Jun 17, 2008

HELLO CREWEL WORLD

Today I attended a beginner's crewel class at my local library. I must say that I am pleasantly surprised at my success at this, but more so with my attitude.

You see, I've been fretting over learning crewel for a long time and I had myself worked into a snit that I wouldn't be able to do this at all and then I'd look like a boob.

When did stitching become a competitive sport for me?

So I took a few minutes on the drive to the library to talk myself off the ledge and decided that it was a beautiful Tuesday, and that if nothing else, I was going to go be surrounded by books and other stitchers and just HAVE FUN. What a concept. Having FUN while doing a hobby instead of trying to figure out how I could a) make a living doing it, b) change the world with it, or c) convince the universe that I was the best at it.

For cryin' out loud.....this is supposed to be something that gives me the freedom to learn and to enjoy and to flex my creative muscles! So I walked into that library determined to just let it all go and sit my heiney in a chair and let it come in.

I did it! I really did it! I didn't care that my stitches weren't PERFECT or that it took me fifteen minutes to learn how to thread a needle the way the instructor wanted me to. I didn't agonize over the practice thread color or the quality of the cotton fabric or whether or not my scissors and fob matched the project perfectly.

I sat in a chair and I stitched and I talked and I laughed and I learned that sometimes it's perfectly OK to be new at something and not have one damn clue about what you're doing every single moment of your miserable little life.

I can now do the stem stitch and the split stitch without breaking a sweat and/or needing medication to do so.

La la la la la la la.

5 comments:

  1. Hi Coni,

    Stitching is supposed to be fun! Otherwise we would have to call it work. Keep repeating after me;

    "There are no stitching police"
    "There are no stitching police"

    I'm glad to hear that you had a great time in class and that you learned some new stitches.

    Now you have to check out Sublime Stitching at;

    http://www.sublimestitching.com/

    Lot's of fun designs there that are you're classic embroidery styles.

    By the way, have you checked out Ruth's blog yet? You can find her at;

    http://musingbadger.blogspot.com/

    Cynthia
    Windy Meadow

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  2. Sometimes it pays to go out of your 'comfort zone' and try something different. Glad you enjoyed your crewel class.

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  3. I agree with Cyn....have fun, do it your way, and enjoy! Love Stewey and all of the Laura Perrin's!

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  4. Hi Coni - YES this stitching is fun - always - no matter WHAT happens..... ;)

    The header picture is my favorite of my mother - taken when she was two - in Tarboro, NC.

    It is very hard to read your blog because I keep chuckling out loud!! (I do most of this blog stuff at work - and I do get the looks...) :)

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  5. Great job. Congrats on learning something new.

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