Wednesday, March 11, 2009

A Pair of Hands in Too Many Pots

Yesterday, I spent a good part my day reorganizing my stash and making my priorities. I think that I need to get "back to basics" and just keep myself to two projects - one large and one small.

I've been throwing things all over the place and my craft room looks like a disaster (sorry, no pictures, I'm too embarrassed, but the offending upstairs stash area is listed as Exhibit A below).

Anyway, the other day while Terri and I were driving to our Guild meeting, she told me that I should post all the stitching that I have done! Well, after all the years I've been doing this there is a lot. But, I'm not going to do that today. Instead, I'm going to shame myself a little. Hopefully, this will result in getting the lead out, so to speak, and cleaning up some of these WIPs I've got going on. All are not cross stitch though.

I've made a little progress on The Mermaid Sampler. I really love how this is coming out - brighter than the chart picture. It's a fun stitch too, and hopefully, I should be done with it next week. There is a lot of fill-in which is perfect for those times when my brain has shut down - around 9:00 at night, which by the way, seems the time that I finally land in my stitching chair at night.

I haven't made any more progress on CHS' Adam and Eve nor Shores of Hawk Run Hollow. I've been playing with some small things just to give myself a break - some of the Country Stitches patterns. They're so adorable. I'm kind of hooked right now. They're almost like instant gratification. Although my attempt at that bird on the oil can has resulted in me having to start the darned thing over three times just because I can't count! But I think I'm good to go now and should have, at least the stitching done, today. It feels good to get some small things done.

The other day, I was back in my craft room digging around for supplies to make the bunny and I came across a bin - my WIP (or so I thought) bin. But what do I find inside:



1). An almost finished sweater vest. Okay, that's a WIP of the knitting kind, but what is my problem? All it needs are the side seams sewn and buttons put on!




2). A sampler from the Scarlett Letter circa 1990!!!! AUGGGHHHH! The only reason I can pinpoint the year so well is that there is a picture of a friend of mine with her newborn baby in with the sampler. That brought back memories of me stitching in the lounge while I was still working and I was working on this!!!! And there is masking tape all around the edges (back in the days when I stitched in hand and not on scroll rods)!!! A stitcher's conservation nightmare! What was I thinking??? Obviously I didn't know better. But I pulled this out of the bin along with the sweater and brought them upstairs to my upstairs stash closet (see Exhibit A). I think they both need a little bit of TLC. A nineteen year old UFO!!! I'm still shaking my head.

Exhibit A:



I'm embarrassed. Usually, my stuff is so organized. I realize that there is just too much stuff in here - what was I thinking? I know what I was thinking - I thought I could start all this stuff at once and have some fabulous finishes! NOT! And what you don't see are three bags full of charts, fabby and threads in bags that need to be dealt with next to this area. So most of this will have to go back to my craft room and be put back in their proper places.

Then I found this from The Examplary in the WIP bin too.


Obviously, this is not a WIP - it's never been started. How it made it's way into the WIP bin I don't know (maybe wishful thinking on my part - you know, that little stitching faeries would start the darned thing for me). I brought that upstairs too. Which got me thinking that I have just too much darned stash. Well, there are worse things right????

Then to make matters worse, I found this unfinished quilt that I would really love to finish. These are only three of the twelve total blocks:




Like I said in the title - A Pair of Hands in Too Many Pots. My problem is that I love to do all this stuff and just can't find the time to do it. I should have made New Year's Resolutions, I think (not that I follow them, of course - LOL). Or maybe what I really need is a maid and personal servant - you know, someone to clean, cook, do the wash, grocery shop and run errands, run the kids around to their activities and play dates, and bring me bon bons while I'm stitching! Yeah, right - in my dreams!

No new progress on Adam and Eve. I missed my Wednesday stitching time due to teacher conferences and massive quantities of homework that required my help and Thursday was spent cleaning (and craft room organization), and escorting my daughter to dance and running errands while she was there, so I'll probably work on it tonight. And then finally, I'll start back on Block 2 of Shores. My Sampler Guild extended the due date for Shores to next June! Kind of music to my ears. I've been having too much fun with the smaller things - the bunny pattern really set me off - it was almost a one day event from start to finish. So because the deadline for Shores has been extended I've gotten a little respite, but I'll probably start knocking off Block 2 this weekend.

