Stitching: Now and What's on the Radar

 I mentioned sometime ago, that I had changed course on what I wanted to stitch. I am not over samplers by any means, but I am going veer away from them for a while. When I return to them, the factors that will draw me in are: a Bible verse, patterns that lend themselves to being personalized (like A Thirsty Hart did) and size (no more gigantic ones). 

I have had a few new ideas on my radar, and I watched a video that just set those ideas in motion - well, somewhat.

After watching the video, I spent an afternoon in my little room and emptied some project bags and stored those projects away and did some thinking. I packed away Let Freedom Ring. I have lost all interest in it and just can't get it back. I literally may take part of what I have and cut and make a drum from it. I am going to sit on that idea for awhile. I have several sampler patterns that I am just storing for awhile. I will give myself time to ponder it all.

What projects are taking my time these days? For one, I am continuing with my one Christmas ornament per month. I am having fun using up the little pieces of linen and patterns. I think this is a worthy project to keep doing. This month's selection is one I have done before. Flamingle Jingle will be added to the basket for April's ornament when I get a moment to finish it.

I pulled out an old pattern and started stitching some sunflowers. The pattern is from July/August 1992 Cross Stitch and Country Crafts magazine.

I plan to stitch this into a pillow. I debated long and hard about doing the sampler, but I really love the sunflowers and think the pillow will be just the ticket. It calls for French knots in the center of the flowers. I loathe doing French knots, so I am going to do some beads instead, but will have to wait until I am finished with all the stitching since I am a hooper. 

On a side note  about stitching smalls, I have found I just don't like a lot of stuff out in the living room, especially. I have however, found that I love it all tucked around in my shelves in the sewing room. It doesn't feel like clutter in there, whereas it feels that way in the living room. I just love moving it all around in there and play around with them all the time. I do keep one small item in the living room and one in the kitchen, but most of my smalls are on display in the sewing room. This sunflower pillow will be the perfect size for several places such as my church pew and an antique rocker in the dining room among a couple of choices.

I will still throw in a small seasonal item to stitch with my plans. I don't need anymore fall things, but those always catch the eye.

Now, to the thing that has been on my mind for ages and the video that started it. 

I am finally going to put the head ideas on paper and make it happen. I watched Deb of Country Stitchers who is normally on with her friend Liz. I like both, but their videos are so so long. It takes me days to watch one as I usually only have about 20 minutes at a time to give to Floss Tube. I will say I don't watch FT all that much because of time, but also it makes you buy stuff:) I have learned to write down the things I like and wait and usually the urge to buy will pass. Actually, almost always! Deb stitches things I like and I love her home. If I lived in the country, I would love a log cabin like hers, but I will say I could never have as much stuff as she has. I love it in her house, but to actually live in that much would send me over the deep end. Remember, when country style was all the rage in the 80's. I learned a lot about myself then. I liked the look in magazines and in the summers when I was home from teaching I would try and replicate the looks, but come time to go back to school it would all have to go. Trips to Goodwill would be made. I was like that in the classroom as well. I can get to thinking I need what I see, but in reality it is not what I can live with. I just don't like a lot of what I call visual clutter. I know that amount is different for all. I like the look and Deb's home is just beautiful, but my reality is I like a little more streamlined look. Not a minimalist though.

On with the inspiration video...Deb shared her bedroom and the hallway outside it and I loved all the stitching. My wheels were turning.

The first thing is something she has shared before, and I have had it on my mind for a couple of years. I am going to make it happen. Here is an inspiration picture from the video.

I do not want to do a Christmas village, but a "my town" stitch. This has been in my head for ages. I know that it will be hard and take a long time, but in the next 2 months I am going to start this project. My vision involves stitching the buildings of downtown Fort Walton Beach. I want to include many of the store fronts that lined the downtown area in the 70s and 80s. I have been collecting pictures from them for a while. I have my graph paper ready to start planning it. 

I want to include the old school building that is now moved a block away and the Indian Temple Mound, the Tringas Theater, the jewelry store, the clothing stores, the newsstand, etc., so I am thinking there will be 2 to 3 different framed pieces when I am done way way way down the road.

I am looking forward to the project.

I think that between Christmas ornaments and the other items on my radar that I have pulled out that I have a stitching plan. There were 3 other things in that video that have inspired a project that is in the works over here. I sent Deb a message that she had inspired me. Never enough time for my favorite hobby. 

Then- there is finding time to putter in my flowers and read. I am never bored.

I didn't sleep last night because the wind was howling on the bayou last night. There was a tropical low sitting just off Pensacola so we were getting lots of wind all night. I hope this is not what we will deal with all summer. I think the news has really been covering all the rain the peninsula got from it, but it was quite windy here.

I will stop there. I have so many other things I am wanting to work on and one that I am actually trying out, so more to come later.

Happily stitching,

Sandy