Wishes for the New Year...

 Wasn't it just yesterday that we were ringing in 2012?

They say time flies when you're having fun.  That may be true, however, time flies no matter how you're spending your days...good or bad.

The last two years have been somewhat a blur.  No complaints, just reality.  In this household we have learned to make the most of each day.  When the days are good we enjoy them and when they are bad, we get through them.  Hopefully, learning as we go.

Once again, there will be no resolutions.  How about wishes?  Such as...stitching more, reading more, walking more and more time with loved ones.  Simple enough but don't the little wishes bring contentment?  And one large wish...to educate the public on how to connect with someone suffering from dementia.

So much more to be said...perhaps, better left for another day.  For now I will leave you with "wishes" for a Happy New Year!

What are your wishes for 2015?

Christmas finishing...

Is all but finished for this year.  I am so pleased with the response to "Finely Finished" and want to say a big thank you for all of you who have entrusted me with your beautiful stitching.  Since it's true inception in July, Finely Finished has kept me busy with rewarding work.

Hopefully, in the next year, I will become more organized...blog more and stitch more for myself.  Who knows what will be posted?  Hope you will come by and see.

I will also encourage my clients to include the designer and pattern names of their work.

Here's a few Christmas finishes stitched by you....

Are you finished and ready for the festivities?

Collections...

Do you have them?  Are you a collector?  What do you collect?

Going through out the house and decorating this past couple of weeks, I have taken stock of my collections. I'm not sure if I should have put so much thought into the idea of collecting.  It feels a little excessive or is it hoarding?   Most of what I have now, I love and will continue to keep.  Goodness, I have certainly collected some odd things, which I shall not admit to anyone.

A wise woman told me many years ago, if you love it and can use it in any of three different places, get it!  Had I know this earlier, I would have passed on a few items.  And some, I'm glad I did collect all those years ago.  Brown crocks and wooden bowls have become so expensive, I just look and smile and say to myself, "I didn't pay that much."

One thing for sure, collections are to be loved and cared for, not to mention, dusted.  Let me share a bit of mine...

Redware and deer.

Santas.

Early American pressed glass goblets.

Sheep...

And more sheep.

Rubber duckies....the girls started this one!

If you haven't guessed by now, I'm having a little fun today and being nostalgic.  Some collections have been added to by friends and family, but most importantly...the real prizes were collected on outings with my husband.  I'll share more another day.

What do you collect and will you share?

Change...

Is inevitable in our lives.  Whether we embrace it or fight it is up to us.

I've decided to embrace the changes in my life and thought I might share where I've been in the last year and a half.  For the most part, time has been good to me and I'm enjoying life.

My husband has dementia and I'm learning how to live with it.  Please don't be sad...it's a new way of life.  I keep educating myself, almost daily, on this disease and am able to deal with the challenges it brings.  I can't imagine how it is for him.  I do know my Montessori training has helped tremendously in day to day life.  When we have good days, we enjoy them and when the days are bad, we get through them.  I am going with the idea he understands everything I do and say.  Who knows how true this is. I do know most people do not want to be around this illness as it can be uncomfortable.  Please, what ever you do....please, treat a person with dementia as you would any other.  We don't know what's going on in the mind.

When I'm happy he's happy...

My granddaughters are now 16 and 12.  Where did those years go?  They are kind and loving and I have the good fortune to see them 3 days a week, as they need to be picked up from school.  The 16 year old is in no hurry to get her license...lucky me;)

Both are sassy, creative, smart and fun...

Being a full-time care giver does not mean life ends.  One just finds new ways to feel useful and needed.  I have chosen to start a small business finishing the work of other stitchers. "Finely Finished" has allowed me to be creative, inspired and needed while being where I need to be, at home.

From time to time I will be posting pictures of those finishes as well as life!  Also, I will be playing around with the colors and lay out of this blog.  Remember, I'm never quite happy with it.  Feel free to add your comments, I want you to be able to see and read the posts.

Finely Finished's work..

Now that's a little update on me...what have you been up to?