Jan 22, 2013

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

Stewey is all snuggled into his perch for a long snoozy, and I'm in the Happy Chair with a damn good cup of coffee and the Sunday New York Times for company.  I love to read it all week, and as I do so, I like to pretend that I'm witty and erudite enough to understand everything that's in it.  By Friday, I get cocky enough to try my hand at the crossword puzzle, and then it's back to Humbleville and the South Bend Tribune and the Jumble, which is apparently more my speed.

Today is a day for stitching, and I'm excited to continue the background work on the Rishfeld canvas:
I've either fallen down and smacked my little head on the pavement, or I've matured as a stitcher, since I have yet to get bored/frustrated/disappointed/or all up in my head over this one.  Every stitch is as enjoyable as the first one, and I'm happy to report that ideas for the flower mo-teefs are flooding my brain.

Every now and then I flip back to the starting entries of this here blog, and the one thing that strickes me is that I really am nuts when it comes to this thing of ours.  There were times when I played with forty-two different things at once, and then there were times when I got into a good rotation that allowed me the opportunity to finish a lot of the open projects in my stash.  The last year or so, though, it seems that I am totally about "the process" and not as much fretting over the silliness that normally occupies space in my tiny little head.  I think I've finally come to the place where I realize that anything having to do with threaded needles poking themselves through something is fabulous.  In other words.....it's all good in the needlehood.

Wisdom?  Naaaah.  I'm probably just tired.

What's up with you?  Are you warm and safe and dry and doing something you love? 

17 comments:

  1. Great day for stitching Coni!! Window view you have is wonderful! I will be stitching right along with you here in Bama, right after I make me some breakfast! Cold here but no ice or snow...

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  2. I am curious, what makes you decide to do the back ground first? I am working on the flowers at the moment. The work done so far looks great!!

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    1. I looked at a few stitch guides that I have for other canvases in my stash, and they all seemed to start with the background. I'm not sure if it has something to do with making the background recede, or if it's easier to compensate the stitches? Because I'm of very little brain, I figured I'd follow the experts and try it this way. So far, it seems to be working out pretty well.

      I can't wait to see yours....are you loving every minute of it?

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    2. So much! I am also working on a crazy quilt canvas by Sandy Jenkins. I have to add my own pizzazz. I am like you, many UFO's. I am determined to get the two I am working on done by the end of the year.

      Cheers to you...stay warm!!

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  3. I hope to stitch this afternoon...oops, it is almost afternoon! Well, don't know where the morning went. I will try to be a bit productive for awhile, then I WILL stitch this afternoon. Here's to frigid temps where we MUST stay inside!

    Debbie in Kansas

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  4. You are so right, my stitching sister. It's all about threading that needle and placing it in the canvas or the linen or wherever! Amen to that!

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  5. What a wonderful view of winter you shared! Your WIP looks fabulous!

    Robin in Virginia

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  6. Oh I just love that piece you are working on. You have made some nice progress on it. The view from your window is lovely. Snow is nice to look at, just glad I don't live where is snows. ;) Enjoy your stitching day.

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  7. Hi Coni,
    No snow here, but it is soooo cold (only 24). I feel like a real sluggard, as I did not get out of bed until 10. I put some hot water in the bird bath, refilled the feeders, and was back inside in 30 minutes, totally frozen.
    Does Stewey go after squirels? If yes, would he like a "vacation" in Delaware, to just rid my yard of the squirrels? He can be the "King of the House" while he's here.
    I am going to spend the rest of the afternoon stitching and watching Season One of the new "Upstairs Downstairs". I should be out doing some errands, but it's just too cold.
    I like the piece you are currently stitching. The colors are gorgeous. Stay warm and if Stewey would like a little break, you know where to send him! There are plenty of squirrels for him to chase away (permanently, I hope).

    Mary Eman

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  8. I'm always dazzled by your stitching, and Elvis is amused by Stewie's adventures. Needless to say, we should both be grateful neither of them have opposable thumbs or we'd be the ones eating kibble and playing with catnip. Like you, I once futzed about with the need for a stitching plan, but as a wise woman once said in reference to our art, it's not the destination but the journey. Enjoy my blogging friend. Here in the deep south where I can almost hear the banjos play and the pig begin to squeal, I am pea-green with envy over your snowy view. At least today it is cold enough for a fire in the hearth.

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  9. Coni -

    Happy snow day to you and Stewey! I'm sitting on my veranda in the shade because the sun makes it just too warm to be comfortable. It's almost 80 here in the Sonoran Desert. I'm actually starting to thaw out from last weeks freezing temps. The closest I want to get to snow is looking at your pictures.

    I agree with Ralee above that it's the stitching journey and not the destination. At least that's what I tell myself when I look at my UFOs. I think the calmness and lack of panic over a piece means we have matured as stitchers. We know we can stitch anything we want. I used to fuss and worry and fume about my stitching and now, after about a gazillion years, it's turned into an old friend that I can spend hours of companionship with. It now calms my soul with the benefit that I turn out a work of art when I'm through. lol

    I absolutely love the stitch you are using for the background of this piece. I've been waiting for the mailman to deliver several items from Shakespeare's Peddler, both of which Theresa has designed. One is This is Christmas and the other is Spring at Bean Family Farm.

    Hope you have a happy day in your stitchy chair.

    Pamela
    Tucson, AZ

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  10. Looking at your wintry picture reminds me of home and makes me so very happy I moved to Florida! LOL..

    Enjoy the peacefulness of winter and I look forward to seeing more stitchy projects from you this year!!

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  11. Coni, I am loving the beautiful colors in the piece you are working on! How pretty it is. The snowy view from your window is so pretty. Very cold in our neck of the woods today. Hope you are staying warm and cozy and stitching up a storm!

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  12. What a beautiful view. Would love to be looking at snow in my back yard! Tonite it's basketball n stitching, with the cat snoring in the chair-I-dont-get-to-use. Life is good!

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  13. I love your current project Connie! So glad that you are in a state of stitching Nirvana. I need to get my mojo back :)

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  14. Connie,

    Could you please tell me the name of the that design? I see the designer is Rishfeld but I have been unable to spot that one online. Could you please point me in the right direction? I just love that piece!

    Tracy

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    1. Hi, Tracy....I think the designer's name is Janice Gaynor. The signature at the bottom is hard to read, but it seems to match up with that name from the Rishfeld website. If you can't find it, I would try the girls at Wool and Willow....that's where I purchased the canvas.

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