I'm a little late in my annual recap this year due to a busy start to the year. Even so, I always enjoy the chance to look back and plan looking forward. Let's start with 2025. It was a milestone year in several ways - a high school graduation, a big work anniversary (25 years!), and a big wedding anniversary. My husband and I started to adjust to life as empty nesters, and although it was really strange at the beginning, I think we've started to settle in. Both kids were home for the holidays and it was great to have them. I understand now how parents look forward to adult kids returning home for a visit.
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| A hike on our 25th anniversary! |
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| Christmas day with the kids |
On the crafty side, I had another good year. I was less focused this year on specific projects, but enjoyed lots of stitching, quilting, and a little crochet and embroidery. Let's revisit my three goals for 2025:
Goal #1. Stay ahead - this goal is multi-pronged - I'd like to stay ahead of gifts so that I am not madly sewing right before holidays/birthdays, and I'd like to fully finish more than I finish. I think I did fairly well on this one - I started the year strong and then fell behind a bit mid-year, but I pulled it out on the last day of the year with a couple of FFOs. I finished 30 stitching projects and fully finished 31! Phew, just squeaked by!
I finished the year with 38 unfinished projects and am glad to keep the number under 40. I will strive to continue to keep my unfinished under 40 and it would be great to knock it down to less than 30 at some point. I had hoped to close out a few more of the years with just one item left to FFO, but no luck there. I am happy that 2023 only has one more project to be FFO'ed, I made some good progress on that year.
But instead of talking about the unfinished pieces, let's look at what I finished. My 31 stitched pieces included small, medium and large pieces, and I finish the year with all projects that were started in 2025 in my WIP pile. It was nice to finish up some of my older projects and series. I also enjoyed pulling a few things from deep in my stash to stitch.
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| 2025 Cross Stitch Finishes |
I FFO'ed in a variety of styles, with ornaments and pillows continuing to be popular. I tried my hand at lacing and framing a piece of my own (Goody Grimwood), and while it took a while to finish, I enjoyed the process and am happy with the results. I also finished several pieces on wooden boards from Chantelle's 141 after attending her retreat in September. I've enjoyed the process of painting and staining them and hope that several of them have multiple uses.
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| 2025 Cross Stitch FFOs |
Goal #2: Set intentional quilting goals - I am going to strive to set two quilting goals each month. I did great at this goal as I did set two quilting goals each month...I did not do as great at actually achieving the goals. It always helps to have a deadline in my quilting to motivate me to get moving, but I didn't have many of those this year, so projects tended to linger a little longer than I planned. I am ultimately okay with that, as I enjoyed the projects I worked on and fully finished most of the quilt tops I made in the year.
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| 2025 Quilting Finishes |
Goal #3: More reading - I would like to try to read at least two books a month this year. If you saw my second half book review, you know I didn't even come close to this goal. I ended the year only having read 10 books. On the plus side, I enjoyed the books in the first half of the year a lot. I will try again this year!
I didn't have any crochet finishes for the year, but did play with yarn a bit...unfortunately not with the results I'd hoped for. However, I did take away a blue ribbon in the state fair for a sweater made last year.
I finished one embroidery project this year and it was a gift for my friend Michele. I really do enjoy the wool embroidery and need to remember to build it into my routine.
The lone embroidery project from 2025
So now we look forward to 2026 and as always, I have a few goals/plans for the year.
1) Focus on framing - of my unfinished stitching projects, I plan to frame at least 8 of them. I want to take the time to select and order frames and to lace and frame them. Most of them will likely be finished by me, but I am also okay with having a framer finish a few. I really would like to get some of my larger pieces on the wall.
2) FFO a piece for each weekend I am home - I generally do my FFO'ing on the weekends and I thought I could make some solid progress here if I focus on finishing one cross-stitch or quilting item for each weekend that I am home. In January, this will be two weekends of the month, so by the end of the month (or early February), I'd like to have two FFOs. I am not going to pressure myself to keep up each weekend, but instead to average out over the year.
3) Focus on flimsies - I want to spend more time making blocks this year and getting blocks into finished tops (called flimsies by quilters) - I have a couple that are in progress and haven't been touched in a long time and several new quilts I want to work on, so my plan is to focus on getting them to the quilt top stage. I think it will be fun to get back into some block making and several of the projects are longer-term so I won't be pushing for a quick finish.
4) Get back to reading - after my dismal reading results for this year, I'd like to put down my phone and pick up a book a bit more. I would also like to "read" my first audiobook. I figure you can stitch (or quilt or FFO) while also reading, so we'll see how I like that format of reading. I won't set a specific number of books as the goal, but will say that it needs to be higher than 15 and I'd prefer it by in the 20s.
I'll share progress along the way and we'll see how these goals work out for me. Let me know if you have some plans or goals for the new year. I am always interested to see what calls to other people and sometimes it gives me just the inspiration I need.
Thanks so much for your continued support of my blog. I continue to enjoy keeping this online journal as a way to document my plans and accomplishments and I really enjoy interacting with each of you. Wishing you all a happy and crafty 2026!
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