I’ve discovered that LiveJournal is pulling not only my entries, but also comments and all tags and such. So I’m going to be sifting some stuff. There’s a lot of fandom random stuff that I honestly don’t need over here and it’ll be getting deleted. I’m primarily interested in keeping, for example, the entries regarding my wedding planning – actual journal entries. The fandom squee, unless it’s lengthy, semi-interesting squee, is just going to get deleted.

Most of it is spur-of-the-moment stuff. It’s not getting deleted from LJ, but I don’t need it here.

So yeah – don’t mind the messiness around here. I’ll get it cleaned up eventually.

Write a quick comment

The relay guidelines are to work two hours on each piece, then move on. I’ve decided to include ALL of my current WIPS and UFOs in my rotation for the month, and I’ll see where it goes from there. I’m going to do this in a screaming order. I’ll return to my normal style of rotating in March.

Project list:

Spring Queen (Mirabilia) – currently stitching
Home is Where the Cat Is (Dimensions)
Cats on a Staircase (Bucilla)
Elemental Dragons: Spirit (DD)
Apache Wedding Blessing (Kooler Design)
Egyptian Sampler (TW)
Floral Bellpull (TW)
Astrology Sampler (Witches Stitches)
Legends of the Dragons (TW, DD, BS)
Smoky Mountain Cats (Pegasus Designs)
Fantasy Triptych (TW)
Magical Night (TW)
Noah’s Ark (TW)
Millennium (TW)
Walk in the Woods (Cricket Collection)
Garden Samplers (Prairie Schooler)

I think it will be a good way for me to really take a look at what I want to do for a rotation, too. I have plenty of projects kitted up now, and there’s a nice mix of diversity in them. Hopefully that will help me progress on things – particularly those TW patterns which I love, but can’t always focus on stitching.

—

So onto my January goals…

1) Work on many new starts as I wish for guilt-free January YES – I started three projects.
2) Finish kitting any projects I’d like to start in 2010 YES. I may have overlooked a thread here or there, but I can start on any of the pieces I wanted to kit.
3) Sort any old WIP photos and redo my progress pages online ALMOST- everything’s been photographed, and I’ve updated my main page, but I still need to build the individual progress pages.
4) Have an uninterrupted 6 hours of stitching time YES – had a wonderful one two weeks ago.
5) Figure out which piece I’d like to send around for the UFO RR that will hopefully kick up over on the TWWRR board. YES – have this solved too.

So yes, a very productive month. I’m pleased.

So for February, my goals are:

1) Rotate through all of my WIPs and UFOs at least once
2) Finish Home is Where the Cat Is
3) Finish Spirit
4) Put together the individual progress pages on my website
5) Finalize my rotation that will start in March
6) Remember to photograph the TUSAL this month.

Off to get some work done. I’ll post thoughts on individual projects this week.

Write a quick comment

In my previous entry, I listed the random Stich-a-Longs I’ve joined in some form.  Today I put together a full list of my cross stitch patterns (excluding magazines, which are mostly there for reference & round robin ideas).  I honestly didn’t think I had quite THAT many pieces in my stash… eep!

So now I’m planning my “attack” on all of it.  Obviously I can’t do it all next year.  I couldn’t do all of it in 10 years.  But I definitely want to make a good push at it, and it all depends on the method of my rotation plan.

Based on past experience, a firm hourly or goal-oriented rotation just doesn’t work for me.  Nor does stitching pieces in a particular order.  One thing that does work is designating a theme for a slot (a designer, a piece size, or a focus slot, for example).  So I’m going to be doing a modified blend of a screaming, hourly, and goal rotation.. if that makes sense.

The rule is that I can stitch these pieces in any order.  This will allow me to be flexible for when Round Robins come in and such.  I must put a minimum of 5 hours on any one piece before I can move onto another piece.  I may stay on a project for as long as I’m feeling in a groove on it – progress in any form is a good thing!  I must stitch on every piece in the rotation before making any adjustments, such as included pieces, slot themes, starts, etc.

Right now, I’m thinking about this as my beginning rotation for 2010.  I expect to have a decent amount of time for stitching this winter. 

TW SAL:  Floral Bellpull
Small/Commute: Home is Where the Cat Is (will finish this round)
Small/Commute #2: Elemental Dragons: Spirit
Backstich Focus: Egyptian Sampler
Christmas SAL: Cats on a Staircase
TW/DD/BS SAL: Legends of the Dragons (new start for 2010)
Free Slot: For Round Robin
Open Choice: Apache Wedding Blessing
Open Choice: Astrology Sampler

I’m crazy, aren’t I?

Write a quick comment

Turns out, I didn’t need to worry – there was a very easy blogger to WP importer.  I do need to clean up my categories a bit, but that’s not as big of a deal to me.

So yay!  It’s fixed and running!  Now if I could just get the Zero Room back up again, I’ll feel on top of things website-wise.

