Monday, March 4, 2013

finding the silver lining...

sweet friends, unfortunately this isn't a happy post filled with pictures of progress...but it's an important topic of conversation nonetheless. i hope you bear with me for today, and we will resume our normal scheduled programming tomorrow. 

after a trip to my lns this weekend, i was horrified to hear the news that my lady nutcracker stocking and water meter ornament (which had both been dropped off for finishing a while back) had been stolen. 

after mending my broken heart and shedding a few tears, i got angry. who would do such a thing? do they realize that the stocking has someone else's name on it? what would someone want with an unfinished canvas?

so many people in my city lost all their possessions almost 8 years ago in the flood-waters of katrina. cherished heirlooms that could never be replaced. our friends up north experienced the same catastrophic heartbreak when their most beloved possessions washed away with sandy. 20 families in connecticut go to sleep at night praying for their babies in heaven. 

at the end of the day...it's something that can be replaced. while i hate what happened, i still have hope deep in my heart that it will turn up, but i know it won't. 

i hope that someone else out there has experienced this. but if not, thanks for understanding. like all obstacles in life, i will tackle this head on, and move forward. 


Susan Roberts needlepoint nutcracker stocking


Sheila NOLA Water Meter needlepoint

thanks for reading...

26 comments:

  1. I think you are wonderful to try to put this in perspective but SERIOUSLY, to steal needlepoint! I am at least hoping that the person(s) involved did not really realize what they were taking... I find it hard to believe that someone who values needlepoint could also be a theif... probably ignorant on my part but I always think that there are certain things that attract only people with character (stitching being one of them). I am soooo sorry - I can't imagine how angry I would be but hopefully the store has insurance and you can go on a needlepoint shopping binge! Tomorrow will be a better day!

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  2. OHHH! What a sad event. And what a cruel act, stealing all those hours of your talented work. You are right that others bear horrible tragedies. But this is also senseless and criminal. I'm thinking of you.

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  3. I am so very sorry. That is heartbreaking. Bless your heart. I hate people who steal. God put it in the top ten for a reason.
    I have a stitching friend who developed arthritis and could not finish the stocking for her last child. She turned it over to a shop(no longer in existence) to finish. She was told the stocking was lost. The shopowner couldn't remember who she turned it over to!! The point of this sad story is the stocking turned up a year later and it was finished!
    I do so hope your story has a happy ending, too!
    I admire your fortitude!

    xoxo Steph

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  4. Oh this is heartbreaking! I am so sorry. I admire your positive attitude.

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  5. I sent my daughter a package last year with a needlepoint ornament I had stitched for my Granddaughter. It was one of those ornaments that you spend way too much time on but love the way it turns out. The package arrived, ripped open(the USPS had put it in a plastic bag) and the $.69 package of stickers were safely there as was the box of Crayons....but not the ornament. While mine was not nearly as horrific as your story, I do know how you feel and I'm sorry you have to experience it!

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  6. Katherine, this is horrible. I am so sorry. Even though it's "just a thing", our hearts and souls and hours of work are poured into it. You are such a good person putting it all into perspective. It is devastating no matter what. Take care and lots of hugs from Texas.

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  7. Katherine, I feel so bad for you. One of our LNS was having stitched models stolen from their walls. The bad thing in their case is that it was probably a stitcher who stole them (several pieces over quite some time), as that is who comes into the store and wanders around. Those who come for quilting, etc. almost never go that far into the store. Like most LNS, their economic balance is fragile, so they can't afford security cameras or extra personnel to watch shoppers.

    I pray that your pieces will be returned to you. If they are not, I hope that your LNS will give you a credit for the cost of the canvases and threads.

    (((Hugs!!!)))
    ~Judy in Critter Cove

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  8. Oh my goodness Katherine, I am so very sorry that your pieces are unaccounted for. I will hope and pray with all my heart and soul that someday and soon that they will come home to you.
    Vicky
    p.s. I too admire your outlook on it all!

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  9. Katherine, I too had some ornaments stolen. Mine were completely finished (there were 3 of them) and two were destined for the local guild Christmas tree that we did every year as a fundraiser for the Children's Hospital. Unfortunately, our entire home was robbed. I was upset but when I saw that my ornaments and my charm bracelet from my youth were also taken, I broke down in tears. I am just grateful that the thieves did not leave the home open so my cat would wander out.

    You are right to put it in perspective. However if you are like me you have never had something like that happen and it is crushing to know that someone would stoop so low to steal an item hand made with love. I feel so very sorry that you had to deal with this. Maybe it will turn up somewhere and you can have them returned to you. I looked in consignment stores for several months but never saw mine; hope you will fare better. Hugs coming your way. They won't bring back your pieces but at least you know someone else had this happen and understands.

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  10. Nooooo! I am so sorry you are going through this. You're very evolved to think of it as a "first world problem" -- some of us would be thinking positively murderous thoughts.

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  11. I'm so sorry! I'm a new reader--and I'm new to stitching. Your work is beautiful and I know you put a lot of time and effort and love into both pieces--especially your beautiful stocking.

    Your perspective is wonderful. It always helps me to remember that someone else has it worse.

    I"m going to be following along from now on. I have so much to learn!

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  12. I am so sorry sweetie! Everyone who has commented has said everything I want to but hopefully it will turn up! Who steals something with a name on it? Love coming your way from Montgomery.

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  13. I can't begin to imagine your shock! Let's hope they show up....have you prayed to Saint Anthony? I believe he is the patron saint of things lost and can't be found? My Catholic friends swear by hom!

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  14. Katherine, how positively outrageous. I don't think I understand the hearts and minds of people anymore. I'm thinking of you and hope a miracle occurs that brings your precious pieces back.

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  15. Katherine, I too wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts, this is so disappointing and I hope that your lovely projects are soon returned to you. Good for you for putting it all in perspective though, it is probably healthy to keep it in balance. Keep stitching you do such lovely work.

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  16. Katherine, I am heartsick for your loss. I have followed your blog almost from the beginning. I admire all your beautiful work. It is so very evident that you put so much time, thought, and love into every stitch. I will pray to Saint Anthony that both of your beautiful pieces are returned to you.

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  17. You have such an amazing attitude about such a horrible experience. Perspective is everything. I hope that by some miracle your pieces will find their way home to you.

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  18. Such awful news! I hope this person knows there is no needlepoint store they can take it to for finishing! Maybe it will quietly appear back at your LNS. I hope so, it was beautiful

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  19. How horrible! I hope they are really just misplaced and found in a few weeks 'hiding' somewhere! The work is beautiful and it's so sad to think about restitching something that you put so much time and energy into! Sending positive vibes your way!

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  20. I'm with Mer, maybe they were sent out and no one noted that they were sent. I know about missing things, we were flooded, 3 ft on first floor, I still go to look for things that disappeared. But I've been pleasantly surprised a few times by the things that had been "relocated" upstairs and I still have! Hopefully your things are just "relocated".

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  21. : (

    Oh, how sorry I am to read this.

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  22. My heart goes out to you! Hoping that somehow your canvases are returned to you.

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  23. Absolutely unbelievable....I so hope they are recovered at some point....and to those who would stoop so low as to snitch them....may they never have another sleepful night.

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  24. I'm a friend of Steph's and just read about your horrible experience on her blog. You are amazing to have put this in perspective, but all the same it can't ease the painful reality that all those hours of labor have vanished. I can't understand a shop that could allow this to happen. What on earth could they say to explain such an occurrence? Hope this story has a happy ending for you..........Sarah

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    Replies
    1. You are so sweet. KBH-This is my dear friend and fellow stitcher.

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