The stitches of life: March 2007

Saturday, March 31, 2007

Stitching ramblings

I have all these thoughts about my stitching for the upcoming month running around in my head, so I'm hoping that by putting them down "on paper" it will help me to organize them ;). I guess I should start with an end of the month report:

I didn't stitch nearly as much as I had planned this month, but in spite of that I'm happy with what I accomplished. I started Spring Topiary which I've wanted to start for years now, and I finally made some noticeable progress on 3 Pale eggs. I didn't work on Brendan's RR at all, but I think I should be able to get it finished this weekend/week, so I'm not too worried. I finally got started on my Blackwork RR after much frustration in finding patterns. It's going to be smaller than the allotted size, but hopefully people won't mind ;). The important thing is I finally found a pattern I like, whose directions aren't several pages long and that is easy for me to customize color-wise.

Now on to my dilemma for the coming month. Here is my rotation as originally planned:

Monday--Blackwork RR
Tuesday--Golden Pavillion
Wednesday--SAL slot (Secret Flower Bed)
Thursday--Mira/L&L/Angel slot (RoS)
Friday/Weekend--SB

I didn't work on Secret Flower Bed at all this month either, so I'd like to get back to it--it's about 3/4 of the way done and I know I could finish it this month if I just put my mind to it. I really would like to get back to Golden Pavillion so it doesn't become one of those "I had to start it now, worked on it a bit and then never touched it again" pieces lol ;). Plus there are several more in that series I'd like to do, but I have to finish this one first. My problem is I got a gorgeous piece called A Love Song by Fouroaks Designs that I really want to start. I got the fabric and floss for it this week--I'm going to do it over 1 on 40 ct. linen so I must be insane lol! But it is stunning and I love over 1, so I really want to do it. BUT it will throw off my rotation--I either have to give up Golden Pavillion, SB or RoS. I also want to continue with my Spring Topiary, so now what do I do?

First off I have to remember my mantra for this year--I'm supposed to be having fun! If I start something new it's okay. Don't become so focused on finishing that you lose sight of what you love about it in the first place--it's the journey and not the destination that's important ;). On the other hand it does feel really good to know I have some finishes very close, and I'm enjoying the feeling of accomplishment from finishing, so I'd like to keep that going too. So obviously I have to compromise ;). I think I'll take out SB and put in A Love Song. I do have SB slated for next month so I think that will work out well. I may put Spring Topiary in RoS' slot--we'll have to see. If not maybe I can work it in next month :).

If you've made it this far you're a trooper! It really did help putting it all down in writing--it's a great way to clear your thoughts :)

Currently working on: Blackwork RR, Brendan's Superhero RR, Spring Topiary

Posted by hollyday @ 9:31 AM | Link

Comments (1)

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Spring Cleaning ;)

I decided it was time for a new look so after half a day of stumbling through the darkness of blog templates, html and css here we are ;). I know next to nothing about all this, so considering that I think I did pretty good :). I've learned a lot along the way, although I still know nothing which is pretty scary lol. I like this look a lot--clean and simple yet feminine, but now that I know more I may change it again sooner rather than later so watch out ;).

After several hours of staring at the computer screen my eyes need a rest so no stitching tonight ;). I'm off for some tea and relaxation :).

Posted by hollyday @ 7:45 PM | Link

Comments (5)

WIP Wednesday

I don't usually post my WIP pics in my blog, but because I have a couple of friends who aren't on the board reading I thought I'd try and start ;). Plus maybe it will motivate me even more--who knows? Anyway here they are: The top one is Just Nan's Tiny Garden Square, then Mill Hill's Spring Topiary and SB's 3 Pale Eggs. I did Tiny Garden Square the weekend after I finished Ian's RR, just to do something for myself and so I could have a quick finish to keep motivated :). I started the SB years ago, but only had done 2 1/2 eggs when I really started working on it this year. The blank spots in the eggs will have beads, I just have to finish the corners on the cream border and do the cross stitch outermost border and it will be done! However since Easter is next week I doubt I'll get it done this year--I prefer to stitch seasonally lol ;). But it's wonderful to think when I pull it out next year I'll be able to finish it :). Spring Topiary is one of those that I've said each year I'd start, so it feels great to have finally followed through. I LOVE beading, so this one may get finished this year since once I start beading I won't be able to put it down ;). Thanks for looking!

