In my part of the world we say you are a fool if your passion for a pursuit overcomes all practical sense. I am a stitching fool, and I stitch foolishness.

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Finally a finish!

And the first finish of 2015!  And it's a finish-finish as well! This is Merry Cox's "So Dear to My Heart", the project I took from her at Christmas in Williamsburg in 2011 and have now finished in 2015.


The carrying bag, with a stitched pocket on the front


The top and cushion for the inside


The goodies on the inside

I have been slaving for two solid days on this and I have made yet more decisions about finishing.
  • If I'm going to have toys, I have to admit that I have to do the finishing
  • HOWEVER, I need to realize my limitations, which leads to . . .
  • I need to work on some finishing project every week to keep my hand in
  • BUT I should not work more than about four hours on any project before stopping and doing something else
  • AND, if a project has lots of bits and pieces, I need to treat them as separate projects and not feel the need to get everything done in a day
  • and spending a whole week-end on finishing is not relaxing or de-stressing
I also need to spend some time with my new sewing machine and figure out all its ins and outs. I spent part of the afternoon reading the owner's manual from cover to cover looking for the way to open the bobbin cover. It isn't in there, in English, Spanish, or French. I found the button that opens it by accident.

I do have an alternate plan. I don't know whether she was just tired of my weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, but Baby Girl said that I should probably stitch and she should probably do the finishing. She likes fiddling with things and thinks in three dimensions. I like fiddling with stitches and don't think in three dimensions. Considering that she is likely to end up with all my stash at some point in the (hopefully) far distant future, this may be an excellent partnership.

Little does she know this may include papering the carcass for my embroidered casket.
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12 comments:

  1. Needle NicelyFebruary 1, 2015 at 6:08 PM

    You must remember to move around about every 45-60 minutes when you're stitching or finishing something. That allows the muscles in your body (and your brain) to relax and loosen up. Much more pleasant experience when you do this. Do I listen to this advice? Sometimes!

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    1. AnnFebruary 2, 2015 at 4:42 PM

      I usually do my finishing standing at the ironing board--it's a good height and I generally need to press something. As far as stitching--if you keep a big glass of water at hand, you will absolutely have to move somewhere on a regular basis!

      Delete
  2. Cathy BFebruary 1, 2015 at 6:22 PM

    It's beautiful Ann. I hope you did a little jig when you finished it.

    Good advice for finishing.

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    1. AnnFebruary 2, 2015 at 4:43 PM

      Thank you for the kind words--luckily you can't see it too closely! And I was too tired for a jig, big or little. I fell over in a heap.

      Delete
  3. Teresa S.February 2, 2015 at 12:16 AM

    Lovely, lovely, Ann! You are an inspiration! Now I need to go finish-finish mine. The stitching was done 2 years ago and it sits in my finishing drawer.

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    1. AnnFebruary 2, 2015 at 4:44 PM

      Thank you, thank you! Apparently I have to let everything age for awhile before I finish either the stitching or finishing. I'm trying to do better this year!

      Delete
  4. MarilynFebruary 2, 2015 at 1:31 AM

    What a pretty set.
    Congrats on your finish.
    Marilyn

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  5. ChrisFebruary 2, 2015 at 3:41 AM

    Lovely finishing. Great that BG will be helping you too!!

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    1. AnnFebruary 2, 2015 at 4:45 PM

      Thank you . . .little does she realize what's she's let herself into . . .

      Delete
  6. VonFebruary 3, 2015 at 6:31 PM

    What an amazing project! You should be very proud of this accomplishment.

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  7. TerriFebruary 5, 2015 at 12:34 PM

    So pretty! Very nice finishing!!!

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