I would like to say thank you to all the people who left words of encouragement and advise about my chore planner it was just what I needed. It has been four weeks now and I think everything seems to have settled into a great routine. The children can make as much mess as they like where their toys are as long as they don't drag toys over the rest of the house. This leaves them with the entire lounge room and entryway for their mess. I have more quality time to spend with the girls and more stitching time (except when DH is home and then everything seems to get out of hand!). I feel much happier about my home and I don't get into a panic when visitors arrive unannounced.
The year is coming to a close and I have finished all my stitching commitments. This means a little more me stitching, I have done very little of it this year. To celebrate, this is the first item I stitched. It's a little needlebook, which has been completely hand finished. I feel so good about it. Not only did I make something useful, but I followed the instructions and found they were quite easy to understand. I tried some new skills (nun's stitch and buttonhole stitch) and they were not as scary as I thought. I used a handmade antique bead for the closure.



Design: Acorn Sampler Sewing Case - Needlebook
Designer: With My Needle
Fabric: 32ct Belfast linen- Ecru
Threads: DMC
Finish: Needlebook
Next is the ornament I stitched for Marie for the Friends Through Thread ornament exchange. This was a new finish for me, as I have never made anything that wasn't square of rectangular. By lacing it by hand, I found that it wasn't as hard as I first thought. 
Design: Christmas Poinsettia Topiary
Designer: Praiseworthy Stitches (Gift of Stitching Magazine, Issue 34 November 2008)
Fabric: 36ct Edinburgh linen - Cream
Threads: Gentle Art Sampler Threads
Finish: Christmas Ornament
This is the PIF I stitched for Kathy. I haven't heard from her yet, but she should have received it by now as it only takes two days at the most by post from my location to hers. I finished this little ornament with a beaded trim on the bottom, it just seemed to need a little something else. 

Design: Red Winged Blackbird
Designer: Bent Creek
Fabric: 28ct Belfast linen - Putty
Threads: DMC
Finish: Ornament
Finally, I would like to say that I have one more place available for a PIF. If you would like to participate and receive one of my hand stitched items, please leave a comment indicating your interest. If you would like to know more about the PIF check out this post.