WOW, the new year is already rushing past... so much to do with year end, and year beginning... so just a quick note to let you know what I've been up to since we last spoke! 

First of all, I've been designing like crazy, LOL.  I was a bit further behind on my 2020 release schedule than I like, so I've been busy getting things off to stitchers. 

If all goes well (fingers crossed), you can look forward to a new Catherine Simpson based design; a new Ojibway design based on Hugh McKenzie's artwork; at least TWO and possibly THREE new designs based on Shelley McVittie's artwork; not to mention some special things from me - like a set of 4 little wallet designs (with 8 patterns that can be mixed and matched); a new Paper Embroidery chart; once again, at least 2 and probably 3 Christmas designs; and an adorable halloween bellpull, based on one of the 4 Charmings I have re-designed! 

Whew, no wonder I've been so busy (GBG).  Actually, I still have 4 designs to complete, with a 5th sitting on my desk, done, but not assigned to a stitcher... so still a bit of work to do!  As for actual stitching, I did up the 8 sides of the 4 wallets myself, as well as assembling them, so that took a lot of last year, but was finished this month.  I also stitched this months new release (HAPPY CAMPER), as well as the four Flamingo greeting cards, which will be in the next issue of A NEEDLE PULLING THREAD. 

I guess I've been a stitching fool, LOL.  On top of all that, I am working on a small design for the SHOP HOP summer program that Stitcher's Village hosts each year.  Not sure yet which store I'll be paired with this year, but I can tell you the theme is SUMMERTIME, and I have the sketch for my design all worked out. 

I also need to complete one more design for ANPT, and I'm going to try something really different - at least for me!  I've never seen this done, though I have heard that someone else did something similar... anyway, when our youngest was in high school, she did an art project where she drew all these room scenes from a castle. 

She created a 3D effect by mounting the front wall of the castle on top of the drawings, with a spacer in-between, with the windows cut out so you could look inside.  I thought it was really creative, and actually kept her room drawings to inspire me ... and 20 some years later, LOL, I am finally going to try and re-create the idea - but only for one room. 

If I'm happy with how it comes out, I will likely continue on and do other rooms in the castle.  Again, I have all my sketches done, and have even figured out my assembly notes!  So now I just have to find some time to get it off the drawing board and into a graph. 

We're planning a couple weeks in Florida in February, and this would be the perfect project to take with me to work on in the evenings, when we generally curl up with a movie after a day of exploring. 

In the coming months there is also a lot of bookkeeping that needs to be completed (sigh), something I always put off, though I actually quite enjoy doing it once I get started - I like the structure and guidelines, it's so very different from the fluid creativity of the rest of my job, LOL ... a nice balance in my life! 

Well, this is already longer than I planned when I started - I hadn't realized how much work I have actually done this month!  So I'm off to put my feet up and relax - probably with needle and thread ... happy stitching until next month!