I cannot count my day complete
'Til needle, thread and fabric meet.
~Author Unknown

Sharing a common thread with those who love the art of hand embroidery

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Something has been in this box..............for a long time.............

waiting to get out...........

floss of vibrant color beckons me to bring it to life...............

and for the past 8 weeks, maybe longer, I have dedicated my time and stitches in getting it created and finished. Years ago, when we first moved out to the farm, I purchased this kit as a beginning statement of the farm I wanted to create.............full of chickens, orchards and berries.

I started out stitching in delight.............then, as all of you can probably relate to, life swept me away, demanding my time of other issues, and I placed this project into the box................

although it was there waiting, my needle seemed to follow other paths and other projects. I would return to this rooster, I have come to realize, in moments when I had many things on my mind and going on in my life. Stitching the squares away as I waited for a teenager's car to pull in the drive from a ball game.............or waiting for a teenager to come back home after flying away to find their own way.  Moments in prayer for loved ones........moments of worry as to what will we do ??

and life would once again turn to "normal" and I would once again, stray off onto another path.

Then after all of these years, children grown and gone, life running smoothly.............

my eyes once again came to rest on the box, that waited in the corner for my attention. With each stitch crossed off, the more my anticipation grew to finish.  With the help of the extreme hot weather and drought, my time was spent more inside..............stitching.  Once again, I rekindled the love for cross stitch and can't wait to start another project. I am also thinking of offering my embroidery services to those who have unfinished cross stitch pieces.................but that is still a plan in the thought process. I can't wait to get this rooster framed.................he will then reside in my kitchen.
How about you?
Have you started something, put it away, and then fell back in love with it again?
 I would love to hear!

9 comments:

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Oh, Kathleen, I just love the cross stitching on this rooster. It's so pretty and I love the colors of the thread.
I sure hope the drought breaks and you have rain soon. We've been seeing on the national news about the dry weather in Texas.
Have a blessed week.

Anonymous said...

I hope you will share the rooster when it is framed and in your kitchen!

Lily said...

Kathleen he is beautiful! Counted crosstitch is my first love in needlework so really appreciate the roosters beauty.

lil red hen said...

Yes, I have a crewel embroidery picture of a dog that has been in a chest for 20 years probably. There isn't much left to do until it will be finished. Maybe this winter? Too much outside work right now.

A business for finishing other's works -- good idea.

Cindy said...

What a great project! It will look so great framed up. I am so anal I have to finish everything before starting something new. But I have a million projects in my mind ready to start!

Shilpa said...

Wow! This looks lovely! I have a bunch of grapes waiting to be finished in cross stitch. I think i should finish it soon. It is meant for my kitchen :)

Gina E. said...

Kathleen, your Rooster is absolutely stunning! Isn't it a great feeling to finish a complex project like that after so many years! I know how good it felt when I finished my Indian Chief 20 years after I'd started it!
I just love chickens and roosters, and have heaps of patterns I'd like to do one day, but so far I've only done one simple cross stitch pattern in one colour, and a couple of small patchwork mug rugs.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Oh my goodness! That is a beautiful stitching and definitely lots of work! How wonderful that you finished it. Just gorgeous! I used to stitch big projects like that, but now I am looking for quick and easy. I can't imagine doing something that takes so long. I have many unfinished projects. In fact, I started a cross-stitching when I was pregnant with my second son -- I only need to backstitch his name, date of birth, etc, and stitch around the main picture, but 13 years later, it remains unfinished. I really should find it and get it done. I also have projects from the 80's that I never finished -- and now they don't fit in with my decorating style. I used to be all about country, now I am very eclectic. I keep saying I won't start one project until I finish what I am working on, but I tend to be like a butterfly, flitting here and there. So much I want to do and try. Most of the time, I am just creating, no real focus or direction. Just for the sake of making something. :) Have a fabulous weekend. Tammy

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Hi Kathleen,

Your cross stitch piece is beautiful. When I was in my early twenties a friend of mine was obsessed with needlepoint and counted cross stitch. She taught me both techniques. I wound up doing nothing but counted cross stitch for about 8 years. In a drawer in my supply closet there lay a few unfinished cross stitched pieces and quit a few that I just never got around to framing or sewing into a pillow. Like you I wound up in other creative areas.

I wanted to let you know that I've started a new blog just for my crochet and sewing. My Queen of Dreamsz blog is being used for uploading my vintage pattern collection. Please come see me at my blog. It will be where all of my posting will take place. I'd love to have you follow my journey with my crochet and sewing.

You know how I've struggled with what should be my focus..I finally realized that out of everything I've ever done that after 20+ years I still love to crochet and to hand sew. So that's it! I made the decision..ha ha I know that may not sound like a big deal to most but I have so many areas of creativity that I love that it made my head spin.

If you love old patterns please check out my Queen of Dreamsz blog.

Hope to see you soon,
Stephanie Suzanne ♥