On the second day of stitching

Here is my next start for the year: "Autumn Harvest Festival" by Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.  I already love the little slices of pumpkin pie on each end.  This is a band sampler and I've watched everyone on Instagram start from the top, but for some reason, I've decided to start from the bottom.  I love the Fall colors.

Last year I saved up all of my orts (scraps of embroidery floss) in a big vase.  Here it is in all of its final glory.

The top layer of floss papers are from all the floss I purchased for new projects this year.  There really is a lot of work represented in this jar and I'm very proud of it.

This year I'm saving my scraps in a plastic ornament.  One for each month.  To go on a sewing-themed tree next Christmas.  We'll see if I can keep this up.  It is fun to see the orts accumulate.

Not much stitching is going to happen today.  Drama Girl has torn apart the great room with her frenzy of last-minute packing.  We're getting everything ready to put her on the red-eye flight tonight.

Animal Advent Stitchalong

Brooke's Books Publishing is hosting a stitchalong featuring these cute advent animals.

There will be 25 free patterns released over about two years.  I think I can keep up with these since they're quick and easy.

These will also count for my April check-in for the smalls stitchalong hosted by Heather.

My ort jar is filling up nicely.  There is a lot of wool in there from the needlepoint Santa I've been working on, and a lot of wrappers from new floss I had to buy.  Also quite a few dead needles.  If you're a scrap saver, join in on the Totally Useless Stitchalong hosted by Daffycat.

40 Bags in 40 Days

Have you heard about this project?  The goal is to spend the season of Lent going through the house and clearing out 40 bags worth of unneeded "stuff."  The project is hosted by Anne Marie Heasley at White House Black Shutters.  Never too late to join in.  There's a fun supportive facebook group and lots of inspiring Instagram photos of people's projects.

I started making a list of stuff and think I'll have no trouble, even though I keep things pretty neat.  There are definitely some closets that need excavation, and the garage has boxes full of randomness that I can't even remember.

Yesterday I started with an easy task.  The corner lazy susan units in my kitchen.  Not terrible, but between empty boxes, stale opened crackers, and stuff nobody was likely to eat, there was an easy bag full of garbage.  Other spots in the house will probably not be so easy.

Ironically, one type of trash I'm holding onto this year is my collection of thread ends called orts.  Here is my jar for my monthly ort report.  Lots of needlepoint this month but it still doesn't seem to be piling up very fast.

Feeling a little cleaner today.  How's your week going?

Ort Report

This is my 2010 jar of orts.  An ort is the little scrap of thread left on the end of the needle when you finish stitching.  It's a term that means "scrap".  Also in my jar are extra little beads, bands from floss, and a lot of used dull needles.

It's so fun to look at the strata and think of all the projects I completed last year.  That pile of scraps represents a lot of hours of work.

It's time to empty it out and start again.  If you want to play along, sign up with Daffycat.

Makes My Monday: New Beginnings

I love the beginning of January. I love starting new goals and feeling like I have a chance to do things differently. I've made a lot of goals for this year (no resolutions - too hard!) and I hope you're able to achieve yours.

Here is my new ort jar, ready for my scraps from embroidery projects. Off we go!

Makes my Monday is hosted by Cheryl at Twinfatuation. Join her for more happy thoughts to start the week.