A rose is a rose is a rose

 At least, I think this is a rose bush.

I have a big geometric--and when I say big, I mean humongous--and then another brocade-like pattern on this level of RST 1779. Meanwhile, I also have three of the four current online classes to work on, and an EGA group correespondence course to start, and a project to finish for my WIPGO board.

And what have I done today? I hibernated with a book. I have been sneezing my head off so I decided to pamper myself and mainline orange juice just in case I'm coming down with a cold.

Overwhelmed and Underwhelmed

 I said to myself that I would blog when I had something to show, thinking I would have another big flower completed on RST 1779 in a day or so.

Not.

This is two days of stitching, and I don't think I'm even halfway done with this motif. In addition, I had the first online class with Zina Kazban and her Cherished Letter Case--nothing to see there, a few minutes into the class the light bulb on my light went out and I couldn't really see well enough to stitch without it. I have a new bulb coming--had to be ordered, of course--so hopefully there will be something to show on that front before I start the Loving Letter Case class with Zina this week. Yes, I have two classes going, each on alternate weeks.

And today is the intro to the class with Cynthia Jackson that I've been waiting for since last fall.

I have a lot to stitch.

I'm a little overwhelmed.

What is underwhelming is the winter storm that passed through last night. We haven't had a pretty snow in years--no soft, powdery flakes that create a winter wonderland. What we got was a very brief snowfall that left the dead grass sticking up, followed by freezing precipitation, which left an icy crust on top of everything. Basically, we have a bit of white ice, which we hope doesn't do nasty things to power lines. Today the temps are supposed to reach the 40's, which means that the white ice will melt, then form black ice overnight when the temps drop back into the 20's.

I don't care who you are, or where you live, nobody should try to get out and drive on black ice.

Which means that I have the perfect excuse to stitch all weekend.

Which means I may actually have some progress to show in the next day or so!

Pretty Pink Posies

 The rest of those pretty pink posies are now stitched on RST1779.

I'm moving on to another humongous flower motif this afternoon, while it rains outside and the temperatures drop. We aren't getting snow, but we are getting rain, which hopefully will not turn into ice. Snow is pretty. Ice is scary.

But I am wrapped in my blankie and stitching. There is bean soup simmering in the crock pot with the bone from the Christmas ham, so we'll be warm inside and out.

And meanwhile, I am wondering about RST, who created this sampler. Was she a teacher stitching samples for her students? Or was she a professional embroiderer, making a pattern record? Or was she one of us, planning projects to embellish her home or her clothing?  And I wonder what she would say if she knew that her sampler was being reproduced for others to stitch.

First Finish of 2025!

Quick, fly-by post--we're having a somewhat busier weekend than usual. Here's my first finish of 2025, and the first block I can cross off on my WIPGO board:

 Blessings

designed by Barbara Jackson for Shining Needle Society

Sideways

 I made a mental list of things I wanted to do on the second day of the New Year.

And not a single bloody thing was accomplished. Unfortunately, Dearly Beloved also made a list of things to be accomplished on the second day of the New Year, and every single one of them interfered with what I wanted to do. As most of them were things I had been gently requesting that he do (the phrase "nagging the hell out of me" was used a number of times), I got out of his way.

There are times when I wonder how we've stayed married for 48 1/2 years.

Anyway, when peace finally reigned over the kingdom, I decided to forget the list and reward myself for endless patience and stitch for what was left of the evening.

And part of that was sideways.

The Queen stitches on the bud on the left are worked horizontally. They are sideways. RST 1779, what are you doing to me?

I thought the easiest thing to do was hold the frame sideways and work the Queens the way I normally do. This might have worked if the frame weren't large and heavy. It came unbalanced and bonked me on the head a couple of times.

So, I pondered and studied and decided it is possible to work Queens sideways. And so I did.

Which means I did accomplish something on the second day of the New Year, even if it wasn't on my mental list.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all!

I usually post the ceremonial dumping of the ort jar, but I dumped it before I remembered to take a picture. Oops!

But I had a lovely afternoon stitching with members of the Western Reserve Sampler Guild, and I managed to finish another motif on RST 1779:

I had planned to have more done by now, but best-laid plans never stay laid. Actually, I was unwell earlier in the week. Let's just say that my plans to lose the Halloween candy/Thanksgiving feast/Christmas cookies weight are no longer necessary and leave it at that.

I've been scrolling through Facebook and Instagram, looking at all the accomplishments of my sister (and brother) stitchers, and it is impressive! Even more impressive are the plans for 2025. I decided not to fall into any SALs or 12 by 12 project lists, I did succumb to WIPGO.

However, my WIPGO chart is covered with projects that I need to assemble. I'm tired to tripping over the finishing basket, or picking up project bags that have fallen out of the basket and stuffing them back in, or wondering why the elves haven't arrived to put everything together for me.

Do I think I'll be successful? Maybe? Who knows. My main goal for 2025 is to enjoy the journey, wherever it takes me and however it happens.

An Artichoke?

 I finished the flower that I was stitching on RST 1779 and started the first motif on page 4:

I can't decide if this is a flowering shrub or an artichoke. 

I planned to get more done yesterday, but my hands started cramping. As I'm trying to stave off carpal tunnel, I stopped, did my hand stretches and exercises (which I now do after every hour of stitching as a matter of course), and put on my braces (I have them for both hands and usually sleep in them).

And I didn't stitch any more. Actually, not much you can do with braces on both hands--but anything to be able to continue stitching in the long run!