For me, 2008 stitching is over and 2009 has begun. And although I have no delusions about being as successful as Karen has been with WIP and stash busting (congratulations, Karen!), I am looking forward to moving along with a few big projects, UFO projects, and family projects. As well as some stuff I just plain ol’ want to do. And I’m trying to get started right by working on this Helga Mandl design (from an older seasonal SAL) that will become a scissor and needlebook gift for Max’s birthday. I had intended to stitch all four seasons, but this really isn’t my usual taste in designs and I figure if I get the spring design done (as his birthday is in spring) and then stitch the names of the season on the backside, he’ll be happy with it.
I’m also planning to make him a sewing roll, using this wonderful design from primitivebettys. I actually bought it about a year ago, intending to do it right away … well, better late than never, and I will certainly enjoy stitching this.
Max is wild about rabbits, having a sweet little attack bunny of his own, so if time permits, I will also stitch a fob or pinkeep for him, and I have just the pattern for it from The Goode Huswife. 
But other kids also have birthdays coming up, and sooner than Max’s! I’ll need to finish Rowen’s unicorn cushion and whip together the duvet cover that coordinates with it. Again, this is something I bought the supplies for an embarassingly long time ago but it kept getting shifted to the side as other, seemingly more important stitching issues arose. And to my surprise, Nicky has become very interested and curious about the projects I’ve been working on so I’m thinking that maybe I should try to make something for his birthday, too. I have a very cool pattern of Snoopy decked out as The Flying Ace … somewhere. I could cobble together a sort of pillow for him, too. I could!
And stitching has become a whole lot easier for me all of a sudden, thanks to the gift from my better half. Although I think he already seriously regrets this, as the light cast by the Daylight bulb at night interferes a lot with TV viewing. Hopefully when we rearrange the living room after the Christmas tree is removed, we’ll be able to work out a better arrangement. But last night, when I used it for the first time, I could not believe how easy it was to see everything. Not just the correct colors, but the holes in the fabric suddenly showed up as if they were under magnification. This is the best purchased gift of the year, IMHO.
There are a few homemade gifts still to share, though! Isabelle surprised me to no end by sending these adorable t-shirts for Arden’s birthday. She’d told me she was making a gift for him some months back, but with her dissertation, Seb’s job, and their upcoming move, I assumed she would not have time. Thank you, Isabelle! We love them!!
And Max made these ornaments for Niek and I for Christmas all by himself. 
The kids are feeling steadily better. Nicky is laughing more than whining now, which is such a relief to me. I don’t handle whining children very well – is that surprising, coming from a mother of four? Arden’s also recovering, though the ugly spots across his face (not unlike chicken pox, but the doc says it’s a bacterial infection caused by the mucus) are slow in going away. He’s still a regular little snot factory, so I guess it’ll take awhile longer. Rowen’s doing well, knock on wood! I’ve kept myself busy in the quieter hours by working on some more articles for TGOSM due to appear in the spring.
Wishing you days of peace and love as the New Year approaches!!
