I have accumulated such an enormous collection of fabric, fiber, charts and embellishments over the years that I am well-provided in my retirement.
I have been organizing my stash so as to better enjoy it. One of my loves is fiber. There are just so many options available and I have a fairly representative collection. [See my
Gallery Post - Fibers as evidence of this]. The ownership of a favorite silk company, Belle Soie, has changed hands. Since I am unlikely to find much more of the stuff and have many partial cards of many colors, I am systematically using up my stash of Belle Soie on smallish projects like the Prairie Schooler
Primitive Americana and Prairie Schooler
Year Rounds and this Prairie Schooler promo card,
Stars and Stripes, from 2009. Substituting the Belle Soie for DMC allows me the pleasure of stitching with silk and the righteous feeling of using what I have. It would be such a pity to waste such lovely stuff. I enjoy seeing the silk on linen. I collect to use not to hoard.
My next needlepoint starts, two small Nutcracker Christmas ornaments, will involve the same strategy. I have loads of partial cards of Rainbow Gallery fibers of all kinds: perfect for adding interest and texture and shine to needlepoint canvas. I've never understood the mentality of saving stuff just in case you'll need it later. That works for money but not much else. It's rather like never enjoying the good china at meals and always dining off Melmac. I am probably dating myself by even mentioning Melmac, a hard plastic dinnerware that was a popular wedding shower gift back in the late 60s/early 70s. Ugly designs and stubborn indestructibility were its main features.
But I digress. I should stick to talking about stitching. I need to buy a set or two of stretcher bars before I can start the ornaments. Which is just as well considering all the WIPs in the basket already. Even so, I have rediscovered a fondness for needlepoint and am anxious to start these little beauties in time for this Christmas. I am afraid I am like a kid in a candy store now that I am retired ... I want to do it all ... and all at once.
I have also been trying to gather all my stash in one place, a sort of pre-inventory browsing and organizing effort, if you will, In doing so, I have found four tubes of white linen I had forgotten I had, A godsend really since I thought I was all out of white and needed to restock. I also gathered up an appalling number of stitched but unfinished pieces that need to be transformed into useful or decorative items. I'll be taking care of the Fall pieces first, and then the Christmas and then the miscellaneous.
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10 comments:
I am trying to use stash right now also. Your projects are so pretty. I haven't seen needlepoint ornaments before. I have to search for some.
Good for you! It is such a good feeling to get organized.
What a good reminder to use the stash we have. The melmac memory, though, is not as welcome :). My dad was a pastor, and as a welcome to a small country church the congregation gave us a set with brown and green branches and pine cones on white. Not only was it seasonal, it was downright ugly - and we "had" to use it year round because parishioners were often in our home. Who designed that stuff???
I totally agree on the using stash and it's lovely to hear that you are enjoying your beautiful flosses. I have way too much stash!
Ya mean we have to gather all our stash in one place? Ha ha ha. On a more serious note, I have so much fabric, but it seems I often don't have just the right color when choosing the next pattern to stitch.
It's great to get it all organized!
I feel so good when I periodically reorganize mine. Unfortunately sometimes while trying to organize, I end up "pulling" things to put in the "to stitch" pile.
I love your idea of "kitting up" odds and ends of leftover silks in small projects. I love stitching with silks too although I haven't done too much of it yet.
I like those two nutcracker designs, looking forward to seeing them stitched up. I tend to avoid canvas work because it uses so much more thread than cross stitch!
I wonder what other goodies you will discover in your inventory?
Your canvaswork pieces are going to be fun.
I too am using up theads that seem to have accumulated over time.
I am also taking stock of what I have... must be in the air! Or what happens when you retire! Ha!
I particularly like your comment, "I collect to use not to hoard". It makes sense to me to have a good selection of charts and supplies on hand. My philosophy was you never know when you will be stuck needing/wanting to start a new project and not having anything on hand to use. You know, blizzards, mail strikes, UPS strikes, etc. Lol. Although I will never use all that I have. However, I have taught me daughter in law to stitch, so there's hope that someone will want my stash when I'm gone.
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