Jan 3, 2017

Out With The Old, In With The New

Recently, I had a really nice surprise come in the mail.  My stitching friend, Deb, asked me if I would like an adult coloring book featuring Japanese Woodblock Prints.  Yes!  Japanese artwork is so beautiful.  Most of my long time readers know that I have an Okinawan (Japan) heritage so this coloring book was right up my alley.  This isn't just any coloring book, though.  It shows a color print of the actual artwork and the history of the artist as well as a corresponding coloring page.  It's VERY cool!
 
 
Thank you so much, Deb!

STITCHY STUFF
The end of 2016 brought several finishes. 

Handmade Charlotte kit by Buscilla
Wood ornament stitched with cotton threads

Designer: Alita Designs
Fabric: 14ct Cream Gold Lurex Aida
Fibers:  Cotton threads leftover from misc kits
Embellishments: Ricrac, Grosgrain Ribbon, Gold Seed Beads
 
Woolly & Cosy Ornament
Designer: Valentina Sardu 
Fabric: 28ct Antique White Cashel Linen 
Fibers: Cotton threads leftover from misc kits
Embellishments: Ricrac
 
I ended 2016 with a total of ten finishes. Not as many as I'd like, but a stitch is a stitch, right?  My finishes can be seen HERE.

The beginning of 2017 started off with stitching on Japanese Garden.  You heard it right... I pulled out JG.  The last time I worked on it, it looked like this:
 
 
As of today, I finished all the gold brackets and most of the purple Jessica stitches.
 
 
WORK
After having 11 PTO days off work, today was my first day back.  Talk about busy!  Tomorrow will be just as busy.  I don't know if I mentioned it... a few months ago, I took over project billings for the office I work out of.  It has consumed my days at work.  It's challenging and I seem to learn something new every day. I thought it was ironic that the first day back for the new year is Festival of Sleep Day. LOL
 
 
EXERCISE
How many of you made a New Year's resolution to lose weight, exercise more, blah, blah, blah?  I joined a gym a few months ago... a nice perk provided by my employer.  I had been going 3-4 times a week until December hit... holidays and cold weather have thrown my schedule off.  I seem to do better when I go to the gym directly after work. Zumba classes, weight training, swimming, stationary bike, and elliptical are the things I do in rotation.  Tonight was my first night back... weight training, biking, and elliptical.
 
I'm going to leave off by saying that I wish all of my readers the very best 2017. May the new year be everything you wish for.
 
 

24 comments:

*-* said...


Oh Meari, You have done a lot of beautiful stitching over the holidays, I love your ornaments & good to see your progress on Japanese Garden. It sounds like you are enjoying your demanding job.
Kay.

Unknown said...

I enjoyed your update, Meari - you've been keeping busy! I especially like that you've gotten back into the Japanese Garden - so beautiful!
Your coloring book looks neat - hope to see some of the completed pages.

Anonymous said...

Your up date is great your "coloring book" look like something you will find many uses for.

Karen V
Fitchburg MA

Anonymous said...

Great update Meari! I love your finishes! Happy New Year to you!

Kim G

KimM said...

What a gorgeous book! I know you will enjoy it immensely. Lovely stitching and finishes. Good for you gong to the gym. Keep up the good efforts!
xxx

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year to you too. It was nice seeing the ornament you received in the exchange finished - Very cute.

I'm with you - need to get back to exercising after being lazy over the holiday period.

Lynne

Anonymous said...

Loved reading your blog, Meari. All of your finished ornaments are adorable, and glad to see you pulled out JG again and have started working on it. It is going to be stunning when it is finished. Great job!

Dorrie
Nampa, Idaho

Joyce Clark Frank said...

Love the ornaments. Know you will enjoy the coloring book. Good progress on your WIP Happy New Year

Katie said...

Love your ornaments. Very beautiful. So glad you got JG back out! It's just gorgeous!! Enjoy your new coloring book. Hope work goes smoothly and Happy 2017!

Vickie said...

Happy New Year Meari! 2017 is looking real good for you! You are working on JG and working in the gym!!

CJ said...

Hi Meari -

Happy New Year!! Sounds like you are doing great.

CJ

Cricket-bug Corner said...

Happy New Year! Love the Japanese Garden! Sounds like you are off to a good start for 2017!

Faith... said...

Japanese Garden looks like it is almost complete, it is so gorgeous. Great coloring book you received and I LOVE that ornament you finished. Happy New Years to you!

Shebafudge said...

Happy New Year Meari. Are we going to see some of the colouring pages? It sounds like a beautiful gift. xx

Anonymous said...

Meari,

What a treat to see your pics! Woohoo! You're making great progress on JG.

Marina

Robin in Virginia said...

Happy New Year greetings to you! What beautiful ornaments you created! I know you will enjoy your coloring book.

Anonymous said...

I want to wish you A Happy New Year. Your ornaments are lovely and I am glad to see that your are stitching on JG again. Good luck with the exercise.

Marl

Carol said...

I bought that exact same coloring book for my middle son's girlfriend last year for her birthday (she majored in Japanese in college)...

Just love your latest ornaments, Meari--all so beautifully finished... And your JG is looking spectacular.

Best of luck in the gym. I am not trying to lose weight, but need to build up some muscle--especially in my arms! That's my goal for this year :)

Happy 2017!

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year, Meari!!

It's always so fun to take a peek at what you've been up to! So much fun to see JG and how much progress you've done! I'm back working on Aurora Cabin myself...guess we were on the same wavelength! Love the ornaments you've made too, such a creative way to finish them!!

*hugs*
DJ

Desiree Ehleiter said...

I love Japanese Garden and hope to see more of it! Good luck with the gym, always a challenge, but worth it, regardless of how much (or how little) you achieve. Happy New Year!

Claudette497 said...

Hooray for Japanese Garden! I'm so glad it's back out. Your finishes are beautiful - I'm happy dancing with you!

Anonymous said...

I love how your little owl turned out!!! So cute!

Happy Trails,
Pam K. in TN :o)

Akila said...

Loved reading your updates Meari. WOW.. you have soooo many finishes.. all so beautiful :)
Great progress on JG

Lyn said...

Happy New Year to you too, Meari! All your finishes look great! Ten of them, WOW! I bet having several PTO days helped! Love your progress on JG!! Your work sounds interesting. I so wish I could get another office job!