January WIPocalypse introduction

Happy 2014, everyone!  This is my first WIPocalypse posting for the new year.  This month's topic is to introduce yourself, your projects, and any goals you have for the year.  You can find links to everyone's January WIPocalypse check-in on Measi's Musings blog.

Hi!  I'm Debbie and I live in Southern California, so I use the nickname SoCal Debbie. I did some stitching in the 1990s but just got back to it three years ago, when I started this blog.  I stitched a wedding design for my best friend and she picked it up from my house.  The next day, I was going to meet her for lunch and I was in a car accident (hit by a drunk driver) in December 2010.  Thank goodness I wasn't delivering it to her that day because the car totally burned up, along with a different cross stitch project in the back seat that I was making for my grandma.  I ended up printing out a photo of the almost finished piece and framed that for her instead of starting over again!  Then I learned about the Crazy January Challenge 2011, and started 15 new projects in the first 15 days of January.  I was off work for six months recovering after the car accident and had plenty of time to stitch every day and be inspired by all the amazing blogs out there!  For the next three years, I was in the Ultimate Crazy January Challenge, where I started something new every day in January.

I work from home as a medical transcriptionist, so I don't have to commute or worry about the weather.  I have two dogs and three cats, which you might see pictures of in my blog sometime.   I'm in the SoCal Cross Stitchers Yahoo Group, so I get to meet other members at stitching get-togethers about once a month.

I have listed all of my WIPs (works-in-progress) on my WIPocalypse page, which is now up to 82.  Whenever I finish something, I will take it off that page and add it to the Finishes 2014 page.  After I start all my new ones in January, I will concentrate on 10 WIPs that I chose for the Turtle Trot SAL and post updates on them once a month. They are mostly BAPs so I only expect to finish a couple of them this year.  I'm also in several SALs (stitch-a-longs) where I stitch a certain project on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.  I'll also try to finish a small design each month for the 2014 Smalls SAL.  I can also stitch anything else from my WIP list whenever I feel like it.

Now I'm going to visit the January WIPocalypse check-in to learn all about the rest of you!