Package in the mailbox

In my mailbox today was the cross-stitch order I place on Saturday. I love opening these packages up. Looking at the patterns in way better detail than I could on the web, pulling out the fabric to feel the texture and then look at the colors of the floss for the last order’s pattern. This is a never-ending cycle for me.

You see, I order a pattern that I like, but cant find out what floss is needed. If its anything other than DMC, I can pretty much guarantee that I don’t have it! So I have to order floss for the previous pattern and often find a new pattern! I wonder if this is a well thought out plot by the online needlework shops or that it just would take a small army to list the colors needed for every pattern. I’m opting for answer two (I’m keeping my eye on you, you online cross-stitch stores, If I hear evil cackling then I’m changing my answer!! –picture me making the squinty, suspicious, eye face)

I wish that there were more local cross –stitch stores around here. There’s only one that doesn’t require a 4-hour drive. I imagine that its got its good points but I just cant get over the toe licking dog and a proprietress so excited to show you the new items that I don’t have time to look at the patterns. I’m a browser, I like to look and explore. I could very happily sit on the floor and look through boxes of pamphlets, leaflets and booklets for an hour to find the perfect new project. I’m considering bringing wonderful husband and little one with me to run interference, but I’m afraid that the dog might lick them soggy.

New Patterns

I started a new pattern this weekend.

Maybe I should restate that. I started a pattern that bought 2 months ago. I had originally intended to take it on vacation with me to work on, but when I’m on vacation with wonderfully patient husband and the little guy I am constantly going. By the end of the day, all I want to do is order pizza (no mushrooms, please) and rest on the polyester bedspread and watch trashy TV (no c-span here!). Since then it has been sitting on my dresser, beckoning to me…”start me, start me, I SAID START ME DAMMIT!” I tried burying it under a pile of clothes that I have yet to get into the dresser, but I still heard it.

I thought about it and decided that what was stopping me from starting it was the idea that I won’t finish it. As I said earlier, I have other “on-hold” projects that date back to before I was even married. I get tired of looking at them and they go in the unfinished project basket with the full intention of finishing them. The regular life of being a mom and a wife and an employee and a freelance designer pushes my “me time” to the back of the list (my “me time” generally consists of either reading–Charlaine Harris right now–and sleeping).

So here’s to starting a new pattern! Boy, I hope I finish it!

Little boys and bugs

Today is t-ball day. My little guy LOVES playing and truthfully, I enjoy watching him run from 1st to 3rd only to run back to 2nd or playing outfield (which, for 5 year olds, means watching bugs and picking grass). I’ve never been into sports, my life philosophy has been “Nature bad, Air Conditioning good.” The bugs and I have an agreement, they get to live as long as they don’t come in the house or try to sting me or the little guy. Yet, I enjoy the time I spend outside with him. The idea that he could spend 10 minutes watching a pile of ants working on the sidewalk doesn't phase me a bit because I know he’s enjoying himself.
What does this have to do with cross-stitching your asking yourself? Nothing, except asked myself this morning if it would be rude/wrong to bring my most current project with me? The answer I came up with was “yes.” The little guy deserves some undivided attention.

Stitching addiction

I have an addiction. It's cross-stitching. No matter what else I try, I always come back to cross stitching. I dont know about the rest of you, but I have 4-5 projects that are always going and cruise the internet for patterns and gadgets. I've tried knitting (who would spend all that time counting...Oh wait..nevermind), scrapbooking (I still do that but its usually only 2 weekends a year when I'm on a retreat), sewing (that lasted all of three days, but I have a snazzy sewing machine that I use to bind the edges of my projects to keep them from fraying), and countless other side tracks, but I always come back to this. There's probably some deep, telling thing about it, but for right now the only reason I can think of is because I like it, and it's calming. If anyone has any better ideas, I'm open...