Eek I had no idea

I really had no idea it had been so long since I had posted.

Oops....perhaps it is because I haven't done any stitching in ages...my stitching mojo has been gone...gone...gone.!!!

Anyhow my last post had been that I started Drawn Thread's An Open Heart, well I am sorry to say I hadn't actually done that much more on it since then... but today I picked it up for a few hours and I will post a picture next week.

I have found in the past if I post regularly I seem to get more done, so on that note I will endeavour to post my progress on all things (stitching, study, work etc) to see if I can make some good progress in those areas. I will also post some goals and maybe that will assist in me achieving them.

43 things might get a look in too!

Happy 2006 and a half.......to get myself going i stitched TW's Intermediate Whitework Ornament as an ornament for an exchange - will post a picture of that too - when the recipient gets it.

Here it is! Day one progress on Drawn Thread's An Open Heart. I am using Legacy Linen in Cafe Au Lait and it is gorgeous to stitch on, a beautiful hand feel. I am also using the recommedned Needlepoint Inc silks so this is a real luxury project.

It took much consternation and many visits to the fabric calculator at Dragonflydreams before I cut my fabric for it. I counted, re counted and then counted again to ensure I started in the right place, and I managed motifs 1-7 last night. I've had this chart for a long time and I never really looked at it to see just how much WORK it is :) The colours also look much nicer in real life than in the chart photo.

This was really nice stitching time for me. I have a couple of days off work so will focus on this for these two days as then it will probably be only Sundays that I get to work on this one.

I have heard from Carol this morning and had a look at her progress and we look like we're making a similar rate :) Kaz is busy this week with guests...I'm sure we will hear from her soon ;)

I'm off to walk my pooch who is feeling a little neglected lately - the weather has been atrocious so she hasn't been getting her two walks a day....

A new start..yes...another one!

This Sunday/Monday I am starting a SAL (Stitch-A-Long) with a couple of friends.....one of whom I haven't met yet :)  The piece we're stitching is Drawn Threads' "An Open Heart".  It's a piece I have wanted to stitch for a long time.  I am stitching it on some evenweave in Light Mocha ( I think..... will have to check) and I am using the recommended silk threads...I will post progress photos :)

 

Getting out of debt...slowly but surely

I’m working on it – a little bit each fortnight but slowly I am forging ahead….every little bit helps!

I find by paying a little each fortnight on utilities, it is making the bills less daunting! This is a good thing….The credit card is coming down and by down I mean it’s not up to it’s limit each fortnight now…..it’s up there – just not WAY up there :)

Feeling much better about this!

See more progress on: get out of debt

Here is a finish for August :) It is a second M Designs Celtic Heart - a gift for a friend :) Off to the framers next week for this one :)
I really enjoy stitching this design and I have a couple of the letters I want to do for other friends as gifts too. Six finishes in 8 months....That's not too bad for me! Just wish I could get motivated to finish that fairy....!

So far so good...

This year I have made it a year for ‘finishing things’. Not just needlework, but I figured that needlework would be a good start.

To this end I have managed to finish one major project each month so far this year. Halfway through June it isn’t looking good, but I hope the *insert swear word of choice here* fairy will be June’s major finish. There will of course be a party to celebrate that one!!!

Thanks to jfox for suggesting I post some pictures to help spur me on! Will do that today!

See more progress on: Finish one major needlework project every month of 2005.

Long weekend

I can surely say that I have not worried this weekend.

It was actually a little longer than a weekend as I also had Friday off (sick child). But as we get closer to Tuesday, I feell the pangs of anxiety setting in.

Today, to try and overcome this I am taking Puku (pooch from “walking the dog every day” item) on an extra-long walk in the sunshine.

I am going to stitch on the fairy, and start the working week with an ordered household.

All these things should help.

See more progress on: Worry less.

She loves me......still.

Two days in a row and she loves me – I swear you can see the smile appear on her face when I reach for my runners.

Such a gorgeous winter’s day here in Melbourne as well…..a pleasure to be outdoors enjoying it!

See more progress on: Walk my dog at least 5 kilometres every day!!!

Art? Or Not

http://www.briangrossfineart.com/exhibitions/ssollins05.html

There has been quite some discussion on a few needlework groups I belong to about this particular exhibition.

"New York artist Stephen Sollins opens a show of new work, Domestic Scenes, at Brian Gross Fine Art.. ...In this exhibition, Sollins examines the disparity between "high" and "low " art by systematically abstracting sentimental cross-stitched, vintage embroideries. "

You will have to bear with me as I am not that eloquent when it comes to topics such as this - but I will do my best to explain what I mean and my reaction.

My opinion has always been, "Art is 'art' as long as the person who made it says it is", I don't always understand it or like it on a personal level, but I do appreciate the thought processes and the personal philosophy behind it. The artist is really the only person who 'knows what it's all about', they are the only one who can give it total meaning. The rest of us have to guess unless of course we have an intimate knowledge of the artist, or are privy to their private thoughts.

Some think that the additions to these historical pieces of embroidery amounts to desecration of women's history; and the comment "Sollins eulogizes the anonymous craftsperson while elevating commonplace linens to fine art." has riled some so much as to send email to the artist. I say this means that his exhibition is a success....he has garnered a reaction to his 'art' and isn't that what art is about - an artist making a statement and people's reactions to it? Our reactions become part of the artist's work and justifies the existence of the work.

I am NOT an art student, I am not an art critic other than to say what I do and don't like.

I like Boticelli, Manet, Picasso, but not particularly da Vinci; I like Mozart and Vivaldi but not particularly Beethoven. So I don't particularly like Stephen Sollins' latest work, but I looked at it and can appreciate it for what it is. HIS statement, HIS idea, HIS work.

