Nov 24, 2008

CHRISTMAS COMES TO SPINSTER'S CORNERS

That, of course, will be the title of my first book. Well, maybe not my first one, but surely there has to be some kind of sappy romance/holiday novel in there someplace?

I swore up and down that I wasn't going to do it this year. I swore that I would "LIVE EACH SEASON" and not rush the holidays and end up exhausted in February. I promised myself that I would enjoy Autumn and all it had to offer, patiently await Thanksgiving, and then slowly enjoy the approaching Christmas with all of its careful and thoughtfully presented merriment.

I caved. I went up into the studio and started playing around with Christmas-y colors and before you knew it, I had this:



So then my brain started whirring and I decided that I wanted to make something spectacular for Christmas....perhaps an eight foot by ten foot mural of the Nativity all done in tent stitch?

Fortunately for me, Laura J. Perin came to the rescue once again. I pulled out my LJP notebook and started flipping through the charts and discovered this:

It's from her Impressionist Collection and is called "Jewel Box". Her colorway is pink and green, but she says that you can USE WHATEVER COLORS YOU WANT TO right there on the chart! Woo Hoo! Permission to play!

I started working on this piece last Friday afternoon and I haven't put it down since. It is probably the most fun thing I have ever done in my entire life (and I have done some pretty fun things, let me tell you). I wanted to wait to reveal the finished piece, but since I'm rushing the holiday and all, I figured I'd let it rip:

Now before you write to me and ask what colors I'm using where, I must warn you that I don't have one damn clue! I didn't agonize, I didn't write anything down, I didn't think about it, I didn't check my stitchy books to see if it was right. I just sat right down with the chart and my basket of red and green threads and started stitching. I. Am. A. Genius.

Ooooops. Didn't mean to say that last thing out loud, especially since I really am NOT a genius since I didn't design this piece. But I sure am tickled with the results that are coming through, and I can't wait to see this beauty framed and hanging next to the tree.

Speaking of which.....I told myself that I was not allowed to decorate my house for Christmas this year since I didn't get the inside decorations put away until March 16th last year. I threw such a fit of disgust with myself that I decided to be grounded and not allow myself a tree this year.

Stewey, however, has completely changed my mind, since he showed me his little design notebook this morning that indicated the theme and schedule for this year's events. Apparently, I will be making pumpkin rolls tomorrow, Thanksgiving goodies on Wednesday, and then putting the tree up on Saturday.

The only thing I absolutely REFUSE to do is go out and buy more decorations. Every year I decide to "just re-do the tree once and for all" and I now have enough stuff to tart up a seventy-five foot spruce with balls to spare. So I promise to use whatever is parked in the garage, and I will try not to strangle my dog when he tells me that the tree top is just all wrong for this year's theme. I have GOT to stop letting him watch Martha Stewart in the afternoons.

17 comments:

  1. That design in the christmas colors is to DIE for. I love anything done with Christmas reds and greens, but this just made me go "WOW".

    Great job.

    Joanie R.
    Now to add to my list of Laura's designs I have to have. LOL

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  2. I think you're fine. Thanksgiving is "late" this year. Under normal conditions, we would have decorated last weekend. I’m pretty sure you’re absolved…especially if you root against Notre Dame this weekend.:)

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  3. Beautiful finish and perfect for the holidays!

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  4. Yes, Coni, you ARE a genius!!! Your color choices are absolutely gorgeous.. you should be so proud!

    Now I'll have to consult you to turn my LGP "Mardi Gras" chart into purples, greens, with a bit of yellow in there for good measure, perhaps.

    If it makes you feel better.. you can say that you're a close second in geniousity to Miss LJP.. but we know better. You rock! =)

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  5. Does Stewey take on additional decorating jobs? I am not in the mood to even think about it. Your stitching is amazing....

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  6. Beautiful piece....great color choices....has Stewey asked for an apron yet? LOL

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  7. Wow. What a beautiful piece! Love the colors.

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  8. Love it, love the colors. Now, I'm going to have to go put down the Halloween model I need to finish (talk about out of synch with the seasons) and do something Christmasy.

    Great stuff!

    Keep Stitching,
    Janet

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  9. Beautiful! You are a colorist : ) What an eye for color you used on this project

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  10. Oh, Yes... Coni, You are DEFINITELY one red-hot, chili pepper, speecy-spicy Genius-Girl! I never would have thought of doing JEWEL BOX in those happy Christmas colors. I JUST LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT -- GREAT JOB! (Are you singing Christmas carols as you stitch this?!?) P.S: I keep telling people JEWEL BOX is really fun to stitch, plus you can change the colors... and you've proved my point MOST BEAUTIFULLY - THANK YOU, CONI!

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  11. A stunning finish Coni - reds and greens are my favourite Christmas colours too!

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  12. Love, love, love your newest finish! It will look great next to your tree.

    Hope you and Stewey have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Also, you have to reward the little guy for those decorating tips....!

    Melody

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  13. Beautiful Christmas colour combination. I love it!

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  14. Wow Coni, those colors really rock. I think it's amazing what you can do with your stash. I also think your STASH IS AMAZING! Theresa

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  15. You MUST be a genius because that red and green piece is gorgeous!

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  16. Hi Coni,

    Love the colors that you picked out and I'm going to scroll up and see how you used them on Laura's "Jewel Box"!

    Tell Stewey I would love to have a designer visit my house to give advice, is he hiring out his services yet? :-)

    Cynthia
    Windy Meadow

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