Currently working on: Brendan's Superhero mini RR, Blackwork RR, 3 Pale Eggs, Spring Topiary

Posted by hollyday @ 9:14 AM | Link

Comments (3)

Monday, March 26, 2007

Menu and Stitching plan Monday

Not really sure about menus this week as it's Dave's first week of class, but I'll give it a shot ;)

Monday--leftovers (class)
Tuesday--baked flounder, rice, salad
Wednesday--leftovers (class)
Thursday--pasta, rolls, salad
Friday--Marinated chicken thighs (crockpot), rice, broccoli
Saturday--pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, asparagus
Sunday--leftovers

Now stitching, which I'm on firmer ground with lol ;)

Monday--Spring Topiary
Tuesday--3 Pale Eggs
Wednesday--SAL slot (Secret Flower Bed)
Thursday--Ring Around the Rose Tree
Friday/weekend--RR (blackwork if the pattern gets here, Brendan's if not ;)

Currently working on: Brendan's superhero mini RR, Spring Topiary, 3 Pale Eggs

Posted by hollyday @ 7:45 AM | Link

Comments (0)

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Contents of childhood

I was cleaning out the den today and found Brendan's tote bag from preschool. At his preschool they encouraged the kids to bring things in that they found (especially outside) or to bring things home to show their parents, which they thought were special. So at the bottom of the tote bag I found:

1 Pirate bandana from when "Pirate Lee" came to visit
1 stick, wide enough to have his name written on it
1 pumpkin stem (I remember when he decided to bring this to school for science ;)
another stick with his name on it (not as wide as the first)
a very clean stick with all its bark taken off (I remember too when he wanted to bring it in for science, he was amazed at its smoothness and how different it looked)
pirate treasure (gold coins and necklaces)
a beautifully painted seashell
1 small plastic snake
1 dolphin keychain
assorted dried up leaves
assorted bits of paper that once were something ;)

It doesn't signify the end of his childhood obviously (he is after all only 6), but it does represent the end of his preschool days. It's a bit sad to think that phase is done for him, and a little more sad to think I'll never see that phase again with one of my children. I smile to see things so insignificant to us grownups which were so special and magical to him. My wish is that he and his brother will always be able to find that magic in themselves--that even when they're grown-up they'll be able to look at a spiderweb and be awed by it's beauty and amazed at its construction :).

Currently working on: Brendan's Superhero RR, MH Spring Topiary, 3 Pale Eggs

Posted by hollyday @ 12:33 PM | Link

Comments (2)

Amazing

We're in the process of redoing our basement, and while cleaning down there I found some of my old college papers/notebooks. I'm a packrat and saved most of my school papers from elementary school on, and boy am I glad I did. So far I've only read the papers from one folder, but they are very interesting to me. They are from my first college English class--English 120 which took place in the fall of 1987. The one which struck me the most was a short essay on my father's bypass surgery, which had happened almost 4 years earlier. It detailed where I was and how I felt when I found out about the surgery, all of which I'd forgotten. You see, a few months after I wrote that essay my father died.

My father's death is another blog entry for another time when I'm ready. What struck me so forcibly about this essay I found was how completely I'd forgotten about everything having to do with his surgery. At the time of his surgery it was a huge event. My whole family was terrified and it obviously had a big impact for me to be able to write with such detail about the moment I found out about it. But his death was a much greater tragedy which changed my life and who I was completely, so I guess I just forgot about the other event which paled in comparison.

I knew his death had changed me, I just didn't realize how much until I found these papers. Those essays, and the notes I wrote to a friend in that class, speak of happiness, promise, hope and just pure joy. I had forgotten that girl--she died when dad did. Finding her again when my life is so full and so happy is a joy I can't describe :).

Currently working on: Brendan's superhero RR, MH Spring Topiary, 3 Pale Eggs

Posted by hollyday @ 8:59 AM | Link

Comments (3)

Friday, March 02, 2007

It's finished!

After almost 4 years Ian's Dino Mini RR is done :). Obviously it didn't take me that long to stitch on it--even I'm not that slow lol ;). I put it down and didn't touch it for 3 years, then I picked it up last summer for a bit, put it back down and didn't really get serious about it again until December. I worked on it steadily (if slowly) and never put it down again for more than 2 weeks, which is really good for me ;). I finally finished it last night at 11:06 p.m. One of the main reasons it was hard for me to finish (aside from the "obligation" factor) was that the subject matter and colors were not my style. It's hard to work on a piece when you don't like what you're working on. But I love my son and picturing his face kept me going :). He's been in on the finishing process and was a great cheerleader--I never heard "when is it going to be done?" "why is it taking so long" or anything of the kind. Instead I heard "great job mom!" "it looks really good!" and the best one of all--"thanks mom for doing this for me" :)

So I'm thrilled to have it done. It's the first RR out of the of the 7 I have in my posession (another one is making the rounds as we speak) that I've finished, and the first finish I've had (other than swaps/rr's) in a year and a half--how sad is that? I'm going to finish Brendan's mini next--I only have to finish the Superman symbol and then do Flash and it will be done :). That should only take me a week at the most (less if I drop my rotation for a week) and then I think I'll pull out my band sampler RR from last year--that only has to have my band finished (there's maybe a 1/4 of it left) and it will be done too--3 finishes in one year will be a record for me I think lol ;). I just feel so good about my stitching right now and it's so nice :)

Currently working on: Brendan's Superhero Mini RR, Secret Flower Bed, Mystery Garden

Posted by hollyday @ 9:22 AM | Link

Comments (5)