OPAM Wrap Up... And REV UP!!

Here we are, it's the third day of 2011 and it still feels VERY strange to be talking about it as THIS year, rather than NEXT! You know ... all those things you promised yourself you'll do in 2011 ... NEXT YEAR! And suddenly, you're having to start thinking about actually DOING them ... or is that just me?!?! Tee! Hee! Hee! However you spent it, I hope your entry into 2011 was relaxing/enjoyable/safe. Thank you for all the lovely New Year's wishes and emails you sent me ... it was a fabulous and positive way to start my year!! I also hope you spent New Year's Day doing something you really enjoy, cos you know what they say ... however you spend the first day of the new year is how you're likely to spend most of your time in the next 12 months! I bet some of you are regretting tackling the housework on January 1 now, aren't you! Tee! Hee! Hee!

It also means that it's time to wrap up our OPAM 2010 Challenge. My FANTASMAGORICAL Co-host Peg and I had a lovely big chat on the phone yesterday and were both amazed at what a HUGE year we had with OPAM 2010!! I'm not sure Peg knew what she was in for when she agreed to co-host with me ... and to be honest, neither did I! Tee! Hee! Hee! We had 206 people register to be part of OPAM 2010 and most of them followed through with us for the whole year, though a few fell off the grid. We had our biggest ever month in December for finishes ... a whopping 783!! How good are you gals!!! Must have been the Christmas incentive! Tee! Hee! Hee! Congrats, too, to those of you who may not have registered any or many finishes for December, but managed to make some good progress on some bigger projects during the holiday season. WELL DONE to you all! That's the biggest tally of monthly finishes since May Britt and I started our 'little' challenge in 2009!! Even BETTER than that, the total tally of finishes for OPAM 2010 was ... are you ready for this??? You'd better brace yourselves, cos it's MASSIVE!!! We had ...

7193 FINISHES!!

... registered with Peg and I for 2010!!! How AMAZING is that! Boy ... there must be a LOT more room in sewing cupboards around the world now ... right?!?! Tee! Hee! Hee! Or if you're like me, you've just used each finish as an excuse to buy fabric/patterns etc for THREE more projects to replace it! :0)

Before I put you all our of your suspenders and tell you the final prize draw winners for December, I'd like to just take a moment to say some thank you's. Firstly, a SUPER-DUPER-DELUXE

THANK YOU!!!

 ... to my AMAZING Co-host, Peg. I've nick-named Peg "Super Stitcher" cos she just seems to FINISH soooooo many projects, as well as working full time and fitting in a number of other time-consuming commitments. She's like a stitching version of Superman ... only cuter! :0) Peg and I were blogging buddies before we hooked up as OPAM co-hosts and I have so enjoyed getting to know her better this year and chatting back and forth via emails and phone calls. I honestly couldn't have gone forward with OPAM if Peg hadn't joined me, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you , Peg!!! :0)

Secondly, a big THANK YOU goes to the generous gals who have donated items for Peg and I to put into our prize-pool this year. It was something May Britt and I decided we would do, and that Peg was happy to embrace when she came on board ... to offer prizes to random draw winners at the end of each month ... just a little reward to encourage everyone to keep stitching and creating. So it was a lovely and humbling surprise when people started to offer us items for prizes, but wonderful for you gals who've won them! :0) This year, a big THANKS goes to:

Sarah, Razzy, Clare and Marion

... for donating patterns, fabric, stitching tools, postage etc to Peg and I to share with OPAMers. It has been SOOOOOOOO much appreciated!

And finally, a big THANK YOU to all of you gorgeous, creative gals who have been part of the fun and craziness of OPAM 2010!! As well as sharing your FABULOUS projects with us throughout the year, Peg and I both feel you've shared your lives with us. During 2010 we joined with you to welcome new babies, shed tears with you as you mourned the loss of loved ones, rejoiced with you over special birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and special occasions, worried and prayed with you through illnesses, accidents, stressful events and life-changing moves and laughed with you as you searched for the humour and funny side of life. The OPAM Challenge may have started off just as a craft challenge to encourage us all to take some time out for ourselves and finish some projects, but it has ended up being a giant, world-wide sewing circle that has linked like-minded creative ladies into a network of blogging buddies and friends. Thank you, too for your lovely feedback! Peg and I have both received so many emails throughout the year thanking us for running OPAM and telling us how it has helped keep you on track to finish projects, meet deadlines and just make time for yourself ... which is FABULOUS!!! And THAT'S why we do it!! :0)

So ... without further waffling (sorry Chookyblue ... long post today ... should have warned you to grab a cuppa! Tee! Hee! Hee!) the last draw winners for OPAM 2010 were ...

Maria

Ruth W

Teresa

CONGRATULATIONS! If you gals would like to email your snail-mail addresses to me, some prizes will be popped in the mail soon to brighten your day ... and make your postie shake with nerves as you stalk him while waiting for your prize to be delivered! Tee! Hee! Hee!

OK ... so THAT'S the "Wrap-Up" mentioned in my title ... now for the REV UP!!

The news that you've all been waiting for ... I'm sure of it ... really! Tee! Hee! Hee!

OPAM 2011

will launch on ...

JANUARY 25, 2011!!!

Mark the day on your calendar to make sure you get in quick to sign up with either PEG or ME because we will once again be limiting the sign-up numbers to 200 participants, so it's first in, best dressed, as they say. My Beloved Geek Boy is working his computer magic as I type, finalising a NEW LOGO for 2011. OOOOOOHHHH!!! It's so EXCITING!!! I can't WAIT to see who wants to play along with Peg and I again this year ... who'll be a 'Repeat Offender' and who'll be a 'New Recruit'! :0) As well as the usual OPAM fun and craziness, Peg and I are planning a few little SURPRISES to spring on you throughout the year, just to keep you on your toes. So ... stay tuned to Peg and My blogs for the next exciting episode in the OPAM 2011 Adventure!!!

In the meantime ... Peg and I are going to kick back and enjoy a bit of stitching time ourselves before we dive back into OPAM 2011 and since the Aussies are again taking to the cricket pitch against England ... doing a bit better than last time so far ... THANK GOODNESS!! :0) ... I shall sign off and go do a bit more Gardener's Journal stitching while watching the cricket. So, til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!
CHEERS!
KRIS