To shame myself further, I've made a list of my current WIP's. Maybe I should use this as a checklist. These only include cross stitch (if I included the knitting, needlepoint, quilting, etc., we'd be here all day):

1. Ann Medd Sampler - probably 1/4 of the way done
2. The Houses of Hawk Hollow - in the middle of working on Block 5
3. The Village of Hawk Hollow - Block 1 done
4. The Shores of Hawk Hollow - Block 1 done
5. The Mermaid Sampler - maybe 1/2 done
6. The Adam and Eve Sampler - Very little done
7. Convent's Herbal Garden - maybe 1/5 done
8. Provence Mandala - hard to gauge - this thing is huge!!!!!!!
9. Frances Eden Sampler
10. The Marquoir de Justine
11. The Ideal Landscape Sampler
12. CHS Hearts and Flowers

Okay, the dirty dozen off the top of my head. I'm sure that there is something else lurking around, but I think that these 12 are quite enough! All are BAPS except for the Mermaid Sampler, Adam and Eve and, Hearts and Flowers. Now I've shamed myself and hopefully this will give me the kick in the keister that I need to keep going. Doesn't help though that I want to start everything that I recently purchased from market!

Sorry for such a long post. I intended to make this short and sweet, but I guess I got carried away. So, I'm going to go stitch now. Maybe I can get a small portion done on one of those above mentioned things before the kids get home.

Hope everyone has a stitchy weekend and thanks for all the comments you've made!

18 comments:

Michelle said...

I can count AT LEAST 17 WIPs I have without even trying hard. It is pretty overwhelming to know how many things you have to finish as well as all those new things waiting in the wings. I LOVE the Mermaid Sampler you're stitching. Is it an old pattern? I'm having no luck finding it anywhere.

doris said...

During the first week or so of my blogging career, way back in December, I listed my WIPs and took a picture of them. It's scary, and there are probably more that I've forgotten about. You have loads of pretty projects to enjoy.

Glenna said...

I'm thinking my WIPs hover around 20. So sad. But also, so happy! I don't need more stash. So sad. But I'll get some anyway. So happy! LOL! I loved reading your post. And the F. Burwell Sampler--I love, love, love it. And also, Ideal Landscape. They're classics--you have wonderful taste.

Diane (di) said...

Excuse me... counting WIPs?!?! WTH? There is no counting of WIPS!!! Life is way too freaking short. We are stitchers, dang it! We see, we drool, we acquire, we stash, we start and sometimes we even finish. lol Ain't life grand? Now henceforth, we will NO LONGER LIST WIPs. It's just... well... wrong. If one MUST list projects one has started, it will now be referred to as a CHECKLIST. Whew. There. I feel better already. lol (BTW Deb, I'm with Glenna... that F Burwell sampler and Ideal Landscape are both gorgeous. Oh, and I'm loving that quilt too. You should post pics of some of your other quilts here.) OK, I'm off the soapbox. :) Stitch on!

Margaret said...

Wow! You have so many beautiful projects going! And hey, don't we all have that lovely stash closet going? And 5 million UFOs/WIPs? I know I do! I don't even want to count them! lol! I just love that mermaid sampler -- gorgeous! I have to go searching for that chart now! :D

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

How'd I miss this post, Deb!? I don't have as many WIPs as you do only because I'm not nearly so talented. Can't knit, can't quilt so that eliminates a lot of potential. I'm sure if I could do those things, I'd have more WIPs, too. These are all beautiful and you'll get them done one day. Don't worry about it - work on what calls you - it should be joyful, after all. I do still want you to show everyone all of your stitched finishes that you've either not yet framed or haven't finished into some do-dad or other. It really is an impressive amount of stitching!!! Have a good rest of the weekend!

Carmen said...

wips..wips..my mind erase the word wips..they are to much..
oh !, i dont put any picture of my corner stash,because is a chaos, a disaster, when you look the word chaos in the dictionary,you can see a picture to my corner stash.

i call them lovely proyects.... :D

Patti-Rocky Mtn Stitcher said...

I just love the sampler at the top of your blog. what is it? The colors in your WIP are also wonderful. And you are brave enough to make a WIP list LOL I wouldn't know where to start :)

Anonymous said...

Nah, I'm not going to go that way - any attempt at self-control on my part is futile, so what's the point? You've got some really gorgeous ones there!

Jan said...

All I can say is, you are definitely in good company. WIPs everywhere that is me!! I think it is great, that you found those two lovely samplers, one started the other not. They are fabulous. And I love, love, love that quilt start! You have lots of talents!:)

Brigitte said...

