3 Sept 2015

A finish and a new start....she says...looking shiftily at the light fitting!

Helloooooo!

So...where to begin...ok, so...you still reading? Good. I shall continue...

I have decided to try an audio book and shall get that downloaded to the relevant device for starting next week and I shall reveal my choice then...its was a very scientific selection process...so...yeah....

I have also decided that I do need to read books more and so I am going to try for the next twelve months to dedicate the first weekend of every month to be my BWABWA. This is where I will try to read as much as I can during the weekend and report in on the following Monday with my progress. Feel free to join me...Oh! and if you are wondering what the catchy BWABWA stands for...

Buried With A Book Weekend...the A is just to make it easier to say...try it? Its fun, right?

Also, yesterday I had the lovely task of deciding what to stitch next, I had a day or two off and was raring to pick up my needle. I recently rediscovered some WIPS (Oooh! Aaaah!) that I thought (hoped?) were lost forever but on the plus side it did mean that I had more choice.

I came across a design that was almost finished..like almost...and decided maybe I could finish that...as I looked at it I remembered all the reasons that I hadn't finished it the first time around and the biggest reason was the composition, yes, the composition really did annoy me.

Remembering it all annoyed me further and so I decided to use this for something positive. I decided to finish it off in my own way and to use it in my yet-to-be-created-smalls-mediums-scrapbook, an idea that Justine mentioned on the Christmas Ornament SAL.

All in all I am happy with how it looks....

So here is what I was stitching originally....I apologise for the quality of the photos but it really brought out my petulance.


I bought this kit two years ago on a whim after seeing some other Gorjuss designs and thinking how cute they were. I was on holiday at the time and the LNS I went into was tiny and not nearly as large as a bathroom. It looks harmless enough, right? And I like it....for someone else...what is wrong with it I hear you cry...so I am hearing things now?! 

It started off ok, I stitched the girl first, everything but the backstitch, and then began work on the trees...then I looked at the picture....and thought....

Why is a young girl standing alone in the woods?
Why aren't the trees in the woods leafy because these look a bit creepy?
Why is she standing in a puddle? Its not a puddle its a shadow I think.
Do you think that she wet herself in fear?
Where are her shoes?
So those flowers are made from net and beads, hmmm, I think they are not so nice..or maybe the are, are they?

As you can tell, I really did read far too much into the picture that I was stitching, but the more I looked at the shadow the more it looked like a puddle and the more I looked at her feet the more I wondered where her shoes were! I began to wish I had chosen one of the other fab designs.

So yesterday when I picked it up to finish it, I remembered all these things, and decided to just wing it! So I had this to start with....


I stitched some back stitch on the hair, around the face and for the eyes and then finished by doing the outline of the dress and legs but I didn't line the socks.

I then added the heart button as a pendant and this is my end result...


I am happy for it to be in my scrapbook and looking at it makes me think that it may have been more of a reflection of my emotional state back then, feeling lost and alone and I really am glad that I now have a better use for it. 

I often see posts of peoples successes in stitching and their fabulous stitching etc. but have you ever had something that didn't go to plan? Maybe a design that you hated for no reason too? 

Before I go...I chose to start my new kit of the Indian lady....I opened it up and it comes with pre-sorted threads, a large colour pattern, 14ct fabric and two needles.

I decided to use the fabric provided even though the count is so high and the fabric itslef seems to be starched and feels almost like stitching on cardboard. I did think about washing it or using a different fabric but I have enjoyed of late stitching on plastic canvas and this is somewhere in between. The stiffness and sturdiness is actually what makes it ideal for a lunchtime work project too.

So here is the final design again to remind you...


Here is what I have stitched so far...


which is part of this corner...


and I almost forgot but the fabric edges have been sealed? stitched? hemmed? you know what I mean! lol


So, I am happy to be stitching this which I will rotate with Faery 66 and I have a skull to finish too! (about 2 years old as well and most likely for the scrap book) with IHSW being reserved for the Christmas Ornaments.

So how has your week been?


6 comments:

  1. You're off to a great start with Indian Lady. I love it when fabric comes with the edges stitched - so much easier to work with. I must admit I've never stopped stitching something because of an emotional reaction to it, but I like your work around. Our stitching is supposed to be a pleasurable pastime, not torture. If you're not enjoying it, stop.

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    1. Lol! You're right of course and I did :)

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  2. I loved this design until I saw the puddle/shadow and thought exactly the same as you - that she had wet herself. Glad you found a way to finish the design that suits you. It looks pretty.
    I like the Indian lady - is that a Lanarte kit?

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    1. Yay! It's good to know that I am not alone :) I love many others from this range though but this one...at least its ok after all and will be good enough for my scrapbook.
      Its not a Lanarte its a chinese company - i really took a risk as in I didnt pay attention to where I was buying it from but I am really happy with it and have an update as I am rotating this design. Oh yes! This girls rotating now. lol!

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  3. I know EXACTLY what you mean! I absolutely HATE with a passion my Summer Ball. I know it's going to look amazing when it's finished, but I hate stitching it. It's horizontal, so it frames up weird, I don't like all the fractional stitching, I hate the outlines...just an overall hate-fest. One day I will force myself to finish it, but it will definitely be a forced thing.

    I'm not brave enough to change designs, but you are so I say stitch it how you want to because it's going to be gorgeous no matter what!

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    1. I LOVE your Summer Ball but I do know you hate it and I can totally understand that, some designs just torment us, its like we have to prove our dedication...heheeh.

      Aww thanks Keebs! I appreciate that.

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