns, printables and projects should be only a click away.

If you read this blog in a reader, you'll want to come to the actual blog, because this goal is already started! Over in the sidebar, you'll see some buttons that will take you to these different types of posts.

Now, some of them are still rather long lists of things because there have been patterns, printables and projects going back a couple of years. But if you take a look, I bet you'll find some things that you may have missed along the way.

There are still things that fit these categories that haven't been tagged, and here's where I would love some help. If there's something that you remember, but can't find, let me know. I'll do my best to get it found and tagged. Also, there are some things that I've published on other sites that are hard to find or aren't available anymore, so you may see some re-posts of them here along the way so that you still have access to them.

Yay for the first goal of 2011 already being well worked on!

this is goal week

When I started thinking about the goals that I wanted to share with you, and how I wanted to share them, I got this feeling that it would be a really, really long post. Too long. And then I realized that each goal was probably a big enough topic to be its own post. An interesting thought. So I'm devoting this entire week to goals. Ready?

Before I get to my plans and hopes, however, what about yours? Have you set some new goals for the new year? Share them here, or if you've blogged about them, be sure to leave a link in the comments!

2010 plans in review

At the end of 2009 I wrote up a list of ten plans for 2010, and I thought it would be a good idea to look over those plans and see how things turned out. It also is a nice little look at the year, so here we go!

1. Take 365 photos for YIP Knitterly Crafterly. Hmm. I didn't do too bad with this. There were a few days that I missed (like yesterday!), but after today, I will have taken 355 pictures for this project alone. You can see the collection on Flickr, although there a definitely a bunch that haven't made it into the set yet.


2. Create lots of fun new products. I think it's safe to say that this went well. At least, I think that the things I made were fun! My favorites are the Cuckoo Clock pattern and the Animal Crackers sewing pattern.

3. Get business plans in order. Could I have been a bit more vague with this? I'm not sure that the plans are officially in order, but there are plans and progress has definitely happened. Advertising the blog and shop were one specific part of this, as well as building my sales. Check and check!

4. Make a jumbo granny square blanket. After a rough start, I can say this is done! Okay, so I still need to finish the edge and weave in ends. But those are details, right?

5. Write an e-book. Originally, this plan was going to be "Create an online class", but I thought that might be ambitious. It turned out that a class was more my style, and took the place of the e-book. I still have thoughts of writing one, but I also want to teach another class, so we'll see.

6. Paint a large painting (or 2!). I've started said painting. But it's not finished. Actually, there are layers of background. But a true subject eludes me. There's still time to get inspired tonight.

7. Overhaul shop: photos, sections, product lines, etc. This is still a work in progress, but I think it always will be. I've definitely made changes, but more are still needed. I would especially like to consider the product like part...


8. Design a game. Completed! And kind of twice! Back in the spring I worked out the idea of a stitching game for while watching TV, and in the fall I collaborated with Tara to create an embroidered memory game.

9. Conquer sewing machine fear. I'm not sure that all fear is gone, but I did get up the nerve to use the sewing machine again. There were bee bean bags as well as a few Christmas gifts.

10. Buy a World Vision sewing machine. This was one of my favorites plans. To celebrate a milestone on this blog, I bought a sewing machine through World Vision so that someone could improve their life exponentially. Thank you to all who helped spread the word.

I'm so glad that I ended on that good one, because I'm a little disappointed with my apparent inability to finish things! Or perhaps it's my inability to make good and clear plans. I'm not sure, but I do know that I have a new list of things for 2011, and I look forward to sharing them next week.

PS: Be sure to stop by and visit my December sponsors one last time! A few will be back, but there's new friends coming tomorrow!