Your WIP bin is a real treasure trove. I also check on the boxes with my WIPs from time to time, and when I go through them all I want to stitch on them at once and finish them all. What a motivation this is.
I love The Ideal Landscape, and even more the Frances Burwell sampler. Great WIPs!

Kim said...

It's okay, Deb! Stash is good huh? WIPs are good....that's what I keep telling myself. Love the Frances Burwell sampler. In a weak moment...I purged my stash and sold that kit. Been kicking myself ever since! Hmmm...I'm not going to even COUNT my WIPs...no point, it'll just make me depressed! ha! Love that vest, by the way!

Jennifer Ann Fox said...

Oh my Deb! I would be so embarrassed to pull out how many I have started.........my problem is that I guess in the past couple of years, I'm drawn to big projects. I need more little ones in my stash. You have a very nice blog Deb.

Jennifer Dalenberg
http://www.feathersinthenest.blogspot.com

Loraine said...

Oh how I can relate! So many things I wanna do in this life. I get kind of cranky if I think about it too much. A monthly goal is really helping me focus. Thanks for posting. I'm glad their are many out there that share my same problem.

Anonymous said...

[b][url=http://istochnik-lp.ru/tds/go.php?sid=14]effect of viagra on divorce rate[/url][/b]

[URL=http://istochnik-lp.ru/tds/go.php?sid=14][IMG]http://istochnik-lp.ru/images/ed-pills.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

buy viagra onli viagra target market men age buy viagra cheap india pharmacy cialis in action viagra erection quality brand cialis name levitra reviewed free samples viagra cialis levitra medication viagra today taking levitra manson pages viagra edinburgh search news viagra users how often can someone take viagra cut cialis blood pressure viagra buy cheap cialis online girl viagra edinburgh uk viagra pages find sites buy kamagra jel kamagra or vega viagra seduced boys viagra plaintiffs lawsuit on viagra update 2008 information on cialis quick forum readtopic viagra none search kamagra test results free trial of levitra viagra time kamagra erfahrungen cialis and alcohol 6 free viagra venta de levitra genuine viagra online nitroglycerin cialis interaction a useing viagra where can i order generic viagra herbal viagra fda natural supplement for viagra cialis and aspirin levitra pill generic discount levitra cialis pri national banana cuba gooding cialis cialis definition get viagra drug online viagra performance enhancing drug sports levitra how it works beers effect on levitra src mfo viagra how safe is kamagra

Anonymous said...

[b][url=http://istochnik-lp.ru/tds/go.php?sid=14]viagra cheap not genaric[/url][/b]

[URL=http://istochnik-lp.ru/tds/go.php?sid=14][IMG]http://istochnik-lp.ru/images/ed-pills.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

cialis floaters viagra drug test moon flowers viagra watermelon rind as viagra employee drug testing viagra cialis and drinking alcohol consequences of viagra viagra card g postmessage cialis subject remember turkish viagra cialis blood supply kamagra supplies which works better cialis or viagra viagra danger cheapest cialis how to buy viagra from home viagra directions kamagra mannen vrouwen gag viagra coupons attractive levitra woman generic vs viagra buy viagra onli ne cialis sof phizer viagra flomax and viagra interaction cialis side effects eye purchase cialis on the web interazione tra viagra e eutirox cialis quickest way to obtain generic meltabs viagra php history viagra cialis dosing the drug levitra kamagra pills man dies from viagra overdose viagra stopped working misues of levitra is viagra better than cialis online order for viagra viagra herbal singapore legal 2cheap levitra cialis can an ohio pa prescribe kamagra sild nafil citrate tablets 100mg generic cialis pills mexico viagra telephone take viagra cialis what does levitra do free viagra samples before buying index viagra founder when to take viagra

Anonymous said...

[b][url=http://istochnik-lp.ru/tds/go.php?sid=14]jackie corbin and viagra[/url][/b]

[URL=http://istochnik-lp.ru/tds/go.php?sid=14][IMG]http://istochnik-lp.ru/images/ed-pills.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

cialis succes levitra shelf life viagra saves dogs life viagra boosts chemical cuddle levitra with alchohol how viagra works in the body california levitra message boards women who take viagra update lawsuit on viagra 2007 kamagra plus viagra levitra deals viagra ill effects viagra over the counter kamagra soft tab cialis dreampharmaceuticals from online after effects of viagra problems with taking cialis and propecia levitra fast delivery how viagra saved chrismas viagra side affects types of viagra ucl order viagra texas vardenafil levitra hcl viagra online shop online approval viagra price at altairulit org viagra dicks viagra golf discount cialis generic best viagra alternative herbal supplement information new levitra data primary pulmonary hypertension cialis canadian pharmacy viagra brand wie funktioniert viagra epinions viagra patrick adler kamagra generic viagra guide on taking kamagra levitra order prescription generic cialis united states overnight cialis murah klang viagra puns what is the drug viagra slogan's for viagra female uk viagra viagra photo viagra works cialis for high blood pressure viagra patch viagra trial packs cialis online from dreampharmaceuticals viagra gone wrong pic

Anonymous said...

