stitch snob?

lately i've been reflecting on my stitching goals for the year, and perusing through my stash to make sure everything is on the list and accounted for. after years of faithfully reading all my favorite needlepoint blogs in the community, i've come to the realization that i may be a bit of a stitch snob!

while i have never denied myself of purchasing the canvas and threads my heart so desires, at the same time i keep in mind that by purchasing said canvas and thread means that it will be completed and finished. no question. as everyone is acutely aware, this is not a cheap hobby. while it gives me joy and instant gratification to see what my hands can create, it is not a hobby for impulse shoppers or those who can't finish a project. 

after reading everyone's blogs and salivating over your beautiful work, it has made me reflect on my own stitching habits and how careful i am to purchase big projects, or any canvas that could throw my stash off course. i have a set needlepoint "life plan" if you will, and i intend to stick to it.

i don't want to be the crazy stitch lady that has a million frames and pillows everywhere. where our dining room chairs are all covered in basket-woven seats. where visitors are not allowed to sit near or touch anything because heaven forbid the thread comes in contact with a human being. i made it clear that my stitching was primarily for holidays, gifts, and maybe a few scattered projects here and there. 

i envy other stitchers that can pick up a blank painted canvas, not entirely sure of what it is going to become, and just stitch without abandon. my type-A controlling nature always manifests itself  through my stitching, in that i always need to have a finishing plan for my canvas. 

really i think what makes me a stitch snob is my taste in projects. i run away from primitive, folksy pieces and head screaming for the hills from geometric contemporary canvas. i have my set favorite designers and style, and i stick to them. i try and think about how the canvas will look in 15 years, will it be completely out of style and outdated? 

i've come to terms with the fact that i am a stitch snob, or a stitch bitch. but i like it that way. i may not be the most adventurous stitcher that goes out of her comfort zone with different canvases and designers, and that's ok. i'm content knowing that each and every stitched piece in our home was made with 100% love and no second-guessing. 

le family sampler

so back in november, i completed the little house needleworks family sampler as a christmas surprise for my parents. while i was back in texas a few weeks ago i took some quick pictures of it - frame and all, and sent them off to diane. 

diane responded with lightning speed letting me know the picture is now up on the website! eeek!

this little piggy

...is on its way to memphis where amy and her girls are going to provide stitch and thread selections! i purchased this beautiful patti mann ornament almost a year ago and immediately knew i wanted amy's expertise in selecting stitches and threads. there is so much potential and i can't wait to see what the golden strand girls come up with! 

the verdict on francesca's bustle? (yes, i named her this weekend) it's a yes! i finished up the right side before the weekend and after my thread-extravaganza at the lns, i'm ready to continue on the rest of her! i picked up some really amazing ideas for her dress and am itching to put them to use.

1 down, 5 to go! i finished up the first of the linda lahm tote bags on saturday. of course my eye is drawn to the area where i had to tent stitch around the name, but i'm pretty happy with how it turned out. even though it's a small area and there's not a lot of room for decorative stitches, i tried to make it as fun as it would let me! i padded and stitched the beach ball with neon rays to give it the shiny plastic look, then added memory thread for the bucket's handle. i really enjoyed working the background in the brick stitch, sometimes getting back to basics gives you the most beautiful results! 

i'm plugging along on my next tote, and will switch off between those and my stocking. it's a really nice medley and i'm super motivated with so many different projects going on simultaneously!

moving right along

tomorrow is my weekend trip to my lns for threads and beads and i can't wait! i worked a little more on me lady, adding the petite very velvet for her "nutcracker" mouth.

i love how dainty and ladylike she looks. it's such a different experience from stitching the dude with all the manly facial hair. i also auditioned some stitches for the bustle of her dress. 

i knew i wanted to do something diagonal to accentuate the shape of the dress. i'm going to finish the right side and see how i feel. i like the movement it shows, so we'll see what the weekend brings!

a different angle.

my stitching buddy. clearly she's enthralled. how can that be comfortable?!?

happy monday, i mean thursday!

i keep thinking it's monday morning since yesterday's day off felt like the weekend! i hope everyone had a fabulous july 4 holiday. we didn't do much here, watched some fireworks but they scared cricket, haha. 

i managed to stitch on some projects and begin the process of pulling all my threads from mr. nutcracker to use for mrs. nutcracker. 

i'm glad i saved most of my threads, i'm not sure i could have remembered them all! i made a shopping list for the ones that need reinforcements, as well as the areas that need new threads altogether.

i did some internet research yesterday and remembered ruth schmuff working on "poinsettia lady" (blog posting here) voila! i know what technique i will be using for my poinsettias!

i found a pretty brocade stitch that will be nice for the white portion of her dress. i'll have to experiment a little and make sure the different stitches for the purple and white portions of her dress complement each other. 

the part i'm stuck on is her hair. traditionally ladies wore those beautiful hand woven gold filament "hair nets" under their hats (or in this case, crown). the area is not that large so i'm going to take my time thinking about how to best stitch her hair-do.

here's the current status of me lady. i'm using the leftovers in my stash from frederick, so they will match. i love how it's starting to take shape and can't wait to continue!

can't leave this guy out! finished the straps up yesterday morning. 

a year already?

tomorrow will mark the one year anniversary since we picked up little cricket from the farm outside of tyler, tx. we bought all the supplies, read all the books and watched our puppy play with her litter on the webcam. 

she was the only female blue merle in her litter. the one we had dreamed of. the one i had been on the wait list for. our breeder almost didn't let us have her because she was so beautiful!

i never dreamed how much i could love this little thing, that my heart would grow infinitely over this past year, that being a "mommy" to her made my soul content. 

yes, cricket's just a dog, and no i don't have children, so i don't really understand the capacity of how much your entire life changes with a baby, and how your love grows...but she's my baby for right now.

this girl has been my sole companion, my shadow and my best friend. she's cuddled with me under the covers when i felt lonely, kept me busy playing frisbee and going on walks to the levee, and given me unconditional love even when i didn't deserve it. 

she is my child, part of me, and while it may have only been a year that we've had with her so far, i can't remember what our lives were like without her. she makes me whole. 

i love you little!

christmas comes early...

i'm back from texas! i did not think it could get any hotter than in new orleans but i was wrong. it was like standing on the surface of the sun! new orleans wins hands down in humidity but texas was just plain hot. 

the wedding was absolutely beautiful and it was so much fun to see all my friends and family. i love watching my friends start the next chapter in their lives, and that we can all celebrate together, especially after 20 years of friendship. 

so i know i'm supposed to be working on the linda lahm tote bags, but something has been calling my name and i think the lord is sending me signs...

this lovely lady nutcracker is my stocking (painted by the talented susan roberts). i've had it for about 9 months and it always got pushed to the side to make way for smaller projects or gifts. on my plane ride back home last night, there was a fellow stitcheress sitting diagonally in front of me working on a stocking! i couldn't get a good look at the canvas as most of it was rolled up, but i was mesmerized watching her work the same motions we all make with a needle; mindless basketweave, cutting more navy wool for her background, finishing the previous strand, i was in a stitching trance!

unfortunately she and her husband were off the plane and lost in a sea of people in the new orleans airport before i had time to find her, to tell her that we were in the same stitching "sorority" and to compliment her beautiful craftsmanship.

watching her stitch that stocking made me yearn to start mine. 

eek! christmas is coming early!