Honestly, I can't believe the amount of STUFF that I managed to accumulate since moving into this house in 2001. Aside from the stitching stash (I didn't even discover stitching until 2004), I had box upon box stock full of papers, lesson plans, books for school, medical records (LOTS of those, unfortunately), legal papers (again, TONS of papers documenting the saga with my back injury, surgery, doctor reports ... UGH!)
I swear, it was torturous enough just to lug all these things out, but now I have the daunting task of sitting and going through said boxes to determine what I REALLY need to keep and what can go into the shredder. And photos - Lord, I had no idea the amount of photo albums and yearbooks and loose photos I had acquired just during my teaching career alone. I just can't find it in my heart to toss out these things. I know, I'm being ridiculous, but they're memories and I do tend to wax nostalgic. I also have a yearbook from almost every year I taught school - those, I'm going to have to part with, I'm afraid. I just hate the idea of recycling them (and all the notes my students wrote in them) but they just take up too much space and are heavy as lead. I'll keep a few from special years - it's the deciding which ones to toss out that kills me. I keep getting an image in my mind of the folks on HOARDERS who cry or freak out over tossing out an old newspaper or broken knick-knack and I'm like "SNAP OUT OF IT!" Lol!
As for stitching, well.... I've only managed to complete the first Shining Needle Society lesson from my Kathy Rees counted canvas work (we're on week three now), but I do plan to work on that a bit more SOON. Here's the section I've completed so far on Sherwood Garden using the Bermuda Reef colorway. This is my first foray into canvas work, and I must admit that I REALLY LIKE IT!! Not enough to can all my cross stitch WIP's and my planned projects, but enough to delve into some other canvas designs when I'm done with this piece. If there are no updates from this little corner of cyberland, don't be surprised if I've been crushed under a box of cross stitch charts! Nah -- Seamus is keeping a close eye on things, but he'll be happy when this mess all over the house is out of the path of his stomping grounds. Notice, he doesn't seem too amused with the room makeover! I feel his pain!
Organizing is a PAIN...literally sometimes. Your dog is precious! What breed?
ReplyDeleteThe colors of floss on your stitching is GORGEOUS! I haven't learned specialty stitches yet.
Parsley, he's a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier. They're originally from Ireland, hence his Irish name, Seamus (Irish form of James!)
DeleteCheck out Needle Delights Originals by Kathy Rees. Her canvas work charts are full of specialty stitches and step by step directions. I love all the various flosses she uses in her designs, too! Lots of fun to stitch! These colors are Bermuda Reef Watercolours, Blueberry Watercolours, and a Belle Soie soft blue-gray (I forget the color at the moment!) I still have LOTS of colors to use in this design! :-)
Absolutely lovely canvaswork - it's going to be fun to watch it grow. Best wishes for the re-organization.
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteBeautiful colors on your canvas work.
ReplyDeleteOrganizing is really a pain. I've been doing it off and on over the past few months. I get into everything stitching, quilting, knitting, needlework and started collecting rug hooking supplies. It's just overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteI love your canvas piece - I think that needlework like that is a lot of fun because of the different textures. I've done Jean Hilton's Glen Eagle and working on Tony Minervi's Stars for the New Millenium. It will never take the place of stitching but is a fun diversion. The colors in your piece are to die for!
Organizing sure is a pain! Lol!
DeleteI agree with you about the canvas work - I love all the varied flosses and types of stitches. Keeps it interesting to work on. I must check out the ones you mentioned! I think I'm becoming hooked on this type of needlework!
Good luck with all the organizing and throwing out. Doesn't sound like much fun, but it has to be done. Love your canvaswork so far! Beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteHere is an idea for your yearbooks: could you pull out the pages that have special meaning for you and save all of those with your photo albums.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! Thanks!
DeleteOrganizing, sorting and de-cluttering is painful but oh! How good it feels when done. Good luck with it. Once you get in the "toss it" mode, there will be no stopping you! Love the canvas work.
ReplyDeleteI know, I just re-organized my room recently, and got rid of stuff. Be careful and don't hurt your back!!!
ReplyDeleteI had to change rooms a couple of months ago. It's still not complete, so take your time do a little each day and it will come together. Sorry about your back I hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteKevin, deciding what to keep of sentimental items such as year books, especially with student signatures, does not a hoarder make!!! I totally understand the reluctance to get rid of some of it and the knowledge that you can't keep everything - I face that every time I try to do something around my home! And don't you just love how fun canvas work is???? It won't take the place of your cross stitch, but it will tug at you more than you'll like sometimes!!! I can't wait to see progress on your piece, it's starting out beautifully.
ReplyDeleteDebby, I'm sending you virtual hugs through CyberSpace! Thank you for understanding my reluctance to part with sentimental items. My significant other is NOT as understanding, alas! He told me to TOSS OUT my old photos! Not happening. BUT, I was thinking .... A high quality (ie, FAST!) scanner might be the answer!!! I can just sit and pop photos through the scanner while watching TV, and store them all on discs or jump drives!! Whattya
DeleteLove your canvas work, the colours are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteIt´s fun to try new techniques and to get a little variations
on projects.
I myself have need also to clean up my stash piles, now I just move them around from one place to another(and adding new stuff..:)
The sweetest dog, big hug to him!
Take care,
Anette & Skruttan the cat
Annette, I'm VERY GOOD at moving the piles from place to place too! Ha ha ha! And, I think I've reached "pro" status at adding NEW things to the stash! I swear, it's an addiction!
Deletegood luck with the organization, Kevin! Something I need to tackle too but is so daunting! Seamus is a real cutie, funny how animals do not seem to like change. The new canvas work looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHe is SO FUNNY! He won't come near me now when I'm in the living room where most of my stash is currently stacked up! Maybe he's afraid of the boxes toppling over on him! Smart dog! :-)
DeleteYes organizing is a difficult task and the end results so worth it! You will be thrilled with your "new" room.
ReplyDeleteI donated my yearbooks to the local historical society--it was a difficult parting but felt they might help someone doing research
Oh boy - another good idea regarding these yearbooks! Thanks!
DeleteSeamus is great! We had a Kerry Blue Terrier named Mac. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the cleaning up of the stash! I feel like that's a never ending project at my house. I was going to suggest scanning what you want to keep. That's what I've been doing with Nathan's projects from school, then I'm going to make them into a book. It's so hard to clean up your treasures, but I do feel better once I'm done.
ReplyDeleteLove your stitching so far, it looks great. And Seamus looks a little frightened that he might get cleaned up!
Oh I feel your pain...It was a holiday here on Monday and how did I spend it? Clearing out old things, luckily I was in a fighting mood so was strict with myself and managed to toss bags full of stuff!
ReplyDeleteThe stitching looks lovely, as does your pooch!
Lovely canvas work. You'll feel so good when it's all done. Think of the end result not the process!
ReplyDelete