Thankful

I have made a conscious effort this year to remember things I am thankful for at the end of each day. Some days this is super easy, but some days it can be very, very hard to do.

One thing I am very thankful for is the wonderful group of women in England and America who have given a new home to my neglected cross stitching stash. It has made me so happy to pack up the patterns and kits, write a quick note, and send them off.

It can be tough sorting through long-held possessions and making the decision to, shall we say, deacquisition. It's easier when you know where to take these no-longer needed items, even if it's only to the recycling bin. Tossing them in the trash is the worst. But when you know they are going somewhere where they will be appreciated, it's a terrific feeling. 

Imagining these gals looking at the patterns and the accompanying photos, then starting to create, is almost as good as making them myself, as I had once intended to do (and, to be honest, many of them I did make). Today I learned that the first package has arrived. And I feel very thankful.

Creativity and Snobbery

I promised myself a while ago that one day I would give watercolor painting a try. Like many others creative people, I have experimented with lots of different outlets over the years: cross stitching, needlepoint, rubber stamping, scrapbooking, collage, mixed media, sewing, bead making, quilting... and more I have forgotten to include. I didn't even include knitting and crocheting, because those are things I still do every day.

I finally decided to stop just thinking about trying watercolors. Stop just reading blogs and articles, stop just watching videos on YouTube, and actually sit down and give it a real try. It's easy to spend a lot of time observing but not actually doing. After a while, you start to feel like those other people out there know absolutely how it should be done. The "right" way. Then the doubts creep in, and you start to feel frozen... but what if I can't do it the way they do? I don't have the "right" paper, the "right" paints, the "right" brushes. I don't have a background in fine art, don't have an art degree, don't have a former career in graphics, and so on.

I have a million questions, but I realized the best way to answer them is to just try, and see what works for me. It's funny, though - if you look at comments on YouTube, most people ask about equipment brands, not about techniques or inspiration. I guess I'm not surprised to find that the world of watercolor is just as full of snobs as the world of knitting.

Some knitters are very proud of the fact that they will only knit with the finest wool, silk, cotton, whatever. They boast about being "yarn snobs." If that's what makes them happy, good for them. It would be nice, though, if they kept their judgmental comments to themselves. The knitters I hang out with on the knitting/crocheting community Ravelry are not yarn snobs. Like me, they are perfectly happy knitting with 100% acrylic, or acrylic blends. Those yarns are more affordable, and garments and blankets made from them are easy to care for. Sure, knitting with nice quality wool is a pleasure, but I have a lot of fun knitting with my humble acrylic yarn, too. And for me, that's what it's about - having fun.

Right now, I don't have the top of the line artist grade paints. I don't own any sable brushes. I don't paint on the handmade, cotton paper the "real" artists use. If I get to the point that I use up all of my economy grade paint and inexpensive paper and feel motivated to keep painting, I might look into buying something that is a little better quality and give that a try. But I'm in no rush, because - guess what? I'm having fun.

Good Thing I Love Him

First of all, please believe me that the colors in this blanket are not really this ugly. The olive green is not quite so yellow, for one thing.

Anyway.... there comes a time for me in every large project where I just want to call in the house elves to get the thing done. I don't usually mind sewing blocks together and weaving in ends, but this is getting old. The good news is I am halfway done! Actually, I've done five rows of six blocks, and have only four rows to go. So yay, me.

Large projects like this mean fewer finishes to share. But I'm hoping a progress report will give me the push to finish this blanket and get it to our nephew, who is studying medicine at Ben Gurion University. It gets pretty chilly in the desert during the winter, you know.

Onward!

What I Chose

When my parents moved out of the home they had lived in for nearly 40 years, they naturally had a serious accumulation of stuff. I was offered many things, but since I have been trying to get rid of a lot of my own stuff, there wasn't much that I truly wanted. But I wanted this blanket.

My mother has always been more of a dabbler in needlework, and many of her projects (needlepoint in particular) have never been finished. But she made this blanket, in afghan stitch, out of 100% wool. It weighs a ton. It would be special enough because she made it, but added to that is the fact that my grandmother, Blanche, and I helped. We each did the cross stitch embroidery on one panel, and my mother added our initials.

So when I was offered my choice to things to take back home with me, I chose this blanket. Three generations of handwork. And love.

Cross Stitch Destash 4

Just a few last charts looking for a home. Skater chart has been colored in. Thanks for looking.
Note: Humboldt Coast has been claimed.

Rose Garden has been claimed.

Cross Stitch Destash 3

All of these charts have been claimed!
More things, charts this time, that need a new home.

Cute little chart. The cat has been colored in with a highlighter marker on the chart.

Another fun stitching project.

Love this sweet chart, given to me by a wonderful friend, who also included the floss called for. Sadly, I never got around to making this.

Please let me know if any of these catch your interest!

Cross Stitch Destash 2

Here is something else that needs to go. Free to a good home.

This kit was given to me by a friend years ago. She actually started stitching it, but didn't get very far at all. The floss is already sorted into the organizer that came with the kit. If you are interested, I can post more photos. I believe if you tap (or click) on this photo it will enlarge so you can see better.