Change in plans

 I was going to work on goldwork today. I had firmly decided that.

But then I slept in . . . again . . . sometimes staying in bed in the winter under the blankets is almost impossible to overcome. . .and then I needed to balance the checkbook and pay a couple of bills . . . and then I puttered around in the kitchen for awhile and planned meals for the next couple of days . . . and then I fell into a book and by the time I climbed out, goldwork was not going to happen.

But I did put a few strands into my blessing sampler, so I do have something needlework-related to show for today:

One of my very favorite stitching buddies (Hi, Sharon!) made a point of stitching at least one thread every day last year. I decided to do my best to do the same this year, even though I'm not setting any goals, etc, etc, etc. I don't count that as a goal, simply a lifestyle choice.

Turning a Corner

 I made it across the top of Daily Reminder and turned down the other side, then did a little plain old cross stitch. 

I wanted to get to the point where I could stitch some flowers, and I'm almost there.

I wasted spent some time online looking for dark green linen that hasn't been overdyed, but didn't find anything that I thought would work or arrive in time for this to be a blessing sampler.  So . . . . I have tightened up the frame and re-tighten every hour or so, and that is helping.

It also helped when a stitching buddy dm'd and made a good point--if I persevere through the struggles with this linen and get it finished by the end of January, I will definitely deserve any blessings on my stitching for the rest of the year.

I believe I will cling to that hope--and it will be motivation to finish the sampler.

However, tomorrow I think I may do some goldwork. I have my last class on the Elizabethan Rose in less than two weeks, and I have a lot of homework to do. Actually, I have a lot of things I want to do, so I'd best keep on keeping on.

Wibbeldly, Wobbly

 I started to title this blog entry "Rage and Angst" but thought that might be a little scary, even though that's how I felt yesterday.

I was working on my new project:

I spent a good chunk of time stitching yesterday. Western Reserve Sampler Guild had an all-day stitch-in, and I was there for about four hours, then I worked on this for about another four hours last night.

And this is all I got done.

I will be the first to admit that my electric needle has rusted, but this is ridiculous, even for a slow stitcher.

I was fighting the linen. The whole time.

I'm not a big fan of overdyed linen in general. I'm not crazy about mottled coloring on the background; I think it can detract from the design. On top of that, some of the linens that have a big contrast in color look like dirty rags. Like you've spent the day with your hands in the innards of a car engine, wiped them off on a clean white handkerchief, then dropped the hankie on the floor and ran over it a couple of times. Or you've used the linen to clean mud off the dog's paws. Or the kid used a towel to dry off after swimming, then left the damp towel in his duffel until the smell of mildew attracted you to his room.

But what really annoys me--and annoyance is a mild term for the way I was feeling last night--is how limp so many of the overdyed linens become. I like linen with some body. I like linen that holds its shape. I like linen that's helpful rather than adversarial.

This particular piece of linen is so limp that the threads are literally moving as I try to stitch. The weave has even loosened. The sawtooth pattern is worked in satin stitch, and in one spot, you stitch over one thread. The linen is so loosey-goosey that the floss slides between the linen threads and disappears, so I have to go over that spot twice for a stitch to show up at all.

I did try spray starch on the corner and stitched a few stitches to see if that would help. The spray starch merely fixed the linen in its wobbly state.

I am going to try lacing the sides to the scroll frame. If that doesn't make it better, I'm going to dig out a slate frame.

One way or another, I'm going to get this done.

Happy New Year!

The ceremonial dumping of the ort jars occurred about 10:15 last night, and I was tucked into bed and asleep shortly thereafter, so, as usual, I did not see the new year come in. Dearly Beloved stayed up and said it felt like just every other year, so I didn't miss anything. 

You know you're old when you don't care about the hoopla about the new year, although I have enjoyed Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen in the past--just wasn't feeling it this time.

Anyway, despite being the Grinch about New Year's, I did pull out a new project.

 Brenda Gervais' "A Daily Reminder" which I call the "Be Good and Do Good" sampler--I thought maybe it could be my blessing sampler.

Then is looked at the sawtooth border and the overall size and the solidly stitched house in the middle and thought maybe it wouldn't be.

So . . . it's now my New Year's Day Start. If I finish it by the end of January 31, it may become a blessing sampler. I am making no commitments, setting no goals, just along for the ride.

That may be the way I get through 2026.

Boxing Day

Things are getting back to normal again, after the last-minute flurry of cooking, baking, feasting, and celebrating. Yes, we had a lovely, quiet, small Christmas.

So, today I pulled the Hummingbird out, and spent an hour or so doing invisible couching. To do this, you untwist the metal thread just slightly so you can see a single thread of the three that make up the twist of the thread. You sew that down, then retwist the thread. Rinse, repeat. This also involved plunging the thread ends and sewing them down.

I need to do another layer of outlining on the wings, and outlining around the bird, and then fill in the tail. I do not believe I will have all of this done in a day. 

Maybe several days.

Maybe a week.

Merry Christmas!

 

Fa-la-la, la-la-la-la

Right before I woke up this morning, I had the most vivid dream. I dreamed I had five ornaments stitched, two large and three small, all on red linen, and all I needed to do was put them together.

I woke up and thought I should get right on putting those five ornaments together. Then, wait a minute, I do not have five ornaments stitched on red linen and ready to assemble. I do have my 2025 ornament from Barbara Jackson stitched.

So I put that together.

As soon as the glue has time to dry, I'm going to hang it on the tree.

And then I might look for red linen for those other ornaments that came to me in a dream.