A Giveaway

I went to take pictures of my progress and found that the digital camera's batteries needed recharging. So, while I am waiting for the camera to be operational again, I thought I'd post a small giveaway.

The chart, Good for the Gander, is from the Brightneedle Squares series. The subtitle says it is a companion piece for Grey Goose. It is a lovely little 69x69 sampler with a very 19th century look [not Quaker]. Since it was packaged in crystal clear plastic, I stitched it without removing it from the packaging. Thus, the chart is in mint condition. I made some color adjustments since I stitched it in Belle Soie silks rather than the GAST and WDW overdyes called for. In any case, I shall show you a picture of my version just to give you an idea of what Good for the Gander looks like.

Sorry about the wrinkles ... I hadn't pressed it at the time I took the photo and, of course, with my dead batteries I can't take another at the moment. Eventually, I will finish it as a needlebook. Just leave a comment if you want to be considered for this little giveaway.

As to my stitching progress:

• Workbasket's Rabbit Rondel: I have finished the outer ring and the paisley ring just within that. This represents about 15 hours of stitching ... so I have met my goal for February on this piece.
• Poisson du Avril Biscornu: I have stitched the top and bottom, marked the centers of each side and am ready to assemble it ... I had enough of the 32ct Waterlily linen left to stitch one of the fish motifs which I will finish up either as a scissor case [my first choice] or a scissor fob [if the scrap of fabric on which I stitched it doesn't fit my pattern for a scissor case].
• The Sweetheart Tree's Holly and Hearts Sampler: This is the next project to tackle ... maybe by tonight I'll have made enough progress on it to warrant a photo.

Workbasket's Rabbit Rondel and other pieces

I am really enjoying working on this piece and have completed approximately three/fifths of the outer ring. The colors of the Caron Wildflowers Periwinkle complement the Silkweaver Starburst overdyed linen so well that the piece is a treat to the senses. I am, of course, comfirmed in my love of Caron fibers. The Wildflowers [an overdyed cotton floss] lays so smoothly and just feels so silky that I find myself lightly stroking the finished stitching. I have a Secret Sister to thank for this chart and the Caron floss to stitch it ... and, though I have withdrawn from the 123stitch Secret Sister Exchange, I shall remember my 2008 participation with great fondness.

At lunchtime today, I did a bit more work on the Poisson du Avril biscornu ... yes, yes, I know I stated in my last post that I would be stitching on the Holly and Hearts Sampler during lunch hours ... but I am just going with the flow while I recover my stitching mojo ... I had both pieces in my stitching bag ... and the biscornu just called to me ... probably because I am much closer to finishing it.

In any case, I should be ready to take some photos in a day or two ... this blog could certainly use a few visuals ... it has been over a month and a half since I have posted photos of new work.

Recovery

Well, I have stitched for at least an hour each day for the past four days ... I think my problem was that I had gotten so obsessed with meeting goals that I had taken all the fun out of stitching for a while. This is not to say I will abandon goals ... I am, after all, a decidedly A-type person ... but I will moderate my goals to a degree of normalcy and achievability heretofore missing in my program.

I have given myself permission to start new projects at will ... I was getting bored with my regimen. To this end, I have started Workbasket's Rabbit Rondel using a luscious Silkweaver 28 ct Cashel Linen called Starquest that complements the colors in Caron Wildflowers Periwinkle perfectly. I'll still be taking the Sweetheart Tree Holly & Hearts Sampler to work as my lunchtime project and expect to make some progress on that in the course of the week. I should have made enough progress on both projects to make posting some pictures worthwhile late in the week. Just admitting that I need more variety than I have been allowing myself has been energizing and I will take that into consideration.

I am also considering dropping out of the Silkweaver Fabric of the Month Club after a few more months. I think my stash is starting to overwhelm me ... I am feeling as though I am drowning in "stuff". Part of this is the typical Catholic guilt about owning so much property when people are losing their jobs and their homes ... if I cut back my discretionary purchases I can have more to devote to causes worthier than my own selfish pleasure: charities, retirement savings and my children & grandchildren.

So my goals for the remainder of February:

Enjoy my stitching and taking time with it

Put in 5 hours on Workbasket Rabbit Rondel

Put in 5 hours on Sweetheart Tree's Holly & Heart Sampler

Put in 3 hours doing the sewing finish of the 5 or 6 ornaments and biscornus languishing on my sewing table

Posting my Valentine ornament finishes on the Seasonal Ornament blog to which I belong

If I find I have time or inclination for more stitching, well and good ... but if not, oh well!

The Malaise continues

Since I haven't done any stitching in a while I am posting an old photo in celebration of the upcoming Valentine's Day ... at least there is a heart in the design. In any case, the "hands to work" part of the message is one I need to take to heart ... I very much need to get back into my usual stitching routines.

This is so unlike me ... generally I stitch for at least 1 hour after getting up in the morning and before getting ready for work ... usually a bit more because of the just one more stitch syndrome. Then I eat for about 15 minutes of my lunch hour and stitch the remaining 45.

But I have stitched approximately 10 hours for the entire month of January and not at all, at all in February so far ... it's getting so I had to think twice to remember my password for this blog.

But, today, I vow to do at least an hour of stitching ... it's not like I don't have interesting projects on hand ... ones that will give me a great deal of pleasure ... I think I am simply the victim of Inertia ... you know, objects in motion tend to stay in motion and objects at rest tend to stay at rest ... I have been at rest way too long.

On a positive note, I have lost 5 lbs in the last three weeks.