Reading Challenge Complete

This year, I decided to do a  reading challenge off Facebook and I quickly filled up most of the categories.  However, once I reached a certain point, I was reading more off my other challenge of reading all the Newbery books and so I finally finished the last category on the reading challenge this week.

A book by an author with your same initials:  The Lost Years by J.M. Dillard

I've been meaning to read this forever since I have the four book "Lost Years" series of Star Trek in a boxed set.  I ended up reading it off Scribd because it was just easier to read it digitally.  I find myself embracing digital books more every year.  Anyway, this book is set after the Enterprise returns from her five year mission and we see Kirk promoted to admiral while Spock and McCoy resign from Starfleet.

My book count for the year according to Goodreads is 255.  Not too shabby.

Here's the complete reading challenge:

• A book with more than 500 pages - Insurgent
• A classic romance - Sense and Sensibility
• A book that became a movie - The Princess Bride
• A book published this year - The Mermaid's Sister
• A book with a number in the title - 1776
• A book written by someone under 30 - Flawless
• A book with nonhuman characters - Dragon Kiss
• A funny book - Fortunately, the Milk
• A book by a female author - Dear Mr. Henshaw
• A mystery or thriller - Broken Symmetry
• A book with a one-word title - Paperboy
• A book of short stories - Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland 
• A book set in a different country - A Day on Skates: The Story of a Dutch Picnic
• A nonfiction book - 41: A Portrait of my Father; Killing Patton
• A popular author's first book - Star Trek The Next Generation #5 Strike Zone
• A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet - The Cuckoo's Calling
• A book a friend recommended - Off to Be a Wizard
• A Pulitzer Prize-winning book - Nazi Germany and the Jews: The Years of Extermination, 1939-1945
• A book based on a true story - The Road From Home
• A book at the bottom of your to-read list - The Winter Room
• A book your mom loves - Lad: A Dog
• A book that scares you - Doll Bones
• A book more than 100 years old - A Little Princess
• A book based entirely on its cover - Orphan Train
• A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't - The Lantern Bearers
• A memoir - I Am Not Spock, I Am Spock
• A book you can finish in a day - El Deafo
• A book with antonyms in the title - Over Sea, Under Stone
• A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit - Born With Teeth
• A book with bad reviews - The Glass Magician
• A trilogy - The Lord of the Rings
• A book from your childhood - Sarah Plain and Tall
• A book with a love triangle - Unsouled
• A book set in the future - Legacy Code
• A book set in high school - Go Ask Alice
• A book with a color in the title - Brown Girl Dreaming
• A book that made you cry - The Crossover
• A book with magic - The Eye of the World
• A graphic novel - Farscape Vol 5 Red Sky at Morning
• A book by an author you've never read before - The Dream Coach
• A book you own but have never read - The Bronze Bow
• A book that takes place in your hometown (home state) - Caddie Woodlawn
• A book that was originally written in a different language - Pippi Longstocking
• A book set during Christmas - The Dark is Rising
• A book written by an author with your same initials - The Lost Years
• A play - William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope
• A banned book - The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things
• A book based on or turned into a TV show - Pretty Little Liars
• A book you started but never finished - Mere Christianity

2015 Year in Review

Wow.  Writing this will be harder since I'm no longer tracking things for Stitch from Stash.

I hope your 2015 was a good year.  Mine was actually pretty good.  I had an adjustment period from being a full time grad student then a full time student teacher to being a full time stay at home mom with no other large responsibilities.  I had a lot of extra time for reading and stitching, which I took advantage of.  I also started subbing occasionally and grading STAAR tests to give me some more experience for my resume.  My girls made grade strides with their Autism-induced speech delays and we started them on medication which has helped immensely.

Here are my string highlights.

First, I got caught up with ornament boxes.  The only ornament not finished at this point is Zoé's 2015 Aurora ornament which I am about 2/3 done with.  I'll post a picture later.  Here are the 2015s that I finished.

I also managed to finish my oldest WIP, "Do Not Meddle," the much blogged about dragon piece I've been working and frogging forever.

I won another blue ribbon at the fair this year for "Sunflower Sampler."  Shooting for a champion ribbon next year!

Other larger framed finishes.

Yellow Submarine
Blackbird Designs

Fuji
Dimples Designs

Contemporary Wedding Sampler

And that's all for the string of 2015.  I'll post a reading wrap up post to follow.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

I managed to finish this in the nick of time last night.

Christmas Crunch Update and More Giveaways from Santa Nancy

I've been diligently working on my sampler.  I'm still shooting for it to be done by Christmas Eve.  I have no idea if I'll make it.

Now, onto the Victorian Motto Sampler giveaways.  I already didn't win day 1 :( but there are still 11 more to come!

Day 6: Sewing Necessitaire
Day 7: Sampler Chart and 10 yards of floss
Day 8: $50 Surprise package
Day 9: Jingle as Ye Enter - I have this kit, it's such a great design!
Day 10: Surprise Package of Floss
Day 11: 18 Skeins of Primitive floss
Day 12: Entire Primitive Floss Collection

Some Christmas Crunch Knitting

I do not loom knit as much since I picked up crochet and decided to try knitting on needles again.  However, two pieces that I wanted to make for Christmas required looms so I have been looming quite a bit more lately.

The scarves are for my in-laws and now that they're complete, the only thing I have left is the wedding sampler for my brother and sister-in-law (ok, it's not the only thing but it is the only thing that absolutely positively has to be completed and framed by Christmas - good thing I do my own framing!).

Do you like my Fluttershy model?

A Christmas Crunch Update!

I have not been posting on the blogosphere much as of late since I have been busy with Thanksgiving (hope yours was great) and then I had to substitute teach.

I am still scurrying to finish everything that needs to be done by Christmas.

I was able to finish up my Mill Hill Santa.  He is looking very cute and is already on his way to my cousin in Wisconsin.

I actually finished all my Christmas cards.  It's a good feeling.  My Christmas shopping is almost done too.

I am still diligently stitching on Zoé's Christmas ornament.

I modified this design so that I used metallic for the crown and there will be metallic on the dress and also some satin floss.  She should look very regal when she is done.

Victorian Motto Sampler's Giveaways

Once again, Nancy over at Victorian Motto Sampler has become "Santa Nancy" and is having a bunch of giveaways in time for Christmas.  Now is the time to become a follower if you have not already!

Day 1 - Favorite Colors of Floss
Day 2 - $35 Gift Certificate
Day 3 - Best Friend Present
Day 4 - Auntie's Flower Garden Floss
Day 5 - Primitive Floss

Nancy always has the most generous giveaways.