Working on it already...

I started working on my Turtle Trot while the inspiration is within me, and I managed to get a significant amount done on the Blackwork Rose. Here is my update:

In the meantime, I realized I have no fabric the correct size to fulfill Scarlet Ribbands, so I have withdrawn that one out of my Turtle Trot. In its place, I have brought in two Ink Circles patterns, one of them is the Damask Square and the other is  Rosetta which will be a similar challenge to Scarlet Ribbands.

2014 Turtle Trot is READY

Join  BAP Attack's 2014 Turtle Trot here

Dear God, I didn't get as far as I wanted to during 2013!

Paris Market - Dimensions Gold Collection 
(= Confetti stitching) shockingly still WIP







Here is the November 4th progress:

China Blue - Permin of Copenhagen - still WIP










                                 
Here is the Nov 10th progress:

This is a complicated full stitch pattern based in this original wallpaper William Morris Roses, the stitching pattern actually starts half way down in the diagram. The pattern is out of print - still WIP 







Here is the June 11th progress:

Teddy Bears Tree Skirt - Still WIP







 Here is the April 13th progress:

Madre Terra (doing this in Purple variations)- Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks - still WIP







Here is the Dec 24th progress:

Panda Pals - Brittercup Designs  (added a second adult Panda on the other side of the baby- WIP







Here is the June 16th progress:

Here is the Rovaris R-106 I haven't even cracked the package yet

Stoney Creek Rose, going to stitch it on to a pre-made pillowcase with waste

canvas:

Scarlet Ribbands - Long Dog Samplers

Blackwork Rose - I don't know who the author is, if anyone knows, please comment so I may cite the designer.

January 1 2014 Happy New Year!!

As I set out tremendous stitching goals in 2013, I think I will be a tad more conservative with my goals. I have decided to set up a list of 14 projects, some carried over from 2013 Stitch a Longs. I have edited my pages to reflect the ones I will remove, and which ones I have bumped up the list. I have also made a point of selling off some patterns at the end of last year to make room for some new smaller less time consuming patterns. at the end of the day, I have figured out I have about 7 years of patterns in my possession, and I think, for the time being, I will see what I can accomplish this year before I continue to take a whole bunch more on. Here is one of the patterns I will be commencing in January:

 

 

It is a pattern by Rovaris called R-106, an Italian Pattern.

International Hermit Stitch Weekend

Here is a link to the blog:

Its time for the last one of the year! This is what I will be working on all weekend:

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I didnt end up having much time....This is the update after the weekend...

December

I have been working on my Turtle Trot over the lat few days, got two finishes done, and I am looking forward to a third soon. I am working on an Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks pattern of a tree. AAN has several tree patterns, but I am working on one in particular. I have changed out the beige for gradient purple. This is an Emily Carr type lesson where I am shading nature although being unrealistic about it... I don't know the art term....

When I look out my six windows on the world from my flat, I see the city moving about, and trying to go on its merry December way. The traffic is hindered by snow, sand, and dirty ice:, the snow has fallen again last night for the umpteenth time in the last two weeks. In the spring we had record rains that caused a flood, and now we have record snows. I take consolation in the fact that even Cairo got snow for the first time in 112 years, and take refuge in my blanket with a warm cuppa.

Another Finish from my StitchbyRachel designs

S.A.B.L.E. - Stash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy

Before I start, let me say this is a happy subject!  But let us face facts: would we want more stash than we can stitch? Do we want to leave a legacy of unopened projects for our kids to sell at half price or find homes for after we are gone? In these continuing uncertain economic times, we have to be thoughtful with our money. This led me to think that I should be realistic about my stash. Conspicuous consumption with our stash is counterproductive at Christmas time. (Like my alliteration?)

Life Expectancy for females in the developed world is about 77.1 years of age on average. The majority of cross stitchers are female, so I am basing my math on the female stat. Sorry guys! As someone who has a detail driven day job, and a cross stitch addiction, I have just recently come across this term "SABLE". Stash Acquire Beyond Life Expectancy. A month ago, for the first time in my life, I just realized life is too short to stitch something you don't really like...

Let's say for argument's sake, I am 39. Let's say for mathematical sake, that I admit to aging past 39 going forward. And let's say, for argument's sake, I have done a rough calculation that says in my current stash, I have approximately 2630 hours of stitching to finish. Let's also say, that one can reasonably stitch 10 hours/week. So with my current stash, I will be stitching for the next 263 weeks.  Which, by that reasoning, I have roughly 5.1 years of stitching already in my possession.

5 years seems a long time to go without acquiring any new patterns!!!! YIKES! Say it isn't so!

And because we all like to count, let's say that statistically I have 77.1-39.6 years to stitch= 37.5 stitching years left. Give or take sewing, frogging, designing, injury, debilitation, holidays, failing eyesight, I have roughly a total of 1950 weeks of stitching left in my life. Roughly 19,500 hours of available stitching. 1950-263=1687 weeks worth of stitching would be how much more stash I could acquire from now on. If I were to spend any of that doing something I don't absolutely love, or would have some value about in the end, well, it would be a waste of my inevitably limited and valuable stitching time. Oh no! Say it isn't so!

I did my annual stash review, and I currently own, have, or intend to, stitch 64 projects. All of which are in one form or another are listed/pictured on this blog.  I unloaded a few projects last week, but I think I still have to make some hard decisions. 64 doesn't seem like a lot, but compared to most of my stitching colleagues, but this doesn't count my Stitch by Rachel Pinterest board "Patterns I will Stitch Someday" here. At least it gives me a way to consciously decide what to have in my stash without coming out like a hoarder....and a reason to update my blog!

Let's truly enjoy our hobby and love what we do. Let's be thankful for all we have, and spend our Christmas budgets on the people who matter the most.