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Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Just Some Here and There

HI everyone! How are things in your world? In mine, it never is a dull moment.

First of all, my sweet MIL fell down her basement stairs. Mom is 85 and frail so she didn't fare well with her tumble. She broke her arm in 3 places, her wrist, arm and elbow. She banged her head up too and in general, is just a big bruise. She spent a week in the hospital and is now in a rehab nursing home until she is steady on her feet. Please keep her in your prayers. Thanks!

The Second Lietenant and the lovely Jenna are getting ready to leave for the South. Initially, they go to Alabama for 2 months while Mike attends officer's training, then onto Texas for 7 months while he's in Intelligence school. I am getting sad that they are going. I know it's not rational, they are away now and we don't see them but once a month or so. I guess I am concerned that they will be AWAY, more than a day trip away. And now is where things get interesting, they will be on their own, for real!

Moms worry, don't we?
 
I have been stitching. I'm doggedly working on WIPs because at last count I had about 30. Yes, 3-0! I am not exaggerating. Most are about 1/2 done. I think I have a phobia or something about closure. I get going on a piece, get all excited and about 1/2 into it, the bloom is off the rose and I'm looking for my next piece to give me that stitcher's "high". You know, the one that you feel when you start something new and you are in love, love, love until....until the frogs come or there's stuff you dread stitching like big blocks of solid colors or teensy tiny pieces of pattern that's stitched in eleventy dozen different shades of chartruese. You know, the thrill is gone and the piece just becomes another WIP. This is the reason I have 30 pieces in various stages of "done".  So I thought I'd do something about it. 
 
First,  I went through EVERY box, bag and hidey-hole where I thought a WIP could be lurking.  What treasures!  And I thought that I would find things that I didn't want to stitch anymore but I was wrong.  I still love everything that I have going and I sighed to myself and wondered why I didn't finish them up long ago.
 
So I chose 2 pieces to concentrate on, mainly because they have bright colors and I felt I needed a bit of color after so many grey days here in Upstate NY. I chose This is the Day by Hands to Work. The pattern is in one of the JCS magazine issues. I am doing it on 36ct Vintage Autumn Gold with the recommended threads. It's a cool piece that is completely out of my comfort zone for color.  This is the Day was about a 1/4 done when I began this adventure. Now it's 1/2 done and I gotta tell you, stitching the entire alphabet and number area is slow going. I like the effect but it's taking forever to see any progress. I make myself stitch at least 2 threads each time I pick it up.
 And I also decided to work on another(!) Blackbird Design, Summer Basket. I figured that I subscribed to all the Loose Feathers, so I should at least stitch one, don't you think? It's also stitched on the recommended fabric with the recommended fiber because I bought it as a kit from Needlecraft Corner. Summer Basket was just a start when I put it up but now it's almost 1/2 done. The colors are very soft and the linen is not as crisp as I'd like but it's an enjoyable stitch.

And I'm stitching a replacement piece for the Blackbird Designs Exchange that I host. 

My stitching plate is full.  But it's a happy full and I am less stressed about stitchy things cause I have a plan.  When I finish with one Wip, I'll continue with another.  And maybe allow myself a new start or 2 but not a free wheeling, no holds barred start everthing in sight. That's how I got 30 WIPs in the first place.
 
Now, don't get to thinking that I won't buy another pattern cause my cupboards are chock full o'WIPs.  Oh no-o-o-oo, I am supporting the needlework industry already in a BIG way cause I've pre-ordered a few things from the Nashwille market.  I had to have the new Goode Huswife book, the new Blackbird Designs, the new Prairie Schoolers and a few things from With Thy Needle and Thread.  I am debating on the new Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow but I am holding out because I haven't even started Village or Houses of Hawk Run Hollow. 
 
How 'bout you?  Are you lusting after anything from Market?  Is there anything that you can't live without?
 
So, I hope I'll get some pics up on the old blog soon.  The kids gave me a new digital camera for Christmas and I am still learning how to take a decent picture with it.  I am so glad that you've come by and I'd love to hear from you!  It makes me happy that you've stopped.

10 comments:

Melissa said...

Hiya Joanie!

We have such similar tastes. I too have pre-ordered some of the new releases as well. Can't wait to get them to drool over! Not stitched, note that, as it always takes me time to kit up what I want to stitch!

Good for you for having a plan to finish your Wip's. That's great. I can't start too many as that stresses me out more! I still have This is the Day to finish as well...one day!

Take care!

Deb said...

I'm sorry to hear about your MIL. I hope that her recuperation is quick!

You and I seem to stitch alike - I go like gangbusters on a project and then abandon the poor thing at about the 1/2 way point. I don't know if I have 30 of them, but more than likely I do (I'm just too afraid to count! And you know, my stash cupboard, but that doesn't stop me from adding to it! There is just something so comforting about new stash, isn't there?

Can't wait to see progress on your pieces.

Glenna said...

I'm sorry about your MIL! (and also that your dear ones headed south). I have about the same # of wips as you--it's sort of embarassing--and I like your plan for dealing with them. And it's so funny you say that about Autum and HRH because I had the same reasoning: I hadn't finished Houses OR Christmas, so I'm going to wait on that. But there are some designs I can't live without: the new Shakespeare's Peddler and BBD book. And I hear you on the colors out of the comfort zone--I have one of those going that I'm just determined to finish, even though I am not comfortable with the colors. Happy stitching!

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Hidey Hole, I like that term and haven't used it or heard it in a while :) Made me smile...
I think you are AWESOME for working on your WIPS,that's part of my big 2010 stitching plan too.
There's things I've seen in Nashville Previews that are pretty doggone awesome, I'm trying to convince myself I can live without them until I get some of these WIP and other things done first. :)

Sherry said...

Your MIL is in my thoughts and prayers. How awful for her to have such a nasty fall.

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

Your poor MIL. I hope that she heals quickly.

I like your plan to finish your WIPs and yep, you perfectly described how the lust of a project dies after a while. But, you have a plan and that's good!

I haven't ordered anything yet from Market - waiting to see it all but I anticipate that I too, will be adding to the stash!

Brigitte said...

Your plan to finish some of your WIPs this year sounds very good and is also my plan. But I also plan to start and stitch a couple of new projects that I chose from my stash at the beginning of this year. It was such an enjoyment to go through ball my stash and to pull out my future projects.
I haven't preordered anything so far. But will buy Autumn at HRH for sure as I have all the HRH charts so far (only started the first). I just love them all. The Goode Huswife books also appeal to me. A lot!

diamondc said...

Eleventy hmmmmm I like this term I shall use it at work when I tell someone that I work more than eight hours a day.
Your Mother in Law sounds very strong if she had taken such a fall and is up so soon God Bless Her.
We will say a prayer for her very often and hope she is back to her self soon.
Works in progress are very bad I have many not as many as you but many I do have.
I do as you are doing I stitch on a project everyday even if a few stitches, I am haunted by Spirit dancer and she is driving me crazy.
I started this along time ago.
Stay warm in New York and we pray you donot get anymore snow.
Catherine

Jeanne said...

Good to hear from you Joanie. Blessings on your MIL - falls are SO dangerous when you get older. I hope she continues to improve. My mom has had 3 falls in recent years and I almost cringe when she calls now expecting more bad news.

I'm so glad you mentioned your 30 WIPS as it made me feel better about my 10! LOL What's frustrating is most of them are pretty big projects so can't be finished off very quickly but I'm focusing on a couple and working away like you. Guess I need to get out and start looking at market reports to make sure I don't miss anything.

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