Did any of that make sense?:

I can't help it - I'm a worry wort!

I’m worried…..and when I have nothing to worry about – I worry about the things that I SHOULD be worrying about!

At the moment it’s work…things are just not going my way, so my assistant and I made up some little laminated signs which I have hung in my office and over her desk that say IOW (which between you and I means “It’s Only Work”. I figure if I keep telling myself that it’s only work, I can get through each day without worrying about being asked to do things that aren’t my job, and if my boss wants to pay me exorbiatant amounts of money to do things that she should be doing herself – well that’s her problem.

It’s only work!

It’s only work!

See more progress on: Worry less.

Day 1 - completed!

And boy was she happy….

Yesterday I was at home with a sick child so Puku (said pooch) was very unhappy with me because she got neglected.

Today she loves me all over again as we did about 6 kilometres – she even got a nice drink of water at the cafe, (and I got a latte).

All in all a good walk!

See more progress on: Walk my dog at least 5 kilometres every day!!!

Debt Relief

Perhaps this goal should really be “to use my mobile phone less”!!!

I dont have that much debt really – just enough to make me feel uncomfortable…..One credit card and a rather large phone bill, and just the usual every day stuff.

I started paying a small amount off all the regular bills each fortnight and that helps me to be able to concentrate on the biggies. I want to achieve a more stable financial position by December. By more stable I mean that I have a little bit of cash stashed away for emergencies, and I have no outstandings of more than say 30 days!

See more progress on: get out of debt

A Concerted Effort

I must admit that I have been doing ‘ok’ with this weight loss things since last November (20kg), but lately it’s just been ‘ok’. I have decided that I have had enough rest and I am getting back into the swing of it with avengence! (See the walking the dog goal) which should help, and I also want to go to the gym three times a week – so perhaps I should add that to my list of things to do as well!

See more progress on: Lose 10 more kilos before December 6!

I knew it!

I didn’t even look at the fairy today. She is lying over the back of my couch just waiting for me to notice her but I averted my eyes each time I walked past!

She didn’t get any attention today!

See more progress on: Finish the fairy!!!

Long weekend

Another long weekend is upon us and if I have some definite ideas about stitching.....ok they're not definite with a capital "d" but part of me wants to spend the entire three days stitching on the famous fairy and actually FINISH it!  It's possible, but in honest reality I know that wont occur!  It could be my June finish and I suspect it will be but exactly when in June I can't say!  I can honestly say I HOPE it will be this weekend, but the honest part of me knows it wont!

 

"1663" is coming along well - I am really enjoying it.

 

"My Country" is moving too and after the weekend I will post some progress pictures.

 

I've not stitched in the past two weeks at all.  I know that it's because I have been so stressed with work issues, and I also know that at times like this that I probably need to stitch more - but I just haven't had the energy or inclination.....hopefully this three days will get me back into the swing of things.

Warm Christmas Wishes

Warm Christmas Wishes

6 Hem Sampler

I thought I would add a couple of pictures of things I have had framed recently. Warm Christmas Wishes is an Emie Bishop (Cross 'N Patch) design that I finished a long time ago but hadn't gotten framed. The 6 Hem Sampler is designed by Catherine Strickler of Indigo Rose Designs and was finished quite recently.

Want to see My Son Framed....?

Here it is finally.....I picked this up from the framer a week or so ago but hadn't posted a picture, so enjoy. LHM is very happy to have 'his needlework' at home and hanging on the wall. As an aside, it is the LHM's last single-digit birthday tomorrow *sigh*. He is becoming so grown up. I really miss my 'baby' but I am enjoying seeing him grow into a great little man!

Stitching Goals for May

This is what I hoped to do in April....
:
1. Finish Indigo Rose's "My Son" (WOOHOOO DONE! Pick it up from the framer Saturday!!!)
2. Complete at least 20 hours on "My Country" (A bit more than 20 - it's really progressing well now!)
3. Finish MvS "night" (about 10 hours to go!) (Ummm errrr no didn't even touch this one but THIS MONTH!)
4. Reward myself with a start on the Permin Sampler! (Was strong - held back! but I did do the other two little projects :)

SO for May *drum roll please*

1. I WILL finish MvS "Night" no matter what.
2. I WILL complete at least the third line of text of the My Country Sampler.
3. I WILL have a new major start.....not sure which piece now!

Wish me luck!

Embroidery......a great decorative art

I am reading "Samplers" (Cambridge University Press, 1997) by Carol Humphrey which is a handbook describing the Fitzwilliam Museum's collection of samplers. I read through the 'Preface', which describes how the collection was bequeathed, etc (an interesting story of two very different collectors. But it wasn't till I started reading the 'Introduction' chapter that I got this funny little furrow in my brow?.

Let me quote from the very first paragraph.

"At the end of the twentieth century the story of the sampler is far from over. Surprisingly, at a time when virtually all textiles are mass-produced and women are increasingly employed outside the home, there has been a revival in embroidery. Of course embroidery can never again be one of the great decorative arts that flourished prior to the Industrial Revolution."

I would be very interested in others' opinions here....why would embroidery have ceased to be one of the great decorative arts, and just when did that occur. Embroidery is by default decorative in all its forms......now, it's not one of the "great" decorative arts? I find this statement disturbing to say the least. I still consider it the greatest of the decorative arts, perhaps someone forgot to tell me of its decline.....Yes, I know its popularity has declined, but I just can't agree with that statement. Perhaps the practice of 'hand' embroidery has dwindled, but even modern machine embroidery is still decorative is it not?

The book however, is a great reference and is full of gorgeous pictures and very detailed histories and descriptions...a must for any sampler lover.