[b][url=http://istochnik-lp.ru/tds/go.php?sid=14]free viagra samples befor[/url][/b]

[URL=http://istochnik-lp.ru/tds/go.php?sid=14][IMG]http://istochnik-lp.ru/images/ed-pills.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

watermelon rines and viagra about viagra generic viagra canada lisonpril viagra viagras effect on women cialis softtabs prescription local viagra cialis laagste prijs which is better lavitra or viagra herbal viagra wholesale blood high pressure viagra generc cialis discount viagra in amsterdam viagra t-shirt va cialis how does arginine effect cialis viagra demonstrate female cialis source levitra expiry name order viagra text order viagra next day delivery viagra viagra clearance kamagra sverige pfitzer home viagra effects of cialis cialis work for women viagra kopen hoodia diet pills discount viagra reviews viagra cancun amphetamine and viagra buying viagra delivered worldwide lyrics viagra in the water viagra and sexual misfunction viagra and coupon quail eggs better han viagra viva viagra viagra onlinhe enhancing the viagra experience viagra priapism generic cialis prices viagra vs cailis generic low price viagra viagra and altace viagra safest place to purchase warfarin and viagra what the best generic viagra viagra and musse together generic viagra with money order cialis norvasc viagra multiple erections should women take viagra
[url=http://www.maiytra2006.org/?page=bboard-post&id=3012]soft tab cialis viagra norvasc [/url]
[url=http://weddingsbyjess.com/blog/2008/06/07/jessica-dannys-inspiration-board/#comment-19656]cut cialis dosa new viagra jokes [/url]
[url=http://writiki.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?p=439245#439245]kamagra and drink discount cialis 32 [/url]
[url=http://sierra-leone.com/sierra-leone-tourist-board/#comment-21086]levitra visual disturbances viagra steroids [/url]
[url=http://forsims.ru/showthread.php?p=72#post72]when does viagra's patent expire viagra enema [/url]
[url=http://just-for-big-fun.weblog.ro/2007/11/22/forum-femei/comment-page-1/#comment-628]buy levitra online from dreampharmaceuticals physicians who prescribe viagra in houston [/url]
[url=http://ru-leaders.com/Board/index.php?topic=3133.0]kamagra ajanta viagra express [/url]
[url=http://www.dongne-bangne.com/html/board/board_write.asp]viagra card polcythemia viagra interaction [/url]
[url=http://iglesiabiblicacristiana.com/foro/index.php?topic=2677.0]viagra beer viagra pharmacy stop [/url]
[url=http://socialnetworkingsoftware.mobi/2009/03/11/online-alternatives-to-popular-board-games/#comment-9131]kamagra voucher viagra spot pub [/url]
[url=http://entredosorillas.com/a-guide-to-online-gaming-forums/comment-page-1#comment-3824]ramipril and viagra denny's restrautant in trouble over viagra [/url]
[url=http://www.rphfm.org/forum.php3?id_article=15&id_forum=122]viagra and facial numbness interaction of viagra with lorazipam [/url]
[url=http://sexexchange.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=261620]effect of kamagra on woman levitra user forum [/url]
[url=http://www.haitianmoviesclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=80495]viagra a 30 euros cialis britain [/url]
[url=http://vertsdescatiches.org/spip.php?page=forum&id_article=188&id_forum=118]viagra contents levitra and overdose and blind [/url]
[url=http://blog.tinleychamber.org/2008/08/28/stress-less-forum-presentation-by-baxter-consulting-inc/#comment-29362]viagra for wemon cheapest brand viagra [/url]
[url=http://www.spc.ac-aix-marseille.fr/labospc/spip.php?page=forum&id_article=149]viagra equivelent nitroglycerine sideaffects with viagra [/url]
[url=http://salarycompare.in/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=78347]cheap cialis cialis discount india [/url]
[url=http://www.danceeducationsolutions.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=24872]kamagra 100mg safe take cialis in the uk [/url]
[url=http://syndicatelord.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=23634]what retirement medical providers cover cialis free samples levitra [/url]