This was a kit from Dimensions called "Savannah Birth Record" - 14ct. white Aida and lots of backstitching. I can't even tell you the last time I stitched a project from a "commercial" kit and this made me remember why. First step, I swapped out the Aida for 18 ct. cream evenweave. Then, I left out a lot of the backstitching that I thought was unnecessary and didn't really contribute to or take away from the design. That said, I did appreciate the pre-sorted, carded and labeled floss that came with the kit. That was definitely new from the last time I purchased one of these kits and there was plenty of it, too.
I worked on this all of last summer with plans of finishing this for the baby's baptism in early December. I was close to finishing, but didn't quite make it, and then it didn't matter because we never made it to the baptism because it was one of the many awful weather days we had this past winter. So, for some reason, mostly the dread of doing the backstitching and the fact that I went back to work in November after five years of being at home, I set it aside. I picked it back up this summer, spurred on my the fact that my cousin bought a new house and was having a housewarming party earlier this month. I had it finished and framed in time for the party and it really didn't take me that long to do the backstitching after all.
Other than that, I'm not really sure if I had any other finishes in 2013 or the first half of 2014. I think I put a few final stitches in a small JBW Christmas design that was left over from 2012, but that's it. I've been reading a lot more than I have been stitching - I find it hard to balance the two - plus growing kids who are involved in more and more activities and work have cut into my leisure time. But I'm feeling inspired as fall is approaching and I have some Christmas ornaments I want to stitch for my co-workers this year, so I hope to have more to show soon.
