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

Sunday, September 15, 2019

After starting 21 years ago.......it's about time to finally finish!!

  I had started this dolphin cross stitch picture for our daughter Hannah when she was about 9.  I never seemed to finish it......always  putting it aside to do something else........and although I hadn't forgotten it..........I just never seem to get motivated to finish it. 


   The reason I had started this for her was because we had taken our children.....all small at that time..........to San Antonio Sea World on a family trip.  She fell in love with the dolphins and the killer whales so much that she wanted to become a trainer someday.  
She was even able to talk to one of the whale trainers while we were there and the trainer told her that in order to be a trainer  she  would have to be able to go underwater with the whales/dolphins, and to be able to come back up after holding her breath and to be able to talk to the audience.  

When we got home, she spent that summer diving into our pool and staying under water and coming up.....and practiced speaking  to her make believe  audience.  We would clap for her. 
Her journey in life took her to far away places......and away from whale training dreams and she chose a different path.

Now , I just finished the last stitch... last night..............and she just turned 30........I plan to give this for her Christmas this year.  
While she was home, visiting us last year, she gave me a photo of herself.........in a pool with a dolphin that she had the chance to go swimming with while she was in Dubai.  
So she still loves dolphins very much.    

She remembers seeing the cross stitch picture......but does not know that I have started back to work on it for her. 
I have not yet framed it........will wait to see what kind of frame she might like.
But......I am so happy to get such and old UFO (un-finished object) finished! 
so tell me............I know we all have those UFO'S stashed away somewhere........
how long has one been waiting for you to finish?


6 comments:

Hill Top Post said...

What a very special piece, made even more special because of so many memories. I finally gave up on a piece I had been working on for my daughter and gave it to her to finish. She said she liked it unfinished and put it on her sewing table along with other OLD sewing collectables.

Jeannie said...

I loved hearing your memory! Your daughter will love what you have done. You must share again when you give it to her and tell us what she said.
Jeannie@GetMeToTheCountry

mamasmercantile said...

Such a wonderful story behind the project which is stunning. I am sure it will be a gift well received and treasured. Such wonderful memories captured forever.

lil red hen said...

Such lovely work, Kathleen! And a lot of it! No wonder you put it off for so long. I do have a work, probably as old as yours, still unfinished. It is crewel embroidery; a big rusty colored dog. It was to be for one of my daughters. Maybe I should finish it and surprise her with it. lol

Thank you so much for leaving comments for me although I'm not blogging now. You're a special friend.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

What a wonderful memory to go along with the now finished cross-stitch! Congrats on turning it into a finished object. I have one from the late 80s that I've never finished. I also started a birth sampler for my youngest son before he was born. Only needed to finish some backstitching and his date of birth, etc. He'll be 21 next month and I don't even know where it is but am definitely going to look for it and finish it. :)

Gina E. said...

Ha ha, we are not alone with our collections of UFOs! Your dolphins are absolutely stunning Kathleen, your daughter will be delighted I'm positive.
I also have made it a mission to finish some of my old cross stitch and embroidery projects this year, and have finished two, but still working on one. I know I will finish it soon - everything else has been put on hold until I do this; it has been waiting far too long!