Oct 19, 2009

WHO'S HAPPIER THAN ME? (*)

As you might remember, I started this crazy ass idea all the way back on July-something that I was only going to work on WIP's until November 1st. I will confess that I never in a million years would have believed that I would have actually stuck with this program (because I am notoriously unreliable in almost EVERYTHING I do), but here I sit with two weeks to go and nary a new start to be found! So a big WOO HOO for me for taking 43 whole years to learn what it means to keep a promise and be responsible for something other than panic, chaos, and disorder.

On Saturday we recovered from our Lima trip by putzing around the studio for a few hours. I was pretending not to watch the Notre Dame/USC game and Aunt Chrissy was pretending not to get irritated with me pretending not to watch the Notre Dame/USC game.

I shuffled some things around and made some lists and sighed deeply over some lovely things in my Autumn basket when it hit me square in the forehead: I had neglected to put Shepherd's Bush "Into the Night" on my WIP list! It certainly qualified, since it had a whole three sections completed and WIP means "Any piece of needlework that has at least one full stitch of thread in the linen, canvas, or congress cloth, no matter how insignificant the progress" (Sec. 3, subchapter 4). So after a big WOO HOO from the Peanut Gallery, I pulled it out and got it back on the q-snaps and now I'm ready to just rock it out until a week from Saturday. At the stroke of midnight on Halloween, I fully intend to jump all over Raymond Crawford's "Merry Christmas" canvas, which is being taught as a mystery class by the fabulous Ruth Schmuff of Bedecked & Beadazzled fame, but until then I can work on this and not feel like I'm missing an entire season of stitching. (This is especially wonderful since autumnal stitching is most definitely my very favorite in the whole entire world.)

Poor Stewey is not very happy with me today. The furnace has been on the fritz since Friday morning (I awoke to a whopping 47 degrees on the thermostat), but it can't be fixed until a new motherboard comes in. When I tried to explain this to him, he just huffed and said "It figures that the problem has the word mo-ther in it." Then he turned his back to me and sniffled into his blanket. Damn dog.

(*) This phrase comes from my friend, Rich Chialastri out in New Jersey, whose birthday is today. Happy Birthday, Rich!

16 comments:

  1. Good work ... you found the perfect WIP for you!

    How shocking that furnaces now have motherboards. Everything is computerized.

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  2. Stewey has my sympathy... that is just plain cold! You have made amazing progress if you are down to one last WIP, good for you. I'm glad you get to do some of your favorite seasonal stitching.

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  3. Good choice for your current wip.

    As for the lack of heat... I too am on the chilly side and my Rory is complaing as well. I just gave him an extra blanket. Poor baby. I hope yours is fixed soon.

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  4. I'm going to take a page out of your playbook and curb my purchasing for a long while myself. I'm overboard...totally.

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  5. Well done on sticking to your guns and staying with WIP's. How many are you planning to start on Nov 1 ???? Don't go overboard with new starts or you will find yourself in the same place!!!
    It doesn't really matter because we all like watching your progress on all your lovely work.
    Hugs & snuggles to Stewey too!

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  6. I love your new (old) wip! It's such a great design. I will enjoy watching your progress on this one! :) November 1st is my birthday, so I want you to start something really good on that day for me!! :)

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  7. It is amazing what we find sometimes when we just look hard enough! Way to go!!! Can't wait to see it finished. Poor poor Stewey. Why must he suffer so?

    I thought about you while I pretended not to watch the ND game. How funny!

    Good luck with the furnace. Until it's fixed, Carmen and I are sending you and Ste-man warm thoughts!

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  8. I saw that about a year ago you worked on a Painted Pony Autumnal Sampler - with stitch guide. I also need help in the selection of stitches. It turned out sooo cute. Was the stitch guide thru Painted Pony or written by someone in a certain shop. The Painted Pony website doesn't list it as an available guide. Any help you can provide.
    Thank you -

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  9. Coni, I just came from WalMart and they have Snuggie's for dogs now. I'm sure Stewey would love one and they were reasonably priced (I thought) at only $9.97. They came in blue and pink. Check it out at www.snuggiefordogs.com.

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  10. Why is it always the one we forget about and don't put on our list, is the one that we end up working on. That is a great piece. And I'm sending a huge congratulations to sticking with your Nov. 1st date.

    And I hope that you get your furnace fixed quickly! Wouldn't want Stewey getting cold (or you either!!). After a while it gets too cold to stitch and you wouldn't want that!

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  11. LOL! Poor Stewey, hope you are letting him sleep under the covers.

    Love the SB piece!

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  12. So glad you found one to enjoy to the very end of your commitment. Great design, CJ ok;-)

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  13. I'm SOOO happy that you found a piece that "qualifies" for you that you're excited about working on! You've been sooo good about finishing pieces - can't wait to see you take off on working on new pieces!!! :) Since it's so cold in your home, while you're waiting for your furnace to be fixed, you and Stewey could go hang out in the "Stewey Treat Store" - I'm sure he'd be nice and toasty there!!! :) (PS - Stewey sent me an e-mail and asked me to suggest this to you!)

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  14. I love the Fall piece you found to stitch.

    Yes, that is cold, but tell Stewey that at least, he has a fur coat on to help keep him warm.

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  15. How cute is that "new" WIP you found! Glad you could get at least one Halloween design to stitch before 11/1.

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