This is my Ort Jar, the fact that I actually have stuff in it this early in the years has a lot to do with Measi’s WIPocalypse. Measi also helped me find TUSAL – the totally useless Stitch-along.
At the end of the year, all the Orts in the jar go into an ornament for my tree with a small tag for the year.
Posted by shondratasha on January 23, 2012
https://shondratasha.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/first-tusal-post-of-the-year/
My year started out with a bang… I finished Ivy before I went back to work – 
Ivy is the piece that isn’t finished. The pillow is the original design – Norma by Evergreen Designs. I wanted a companion piece and the designer suggested I use her basic frame and do my own thing. So I did.
I was doing inventory and came across this small piece and completed it in a day. It’s the Shepherd’s Bush Olympic Pin sampler. Considering that this is the 10th anniversary of the games, it’s about time I finished it.
I didn’t finish Crafter’s Paradise of the Just Cross-stitch Main Street. But it’s more than I had completed before the year began.
Now it’s on to the 2nd piece on my list – Fire Dancer by Enchanting Lair
Posted by shondratasha on January 9, 2012
https://shondratasha.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/first-post-of-the-wipocalypse-2/
In June 2011, I got laid off from a job that paid well but didn’t offer any challenge. It was with a software arm of an accounting firm, specializing in government fringe benefit accounting. Ever felt really great after a supposed “bad” thing happens? The day after my lay-off was one of the best days of my life.
I love the networking that comes with a job hunt and met some incredible people. And I still have a few people who I need to have lunch with in the next few months. Anyway, 6 informational interviews and 2 real interviews with my current employer got me a Business Analyst job with a company which owns multiple banks.
I love what I do! I’m in charge of “marketing” the abilities of some ECM applications to our affiliates. I love hearing how people are doing things, listening to how they want to improve and helping them find solutions to their pain points. In addition, training is a huge thing where I work. I’m getting a week of Microsoft BA training this month and I have a week long BA Bootcamp in May. And this is on top of the leadership training I’ve already had since I started!
There isn’t a point to this post other than to say – I love what I do and where I work.
Posted by shondratasha on January 6, 2012
https://shondratasha.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/have-i-mentioned-i-love-my-job/
I’ve finished my first piece this year. I went to take a picture of it but the battery is dead on the camera – so you may just have to wait until the 9th when the first WIPocalypse post is posted. It does feel good to start the year with a finish. Ages ago I stitched a counted canvas pattern and had it made into a pillow, I wanted a companion piece so the designer said, use the frame and make your own pattern. So I now have a completed piece that is adapted from her pattern and designed to be a companion piece. Now I need someone who can turn the finished pattern into a pillow matching the other one.
I was pretty sure that I would finish this quick so I can either work on my focus piece (Winter Carousel horse), start and finish a quick Shepherd’s Bush piece that I bought during the 2002 Olympics (18 count linen) or work on the first building of Main Street: Crafter’s Paradise from the Just Cross Stitch Magazine.
It’s Guilt Free January so I’m thinking the new start since it’s a small piece and it’s screaming at me.
Posted by shondratasha on January 4, 2012
https://shondratasha.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/im-going-to-need-a-needlepoint-finisher-this-year/
January December
It’s been an interesting year. By having something to focus on I’ve been able to weather some interesting events this year.
I don’t work the same place I did in January, I’m in a better place than I was before with great people and an organization which focuses on client service.
I’ve stitched more this year than I have in a long time. I managed to finish 8 projects while concentrating on the Ponies. And Be Naughty sat on my desk at work all during the holiday season.
It’s been an interesting year but I’m looking forward to the WIPocalypse.
Posted by shondratasha on January 1, 2012
https://shondratasha.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/and-the-year-of-carousel-horses-is-over/
Just So you Know 