Done at Last

Finally, this rug is finished. It's been a work in progress since 2006, although I have not been working on it constantly. Usually I work on it for a month or 2 on and off each year. So many other projects come up that need my time and attention.

I hooked the cat using just 2 wool yarns, a natural and a grey. It was my first experience hooking with yarn. I enjoyed it and is certainly different than using wool fabric strips. The coverage is different and is more like random filling in. The eyes gave me alot of difficulty as I had not done them before. I hooked and un-hooked them so many times I lost count. Very frustrating! I finally just quit working on it till I could come back to it with renewed enthusiasm. But once I got the eyes the way I wanted them, it was smooth sailing after that.

The background is a "hit n' miss" using 3 solid grays, 3 textured grays, 2 antiqued creams, 3 blue textures. I have to admit it did get monotonous. But I achieved the look I was after. The border is a blue and white herringbone ... leftovers from a previous project. And finally wool yarn to whip the edge, over wool pencil roving.

The "Pearl" rug was a good leaning tool but am glad to have it finished. And I already have a new rug on the frame although it is a much smaller rug. Let's hope that it won't take 4 pus years to complete!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

It's the start of a new year and time to ponder 12 new months to fill with just about anything you can think of. Have you given it any thought?

Every year I write a list of things I want to do during the year. Some things might be hold overs from the previous year and that's alright. I don't worry if it's on the list again. I know that eventually it will get done. Then there are all the new things that go on the list ie. a new author I want to read, a new gardening project, trying a new crafting medium, finishing something that didn't get completed, and the list goes on. I find it easier to write it all down. It keeps it more tangible. There are sometimes little nagging chores that need to get done but are forgotten until the next time I realize it needs to be done. So writing it down makes it a constant reminder and it's more likely to get taken care of. And at the end of the year it's gratifying to read all the items that got the "check mark" of completion!

Something else I do is make a monthly list of "What I accomplished in .... I find it is a helpful reminder of all the things that do get done during the course of the year. As the years pass more quickly, it's hard to remember just what all I do with my time. I think we all tend to think in terms of large or noteworthy. But let's face it, it really is all the little things that add up to the passing day, week, month, and year.

So here's to 2011 and all that it brings and all that I make of it. Wishing one and all, happiness, health, and best wishes.