My Needlework Room

I successfully sorted my cross stitch patterns.  The defining question was:  Am I really going to stitch this (before I die)?  

I've never really collected "cute" designs because even cute designs have a lot of work in them.  My tendency has been towards samplers and florals.  It was really hard to decide on some of them.  I went through a period of Welcome Samplers, a few Love/Anniversary Samplers, a stack of Tropical Patterns that encompassed birds, foliage and shells & some Baby designs.  

I have a nice Welcome cross stitch my mom stitched so I don't need a collection of those patterns.

Ain't much Love/Anniversary going on now so those patterns hit the floor.

All the Tropical patterns just draw me back to the Bentwater days & I don't ever want to go there again. 

No grandbabies in my future.  I don't see any reason to keep those patterns. 

I have a pretty big collection of Fonts and Borders patterns because at one time I entertained the idea of designing some Samplers.  A quick look around the internet informed me enough that I'll leave the designing to others.  There are plenty of great looking charts from which to choose; besides, I still have a large supply of charts that suit my tastes well.  It could take years to stitch all of them.

These 2 charts have been favorites since well, 1989.  I could see stitching them now. 

I also uncovered a few small unfinished projects.  I'll finish these up soon.  They'll get me back in the cross stitch mood.

I started this one when I was in Indonesia in 1999.  I guess it has waited long enough. 

This is one of the very 1st patterns I bought when I started to cross stitch.  I never stitched any of the designs.  Last year I found a cross stitch at the thrift and I knew it looked familiar.  Now I remember why! 

Sometime around 2010 I decided to try some needlepoint.  Needlepoint is confusing to me because it is not always definitive where the stitch goes in relation to the printing.  I abandoned this pillow.  I now have a needlepoint friend who has promised to get me back on track.  

I was going to unpin these 3 cute dress patterns until I realized they would fit if I sewed them.  They are ready to do.  Might happen soon.

 

Yesterday I pulled out this crazy quilt: My Crazy Life.  It's a big project.  For various reasons it's been shelved for about 7 years.  I'm emotionally ready to stitch on it again.  

After more hours on the floor than my body could tolerate, I decided to set up one of my folding tables.  I had hoped for a nice little wooden table for my needlework room but I already own this table.  A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.  For now I think it's going to be a great stitching space.

I propped up the drape to get a feeling whether I wanted to cover the shelves or not.  I'm a little afraid of the "out of sight, out of mind" syndrome if I can't look over at my supplies.  On the other hand, supplies aren't inspiring eye candy.  

I have a nice place behind my table for a changing quilt display. 

One of the biggest walls has a crazy quilt I stitched in 2009.  It was featured in Allie Aller's book: Allie Aller's Crazy Quilting

Once this "new" crazy quilt is finished, I can swap the quilts out on this wall too.  

I'm making such great progress!  I hope I have the motivation to jump in on some of these unfinished projects I still like.  As my son continually reminds me,  "You have plenty of time.  What else are you doing?" 

It's such a delight to walk to the end of the hallway and see my rooms look so inviting.  It's been a long time coming.  A long time.  This has been a very good summer of personal introspection.  Sometimes we need that. 

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