Taking a half-day today from work, planning on getting laundry hung up then getting back into writing Wiggie’s fic.  Ever progressing… *sigh*

Write a quick comment

So I figured I’d drop a note to my illustrious friends list, many of which are incredibly talented people, to see if they’re willing to help out.

Here’s roughly what I’m looking for. I am open to discussion for style/website organization ideas to freshen things up. I admit that the last time I really, REALLY put a site together on my own was probably a good six years ago now.

So…

1) A front splash/menu page graphic (text links will be added, so I can keep it a bit more flexible) – Page will be HTML only

2) Blog template that’s compatible with Blogger (anything from my Flickr account or wedding photos are up for grabs to use on this)

3) Template for my fanfic section (Who and/or X-Files) – Page will be HTML only, unless someone thinks WordPress may be an easier way to organize fic.

4) Template for Pagan pages – HTML only

5) Something for my LiveJournal! (any theme on this one)

I like things to have a nice, clean, uncluttered look to them – I’m not opposed to collage work if it’s done smoothly. I don’t want the graphics to overwhelm the pages – it needs to be readable. I’m open on colors.

Original art is welcome. Using my own photos is welcome.

I really, really am not a text phrases on top of graphics sort of person, regardless of how it’s put together.

Anyone interested? This is NOT a rush job, mind. I’m thinking… sometime like, oh, May? Seriously. Not a rush.

Compensation can be discussed. I’m very willing to pay for time.

Anyone interested? Comment here or drop me a line at measiwitch(at)gmail.com.

Write a quick comment

So ‘ere we go.

I still need to add my little mini-intro, my blogroll, and my links back up – I’ll get that done in the next couple days.

A couple changes – I’m finally ditching Haloscan, and will start using the Blogger comments. Definitely drop me a line on this entry and let me know if things are working okay.

But yes… everything will be working again shortly. I’m just in the middle of changing… *ahem*

Write a quick comment

With the beginning of Holidailies, I thought it best to start with introducing myself. It’s been five years since I wrote my original bio for my blog. I’ve cut and pasted new info, but it’s due for an overhaul. So…

My name is Melissa. I usually go by Mel (with both co-workers and friends), or by Measi (a childhood nickname that stuck). I’m on the cusp of age 32, a double Capricorn (if you’re into astrology), lazy-about-practicing Pagan, geek, cat lover, and craft-aholic.
I’ve lived in New England for 13 years. I originally came to Boston to attend Boston University, fell in love with my new surroundings, and have settled in to a life I love.

I’m engaged to a wonderful man named Erich. He’s a native Massachusetts boy, with the slightest bit of the accent that has made the region so famous. He’s about 6’3”, giving him nearly a foot of height over me. I don’t even reach his shoulder. We’ve been a couple since 2001, living together since 2002, and homeowners since 2005. We live in the Providence, Rhode Island metro area in a pretty old colonial house with a decent yard. Both of us still commute to Boston for work, so we’re close friends with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, also known as “the T.” Driving our commute daily would be a nightmare. Erich works in IT. I work as an Admin. Assistant.

One of the biggest reasons Erich and I clicked so well is our mutual geekness (geekitude?). We both enjoy computer games immensely. He tends to go for the first person shooters and more violent games. I tend to lean toward the Sims, Myst, and other simulation/strategy games. We both play World of Warcraft a lot, and often together. We also enjoy Renaissance faires, tabletop gaming (think Dungeons & Dragons), fandom conventions, and all of the nerdy things from our youth that led into such interests. I have additional geekness coming from years of marching and pep band membership.

We are owned by five loving but very weird cats, who have come into our lives at an oddly clockwork 2-year interval. Colley is 7, Fizzy is 5, Gus is 3, and the twins, Noby and Elly, are 1. Photos and details about each of them will follow in later entries this month.

The major hobby I talk about in my blog (other than blogging) is my stitching. I’m an avid cross-stitcher, and tend to have about a half-dozen projects in the works at any given time. I originally learned when I was in 5th grade through a class art project. I enjoyed it so much that I kept on going. It helped me feel a bit more connected to my mother, who sewed all the time when I was a child. She loved that I was interested in embroidery, too, and helped me select materials and such until I was out of college. I went through a few years of disinterest, but found myself really getting into it again about two years ago. I tend to work larger pieces, so completions are few and far between. But I find that the journey of stitching is honestly more fun than the completion. Most of my current projects and all completed projects are located in my Flickr account (on the right hand bar).

So what do I normally write about in my blog? It depends on my mood. I tend to write about what happens during my days. Lately I’ve been on a bit of a meme streak due to an inability to sit down, think and do quality writing. When I do have the time to really think and write, I’ll talk about topics that are personal- adoption, faith, lukewarm attempts at politics, etc.

So who’s reading? Drop a note and say hi!

Write a quick comment

So if anyone’s interested in joining or rejoining, all of the links are now fixed, and the new homepage is here.

- Mel.

Write a quick comment

I’m not really a pink girl– but it is a cute template. AND… it actually loads correctly on my work Mac (unlike the orange), so… yeah.

Write a quick comment

Write a quick comment